Penric and the Bandit — Lois McMaster Bujold

Strange company...When Rozakajin, road-weary bandit and army deserter, spots a hapless blond young man in a country inn with an intriguing treasure map, he thinks he's scouted an easy and lucrative victim. Attaching himself to odd traveler Penric seems simple enough, but when Roz's old enemies catch up from behind, his plans take a turn for the much worse. When Pen's claim that I never travel alone proves true in ways Roz never imagined, his world becomes more frightening still—but also much wider than he'd ever dared to dream.The internal chronological order of the Penric & Desdemona tales is presently:Penric's DemonPenric and the ShamanPenric's FoxMasquerade in LodiPenric's MissionMira's Last DanceThe Prisoner of LimnosThe Orphans of RaspayThe Physicians of VilnocThe Assassins of ThasalonKnot of ShadowsDemon DaughterPenric and the BanditA superb craftsman and stylist, Ms. Bujold is well on her way to becoming one of the great voices of speculative fiction. - Rave ReviewsBujold has a gift. - Chicago Sun TimesBest-selling author Bujold follows her Hugo-nominated Penric and the Shaman (2017) with another adventure featuring the sorcerer Penric and his resident 200-year-old chaos demon, Desdemona. ... Series fans will be delighted with this tale, which begs for continuation.- Booklist on Penric's MissionBujold follows 'Penric's Demon' with another brief tale set in her World of the Five Gods, this time combining supernatural sleuthing with finely drawn characters and a panoply of emotions... This is a wonderful expansion of her World of the Five Gods.- Publisher's Weekly *Starred Review* on Penric and the ShamanSeries fans and fantasy readers who seek well-drawn characters will love this tale.- Publisher's Weekly on Mira's Last DanceBujold's delightful tale of Penric...is another winner in Bujold's already strong series.