Penric & Desdemona, Part 5
by Lois McMaster Bujold

Reviewed by Galen Strickland
Posted January 31, 2024
Edits and Addenda on July 12, 2024 & July 23, 2025

Demon Daughter / Penric and the Bandit / The Adventure of the Demonic Ox

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The twelfth Penric & Desdemona story was published about three weeks ago. The date at Amazon, ISFDb, and fantasticfiction.com all match, but doesn't seem right, since January 7 was a Sunday. [EDIT: Since Bujold has been releasing ebooks through her literary agent, publication date doesn't have to conform to the typical Tuesday release.] It came as a surprise to me since I had not seen any prior mention of it. I reviewed the previous eleven titles last year, one a month, starting in February. The way this one ends makes me sure it will not be the last. There have been a few characters who have recurred after their initial appearance, but not as much or as many as I expected. The new character added now is likely to feature prominently in any future story.

Otta is a six-year-old girl on a trading ship owned by her father, her mother being his concubine who he had previously bought as a slave from pirates. The scene on the ship does not last long. One of the crew, a boy not much older than Otta, obviously thought he would be scaring her with a rat he had just caught. Instead, she thinks it is cute and cuddly, and takes it from him. But First Mate had other ideas. He takes the rat from her and throws it overboard, Otta pining for it as she sees it sink into the sea. The story switches to Vilnoc, where Penric still lives, working for the Bastard's Temple there, and Duke Jurgo on occasion. An acolyte of the Daughter's Temple comes to him with a message from a nearby fishing village. A young girl had washed up on shore. The local temple priest was sure she was demon possessed, since fires kept spontaneously starting around her. He had thrown her into an old, mostly dry well, then sent for help. Nikys accompanies Penric on this assignment.

This is not the Nikys-centric story I have been anticipating, but she does help, her motherly instincts smoothing the way with Otta, even though she knows little of the Roknari language the girl speaks. But Penric does, which surpirses Otta, and she is also surprised a demon-possessed sorceror is not the malevolent entity she expected from Rocknari legends. Penric suspects the rat had been the source of the very immature elemental demon now inside Otta. The task is to help her control her fear and anxiety, which had been the trigger for the fires. Otta says First Mate had thrown her overboard when he suspected she was the source of the fires on the ship. She does not know if the ship had sunk, or if not, if anyone on board had died because of the fires. The balance of the story shows how Penric teaches Otta how to control and understand what is happening to her, and it is an indication of how good a teacher he must be for other divines and sorcerers.

It has been almost twenty years since Penric acquired Desdemona, and over nine since he married Nikys. Their daughter Rina is a year older than Otta, and their son Wyn is about four. The family is happy and prosperous, everyone pitching in for all chores, Penric even helping with laundry and other things. Otta is welcomed into their home while Pen considers the options. He contacts his old friend, the saint Iroki, who eventually replies that he should bring Otta to him, and for him to bring Otta into the presence of the Bastard, who will determine what happens to Atto, which is the name given to her demon. Otta needs to find out what happened to her parents and their ship, even if she decides not to return to them. If she is able to keep Atto, she will be required to attend seminary to become a divine sorceress.

There are a few things different about this story. Bujold always writes in third-person, and I may be wrong, but this is the first time I noticed people being referenced differently scene to scene. It appears there are times the perspective is Otta's, since it is always Learned Penric, or Madame Nikys, rather than just their names. I'm talking about exposition, not Otta speaking. The other difference relates to how Otta reacts to Desdemona. Previously, other possessed people and their demons were frightened of Desdemona, but it is not that way with Otta. Also, even though there have been occasional conflicts of opinion between the two, this is the first time I recall Desdemona being very angry with Pen. It is because of Des's desire to see Otta keep Atto, regardless of the consequences. Thus when that does happen, the tension between sorcerer and demon is resolved. It also begs the question of the intention of the title. Is Otta now the daughter of Penric and Nikys, or is Atto the daughter of Desdemona? If there is to be more to this sequence I hope those questions are answered..

