Lia
I love this series, which creates its own religious landscape (the World of the Five Gods) in order to address concepts that can be difficult to speak about outside of church or temple. Here the topic at hand is death, the stories we leave behind after we go, and the need to make amends as we face it.
This installment is a short one-off story set in between several of the series' earlier entries, when Penric and Desdemona (his demon) are serving as court sorcerer to the Princess-Archdivine of Martensbridge. They must accompany her to diplomatic talks determining the future of a temple complex. There, they find a murder.
In this case an acolyte is murdered (by snake bite!) in the process of attempting to contact the princess-archdivine. Penric must track down the truth she was trying to reveal and help lift up those he encounters along the way, including a recalcitrant orphan. Meanwhile, Desdemona speaks with a former friend and lover of her previous host, Ruschia.
The novella is short and contemplative. I did not find it more compelling than some of the other Penric and Desdemona entries (my favorites come a bit later in the timeline). The entire series is wonderful, though, and this was a welcome return: 4.5 stars.
I love this series, which creates its own religious landscape (the World of the Five Gods) in order to address concepts that can be difficult to speak about outside of church or temple. Here the topic at hand is death, the stories we leave behind after we go, and the need to make amends as we face it.
This installment is a short one-off story set in between several of the series' earlier entries, when Penric and Desdemona (his demon) are serving as court sorcerer to the Princess-Archdivine of Martensbridge. They must accompany her to diplomatic talks determining the future of a temple complex. There, they find a murder.
In this case an acolyte is murdered (by snake bite!) in the process of attempting to contact the princess-archdivine. Penric must track down the truth she was trying to reveal and help lift up those he encounters along the way, including a recalcitrant orphan. Meanwhile, Desdemona speaks with a former friend and lover of her previous host, Ruschia.
The novella is short and contemplative. I did not find it more compelling than some of the other Penric and Desdemona entries (my favorites come a bit later in the timeline). The entire series is wonderful, though, and this was a welcome return: 4.5 stars.