Penric and the Shaman

Hugo reading.

I'll be honest - it's been so long since I read the first installment that I had forgotten much of what happened. I'll have to go back and do that before going on to the rest of this series, because it's so good that it deserves to have my full attention and heart.

Penric (and his demon) gets dragged along after a fugitive shaman. The plot is not as twisty as I'm used to from Bujold, but still twisty enough to be satisfying. The gods are manipulating things to the best outcome and it's fantastic to see happen.

My one regret is I didn't get enough inside Penric's brain because I loved the interaction between him and Desdemona.

Not unexpectedly fun. Nice to see Penric a bit more grown-up, not tripping over his own feet as much - and his partnership with Desdemona has settled down, too. Of course, here he gets into another entirely new situation, and trips in some new and different ways... Also nice to see what the shamans have got up to since the Hallowed Hunt; doesn't look like they've learned much, actually, they're still cut-and-try. One interesting thing was that a lot of the story was not from Penric's point of view - some from him, quite a bit from the shaman, and some from the Locator - which last are quite amusing, as his view of Penric changes rapidly. An excellent story; I will happily read it again (in fact, I went back to check on the Locator's show more title and got drawn in for a chapter or three) and look forward to more of these stories. show less

The plot is a bit too simplified, which is not new with Bujold, but the characters are interesting, far from stereotypes and inherently kind. The writing is full of humor and self-irony.

I adored the first Penric novella--and a return visit to the setting of the Curse of Chalion--and this second novella delivered almost as much joy. This time, Penric is a bit older and more accustomed to his resident demon, but he has much to learn as he's called to help in a case of a rendered spirit and a shaman run amok. I love the theology Bujold created here--really, I could geek out over that alone, but the characters are fantastic, too. It was especially interesting to see how Penric was viewed through the eyes of other characters.

This is another addition to my awards-consideration list for 2016. I'm going to face some tough decisions in the novella category.

Five Gods World novella--a winner!

Ok, I'm officially in love with Penric! He exhibits that combination of humour, compassion, thoughtfulness and gentleness wrapped up in a wryness that's wonderfully humane.
In this world of the Five Gods, Lord Penric, is now a divine and sorcerer of the Bastard's Order, a depository for the demon combinations he's named Desdemona, a conglomerate of twelve.
In this second novella, Penric is called on to seek out an escaped murderer, but what he finds is so much more! Along with the Senior Locator, Penric is sent to track down a renegade shaman Inglis, accused of murder.
As usual Penric confounds all as he investigates this case. Oswyl, the Locator (of the Father's Order) is frequently confounded by Penric. show more That Penric by his very youth and laid back appearance is frequently underrated by all he meets--is a strength, as Oswyl discovers.
Inglis, the shaman, confronted by the God of xx is nicely wrought.
I do like Penric's reflections about the gods and humour and the further small insights about the gods and demons he gives us.
Penric advising Oswyl is priceless: ' “A bit of free theological advice. Do not deny the gods. And they will not deny you.”... "Dangerous habit, mind you. Once you start to let Them in through that first crack, They’re worse than mice.”'
As always with anything Lois McMaster Bujold writes, very very satisfying.

A NetGalley ARC show less

An improvement on the first book, Penric and the Demon, the shaman's story picks up four years later. Penric has finished school and is working for the Princess-Archdivine. There's been a murder, and Penric and Desmonda have been sent to aid the Locater Oswyl to find the chief suspect, Inglis the shaman. Penric is very interested in learning more about shamanic magic while Inglis is struggling with his own metaphorical demons.

I had fully expected this book was going to be Penric at the magic academy, so was surprised to pick up the story four years in advance of the first book. Once I accepted the new and more decisive Penric as part of the new status quo, it was easier to enjoy the story.

The shaman's story has a dual plot line, show more shifting between focus on the shaman and on Oswyl and Penric's search. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of context for the shamanic story, picking up in media res of him on the run. This might be Bujold's way of maintaining suspense as to whether or not Inglis is the murderer. At any rate, eventually it all becomes clear.

The style reminds me very much of Mercedes Lackey's By the Sword and early Valdemar series. There's very much a set of core values operating here; everyone is sincere, honest and courageous. It's refreshing, honestly, when there are so many anti-heroes and moral dilemmas. It goes down quickly and easily, a pleasant little diversion. On to the next. show less

This is the second in a series of six (so far) fantasy novellas by Bujold. I think they're pretty good, the way they focus on emotional and psychological character building rather than flash-bang magic. But they don't require much mental effort. Ideal for reading in bed.