Penric and the Shaman

The Penric & Desdemona Series, Book 2

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

In this novella set in the World of the Five Gods and four years after the events in Penric's Demon, Penric is a divine of the Bastard's Order as well as a sorcerer and scholar, living in the palace where the Princess-Archdivine holds court. His scholarly work is interrupted when the Archdivine agrees to send Penric, in his role as sorcerer, to accompany a "Locator" of the Father's Order, assigned to capture Inglis, a runaway shaman charged with the murder of his best friend. However, the situation they discover in the mountains is far more complex than expected. Penric's roles as sorcerer, strategist, and counselor are all called upon before the end.

Bujold delivers an astonishing tale that is not soon forgotten.

©2016 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Way too short

Another delightful and well written Novela by Lois McMaster Bujold. The author has the uncanny ability to humanize her characters to the point where the reader wants to know them more, to be friends with them, and misses their absence after the story is finished. In the grand tradition of Miles Vorkosigan, Penric is another such character, and this Novela was way to short a look into this hero's adventures. It is my true hope that the Author will continue to develop this character and that Grover Gardner will turn these tales into audio books. The tales of Penric and Desdemona are highly recommended.

Intriguing story

Both story and narrator were excellent. I enjoyed the contrast between sorcerer and shaman. Interesting theological concepts

I love to hear Gardner reading Bujold's words

Makes Penric reminiscent of a tall Miles, now that he's grown into a self assured certified Devine.
Highly recommend :)

Wonderful!

I so enjoy Lois McMaster Bujold's characters, and Grover Gardner's reading highlights their personalities perfectly.

More developed characters

The longer length of the second novella allowed for deeper character and plot development. Penric reminds me of the dowager queen in the second book of the Challon series. The same refusal to be awed during extraordinary circumstances.

short but good

A very good follow-up to Penric's Demon. Light-hearted and explicitive of Shamans & Demons World-of-the-5-Gods-style.

Wonderful eveeytime

I have listen to this book dozens of times. the story is great and the narrator is amazing. I am not big on referring books, but this series is the best.

Let the story take you away!

Penric and his Demon Desdemona are tasked to track down a renegade, and possible killer Shaman, so with the blessings of the temple, and in his roll as protector and Sorcerer for the Bastard God's Order, Penric readies himself. What you've got to know as a follower of the Bastard God, is that things are seldom as they seem, and the situation in the mountains is complex... Plus, there's a deadline. Catch up with the renegade before the passes are closed by the snow! Penric, along with his Demon Desdemona, will need to use all their wits in order to sort out the Truths of the Gods and Shamans!
So, grab the book and let the story take you away for a few hours! Plus, I don't think you can go wrong when you listen to a book narrated by Grover Gardner!

Solid Novella

Penric novellas are always entertaining, and this is no exception.

This story is told mostly from the viewpoints of people around Penric, which does limit the emotional impact. Interesting view into the mechanics of shamanic magic and the struggles of its practitioners, but not a great deal from Penric and Desdemona.

Recommended, but not one of the best in this series.

Shamans and sorcerers, may the five gods help us

Lovely short story, a continuation of 'Penric and his demon'. Penric has finished his studies a year ago and is working for the Princess who paid for them. She has a little side job for him, which is not quite going as expected.