This is vintage Bujold, 1992, a rare standalone published between ‘The Vor Game’ (1990) and Mirror Dance’ (1994) though in many way it feels like a much earlier work. It’s a straightforward fantasy set in a Renaissance Italy where licensed mages work white magic with the blessings (and supervision) of the church, but where the Inquisition still looms to seek out black magic. Fiametta is the daughter of master mage and metal artisan, Master Beneforte. Her barely remembered mother – about whom there seems to be some secret, never revealed – was black, making Fiametta an unusual hue for a free woman of the time. Her father’s only explanation is that her mother was a ‘Christian woman from Brindisi,’ to refute the perception of his peers that Fiametta’s mother was either Moorish, an Ethiope or possibly a Blackamoor slave. Though Master Beneforte has refused to train her in magic arts (because she’s only a girl) Fiametta is learning metal craft and is already skilled in the fine casting of jewellery pieces. She’s also learned far more about magic (and has a talent and a deeper understanding) than her father has given her credit for. As an apprentice piece she has cast herself a silver ring that will show her who her true love is. (Only her true love will be able to wear it.)When Master Beneforte and Fiametta go to a reception at the Duke’s palace to present a work of art (a magical salt cellar, the contents of which will always reveal and neutralise poison) on the occasion of the betrothal of the Duke’s daughter to neighbouring Lord Ferrante, they don’t expect trouble, but Lord Ferrante has brought an unusually large honour guard of fifty fighting men. When Ferrante kills the Duke, his men quickly take over the palace and the town, in the process killing Uri Ochs, the captain of the guard and a young man that Fiametta had been sweet on.Suddenly Fiametta and her father are on the run from the invaders and though they get away, her father soon dies of a heart attack leaving Fiametta alone with his body. And it’s the body that’s the problem, for an unburied body and an unshriven soul can be used for black magical purposes by one ruthless enough to do so, and Ferrante has a magician in his retinue prepared to do just that. If he can complete the rites before Fiametta can stop him Master Beneforte’s power and knowledge will be trapped within a spirit ring and in his and Ferrante’s power.Fiametta’s allies include an elderly warrior-turned-church-man and Thur Ochs, Uri’s younger brother who had been on his way to join the Beneforte household as an apprentice when the trouble began. Fiametta is amazed when Thur, whom she sees as nothing more than a country clod, is able to wear the ring that his brother could not put on. For better or worse, Thur is destined to be her true love. Luckily Thur is far more than he seems. Uneducated but intelligent, kind and patient (not to mention tall and strong as an ox) he has a knack of finding things that are lost, starting with Fiametta and ending with the corpse of his brother also in need to rescuing from a dark magic ritual.This is a richly imagined book full of complications and well-drawn characters. It draws on actual artisans and their artifacts and evokes the spirit of Renaissance Italy – albeit a smaller rural Dukedom rather than Rome or Florence – yet incorporates magic in a natural manner. The ending is satisfying and the only slight quibble I have is that Fiametta never does solve the riddle of her mother except to conclude that she was Master Beneforte’s legal and much-loved wife. Though all the dark deeds are nicely tied up and Fiametta and Thur get a good resolution there’s a slight loose end and it’s easy to imagine that Bujold intended to write a sequel in which Fiametta and Thur discover the origins (and powers) of Fiametta’s mother. Sadly – after seventeen years – that sequel seems unlikely.
