The Prisoner of Limnos

I've greatly enjoyed this series, and this novella provides a nice sense of closure to Penric and Desdemona's story arc. In particular, this completes the arc started in Penric's Mission, where Penric meets Nikys and Adelis. I don't recommend starting here if you haven't read Penric's Mission and Mira's Last Dance.

In this story, Penric helps Nikys rescue her mother, who is being held as a political hostage against Adelis. Daring infiltration and extraction aside, this novella explores relationships--family, friends, and yes, romantic relationships as well. What I particularly enjoy about the romance in this is how it's not about fiery, overwhelming lust, it's two levelheaded and introspective characters carefully evaluating and negotiating their relationship. Nikys has valid concerns about how Desdemona (and all the other personalities hiding in Penric's head) would affect her relationship with Penric, and she's not thrilled the fact that he's essentially a transient foreigner, albeit an important one. Furthermore, she's still got hangups related to the question of whether she even wants to remarry. That's a lot to explore in a short novella, and Bujold does it well.

Bujold's strength in all these novellas is the way she writes compelling close relationships. Many writers choose to fracture relationships in order to create interesting plots. That is usually interesting, but it's refreshing to read stories in which those relationships are tested and strengthened in other ways.

All in all, this is a satisfying conclusion to the Penric and Desdemona saga.

The Prisoner of Limnos by Lois McMasters Bujold. A Penric and Desdemona novella. 5 stars

First of all I love Lois McMasters Bujold. She is terrific. This series of short stories- novellas are set in the world of one of my favorite books - The Curse of Chalion. Penric who is the main character/ hero is an ordinary man on his way to his wedding and somehow get attached to a demon named Desdemona. Des has been around a long time and Penric is her latest host. Because of that he becomes a sorcerer, healer, scholar and a kind of priest. I haven't read all the stories, just the earlier ones. But I have listened to Grover Gardner's narration and they're wonderful. This story is fast paced, filled with intrigue and peril. There is a rescue sequence that could have come out a summer blockbuster. Bujold injects humor and sarcasm into the plot. Nikys the heroine reminds me of Ekaterin from the Vorkosigan books - practical and pragmatic.. I hope there will be more adventures for Penric, Desdemona and Nikys.

Thank you Netgalley and Subterranean Press for the ARC.