The Orphans of Raspay (Penric and Desdemona, #7) in SpecFic Buddy Reads

Sep 05, 2021 Di Maitland rated it really liked it

Shelves: magic, witches-wizards, medieval-setting, fantasy, children, angels-demons, gods, ships-and-seas, ghosts, prison

This was a fun book for seeing Penric and Desdemona let loose. The first three-quarters is enjoyable but the last quarter is a real hoot. I didn't expect the ending either, though I wasn't far off.

'"So you think the demon-god will answer your prayers, Sea-eyes?" Sadly, no. I think the demon-god employs me to answer them for Him. Lazy Bastard.'

The Bastard has a plan. This plan includes Penric being captured by pirates. Needless to say, Penric's not having a good day. Soon enough, the pirates aren This was a fun book for seeing Penric and Desdemona let loose. The first three-quarters is enjoyable but the last quarter is a real hoot. I didn't expect the ending either, though I wasn't far off.

'"So you think the demon-god will answer your prayers, Sea-eyes?" Sadly, no. I think the demon-god employs me to answer them for Him. Lazy Bastard.'

The Bastard has a plan. This plan includes Penric being captured by pirates. Needless to say, Penric's not having a good day. Soon enough, the pirates aren't having a good day either (and everyone else has buggered off). Fortunately, Pen's new charges, two young sisters, seem to be having a whale of a watching their new pet evil sorcerer let loose his frustration. I had quite a lot of fun watching it too.

"Is that chaos all your doing?" "More or less." Penric rubbed his tired, smoke-stung, itching eys=es. "It's been a bad day." "I see that. [...] And Do I also find you well, Madame Desdemona?" "Yes, indeed [...] I'm having a delightful outing."

By the three-quarter mark, I had almost expected Penric to lash a pair of dolphins and get dragged back to Orbas (he was certainly keen on the idea). Sadly, he didn't; I won't spoil for you what did happen but it was, if not as satisfying, then a close second. I laughed out loud when the payment was mentioned.

(view spoiler)

I had thought that Penric would adopt the girls himself, solving the dilemma of the childless marriage. I then realised they'd only been married a year and by god I needed to give them a moment. The final set up was more realistic, more adult, and just what I've come to expect from Bujold.

'Lord god Bastard, I dedicate this day to you. I hope you are suitably amused. In fact, you can have this whole detestable week.'

...more

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Aug 18, 2019 Denise rated it liked it

It’s hard not to like Penric stories! I didn’t find this quite as compelling as the other stories, however Desdemona’s glee was fun

8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 01, 2022 Lata rated it really liked it

Shelves: x2021-read, auth-f, sf-f-h

Pen and Des are captured by pirates, then sold to slavers because of Pen’s blonde tresses and physique. The pair are not alone, as a pair of pre-teen sisters are also captured. The girls, Lencia and Seuka, glom onto Pen, and the four endure several days on an island, hiding from the pirates and looking for a way to get to Vilnoc. Des gets to have a lovely time, sowing chaos amongst the slavers, though Pen has it rougher, while they’re trying to secretly find a way off the island.

When rescue even ...more

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