I had a little understanding of what a shaman in the world of the five Gods is, having read the three books starting with the [Curse of Chalion]. I enjoyed this story, again wishing it was longer, and the dogs were my favorite characters. A line stuck in my head about praying in front of altars and not to them. I might find the exact quote later. ( )

This second novella in the Penric & Desdemona series starts several years after the first one ("Penric's Demon"). Penric has become a divine in the Bastard's order as well as the scholar he had wanted to be as a boy and, of course, a sorcerer due to his possession of the demon Desdemona. I really enjoyed Pen's interactions with Desdemona & also the 2 new characters introduced in this book - Locator Oswyl (from the Father's order) & Shaman Inglis.

Grover Gardner is magnificent narrating these stories... ( )

Lois McMaster Bujolds writing is always smooth and engaging, and her Five Gods world as engrossing as her other creations.
The stories of Penric are fairly straightforward and low stake, but has a lot of heart, not least due to the very personable character of Penric, and his unflinching kindness and willingness to be charitable towards the world and ability to make the best of the situation.
Reading this story is like a warm embrace and rather entertaining.
Penric is invited along on a manhunt for a fugitive shaman, and ends up finding him, saving the soul of several recently deceased from sundering in the process.
The descriptions of the rural mountain life that they encounter in their search is reminiscent of the rural setting of some of the Naismith/Barrayar settings, but wholly its own. ( )

I am loving these stories, and the language is entrancing. ( )

even better than the first.
I *heart* Penric and Desdemona! ( )