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A review by tjwallace04
The Physicians of Vilnoc by Lois McMaster Bujold
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.