Bujold, Lois McMaster
THE SPIRIT RING
Lois McMaster Bujold
BAEN 1992
Pb 367 pages
ISBN#
0-671-72188-7
No, this is not part of the Vorkosigan Saga, but it reads just as nicely and stands well alone. So if you are new to this author and want a tiny but fulfilling taste of her work prior to attempting her meatier saga stories, this is a good place to start. This Hugo Award winning author offers a rounded balance of setting, characterization, plot, and description with fast paced action. [She is currently one of my favorites.]
THE SPIRIT RING is a magic ring that houses the spirit of a person who died violently. That spirit is upset and thus lends power to the mage who wears the ring. The current owner of a spirit ring is a supposed clerk of the recent usurper of a small dukedom between Milan and Venice (circa 1492 AD). Vitelli: this corrupt student of theology and thaumaturgy uses this demonic power to thwart all who oppose him. Thus it is that Fiametta, daughter to a local master of enchanted art, comes into direct opposition with evil.
Born into a man's world, Fiametta's only hope is that her father will wed her to a rich nobleman. Unfortunately, Master Beneforte keeps putting off his daughter's engagement because a virgin is quite useful to some of the magic spells he places on the art objects he makes. So Fiametta secretly learns magic and creates her own magic ring, one with a love spell entwined within. But it doesn't work on the big Swiss guard she has a crush on--well, actually, it does, but not in any way that can be foreseen. The guard, upon palming the ring, thinks of his brother, works out an agreement with Master Beneforte for his brother Thur to become Beneforte's apprentice, hands the ring back to Fiametta, then walks off.
Meanwhile, Thur has problems of his own. The ore mine where he works is a very dangerous place. He nearly dies before getting his brother's message and offer of a change of career. So Thur heads down the mountains but does not get to Montefoglia before Lord Ferrante (with the aid of his demonic clerk Vitelli) kills Montefoglia's duke and the captain of his guard--Thur's brother--as well.
Fiametta is witness to the murder. Her father manages to disrupt Vitelli's spirit ring while they escape, but Master Beneforte is old and does not survive the escape. So Lord Ferrante captures Master Beneforte's body. He plans to make two new spirit rings: one with Beneforte's spirit and one with the spirit of Thur's brother. Fiametta and Thur join forces. At first they go to the church , but those doddering old men can't get their act together fast enough. The fate of two good souls as well as all Montefoglia falls on the gentle shoulders of our young heroes.
Mmm, this is a nice sword & sorcery/fantasy-romance tale, spiced as usual with Ms. Bujold's witty humor. A lovely read for a stormy afternoon.
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