The Orphans of Raspay

Will review at www.fantasyliterature.com.

This is a perilous adventure for Penric, in which he's taken by surprise in the night and captured by pirates during a sea voyage. He eventually manages to escape from their island base, with difficulty, and also rescues a couple of unaccompanied children.

Like some of the other stories, this one makes no permanent difference to his life. He has problems, he solves them, after which normal life is resumed. This is the first story in which he's married, but his wedding hasn't been described, and his wife remains safely at home during his adventure.

The new characters introduced here are minor, temporary, and of relatively little interest. The children make brief appearances in later stories.

This story is quite interesting, exploring the limits to Penric's powers, but I find that I don't actively enjoy much of it. The ending is quite fun, although the timing of it is rather too convenient for credibility.

Another credibility issue is Brother Godino, who first tries to throw them out of the temple, then becomes remarkably cooperative after Penric proves he's a sorcerer. I'd have expected him to run straight to the pirates and complain, “There's a sorcerer in my temple!”, leaving them to deal with the problem. Not very easy, perhaps, but sorcerers need food, water, and sleep, like other people.

Reading a new Pen & Des story always feels like reconnecting with old friends, and their latest adventure is no exception from the rule.
I love how Lois McMaster's characters truly bring the story to life - the new additions as well as some old friends, the White God not the least among them.