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clarabooksit's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Violence
Minor: Suicide
kiola's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
katieinca's review against another edition
4.0
These are reliably fun, and full of Bujold's little writing gems and sage observations. This one was like a little murder mystery romp, a la carnival in Venice.
kzimm2024's review against another edition
5.0
Penric is now 10 years from the 1st story and he has lost the care and support of his benefactor the princess when she passes. He is encouraged to leave and finds a position in Lodi. I didn't pick up the clues until the end but it looks like Pen struggled with grief and loos and tried to take his life. How sorrowful a feeling, he is such a wonderful character. Des cares for him deeply and found him help as well as healing the scars.
Another great mystery, this one about a man who had a demon hop on board via animals (dolphin) and the subsequent adventure to free him. I liked Chio- great character. And I have to say I saw the whole mystery solved once Merin took Chio but I followed along anyway. Great story.
Pen is now 30, looking for his love interest next! She will have to be a spectacular woman of character and understanding. And wit :)
Another great mystery, this one about a man who had a demon hop on board via animals (dolphin) and the subsequent adventure to free him. I liked Chio- great character. And I have to say I saw the whole mystery solved once Merin took Chio but I followed along anyway. Great story.
Pen is now 30, looking for his love interest next! She will have to be a spectacular woman of character and understanding. And wit :)
angel_koyfish's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ladyethyme's review against another edition
2.0
While I love Bujold's wet and occasional turn of phrase that has me laughing out loud, the spoken particular was a short story that could have been edited severely. The last hour and a half was just basically recap of what we had just read for the first 2/3 of the book. Pen himself seems to be a colorless and shallow character, without development, and without much depth.
I am also a bit disappointed that they did not address the fact that the saint was not being paid her due allowance, but that the person at her chapter house was apparently keeping it all for himself… I would have liked to have seen that resolved, but it was not. There was more than enough time to do so, as I said the last third of the book was pretty much worthless and could have been edited down to three or four pages tops.
I am also a bit disappointed that they did not address the fact that the saint was not being paid her due allowance, but that the person at her chapter house was apparently keeping it all for himself… I would have liked to have seen that resolved, but it was not. There was more than enough time to do so, as I said the last third of the book was pretty much worthless and could have been edited down to three or four pages tops.
kbhenrickson's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I figured out the mystery aspect fairly early on in the story, but that did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. I'm enjoying spending a little more time in this world with its bite-sized novellas after finishing a very long audiobook.
amlibera's review against another edition
4.0
Penric is somehow both Lord Peter Wimsey and Lymond in a fantasy world. But Desdemona makes him less of a tortured enigma and much more human. I could wish that each of these novellas were five times as long and the mysteries more complicated just to spend even more time in the alternate world Venice of Lodi and particularly with the sainted Chio who has hidden depths that seem to invite more discovery.
iaraya's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
3.5
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
5.0
This is the ninth novella in the Penric-and-Desdemona series, a wonderful sequence of fantasy novellas about Penric and the two-hundred-year-old female demon who shares his body. I love the gentle touch with which Bujold writes these stories. Her prose is a pleasure, smooth and elegant, at times luminous. And for all Desdemona's sharpness, the fondness between her and Penric is always clear.
Although the ninth novella to be published, in the internal chronology of the series this is the fourth installment. I will skip all other details and plot spoilers. Suffice it to say this entertained, moved, and delighted me. I gobbled it up, despite all my good intentions to make it last.
4.5 out of 5 stars under the view of the Bastard God.
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).
Although the ninth novella to be published, in the internal chronology of the series this is the fourth installment. I will skip all other details and plot spoilers. Suffice it to say this entertained, moved, and delighted me. I gobbled it up, despite all my good intentions to make it last.
4.5 out of 5 stars under the view of the Bastard God.
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).