Book Log 43/2016 - Lois McMaster Bujold: Penric & the Shaman – Penric & Desemona #2

[jacey]

The second Penric novella, picking up Penric’s story after he’s been trained and installed as a Divine of the Bastard’s Order, and a Sorceror, in the religious house of the princess archdivine in Martensbridge. Penric rides (or is ridden by) a demon, Desdemona who has already inhabited many other divines in her long relationship with humans, so Pen not only had the demon personality breaking through his own, but also the other divines Des had inhabited. It gives him skills and powers he can call on when he needs to, but the other personalities also pop up when he doesn’t always want them.

Called away from his task of making woodcuts of the Temple’s books (magically) Pen is sent on a mission to retrieve Inglis, a rogue shaman wanted for murder. His companion (apart from the ever present Desdemona) is Senior Locator Oswyl, a man who takes his duties very seriously. Pen and Oswyl don’t really see eye to eye. Oswyl follows his head and Pen follows his heart. When the shaman is found their troubles are only just beginning. Set in the world of the Five Gods (like The Curse of Chalion) theology is a practical discipline, not just a theoretical one.

Comments

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I've just finished the first in this series and am looking forward to reading the one you've just read.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Bujold is one of my all-time favourite writers and is a buy-on-publication writer for me. My favourite is still The Curse of Chalion - the first of her Five Gods books.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I think Paladin of Souls was my favourite in that series.

I'm playing Bujold catch up at the moment. I used to by them as soon as I found them, but I hit lack of money and pretty much had to give up book buying for several years.