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alex_ellermann 's review for:
Penric's Demon
by Lois McMaster Bujold
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you've been following my reviews, you know I'd probably rave about Lois McMaster Bujold's grocery list. I love her authorial voice: she marries wry humor with warm humanism. As read by Grover Gardner, her "voice" across many stories, she comes across like your favorite storyteller. She brings excitement, adventure, humor, and pathos to everything she writes.
"Penric's Demon" is no different. A novella set in her World of the Five Gods, the story hits all the bases of the fantasy genre: it introduces a fully realized high-medieval world, orients the reader to its magic / supernatural system, and drops an interesting protagonist into the middle of things. Bujold breaks the mold, however, and in a surprisingly refreshing way: her characters speak in American vernacular English. Yes, they have slightly exotic names, but nothing over the top. This makes it easier for the American reader to slip into the story without feeling precious.
The story? Well, it's hard to explain less than novella length. In short, there's a callow youth, a call to adventure, and mentors who may not have the youth's interests at heart. That's all you need to know, really, because the draw is in the writing itself. Some writers simply "have it." Lois McMaster Bujold is one of those writers.
If you're in the market for a fantasy novella to introduce you to a new world, pick up "Penric's Demon." I promise: its author will become one of your favorite authors, too.
"Penric's Demon" is no different. A novella set in her World of the Five Gods, the story hits all the bases of the fantasy genre: it introduces a fully realized high-medieval world, orients the reader to its magic / supernatural system, and drops an interesting protagonist into the middle of things. Bujold breaks the mold, however, and in a surprisingly refreshing way: her characters speak in American vernacular English. Yes, they have slightly exotic names, but nothing over the top. This makes it easier for the American reader to slip into the story without feeling precious.
The story? Well, it's hard to explain less than novella length. In short, there's a callow youth, a call to adventure, and mentors who may not have the youth's interests at heart. That's all you need to know, really, because the draw is in the writing itself. Some writers simply "have it." Lois McMaster Bujold is one of those writers.
If you're in the market for a fantasy novella to introduce you to a new world, pick up "Penric's Demon." I promise: its author will become one of your favorite authors, too.