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gordana's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
katieinca's review against another edition
5.0
There are now 10 entries in this series (you can pick up the first 3 novellas in the “Penric’s Progress” collection), but this is the first novel. It was great to see Bujold pick up one of the old “well, no one would ever do that because…” rules of this world and turn it to “well but what if someone did?” What I probably loved even more was getting back to some of my favorite minor characters, Bosha and Tanar.
kzimm2024's review against another edition
5.0
What can I say that hasn't already been said? I really enjoyed the journey- reading all 10 stories in a row. Its a real treat to be able to do that instead of waiting for each next book!
Its old home week with Pen. Another interesting adventure/mystery with a side of theology. We get to see people from previous books join in the story as well as a few new ones. Pen always seems to generate a few new friends, it seems most are reluctant :)
Its bittersweet for Tanar, Adelis and Borsha but at least Adelis isn't such a prick anymore. I hope the series continues but I do feel like Lois has given us a great epilogue (just in case it is over). I loved the interaction between him and Nikys and am glad for the new little one. I love that Pen keeps checking the health of his loved ones constantly- his hard fought for treasures.
Curious, how little talk there is of "love", in this entire series. I don't think Pen mentioned he loved Nikys at all, even at the half-assed proposal. I assume it is spoken of but maybe not in this world of betrothals and arranged marriages. I loved all these stories but I think the one with Mira was my favorite- so funny!
Its old home week with Pen. Another interesting adventure/mystery with a side of theology. We get to see people from previous books join in the story as well as a few new ones. Pen always seems to generate a few new friends, it seems most are reluctant :)
Its bittersweet for Tanar, Adelis and Borsha but at least Adelis isn't such a prick anymore. I hope the series continues but I do feel like Lois has given us a great epilogue (just in case it is over). I loved the interaction between him and Nikys and am glad for the new little one. I love that Pen keeps checking the health of his loved ones constantly- his hard fought for treasures.
Curious, how little talk there is of "love", in this entire series. I don't think Pen mentioned he loved Nikys at all, even at the half-assed proposal. I assume it is spoken of but maybe not in this world of betrothals and arranged marriages. I loved all these stories but I think the one with Mira was my favorite- so funny!
kbhenrickson's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
5.0
Another wholly satisfying entry in this series, made even more satisfying by its unexpected novel length.
evaphoenix's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Classism, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, Torture, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Animal death, Alcohol, and War
yak_attak's review against another edition
2.0
Assassins of Thasalon might be the first time I'm genuinely disappointed with a work by Bujold - for much of the Penric and Desdemona series, though I don't think they're particularly more interesting than an amusing trifle, I've been looking forward to this book, particularly for its length. Many of the Penric stories are fun little vignettes, but end far too quickly or tamely to be much of note. The hope was that the full length would let Bujold stretch out a bit, get wild, and get to something a little stranger, more like Chalion, or Paladin.
Unfortunately, Assassins of Thasalon is honestly just another Penric story, only long. It bears no further insight, or weight from the strength of its length, and though it serves as somewhat of a capstone to this particular story arc, there isn't more of a sense of theme or importance than before. Penric goes through his task blithely and in a described orderly manner, and much of the action is literally left to divine intervention. Much of the length of the novel is instead padded with the characters describing to each new person they meet, the events of the novel, up to that point. And then again with the next set. And again with the next. Add in Penric's incessant need to explain the magic system (which we've gotten in all 9 other novellas, and shorter) and it's just boring. The first Bujold book to be so. And Hopefully the last.
Unfortunately, Assassins of Thasalon is honestly just another Penric story, only long. It bears no further insight, or weight from the strength of its length, and though it serves as somewhat of a capstone to this particular story arc, there isn't more of a sense of theme or importance than before. Penric goes through his task blithely and in a described orderly manner, and much of the action is literally left to divine intervention. Much of the length of the novel is instead padded with the characters describing to each new person they meet, the events of the novel, up to that point. And then again with the next set. And again with the next. Add in Penric's incessant need to explain the magic system (which we've gotten in all 9 other novellas, and shorter) and it's just boring. The first Bujold book to be so. And Hopefully the last.
ladyethyme's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately, I was looking much forward to a longer Penric novel, as the proceeding books were mostly short novella. However, what I was met with was a regurgitation for about 3/4 of the book of information that readers would already know.
