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jennifox's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Animal death
rosiecockshutt's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ndxmedina's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
bibliophilicwitch's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I would've liked just a bit more from the mystery, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this installment particularly Pen's remark that not all love is romantic and Pen's struggle after the events of the mystery conclude.
lagobond's review
3.0
Another in a series of slow-to-get-started-BUT-THEN!!! books. When Mrs. Bujold gets going, man, I love her dry, cutting humor and Penric's wonderful personality. I enjoy those moments when the story just comes together for a healthy dose of excitement, wonder, and plain-fun storytelling.
I got a particular kick out of the ongoing brainstorming by Pen and his friends/colleagues. I feel that mysteries are often presented as getting solved in a pretty straightforward manner, with a red herring or two thrown in, but overall still fairly predictable. I loved following the thought processes in this story as the characters considered a vast range of possible clues and suspicions.
I do feel like the buildup of the book could use a little tightening up. Still 3.5 stars just like Penric's Shaman, but now we're closer to 3 than to 4.
I got a particular kick out of the ongoing brainstorming by Pen and his friends/colleagues. I feel that mysteries are often presented as getting solved in a pretty straightforward manner, with a red herring or two thrown in, but overall still fairly predictable. I loved following the thought processes in this story as the characters considered a vast range of possible clues and suspicions.
I do feel like the buildup of the book could use a little tightening up. Still 3.5 stars just like Penric's Shaman, but now we're closer to 3 than to 4.
kimu's review against another edition
5.0
2019: Really enjoying this sequence of novellas.
2021: the highlight of this one is learning more about the shaman path, and getting a sense of how Penric approaches learning new things (with an open mind & strong interest in learning).
2021: the highlight of this one is learning more about the shaman path, and getting a sense of how Penric approaches learning new things (with an open mind & strong interest in learning).
thinde's review against another edition
3.0
These short books are becoming a sort of comfort food for me. There are relatable characters, a minor mystery, and nothing too confronting. It's not great literature, but nor is it pulp fiction. Put simply, it goes down easily.
kiiouex's review against another edition
3.0
these are. very readable. (though the numbering here on goodreads is a bit misleading, I'm trying to do internal chronology thank you (I have already messed it up but it doesn't matter very much))
anyway they're all short and interesting and Penric and Desdemona are intensely likeable and I am enjoying all their adventures, though again, they feel kinda like chapters in a big fantasy omnibus and Penric doesn't reaaally have an arc when solving other people's problems
but they're great I did not intend to read this many
anyway they're all short and interesting and Penric and Desdemona are intensely likeable and I am enjoying all their adventures, though again, they feel kinda like chapters in a big fantasy omnibus and Penric doesn't reaaally have an arc when solving other people's problems
but they're great I did not intend to read this many
hanamarma's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5