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Posted July 12, 2024
Another Sunday ebook release from Bujold. Penric and the Bandit was available June 30, but I didn't hear about it until someone who had read my previous reviews emailed recently. I should have been following Bujold on Amazon, which I am now, because they would have sent an email shortly before that. With each of Penric's stories I have anticipated characters recurring, but most of the time they may get a brief mention, but otherwise are not part of the new adventure. I still look forward to a Nikys-centric story, but here we only know she is back in Vilnoc, with Penric on a personal journey in the adjacent country of Trigonie. Otta, from the previous story, gets a mention as Pen and Nikys' adopted daughter. Penric is at an inn, perusing a map, when he is approached by a man intrigued by the map, even though Roz reads little, so he can't distinguish the various towns and other features on the map. He wonders if it is a treasure map, which interests him a lot, since he is a thief. He surprised even himself when he reveals his name to Penric, all three versions he has used in the past. His full surname is Rozakajin, but he used Rozak when he was in the army, but prefers just Roz. He probably shouldn't have said Rozak was his army name, since he is a deserter, later joining a bandit gang, mostly comprised of other deserters.

Another example of third-person narration from the perspective of another character. We know that Roz first thinks of Penric as "Goldie," because of his blonde hair. Then when he thinks the map might lead to treasure, Pen is referred to as the "Goose," as in the one who laid the golden egg. On other occasions Pen is the "Gull," short for gullible. But Pen is not gullible, and he (and Desdemona) are well aware of Roz's nature, that he is likely a thief. That doesn't stop Pen from allowing Roz to accompany him in his search for an old, abandoned temple. The main reason for that is the old maxim, "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." Through Desdemona's Sight, they are aware Roz was visited by members of his old gang one night in the livery stable at the next inn. Roz had run away from the gang as they all had previously deserted the army. He tells them of his suspicions of the treasure Pen is seeking, which delays their revenge. Pen doesn't let on he knows, but he and Roz are aware of his former comrades following them later. Another thing Pen is able to glean about Roz is that he is sincere in his regret of past actions. He was from a very poor family, had no prospects for work or a family of his own in that village, and later work gangs and the army were harsh and repressive. He was good at being a thief, but was not as brutal as the gang's leaders, which is the reason he left them. If he had not stolen a horse and several mules from them they may not have pursued him, but he needed something to sell just to be able to eat.

I was sure the "treasure" that Pen sought was not what Roz was thinking about. Pen had read about the abandoned temple in other books, some of which were only reproductions of fractions of books and scrolls he hoped to find. That kind of thing was mere trash to Roz, and he even suggested they be burned for heat and cooking. Something I didn't expect was Pen sensing some real treasure too, which he told Roz he could keep. If they survived the assault his old gang is planning of course. I won't reveal any other details, other than how Roz was stunned when he learned of Pen's true nature, but also grateful of that nature which allowed them to escape. It took a big toll on Pen though, as both the uphill and downhill magic he had to expend was almost fatal. Pen gets Roz to swear that if he takes him to Orbas he will not return to his thieving ways. Roz does accompany him, but it is too soon to tell if he sticks with that pledge. Yet another character who may recur in a later story, or perhaps just get a brief mention.

I have no idea how many more Penric stories Bujold plans, nor whether these three will get the omnibus treatment as the first nine did. If that happens I will update this page with links to that. I will also anticipate needing to create yet another page to continue following Penric and Desdemona. Penric has many abilities and powers, most but not all through his association with Desdemona. His most important attributes, which he would have even without his demon, are his intelligence and dedication, but most importantly, his empathy and compassion for all who live under the aegis of the Five Gods..

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Posted July 23, 2025
Along with one novel, The Adventure of the Demonic Ox is the thirteenth novella in the Penric & Desdemona series. [Links to previous reviews below.] It has been a year since the previous story, but two years in the life of Penric and his family. His wife Nikys is pregnant again, their third child to join daughter Rina (Florina) and son Wyn (Llewyn), along with their adopted daughter Otta, who was introduced two stories back in Demon's Daughter, and it has been five years since those events. It is only available as an e-book now, for either Kindle, Kobo, or Nook, but not Bookshop so far. Bujold has been releasing the e-books herself, but it is possible there will be a future hardcover release from Subterranean Press (and later paperback) as happened with the others. I will update if there are any changes in availability.

Penric has continued his studies of history, and of the work of previous sorcerers. His main goal is to translate as many books as possible, have them printed and dispersed as widely as possible. Due to previous problems he had experienced, he had tried to remain outside the medical applications of sorcery, even though he does teach at a physician's academy in Dogrita each summer. His daughter Rina, age twelve, has proved to be a helpful scribe in his work, but she has a few ideas for her future beyond that. Since Otta is still a student of sorcery, Penric is wary of her being able to always control her chaos demon. She has moved out of the house so as not to pose any problems for Nikys' pregnancy. Wyn has a summer job working with his uncle Ikos Rodoa (first seen in The Prisoner of Limnos), son of Nikys' mother Idrene before she became concubine to Nikys' father. Ikos is an engineer, currently working on replacing an old wooden bridge with one of stone. One day Penric's quiet study time is interrupted by Wyn bringing the news of an ox who he suspects has been inhabited by a demon.

