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la5's review against another edition
5.0
This is the best Penric & Des I've read in a while. I liked the addition of the assassin with a heart-of-gold, the difference between "Learned" Penric and the great-souled fisherman saint, and the overall adventure. It was a far meatier tale than Orphans, and the political intrigue was engaging.
neglet's review against another edition
It’s always great to visit with Pen and Des, and while this adventure doesn’t really pose them any major problems, it is filled with enough twists and turns to make it an engaging read.
thorngil45's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? Yes
4.0
archergal's review against another edition
3.0
Lois McMaster Bujold is always readable and enjoyable to read. She handles plotting deftly, and there's a lot going on here, so that's good.
Example:
An assassin who fails to kill her target (twice!), captured and spared by the White God. Congrats, you're a sorceror now!
The assassin's target being implored to return to his home country and help them out.
Something bad happening in that home country, which means that Penric and a saint of the White God and the assassin have to return and, you know, DO SOMETHING.
Penric and his demon Desdemona are a tiny bit in the background here, in a way. Iroki, the saint of the White God, is an interesting character. You may say all you want to do is be a fisherman, but when a God can speak and act through you, people tend to pay a little more attention.
All these books set in the world of the Five Gods interest me strangely. Most days now I think of myself as a godless heathen, but certain ways of looking at theology and humanity's relation to the divine make sense to me. I get this feeling with these Bujold books. Also with C.S. Lewis sometimes.
Good writing. You should read.
Example:
An assassin who fails to kill her target (twice!), captured and spared by the White God. Congrats, you're a sorceror now!
The assassin's target being implored to return to his home country and help them out.
Something bad happening in that home country, which means that Penric and a saint of the White God and the assassin have to return and, you know, DO SOMETHING.
Penric and his demon Desdemona are a tiny bit in the background here, in a way. Iroki, the saint of the White God, is an interesting character. You may say all you want to do is be a fisherman, but when a God can speak and act through you, people tend to pay a little more attention.
All these books set in the world of the Five Gods interest me strangely. Most days now I think of myself as a godless heathen, but certain ways of looking at theology and humanity's relation to the divine make sense to me. I get this feeling with these Bujold books. Also with C.S. Lewis sometimes.
Good writing. You should read.
uponthedowns's review against another edition
Not what I was expecting, and I'm not feeling like fantasy politics right now. Might try again at some point
eb00kie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Penric and Desdemona are delightful as always, and the premise was entertaining. Is this as thrilling as The Orphans of Raspay, maybe not. But it is a solid adventure, nonetheless.
batesbarb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
chirson's review against another edition
5.0
A new favourite has been spied - one of the better Penrics, as it sees the return of Tanar and Bosha, who are some of the best secondary characters in the series, and has a propulsive, fun and exciting plot, excellent dialogue between Penric and Desdemona, and generally, is just a joy to read. I loved it.