Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Subterranean Press (Burton, Mich., 2019). 1st edition, 1st printing. 256 pages. $25.00.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML: In this sequel novella to Mira's Last Dance, Temple sorcerer Penric and the widow Nikys have finally reached safety in the duchy of Orbas when a secret letter from a friend brings frightening news: Nikys's mother has been taken hostage by her brother's enemies at the Cedonian imperial court, and confined in a precarious island sanctuary. Their own romance still unresolved, Nikys, Penric, and of course Desdemona must infiltrate the hostile country once more, finding along the way that family relationships can be as unexpectedly challenging as any rescue scheme..
User reviews
LibraryThing member elenaj
This isn't the most exciting or the most original of the Penric stories, but it's still enjoyable, with some intriguing new characters. I do think this novella, plus the two that precede it, are more like one continuous story than individual self-contained parts of a series. (And in fact, I suspect
This series is also another example of Bujold's mildly queer heterosexuality (or seriously straight queerness), which will be familiar to readers of her Vorkosigan series. I like the ideas she's playing with in both series, but I feel like once again here, she shies away from really committing her main characters to anything that strays too far from the norm - and also notably, from committing herself to having to write actual queer romance.
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the next book in the series continues that trend, because there are a number of plot points left unresolved at the conclusion of this ones.)This series is also another example of Bujold's mildly queer heterosexuality (or seriously straight queerness), which will be familiar to readers of her Vorkosigan series. I like the ideas she's playing with in both series, but I feel like once again here, she shies away from really committing her main characters to anything that strays too far from the norm - and also notably, from committing herself to having to write actual queer romance.
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LibraryThing member alexyskwan
Wonderful and amazing story, funny and suspenseful in turns, brilliant as always. And I’m glad to see one question settled.
LibraryThing member kmartin802
Penric travels with Nikys to rescue her mother who has been imprisoned in the Daughter's House on the island of Limnos. They are traveling with Bosha, a eunuch, who is the private secretary of Tanar who has been courted by Nikys's brother. Meanwhile, Penric is trying to court Nikys who is a widow
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and who is worried about sharing Penric with his twelve demons among other things. Great story. Show Less
LibraryThing member Herenya
I’ve been listening to the Penric and Desdemona novellas as audiobooks, but I didn't want to wait for The Prisoner of Limnos audiobook to be released. No way was I waiting.
The Prisoner of Limnos is both a standalone adventure and the third installment of a larger story, following on from
The story probably would have been slightly more tense if I had listened to the audiobook and events had unfolded more slowly (for me, I mean), but that seems to be an acceptable price for finding out what happened next sooner. Especially since this is a much better place to leave Pen and co. than the end of Mira’s Last Dance.
One gives you the shirt off his back, mused Des, and the other offers to help you bury bodies. I do believe you have made some new friends, Pen!
Hush, Pen thought back. But he believed so, too.
The Prisoner of Limnos is both a standalone adventure and the third installment of a larger story, following on from
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Penric’s Mission and Mira’s Last Dance. It’s an interesting case of themes and variations. Another member of Nikys’s family requires rescue, and although the circumstances are rather different, the politics behind it are the same (namely, her brother Adelis has enemies in high places). Penric takes inspiration from Desdemona for another disguise. Nikys is given another example of people whose personal relationships are successful despite being unusually, unconventionally, complicated.The story probably would have been slightly more tense if I had listened to the audiobook and events had unfolded more slowly (for me, I mean), but that seems to be an acceptable price for finding out what happened next sooner. Especially since this is a much better place to leave Pen and co. than the end of Mira’s Last Dance.
One gives you the shirt off his back, mused Des, and the other offers to help you bury bodies. I do believe you have made some new friends, Pen!
Hush, Pen thought back. But he believed so, too.
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LibraryThing member JudithProctor
Very enjoyable story that further develops the relationship between Penric and Nikys.
Her mother is held prisoner on the Island of Limnos, a place dedicated to the Daughter.
I love the practicality and common sense of both mother and daughter. There is a wonderful moment when Nikys is praying to the
The theology of this entire series is wonderfully consistent and very believable.
Her mother is held prisoner on the Island of Limnos, a place dedicated to the Daughter.
I love the practicality and common sense of both mother and daughter. There is a wonderful moment when Nikys is praying to the
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Daughter and wondering what to say/ask for, and then realises that she is doing what any daughter should do for her mother, and changes her prayer to an offering.The theology of this entire series is wonderfully consistent and very believable.
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LibraryThing member Dokfintong
This new chapter in the novella series featuring Learned Penric, his daemon Desdemona, and the widow Nikys, is an episode in which Penric rescues Niky's mother from prison. To accomplish the brave deed, Penric and Desdemona call on the skills another of Desdemona's previous hosts, Ruchia, who was a
Light-hearted and quick moving, this series is fun to read, although it doesn't have much depth. Ms Bujold is one of my favorite authors.
I received a review copy of "The Prisoner of Limnos: A Fantasy Novella in the World of the Five Gods" by Lois McMaster Bujold (Subterranean) through NetGalley.com.
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temple divine, scholar, and spy.Light-hearted and quick moving, this series is fun to read, although it doesn't have much depth. Ms Bujold is one of my favorite authors.
