The Assassins of Thasalon

The clever 10th outing in Bujold’s Penric and Desdemona series (after Masquerade in Lodi) has Temple sorcerer Pen and the demon who shares his body, Des, facing a sorcerous assassin sent by the rival realm of Cedonia to kill Pen’s brother-in-law, General Adelis Arisaydia. Pen and Des manage to capture the assassin, Alixtra, who has been coerced into her role by Minister Methani of Cedonia and his sorcerer partner, Tronio, who hold her son, Kittio, captive. Now Pen, Des, Alixtra, and Blessed Iroki, a saint of the Bastard’s order, journey overland to rescue Kittio and bring Tronio to Temple justice. They make their base at the estate of Lady Tanar Xarre, Adelis’s beloved, and with the help of Tanar and Bosha, her secretary, begin their mission by infiltrating a reception at Methani’s palace. This is Bujold’s first novel-length work in the series, allowing her to further develop both her fascinating side characters and the inventive theology that underpins Pen’s magic. Meanwhile, Pen and Des’s usual witty repartee adds a dash of humor to the intricate plot. Penric and Desdemona are two of the more unusual characters in modern fantasy, and Bujold continues to find new and exciting challenges to throw at them. Readers will be eager to see where this series goes next. Agent: Eleanor Wood, Spectrum Literary. (June)