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xjennoe's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
lynnr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
jonathanpalfrey's review
3.0
It’s always a pleasure to see this series continuing on its way, although what we have here is an intriguing but sombre tale, dealing with at least four sad deaths and how they’re related to each other. Penric is a naturally cheerful fellow, but this story is not fun for any of the characters—except perhaps for the two old sailors we meet near the end.
The World of the Five Gods, in which these adventures are all set, has its own peculiar and rather interesting theology, and each story seems to be written because the author wants to explore some new facet of this theology. In this case, we take a look at the theological and practical implications of death magic—a subject that was dealt with quite extensively in [b:The Curse of Chalion|61886|The Curse of Chalion (World of the Five Gods, #1)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1322571773l/61886._SY75_.jpg|1129349], but time has gone by, and now here’s a new angle on it that you may find interesting.
I think the story introduces no new major characters, and we see relatively little of the characters we already know; but there are some new minor characters who display sparks of life.
It all takes place in Vilnoc, the seaside town in Orbas in which Penric, Nikys, and their (now) two young children have been living for some years by now.
This is the story in which Penric explores a sewer. I admit that I’ve never entered a sewer myself, but I can easily think of various authors who have sent their heroes into sewers. For example, Terry Pratchett in [b:Men at Arms|400354|Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch, #2)|Terry Pratchett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388215150l/400354._SY75_.jpg|819071], Lindsey Davis in [b:Three Hands in the Fountain|972535|Three Hands in the Fountain (Marcus Didius Falco, #9)|Lindsey Davis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311022066l/972535._SX50_.jpg|1716188], and Ben Aaronovitch in [b:Whispers Under Ground|10814687|Whispers Under Ground (Rivers of London, #3)|Ben Aaronovitch|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349807829l/10814687._SY75_.jpg|14864236]. Perhaps it was inevitable that Penric would be put through this rite of passage sooner or later.
The World of the Five Gods, in which these adventures are all set, has its own peculiar and rather interesting theology, and each story seems to be written because the author wants to explore some new facet of this theology. In this case, we take a look at the theological and practical implications of death magic—a subject that was dealt with quite extensively in [b:The Curse of Chalion|61886|The Curse of Chalion (World of the Five Gods, #1)|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1322571773l/61886._SY75_.jpg|1129349], but time has gone by, and now here’s a new angle on it that you may find interesting.
I think the story introduces no new major characters, and we see relatively little of the characters we already know; but there are some new minor characters who display sparks of life.
It all takes place in Vilnoc, the seaside town in Orbas in which Penric, Nikys, and their (now) two young children have been living for some years by now.
This is the story in which Penric explores a sewer. I admit that I’ve never entered a sewer myself, but I can easily think of various authors who have sent their heroes into sewers. For example, Terry Pratchett in [b:Men at Arms|400354|Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch, #2)|Terry Pratchett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388215150l/400354._SY75_.jpg|819071], Lindsey Davis in [b:Three Hands in the Fountain|972535|Three Hands in the Fountain (Marcus Didius Falco, #9)|Lindsey Davis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311022066l/972535._SX50_.jpg|1716188], and Ben Aaronovitch in [b:Whispers Under Ground|10814687|Whispers Under Ground (Rivers of London, #3)|Ben Aaronovitch|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349807829l/10814687._SY75_.jpg|14864236]. Perhaps it was inevitable that Penric would be put through this rite of passage sooner or later.
kvedja's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? No
4.5
aishoka's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
wild_dog's review
3.0
Something about this entry in the Penric and Desdemona series just doesn't have the same hook as the rest. It does not seem consequential in the overarching political drama being told, and all but one of the stakes are pretty uninteresting in terms of like..."why does this really matter?" It also very quickly becomes clear that the one stake you do care about is already a moot point. (Also just like one dead is too many dead in this series for me.)
Spoiler
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babiescrimsonsparrow's review
3.0
This is the book that fostered a new discovery for me: I don't enjoy a book in a series that mirrors the plot of another book in the same series. I'm not talking about structure or even beats. I'm talking about the same story: The same characters set up the same situation with the same tensions and the same stakes.
It's especially bad when, as the reader, you stop and look down at the book in your hands and wonder, "Did I pick up a previously read installment instead of the newest one?"
That's exactly what I did a few pages into this novella.
To the author's credit, she acknowledged the dilemma by having the MC remark on the similarities - or I might have put the book down and never picked it up again. But the experience really dampened my ability to enjoy the book, which didn't seem to have much stakes to begin with, especially when its identical predecessor also wasn't that good.
A strong author but a plodding installment. Perhaps this series has simply played itself out.
It's especially bad when, as the reader, you stop and look down at the book in your hands and wonder, "Did I pick up a previously read installment instead of the newest one?"
That's exactly what I did a few pages into this novella.
To the author's credit, she acknowledged the dilemma by having the MC remark on the similarities - or I might have put the book down and never picked it up again. But the experience really dampened my ability to enjoy the book, which didn't seem to have much stakes to begin with, especially when its identical predecessor also wasn't that good.
A strong author but a plodding installment. Perhaps this series has simply played itself out.
chloefrizzle's review
3.0
It's a theology focused zombie murder mystery.
I suppose I need to go read the beginning of the series now, because I'm terribly intrigued.
Tho this story didn't do much with it, what I'm most curious about is the relationships. Particularly the one the whole series revolves around: Penric and the friendly demon possessing him, Desdemona.
A video review including this book will be on my Youtube channel in the coming weeks, at https://www.youtube.com/chloefrizzle
Thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
I suppose I need to go read the beginning of the series now, because I'm terribly intrigued.
Tho this story didn't do much with it, what I'm most curious about is the relationships. Particularly the one the whole series revolves around: Penric and the friendly demon possessing him, Desdemona.
A video review including this book will be on my Youtube channel in the coming weeks, at https://www.youtube.com/chloefrizzle
Thanks to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
la5's review
3.0
I have to admit I'm getting a little bored with this series. There's nothing wrong with the story — it's a tight & well-paced mystery. But the characters have become static, and so this series of novellas is no longer a developing story of Penric/Desdemona's humanity/growth/change, but a nicely plotted tale with a few bits of metaphysical insights thrown in. It's a low-conflict story that you can easily read late at night.