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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
He is the court sorcerer of the Bastard God of disorder, and she is his chaos demon rider. Together they are two of the most lovable characters in literature. Allow notes to explain:
"A loud and urgent knocking at the street door upon the atrium penetrated even to this back room, and their housemaid Lin paused in her serving to ask, “Shall I answer that, Learned?” Pen overcame an impulse to pretend he wasn’t home, and sighed, “Yes.” As she trotted off, he leaned back and thought, Des? What do we have out there? His resident demon’s bodiless senses extended, giving him that by-now-familiar doubled vision of the world: what he could see with his human eyes overlaid with her profounder perceptions; dimensions multiplied, walls transparent, souls burning like multicolored lanterns. It no longer gave him vertigo, much."
"...[S]uch reoccupation is at least diagnostic that a death miracle has occurred. It doesn’t happen with fake death magic.” “Fake...?” said Phylos, his nose wrinkling. “Generally contrived by someone attempting to conceal a murder, or murders. Most such efforts are ignorant and clumsy, making them easy to spot.” Though, Pen reflected, a murderer who really understood the details, and somehow had the clout to effect immediate cremations, could avoid that... he tried not to think, Someone like me. Oh, but I like how you think, pouted Des. It’s endlessly entertaining. Hush. This case is bound to get ugly and sad. No doubt, love, but you need not. She added after a thoughtful moment, You need to not to. Pen didn’t try to answer that."
"Pen murmured to Alixtra, “Do you want to go back to our chapterhouse and get lunch? Check on Kittio?” “Yes to both, but don’t you need to eat, too?” Pen’s No tangled with Des’s Yes in his mouth.
Alixtra muffled a smile. “Let’s get through this and then both go. I know your wife has some strong opinions on your erratic meals.” “What, all you women ganging up on me?” "Someone has to."
A sense of wordless agreement from Des. Pen tried not to feel too ridiculously warmed."
"“See he eats between the talking, Des,” Alixtra told his demon. Violating his chain of command, but he wasn’t going to get much pull with that argument. “I shall,” Des promised aloud. “You take care of your rider, too, Arra.” An uncertain expression; she worked her mouth, and then—yes, that was Arra peeking through—managed a reasonably well-articulated, “Yes, ma’am!” And then looked proud of herself. A softer smile illuminated Alixtra's face, as a parent approving a child's clumsy but earnest first sentences." (Okay! Here it helps to know that Arra started life as a demon in a weasel--and is as yet still clumping along as half-weasel.)
"The Order’s chapterhouse in Vilnoc, second in rank in the dukedom only after the one in Dogrita, was more compound than building. Its own long wall encircled the main house, bequeathed a few generations ago by some rich patron, plus a newer annex built on for housing more divines, acolytes, dedicats, and servants; kitchens, baths, latrines all supplied with water by the city aqueducts; the laundry likewise, always overworked because what ancestral fool had imagined it a fine idea to make the emblematic color of the god of disorder white..."
And:
"The chaos of the Bastard’s orphanage was fortunately sequestered a few streets away, or this place would surely have edged over from lively to madhouse."
See? Sorcerers and demons with more heart--and humor-- than have most ordinary human beings.
"A loud and urgent knocking at the street door upon the atrium penetrated even to this back room, and their housemaid Lin paused in her serving to ask, “Shall I answer that, Learned?” Pen overcame an impulse to pretend he wasn’t home, and sighed, “Yes.” As she trotted off, he leaned back and thought, Des? What do we have out there? His resident demon’s bodiless senses extended, giving him that by-now-familiar doubled vision of the world: what he could see with his human eyes overlaid with her profounder perceptions; dimensions multiplied, walls transparent, souls burning like multicolored lanterns. It no longer gave him vertigo, much."
"...[S]uch reoccupation is at least diagnostic that a death miracle has occurred. It doesn’t happen with fake death magic.” “Fake...?” said Phylos, his nose wrinkling. “Generally contrived by someone attempting to conceal a murder, or murders. Most such efforts are ignorant and clumsy, making them easy to spot.” Though, Pen reflected, a murderer who really understood the details, and somehow had the clout to effect immediate cremations, could avoid that... he tried not to think, Someone like me. Oh, but I like how you think, pouted Des. It’s endlessly entertaining. Hush. This case is bound to get ugly and sad. No doubt, love, but you need not. She added after a thoughtful moment, You need to not to. Pen didn’t try to answer that."
"Pen murmured to Alixtra, “Do you want to go back to our chapterhouse and get lunch? Check on Kittio?” “Yes to both, but don’t you need to eat, too?” Pen’s No tangled with Des’s Yes in his mouth.
Alixtra muffled a smile. “Let’s get through this and then both go. I know your wife has some strong opinions on your erratic meals.” “What, all you women ganging up on me?” "Someone has to."
A sense of wordless agreement from Des. Pen tried not to feel too ridiculously warmed."
"“See he eats between the talking, Des,” Alixtra told his demon. Violating his chain of command, but he wasn’t going to get much pull with that argument. “I shall,” Des promised aloud. “You take care of your rider, too, Arra.” An uncertain expression; she worked her mouth, and then—yes, that was Arra peeking through—managed a reasonably well-articulated, “Yes, ma’am!” And then looked proud of herself. A softer smile illuminated Alixtra's face, as a parent approving a child's clumsy but earnest first sentences." (Okay! Here it helps to know that Arra started life as a demon in a weasel--and is as yet still clumping along as half-weasel.)
"The Order’s chapterhouse in Vilnoc, second in rank in the dukedom only after the one in Dogrita, was more compound than building. Its own long wall encircled the main house, bequeathed a few generations ago by some rich patron, plus a newer annex built on for housing more divines, acolytes, dedicats, and servants; kitchens, baths, latrines all supplied with water by the city aqueducts; the laundry likewise, always overworked because what ancestral fool had imagined it a fine idea to make the emblematic color of the god of disorder white..."
And:
"The chaos of the Bastard’s orphanage was fortunately sequestered a few streets away, or this place would surely have edged over from lively to madhouse."
See? Sorcerers and demons with more heart--and humor-- than have most ordinary human beings.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A nice little meditation in the theology of this fantasy world.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
mysterious
sad
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is the eleventh in Bujold's wonderful Penric-and-Desdemona series of novellas (with one novel thrown in). As per usual, I love Penric and his demon-in-residence, Desdemona. I'm glad to see glimpses of Penric's home life, a bright relief to this story's rather melancholic tone. There are disturbing supernatural oddities, laid alongside human despair and grief. Well-told and moving. My favorite scene was the one with the rabbit and Penric berating (spoiler) a god.
Four out of five shadowed stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Four out of five shadowed stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Once I saw this audiobook on Hoopla, I excitedly said out loud, "It's Grover time!" because I enjoy the narration from Grover Gardner so much. Luckily I was alone... This series is honestly so comforting to me during times of stress, and this one was no exception (even with the sadder elements of the plot). It starts with a possessed body, and it ends on the most perfect note about the Bastard and how Penric and Desdemona's calling is so meaningful. It made me tear up a little!
I hope Bujold writes 20 more of these stories! I love seeing glimpses at Penric and Des' happy home life too.
I hope Bujold writes 20 more of these stories! I love seeing glimpses at Penric and Des' happy home life too.