Penric's Fox

A Novella in the World of the Five Gods (Penric and Desdemona, Book 3)

By: Lois McMaster Bujold

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

Some eight months after the events of Penric and the Shaman, Learned Penric, sorcerer and scholar, travels to Easthome, the capital of the Weald. There he again meets his friends Shaman Inglis and Locator Oswyl. When the body of a sorceress is found in the woods, Oswyl draws him into another investigation, and they must all work together to uncover a mystery mixing magic, murder, and the strange realities of Temple demons.

©2018 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Great story but $/minute ratio unattractive

Good story; fine narration but breaking what should have been one novel into 5+ stories and taking $10 for each piece not very palatable.

Penric solves a mystery

Penric is enjoying a relaxing day fishing with his Shaman friend Inglas, when they are both requested by law man/Locator Oswyl. A temple sorcerer has been found dead from arrow wounds. Who killed her? What happened to her demon? And why?

Penric, with assistance from Inglas and others, especially Pen's Demon Desdemona ultimately solve the mystery. And I found it an entertaining mystery/fantasy story. But the real deep joy of the story is to watch the evolving relationships between Penric, Desdemona, and all the rest of the very real characters, including the Princess Arch Divine. I have grown to love these characters.

And, as always, Grover Gardner does a great job of reading the tale. The entire Penric/Desdemona saga is a delight. In internal chronological order, at time of publication this novella comes third, after Penric's Demon and Penric and the Shaman, and before Penric's Mission.

linear and uninspired yet decent

I'd have to say this is the 1st mediocre story I've come acrosd from Lois M. Bujold.
Grover Gardener is always a delight.

As always...

LM Bujold’s storytelling is second to none, regardless of the setting or plot. “Penric’s Fox” is a wonderful listen! Grover Gardner does a superb job, too!

Eh, too many plot holes

Ok writing, nothing special. Rather bland, honestly. And the constant plot holes was pretty annoying.
Why aren’t they carrying the kits? They’re WALKING THEM all the way? Seriously?🙄
Apparently Des will snap tendons (which Pen won’t do), but can’t sprain or break an ankle?
Guy tried to murder two strangers, but Pen ‘has nothing to charge him with’?? 🙄
Oh, magic fox being hunted in a forest with a crazy guy slaughtering foxes and snaring them? Um.. MAYBE have the guy’s Master tell him and the other servants Fox are off limits for now? Send ppl out to disarm the snares? Naaaaah. Let’s just mcguffin it. Lazy, lazy writing. Unfortunate for someone who is capable of so much more.

A really good tale.

I like the author’s ideas of deity and the supernatural. In addition she tells a good tale in any genera she is writing in!

understated excellence

McMaster is a masterful storyteller, understated, nuanced, fulfilling. I love science fiction, 1st contact, space battles, 0rcs, litrpg... but when I get my fill of blood 🩸 and bravado... I listen to Lois McMaster Bujold

A delightful read and a great mystery!

Penric never knows what the day will bring, because serving the God of Bastards is, well... always chaotic!
Expecting to have a nice afternoon fishing with his friend, Penric's idyll is cut short. He's been told to look into the death of a Sorceress who was found in the woods with a pair of arrows sticking out of her! Penric needs to determine who killed her, and what became of her Demon! The mystery only thickens as Penric and his Shamanic companion discover that she was one of the nicest women ever, and no one held any animosity against her!
Grover Gardner and Lois Mcmaster Bujold make an invincible team as they deliver yet another wonderful, slice-of-life-story about Penric.
... And of course, you need to find out about the fox, which makes this a delightful read and a great mystery, all rolled up into one compelling novella!

Lovely story... as usual.

Everything LMB writes is exceptional... either profoundly, or just lovely. She is maybe my favorite author. Can never go wrong.

somebody thought the chapter of this book could be

sold separately as novellas. It's a joke, and audible didn't fall for it -- with respect to most of the chapters. This particular chapter has so little content (beyond, awww,fox cubs are so cute) that it was excluded from the R collection. That tells you all you need to know. Whatever possessed me to buy the thing?

Ģood, but..

NOTE: I think that anyone reading the Penric and Desdemona books should start with the first one -Penric's Demon-, even if you read the rest out of order.

Review:
Penric's Fox follows what i expect to be the general format for the series. There is the advancement of Penric's skills and position forming the background to a particular case.

This makes for an agreeable short read, but at the end this reader was left with the feeling that what had happened was basically a police procedural.

I do appreciate that this sets out to be a novella. which means that the scope is limited. Still even if one wants more, what we have is good Bujold fantasy. A quality product.

Perfect, as ever!

And Grover Gardner is still the most wonderful narrator. The combo of Lois' words and his voice always makes me feel like the story is creating itself right inside my head