Demon Daughter, a Penric & Desdemona Novella
by Lois McMaster Bujold
2024
Yay! A new Penric & Desdemona story! And I’ve been distracted enough that I had to discover it from an Amazon notice since I follow Bujold. (And it says something that it took three weeks for them to notify me.)
This is a novella that has a plot around a kid lost at sea, but contains some even more interesting explorations about what demons are and what they can do, as well as showing how Penric, Desdemona, and Nikys are evolving their family. It introduced enough interesting lore that it also makes me wonder if there’s a larger work in progress to take advantage of the implications. I live in hope! But if not, this still is a wonderful addition to the series.
Also, a mini-spoiler: I always love it when a saint of the Bastard is a character because they are all hilarious and awesome!
Biblio-therapy 
I enjoyed Demon Daughter so much! And as soon as I finished it I saw there’s yet another new one which I can’t wait to read too! What an exciting discovery! Also, I loved the new implications about the nature of demons in this one and I loved the home life of Pen, Des & Nikys even more. I want to read whole books of them all just going about their everyday life and chores hahaha! Great review.
I’m so glad to see another Penric & Desdemona fan! These really are so good and Demon Daughter might well be one of the best of them, although wow is there some tough competition! Have you also read Bujold’s The Hallowed Hunt? It’s a different time period and location but the same gods and there’s another awesome saint of the Bastard as a side character who’s absolutely hilarious.
Yes I love finding other Pen & Des fans too!! š I know it’s kind of hard to choose a favourite but Demon Daughter was very satisfying! No, I have not read Hallowed Hunt yet but I hope to. Can’t wait the saint of the Bastard. And I’m supposed to read The Curse of Chalion this year too..hopefully.