Penric and the Shaman
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Our view
“Penric and the Shaman” is a humane, tender novella about grief and survival, set four years after the events of “Penric’s Demon”. Sent into the mountains after a runaway shaman accused of murder, Penric finds the case far more tangled than expected. Some readers find little conflict here and miss the exchanges between Penric and Desdemona as other viewpoints take over. Admirers of Bujold’s Five Gods setting will welcome this thoughtful return.
The view of the BookRank editors, written from readers’ ratings and comments. It does not affect the score or the book’s place in a ranking.
About the book
In this novella set in the World of the Five Gods and four years after the events in Penric's Demon, Penric is a divine of the Bastard's Order as well as a sorcerer and scholar, living in the palace where the Princess-Archdivine holds court. His scholarly work is interrupted when the Archdivine agrees to send Penric, in his role as sorcerer, to accompany a "Locator" of the Father's Order, assigned to capture Inglis, a runaway shaman charged with the murder of his best friend. However, the situation they discover in the mountains is far more complex than expected. Penric's roles as sorcerer, strategist, and counselor are all called upon before the end. Bujold delivers an astonishing tale that is not soon forgotten.--Provided by Publisher
Reading order · Penric and Desdemona
Full order & progress →- Penric's DemonStart here
8.08.0 / 10 - Penric and the ShamanThis book
8.08.0 / 10 - Penric's Mission
8.18.1 / 10 - Penric's Fox
8.08.0 / 10 - Mira's Last Dance
8.08.0 / 10 - The Prisoner of Limnos
8.18.1 / 10 - Masquerade in Lodi
8.08.0 / 10 - The Orphans of Raspay
8.08.0 / 10 - The Physicians of Vilnoc
8.08.0 / 10 - The Assassins of Thasalon
–Not ranked yet - Knot of Shadows
–Not ranked yet - Demon Daughter
–Not ranked yet - Penric and the BanditPenric and the Bandit–Not ranked yet
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.0 across 85 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 37% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Fantasy average of 8.0. That is how 8.0 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | 8.0 | 85 | 100% |
In this book
Themes this book shares with others — each leads to the best books on it.
If you liked this
The same shelf — Fantasy — and a score of 8.0, the closest to this book.
