The Adventure of the Demonic Ox by Lois McMaster Bujold

As I have mentioned before on this blog, I was late to the Lois McMaster Bujold party and only discovered her when she was nominated for Best Series for the Vorkosigan saga. I think it was the Baen book covers that turned me off. But I’m on board now! 

She definitely deserved the best series Hugo award for the Vorkosigan Books, and also deserved it equally for the World of the Five Gods series. I have still not read any of the novels in that series yet, but once I started reading the Penric and Desdemona novellas, I couldn’t stop. I was hooked instantly and binged my way through the series. Thankfully, Ms. Bujold is still writing more Penric stories. 

I was thrilled to get a copy of this new Penric novella - Thank you, Subterranean Press, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. As usual for a subterranean press edition, there is a new cover with gorgeous cover art. 

This book was very enjoyable, like all the Penric stories are. Unlike several of the last books, I was really afraid for Penric in this one - I thought there was a chance he would die, which wouldn’t necessarily mean the end of the series but would change it a great deal. This book included POV sections from Penric’s daughter and adopted ward, which I really enjoyed, but the transitions were sometimes a little jarring. I would’ve preferred actual chapters, personally. But these are minor quibbles. 

Can’t wait for the next one!

A Philosophy of Thieves by Fran Wilde

 

I met Fran Wilde at NYCC a few years ago and she made my day by complimenting me on the Wonder Twins tshirt I was wearing. I had first heard of her when I read Updraft, which I remember liking but not loving. over the years I had enjoyed several of her short stories so I was excited when I got an eARC of her new book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. A Philosophy of Thieves was billed as a heist book so I was really looking forward to some fun heists. 

But when I read it, I disliked everything about this book. I mean everything: the characters, the setting, heist, the plot, everything. I hated it all. The characters were trite, they were boring, and their problems were petty and cliché. This was a slog from start to finish. I’m very disappointed, but I will happily try the next book from this author. I’m hopeful this was just a blip.