Penric and Desdemona, name a more iconic duo

The Assassins of Thasalon is the latest in Lois McMaster Bujold’s Penric series. Most are novellas but we have the treat of a full length novel this time. The plots continues from the last novella  The Physicians of Vilnoc (not last in publication date but in chronology) and is the 10th in the series. Penric is settled down with a young daughter toddling about adorably and another on the way. One of the things I love about this character is his kindness, even though he’s a very powerful sorcerer- due to his very powerful demon Desdemona. Brute  force is rarely if ever his style. In fact it’s usually disdained and seen as a mark of a lesser sorcerer. He instead relies on his considerable intelligence which allows for a good mystery, typically political, in the world of the 5 Gods.

Penric and Desdemona travel to Thasalon to discover who was behind an attempted assasination of his brother-in-law, General Arisaydia whom he rescued in the previous novel. He’s accompanied by a saint 0f the Bastard and an unlikely new student he schools in theology and magic along the way, which allows the reader to gain more detail in this incredible world’s esoteric underpinnings. The plot is tightly written and the characters are, as always, absolutely delightful. The day this woman stopes writing I will mourn deeply because she never fails to delight. I guess that’s why she’s a Grand Master of the genre. Highly Recommend.