My Goodreads review: Penric's Demon

Penric's Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Set within the Chalion / Five Gods portion of Bujold’s works, this novella is a must-read for her fans (I’m one of them) – and recommended for other fantasy enthusiasts who enjoy world-building and complex characterization without massive doses of graphic violence. Though there’s plenty of action & convincing darkness, the narrative would work for both YA and adult readers.

As always with Bujold, relationships take precedence here. When a young lord whose family has seen better days accidently becomes the newest host of a “demon” (a supernatural being linked to religious magic), he reacts by trying to make friends with the entity. This unusual choice – demons are generally treated as unwilling servants of the sorcerers they inhabit -- drives the rest of the narrative at a brisk pace. Readers of Bujold’s Chalion novels will discover small but tasty additions to that lore. Readers new to the series are unlikely to find themselves lost, but may not appreciate this adventure quite as much.

This novella is a fine example of a fantasy written to its proper length, and no further. I was fully satisfied with the tale when it ended, though (of course!) I wished there were a few more waiting in the wings.




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