I received a review copy of "The Prisoner of Limnos: A Fantasy Novella in the World of the Five Gods" by Lois McMaster Bujold (Subterranean) through NetGalley.com.
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LibraryThing member LisCarey
Penric and Nikys escaped Patos and made their way successfully to the court of the Duke of Orbas. Penric is reluctant to return to his duties elsewhere, hoping to be reassigned to Orbas so he can continue courting Nikys.
Or trying to. It's not the Nikys isn't interested. She is. But now that she
When she gets word that her mother, Idrene, has been arrested by Imperial order and imprisoned in the Daughter's retreat and temple on the island of Limnos, though, there's no one she trusts as much as Penric. The purpose of Idrene's arrest is to put pressure on Nikys' brother Adelis, now the Duke's general. The Duke isn't going to send troops to attack a temple of the Daughter, but he's reasonably happy to generously fund a more surreptitious retrieval effort by Nikys and Penric.
This means going back into Cedonia, from which they have recently escaped, and only by the skin of their teeth.
This is on the one hand the story of a very tricky rescue, and on the other hand, the story of some very tricky relationships. Nikys, Penric, and Desdemona. Nikys and her old friend, Tanar, whom her brother Adelis has been courting. Tanar and her eunuch secretary, Bosha, who may have critical knowledge for this rescue, and whose first, or rather only, priority is keeping Tanar safe. Bosha may also be a factor in Tanar and Adelis' courtship. Nikys, Penric, and Nikys' other brother, Ikos, from before Idrene married Adelis and Nikys' father.
Did I mention that no men are allowed on the island of Limnos? And it's going to need both Nikys and Penric to get Idrene out? And that there are dogs trained to sniff out men in disguise?
It's a very well-done tale, both in terms of the rescue effort, and in the human relationships and the progress of Nikys and Penric's relationship.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
Or trying to. It's not the Nikys isn't interested. She is. But now that she
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knows that Penric is not just a Temple Divine but a sorcerer, she's very uncomfortable about sharing him with Desdemona, his demon, and Desdemona, of course, can't leave while Penric is alive.When she gets word that her mother, Idrene, has been arrested by Imperial order and imprisoned in the Daughter's retreat and temple on the island of Limnos, though, there's no one she trusts as much as Penric. The purpose of Idrene's arrest is to put pressure on Nikys' brother Adelis, now the Duke's general. The Duke isn't going to send troops to attack a temple of the Daughter, but he's reasonably happy to generously fund a more surreptitious retrieval effort by Nikys and Penric.
This means going back into Cedonia, from which they have recently escaped, and only by the skin of their teeth.
This is on the one hand the story of a very tricky rescue, and on the other hand, the story of some very tricky relationships. Nikys, Penric, and Desdemona. Nikys and her old friend, Tanar, whom her brother Adelis has been courting. Tanar and her eunuch secretary, Bosha, who may have critical knowledge for this rescue, and whose first, or rather only, priority is keeping Tanar safe. Bosha may also be a factor in Tanar and Adelis' courtship. Nikys, Penric, and Nikys' other brother, Ikos, from before Idrene married Adelis and Nikys' father.
Did I mention that no men are allowed on the island of Limnos? And it's going to need both Nikys and Penric to get Idrene out? And that there are dogs trained to sniff out men in disguise?
It's a very well-done tale, both in terms of the rescue effort, and in the human relationships and the progress of Nikys and Penric's relationship.
Recommended.
I bought this book.
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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Excellent story. It's about half a rescue story (with some very amusing parts - he had no idea what he was stirring up when he imprisoned her!) and at least half a love story/courting story. Penric and Nikys learn yet more about each other, and about what they want and enjoy and can put up with. I
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really like Bosha, hope we see more of him (them?). And Ikos - he kind of comes out of nowhere, but at least Penric (and the reader) was informed of his existence before he shows up. Some lovely bits with the Gods, as well - they do tend to pay attention, here. A very rich story - the settings are amazing, the characters are fascinating, the adventures are great. So, you know, kind of a standard Penric story...I started the next one as soon as I finished this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member Glennis.LeBlanc
With the latest novella set after the previous one it does spoil anything that has happened before. Penric is dragging is feet returning from his mission hoping that Nikys will change her mind about him. When word arrives that her mother has been confined to a temple on an island and Penric offers
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to help spring her. Things pretty much go off the rails in a good way and the overall feelings in the book are of love and family. A great read and I do hope to see more stories set in this universe. Show Less
LibraryThing member leslie.98
This 3rd novella about Penric & Nikys has some themes familiar to those Vorkosigan fans out there - in particular, the fact that love & romance isn't necessarily restricted to monogamous pairs of one male & one female. Indeed, for Penric & Nikys, there will always be a third party - Desdemona - but
Of course, there is plenty of adventure too!
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Bujold also gives us another trio: Arisaydia (Nikys's brother), Tanar (Arisaydia's potential fiancée) and Sura (a eunich who loves Tanar).Of course, there is plenty of adventure too!
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LibraryThing member elorin
When Nikys' mother is incarcerated in a retreat for the Mother that only lets in women, Nikys' and Penric travel to Limnos to plan a daring escape.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2017
Physical description
256 p.; 8.1 inches
ISBN
9781596068841
Local notes
"This special signed edition is limited to 450 numbered copies. This is copy 260."