The author tends to do this in every book, assuming that the reader had not read any previous books in the series, something that I find rather odd, and in my opinion is more of a way to fill pages hastily then actually have to do any plot or character development.
The plot to this novel was also incredibly straightforward, when there was such potential for twisting political intrigue she spent those pages instead going over the abilities of a sorcerer and demon, in the mode of instructing a new sorcerer.
This for me was incredibly boring, and I skipped probably at least half of the book because of this.
Another thing I find rather irritating is Tannar being a extremely intelligent and capable young woman, as apparently only good for giving birth to babies… It is remarked previously in another novel that she had better start making babies, because otherwise she might become a pirate queen.
What I read this as was "she might actually do something interesting with her life". How many great women scientists, artists, have we lost to childcare through the centuries? If Jane Austen had been giving birth to child after child, we would never have any of her great works.
After this annoyance, she marries a man that she barely knows, rather than the one that she is actually in love with. I find it very disappointing that she did not recognize her love of the albino, and marry him anyway, despite prudence or cultural expectations, which would have been far more interesting. Instead, we get the expected and boring outcome… Which unfortunately this entire novel seems to revolve around.
The worst part, in my opinion, is that I know this author is capable of so much more.
Although she is often hit or miss for me, her turn of phrase, sense of humor, and insight has often struck me as incredibly profound and her ability to describe vividly just about anything, held me spellbound throughout her Miles Vorkosigan novels.
At least most of them… Until she decides to marry him off to a completely boring gardener for no apparent reason… Again, that is the hit or miss I am talking about.
The author tends to do this in every book, assuming that the reader had not read any previous books in the series, something that I find rather odd, and in my opinion is more of a way to fill pages hastily then actually have to do any plot or character development.
The plot to this novel was also incredibly straightforward, when there was such potential for twisting political intrigue she spent those pages instead going over the abilities of a sorcerer and demon, in the mode of instructing a new sorcerer.
This for me was incredibly boring, and I skipped probably at least half of the book because of this.
Another thing I find rather irritating is Tannar being a extremely intelligent and capable young woman, as apparently only good for giving birth to babies… It is remarked previously in another novel that she had better start making babies, because otherwise she might become a pirate queen.
What I read this as was "she might actually do something interesting with her life". How many great women scientists, artists, have we lost to childcare through the centuries? If Jane Austen had been giving birth to child after child, we would never have any of her great works.
After this annoyance, she marries a man that she barely knows, rather than the one that she is actually in love with. I find it very disappointing that she did not recognize her love of the albino, and marry him anyway, despite prudence or cultural expectations, which would have been far more interesting. Instead, we get the expected and boring outcome… Which unfortunately this entire novel seems to revolve around.
The worst part, in my opinion, is that I know this author is capable of so much more.
Although she is often hit or miss for me, her turn of phrase, sense of humor, and insight has often struck me as incredibly profound and her ability to describe vividly just about anything, held me spellbound throughout her Miles Vorkosigan novels.
At least most of them… Until she decides to marry him off to a completely boring gardener for no apparent reason… Again, that is the hit or miss I am talking about.
amlibera's review against another edition
5.0
I always forget in between, how very much I enjoy reading Lois McMaster Bujold. I have an especial fondness both for the Five Gods world and Penric himself - a fantasy Lord Peter Wimsey with a complex identity. A slightly longer Penric and Desdemona is a particularly welcome gift.
klmoran's review against another edition
5.0
Love Pen and Des
These books are a treat! I really enjoy them and I’m sad when they are over. Pen is in fine form in this book.
These books are a treat! I really enjoy them and I’m sad when they are over. Pen is in fine form in this book.
auora1484's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
4.25