Alas, my long hoped for Nikys-centric story still hasn't happened, but I have also wondered why previous characters have not recurred as often as expected. Several do in this story, including Kittio, son of Alixtra, a sorceress (and former assassin), first encountered in The Assassins of Thasalon. Kittio is a groom at one of the temples, not only caring for horses and carts, but also the animals used in funeral rites. He accompanies Penric and Wyn back to the bridge site, and their party also includes Otta, since Pen thinks it would be good experience for her and her own demon, as well as Rina, mainly as a companion for Otta, who is one year younger. I have mentioned several times that I was sure Pen was a very good teacher, and not just for sorcery, but also because of his encouragement of reading and study in general, even though Wyn preferred the practical applications of the engineering skills he was learning from his uncle. But he had paid enough attention to his father as regards demons and sorcery, and Pen confirms his diagnosis of a demon inside the ox. Pen suspects the demon had previously been in a bird, since the ox's weird behavior appeared to indicate he was trying to fly. They segregate the ox from other livestock, building another pen in a far corner of a field rented from local farmers. Before Pen has a chance for a closer examination of the animal, Kittio reports the ox has broken out of its pen and has run away.

Pen uses the time during their search to encourage Otta's use of her demon's Sight, as well as describing his process to the others. Wyn is not with them, having been dispatched to Pef to seek the help of the Saint Iroki, seen in two previous stories. They eventually find the ox high in the hills, but Kittio's mastiff attacks, and in the ensuing melee to get the dog away from the ox, Pen is gored by the ox's long horn. This is Pen's story of course, so we know he will survive, but that doesn't mean the situation is not dire. Desdemona frantically works from within to heal him, and in her anger she strikes out and kills the ox. As we know from previous stories, whenever a demon possessed person (or animal) dies, the demon jumps to the nearest available body. I won't say who it is this time, but the demon is small and young, and it will take a while for their influence to be felt by their new rider. Penric is the eleventh person that has ridden Desdemona, all the previous being women, with her first two incarnations being within animals. One thing I speculated at the beginning of his tale is that Des, or maybe her rider at the time, the Learned Ruschia, had chosen Penric specifically for Desdemona's new rider. Nothing of that was ever confirmed, but it has become clear that Des cares a lot for Pen, and he for her too. As awkward as it has been for him, Des has also become good friends with Nikys and Idrene, and she thinks of herself as a surrogate mother to Otta, or at least to her demon Atto. I have no idea how many more stories Bujold intends to write in this sequence, but I would not be surprised if Des chooses to die herself at the time Pen does. But she will do whatever it takes to keep him alive in the meantime.

Rina and Otta feel helpless, but at least Otta can use the Sight to observe how Des is working to save Pen. Kittio, and his dog, are sent back to Ikos's camp for workers to bring a litter to carry Pen. In the interim, Otta and Rina have to contend with wolves that come to attack them, or maybe just feast on the dead ox, and when Des and Atto use their powers to kill the wolves, vultures are the next problem. Pen is conscious, though not always lucid, but does his best to instruct Otta on what to do, and Rina absorbs all he says for her own edification. Always a diligent teacher, Pen is, no matter the circumstances. He realizes it may be his last opportunity to impart his wisdom. Rina and Otta have conversations away from him, and what they discuss turn into propositions for their future once they are all back in Vilnoc. Back home, where Nikys' third child has arrived, another girl, named Idrene Desdemona, to be called Mona. So, one more demon rider to teach, a sorceress who wants to learn medicine, and a girl not content just being a scribe. Rina has longed to have her own demon, and since she missed out this time, she wants to learn Wealdean, and travel to Easthome to perhaps become a shaman, to learn from her father's old friend Ingris kin Wolfcliff (from the second story, Penric and the Shaman). This story was more about the development of other characters beyond Penric and Desdemona, more about their growth and education, over and above any sorcery involved. I hope that continues in later stories. Whatever happens, however many stories Bujold chooses to write, I will read them. Perhaps I can add another page next year, if not sooner. [Sooner it is. Click the link for Part 6 below, which starts with Testimony of Mute Things.]

Related Links:
Go back to the start of the series with Penric & Desdemona, Part 1, the first 3 novellas
Then Part 2, novellas 4-6
Part 3, novellas 7-9
Part 4, the novel The Assassins of Thasalon + novella #10
Part 6, two novellas so far
A list of all my Bujold reviews

 

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