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lowercasenospaces's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Animal death
shomarq's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ulrikedg's review against another edition
5.0
It's a story about a plague, and the people who are working to save lives don't have to fight TPTB to do so.
Audiobook narrator Grover Gardner is Grover Gardner. Five stars.
Audiobook narrator Grover Gardner is Grover Gardner. Five stars.
ielerol's review against another edition
5.0
From almost anyone else, I don't think I could read a story about a plague right now. Especially not a story about medical personnel pushing themselves way past a reasonable effort and like, being surrounded by death, etc. But I will take all the Penric and Desdemona I can get. I will also take all stories I can get about competent people who actually give a damn about doing the right thing being in charge.
This is the sort of story that you know will have a happy ending going in (I couldn't handle a plague story without a happy ending right now, even from Bujold), but everyone works hard for it, and it feels totally earned. The important question isn't "will Penric stop the disease?", it's "how is it spreading, and how will Penric stop the disease?"
This is the sort of story that you know will have a happy ending going in (I couldn't handle a plague story without a happy ending right now, even from Bujold), but everyone works hard for it, and it feels totally earned. The important question isn't "will Penric stop the disease?", it's "how is it spreading, and how will Penric stop the disease?"
crownoflaurel's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Self harm, Animal death, Racism, and Death
titusfortner's review against another edition
5.0
A novella about a plague is a little rough right now, but the story is so good.
astroprojection's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma and Medical content
Moderate: Terminal illness, Death, and Vomit
tjwallace04's review
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"The Physicians of Vilnoc" is decidedly not my favorite novella in the Penric and Desdemona series. But I am incapable of giving one of these books anything lower than four stars at this point. My devotion is deep; my love is true.
In this edition of Penric's adventures, he and Desdemona are called by Adelis to assist in his military camp with a spreading illness that nobody recognizes or understands. Penric has a fraught relationship with medicine in that he is incredibly self-sacrificing to the healing cause, to the detriment of his own physical and mental health, and this new plague sets him down that same path. Will Pen and Des be able to solve the mystery of the bruising sickness? With new friends to support them, including a new baby demon buddy, there is a pretty good chance!
I am super curious if this novella about a plague, which was published in May 2020, was presciently written before COVID-19 was identified or in response to it? Bujold's writing is as good as ever, but this plot was a little bit flat, slow, and repetitive. And depressing. The mystery of how the plague originated is not quite enough to power a story that is otherwise nothing but continual self-flagellation for our beloved Penric, as he tries his darndest (like always) to save everyone. He heals, Des sheds chaos, he heals, Des sheds chaos. Over and over.
I did really enjoy the introduction of two new interesting characters/besties for Penric: physician Rede and fellow sorcerer Dubro. And of course, Dubro's baby, doglike demon. And of course OF COURSE Penric's own human baby Flori. (Lovely payoff to having followed Penric through 7 other novellas.)
But here's hoping the next volume has a little more plot and a little more heart.
In this edition of Penric's adventures, he and Desdemona are called by Adelis to assist in his military camp with a spreading illness that nobody recognizes or understands. Penric has a fraught relationship with medicine in that he is incredibly self-sacrificing to the healing cause, to the detriment of his own physical and mental health, and this new plague sets him down that same path. Will Pen and Des be able to solve the mystery of the bruising sickness? With new friends to support them, including a new baby demon buddy, there is a pretty good chance!
I am super curious if this novella about a plague, which was published in May 2020, was presciently written before COVID-19 was identified or in response to it? Bujold's writing is as good as ever, but this plot was a little bit flat, slow, and repetitive. And depressing. The mystery of how the plague originated is not quite enough to power a story that is otherwise nothing but continual self-flagellation for our beloved Penric, as he tries his darndest (like always) to save everyone. He heals, Des sheds chaos, he heals, Des sheds chaos. Over and over.
I did really enjoy the introduction of two new interesting characters/besties for Penric: physician Rede and fellow sorcerer Dubro. And of course, Dubro's baby, doglike demon. And of course OF COURSE Penric's own human baby Flori. (Lovely payoff to having followed Penric through 7 other novellas.)
But here's hoping the next volume has a little more plot and a little more heart.
drkappitan's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Terminal illness
Minor: Suicide attempt
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
I like epilogues. Sure having the same structure in each novella is somewhat formulaic. But this is Bujold. By the end I was as tired of the plague as the characters were. We certainly see Penric's exhaustion. And there wasn't all that much use of the existing cast. But as always, we see just a little bit more of the way magic works. And a bit more of the greater world. Another fine addition to this world.