I enjoyed this fantasy novel, though it didn't knock me off my socks. If you dig stories mostly dealing with political intrigue with a smidge of fantasy religion, this might be right down your alley.

Our protagonist is Cazaril who returns to his homeland Chalion a broken man after being betrayed after battle to serve as a slave on the galleys of the Roknari. He returns to the castle where he served as a page in his youth where people are astonished to find out he's still alive. Elevated to the position of secretary for the young princess Iselle, they soon move to the capital of Chalion where they are swept up in the intrigues of the people who betrayed Cazaril. Furthermore, Cazaril finds out there is a dark curse over the royal line of Chalion, and it is up to him to find a means to break this curse.

I generally enjoy political intrigues in fantasy novels, and so this was quite interesting to read. But throughout this novel I kept wondering why it had to be Cazaril who saves the day. I would have enjoyed myself immensely more, if Iselle's other sidekick, her lady-in-waiting Betriz, had been the protagonist.

I might pick up the second novel as well, because it deals with Ista, Iselle's mother, who I found rather intriguing. Thumbs up for at least mentioning queer romance, though that one used the Bury Your Gays trope, sadly, alas.

3 to 3.5 stars.