Todavía no logro descifrar si la novela me ha gustado o no. La misma cantidad de argumentos están en el lado positivo y en el negativo.El libro se ubica en una Italia renacentista donde la magia es algo que se practica a diario. Este es un arte sútil: no se trata de lanzar hechizos con varita, sino de poner conjuros en objetos y así obtener algún tipo de ventaja frente al resto (descubrir venenos, obtener más poder, evitar que un objeto envejezca, etc.)El maestro Beneforte es uno de los principales artesanos/magos del ducado y está preparando algunas obras para la fiesta de compromiso de la pequeña duquesa, mientras su hija tanto al alero de su padre como a escondidas de él intenta aumentar sus conocimientos en la magia y la creación de objetos. Lamentablemente una serie de hechos desaforntunados hará que la vida de todos los habitantes de Montefoglia cambie de un momento a otro, obligando a los más conocedores de las artes mágicas luchar contra un enemigo desconocido y sus más oscuros rituales.Lo bueno? Lo trama es muy ligera, se lee rápido y aunque es factible ir adelantándose a algunos hechos, los principales sorprenden por la forma en que se desarrollan. La recta final es simplemente espectacular, las últimas 70-50 hojas me fue imposible parar de leer y mientras las cosas se iban desarrollando estaba dando vitores y ánimos a los protagonstas ("destruyan a ese maldito!!!!").Lo malo? No logré enganchar con los personajes. Entendía qué pensaban y/o hacían, pero no me llegaron. Todo lo veía como una película que no me lograba transmitir muchas emociones, a lo más me daba impotencia ver cómo se trataba a la mujer en la época en que estaba basada la historia, pero no pasa de eso.La historia en sí se desarrolla en muy pocos días (1 semana aproximadamente), eso hace que todo se desarrolle de manera vertiginosa, prácticamente sin escenas muertas, pero también genera que uno no logre conocer bien a los personajes, tenga dudas con respecto a ellos y quede con un gusto de insatisfacción (había varios temas que me hubiera gustado saber en qué concluían).En conclusión, un buen libro para pasar el rato para los amantes de la fantasía, no es una gran obra maestra como otras historias de la autora, pero sí satisface. Deja con un gusto a poco debido a lo rápido que se desarrolla todo y dan ganas de haber conocido más profundo a los personajes. En sus 300 páginas la historia se hace muy corta, quizás unas 500 hojas habrían generado un libro más redondo y la trama no habría quedado tan "apretada".Lo peor de todo? LA TRADUCCIÓN! Aunque no sé si la culpa recae en el traductor o en la practicamente nula presencia de un corrector. A veces aparecían frases duplicadas, oraciones sin sentido, etc. Esto claramente hace que uno se desconecte a ratos de la historia y solo se fije en qué demonios se supone que ahí está escrito.
What do You think about The Spirit Ring (2004)?
This is one of Bujold's earlier works, and it shows - the pacing is a little scattershot and the narrative is a touch rough around the edges. Still, it contains her trademark excellent characterization, set in a world (Magical Italian Renaissance!) that'll be catnip to any art history enthusiast. I also appreciated the questions of magical ethics it addressed, even if they did feel secondary to the plot. And the climax was the first I've come across since Jim Butcher's Dead Beat that made me cheer aloud. An excellent diversion for those of us who like a little bit of substance in our entertainments.
—Ambrosia
Content warnings: death, fictional magic, murder, religious ideologyOk so initially, I went into this book knowing nothing about it. Other than it was recommended to me. I think I fell in love within the first 10 pages. just. wow.There were a few slow spots but that's understandable for ANY book to have. They didn't take away from the rest of the book. We had a happily ever after type ending which fit well for this book. AND we had a woman of colour as the main character. That was great and exciting. And everything I want to gush about would be spoiling the book which I'm determined not to do. But the way things played out was exciting and exhilarating and had she decided to write it any differently it wouldn't have been as good.I'm usually not huge on books that use religious ideology as heavily as this one does. Mostly because of my own experiences. Particularly with Christian type religions. But the way this book mixed the magic and religion was actually really good. It didn't feel forced in nor did it feel like the literary equivalent of shoving it down your throat. But your mileage may vary on that so proceed at your own risk.
—Blow Pop
I feel this book a bit underated. May not be the kind of book I'd like to reread, but it's imaginative and well done. I think it suffers from comparisons with Bujold's other books. I don't agree with those who say this is her worst book, although it comes early among her works and I think Bujold's one of those authors that got stronger over the years. Nevertheless, I like this more than say Ethan of Athos or Falling Free in her Vorkosigan series or The Hallowed Hunt in her Chalion series. But it's true that I don't find the characters in this book as vivid and complex as Miles in the Vorkosigan series or Ista of Paladin of Souls or Dag of Sharing Knife. It's also the one novel of Bujold's to date that's a standalone. And it's the rare historical fantasy--which is a lot of what I like about it, but is a departure from the Space Opera of the Vorkosigan series or High Fantasy of Chalion--or Sharing Knife with it's feel of the American frontier of perhaps the far future. The Spirit Ring is recognizably set in late 15th century Renaissance Italy. The time of Lorenzo Medici, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Michelangelo. It's not set in Florence or Rome though but the made-up small dukedom of Montefoglia in a world where white magic is sanctioned and overseen by the Church--and black magic is a real danger. A world of mage-artisans who can make magical rings. And the heroine, 15-year-old Fiametta Beneforte, is the daughter and unofficial apprentice of such a master mage. Then the duchy is imperiled by black magic and that's where Fiametta--and the young miner Thur Ochs--must take risks to free it and those they love who are are at risk of their very souls.It's a well-written and obviously well-researched work and I very much enjoyed the read.
—Lisa (Harmonybites)
