Penric and the Bandit

In the thrilling 13th Penric and Desdemona adventure (after Demon Daughter), Bujold sends temple sorcerer Pen and Des, the demon who shares his body, on a quest to track down some valuable and long-lost magical writings. Along the way, they meet Roz, a thief on the run from his former crew. Bujold takes what for her is the unusual step of splitting the narration between Roz, who thinks Pen might prove an easy mark, especially when he alludes to hunting down a “treasure,” and Pen, whose magic allows him to easily discern Roz’s motives. Pen could use the help of Roz and his (stolen) mule, so agrees to hire them both, thus entangling Pen and Des in Roz’s troubles, which are quick to manifest. A handful of the bandit gang find Roz that night and he reveals the existence of a potential treasure trove in exchange for his life, putting Pen and Des on a collision course with the criminals. It’s exciting to watch as the fast-moving plot comes together, especially when the usually nerdy, restrained Pen, under threat, demonstrates his and Des’s true badassery. The combination of mystery, action, and ethical conundrums proves as enjoyable as ever. Bujold shows no signs of slowing down. (Aug.)