Penric's Demon

Wow, I hadn't realized just how much I missed Bujold.
If you're familiar with Lois McMaster Bujold, you probably know her through her iconic Vorkosigan Saga and may not even be aware of her high fantasy series. While the style, worldbuilding, and characters are startlingly different from the Vorkosigan Saga, the World of the Five Gods series is well worth the read. Featuring a different protagonist in each book, it takes place in a vaguely medieval high-fantasy world ruled by the aforementioned Five Gods. Like the loas of Santeria, these gods can choose "saints" that they inhabit and ride. But the world is also inhabited by the servants of the Fifth God, the Bastard. These incorporeal demons also choose humans to ride, and a demon-ridden human can become either a sorcerer or a psychotic.

This novella centers around the eponymous Penric, a son of an impoverished country lord of a land "more noted for producing cheese than history". At the novella's outset, Penric stumbles into the wrong place at exactly the wrong time and ends up discovering far more about the incorporeal world of the spirit than he had planned. The story itself is thoroughly enjoyable, a gentle exploration of a thoroughly satisfying world infused with the trademark Bujold wit. If you're a fan of the Five Gods books, this little novella is a joy to read. I'm not sure how well it would work if you're not familiar with the world of the five gods, but that's okay, because if you're fond of unique high fantasy, Curse of Chalion deserves a place on your to-read list anyway.

~4.5

BookLikes: http://pagefault.booklikes.com/post/1380875/i Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1585895519

Oh, Mrs Bujold, you're such a tease. Giving us a new page-turner, but only 100 pages instead of a Sandersonian-sized novel. I need 10 times more than that!

Oh, Subterranean publishers, you're such a tease. Letting me review an ARC in the form of a pdf but publishing it as hardcover which would fit nicely in my bookshelf besides my copies of Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls.

Look only at the great dust jacket illustration by Lauren St. Onge which shows the key scene of this novella: Young Lord Penric crosses the way of an elderly lady who had a heart attack. She is the Temple of the Bastard's divine - one of the five gods of the Chalion world. When she dies, she transfers her demon to Penric - one of the oldest, mightiest demons, a bunch of female incarnations. Now the real fun begins, when the two get to know each other, and others get to know that Penric is now the demon's rider.

Contrasting the wide ranging historical references of Curse of Chalion, this novella concentrates more on the world-building in the form of internal Temple politics. And of course, the adventures of Penric and his demon, both being decent, hm, beings. Which means: nothing boring at all.

Although Penric's Demon takes place approximately 150 years after The Hallowed Hunt, it can be read as a standalone, as there is no real overlap with the other Chalion-books. It helps if you understand the general concepts of the Five Gods but besides of this, even newcomer to the series might enjoy it.

A fun reading with a satisfying ending. Wait, did I say satisfying? No, I meant: This ends like it would be the start of Penric's adventures. Did the Bastard swallow the rest?

Penric's Demon is an enjoyable novella that will leave newcomers anxious to read more of Lois McMaster Bujold's fantasies. It is a light and appealing read appropriate for fantasy aficionados of all ages.

Penric is an affable and intelligent young man, the younger son of an impoverished aristocratic family. On the way to his betrothal, he encounters a group of travelers, amongst them an elderly woman who is dying. As Penric comforts her, she bequeaths her greatest gift, the source of her powers, a demon. That one moment transforms his life, creating both envy and fear in those around him.

Like the heroes in fairy tales, Penric's lack of prejudice and expectations, along with his natural amiability and compassion lead him into an unprecedented relationship with his demon, Desdemona. As demons are the source of sorcerous ability, there are those who will readily kill Penric for a chance at power, and Desdemona's knowledge and ability may be the only thing that saves him. And his faith in her goodness, the only thing that saves her.

I liked Penric's Demon a great deal. As it is a novella, do not expect a long or complicated plot. It is a nice introduction to Penric and Desdemona. I will be a bit disappointed, however if Bujold does not write a follow-up having left the reader with a few tantalizing teasers.

4/5

I received a copy of Penric's Demon from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Good, old-fashioned fantasy that'll leave a smile on your face.

'Penric's Demon' brings us back to the world of the Chalion books, but it's a stand-alone story. While on his way to his betrothal, a young man encounters an elderly woman on the road who's been taken ill. He stops to see if he can assist, but she's just had a heart attack, and dies in his arms. Significantly, she was no average woman, but a Learned Sorceress, and upon her death, her 'demon' transfers into Penric's body. The 'demon' is an amalgamation of the personalities and knowledge of not just the recently-deceased Learned Ruschia, but of a dozen predecessors. Normally only a highly-trained and privileged individual is permitted to acquire a demon, as the situation can be quite dangerous. Will Penric be able to handle it? What will the authorities have to say about his anomalous state? And what will it all mean for his future?

A must for fans of Bujold; I think this will also appeal greatly to those who enjoy Robin Hobb.

Wonderful!

Lois McMaster Bujold's 'Chalion' fantasy novels are among my favourites, similar in tone and as brilliant as Robin Hobb's novels, but unfortunately not as well known (and now out of print in the UK I believe). This was a great little novella, the story stands alone, and although you'd benefit from reading her other novels for a better understanding of the magic and mythology it's not necessary, but would hopefully entice you to check them out if you haven't already, or just re-read them again as I plan to very soon...

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

Penric's Demon is the first thing I've read by Lois McMaster Bujold and I can see I've been missing out.

I liked Penric. He's reasonably intelligent but naïve, making him a great way to experience the World of the Five Gods for the first time. Having grown up in a rather backwater mountain valley, the city of Martensbridge is as new and amazing to Penric as it is to the reader. However, while I love a character with a sense of wonder, it was Penric's kindness that really endeared him to me. He loves his home and gets disgruntled when people look down on it, even when he later concedes they may have cause. He also treats those around him with unfailing respect and generally believes the best of them. Bujold cleverly makes this both a hindrance and a help.
I found the author's approach to demons to be quite a novel one. Saying more risks spoilers, but I will note I enjoyed it a lot.

The pacing was excellent. Bujold manages to skilfully convey information to the reader without resorting to info-dumps. I never felt lost or overwhelmed, even though the world was new to me. Being a novella, there's always a risk that the story will feel too short or unfinished. However, there was enough conclusion to keep me satisfied while still leaving me craving more.

Overall, I found Penric's Demon a great introduction to Bujold's work and it has inspired me to seek out more.

I loved this novella set in Bujold's Chalion world, mainly because Penric, the main character, is both interesting and appealing. We see him struggle with unexpected adversity, and root for him to triumph.