Preview
  • Penric's Mission: A Novella in the World of the Five Gods

  • Penric & Desdemona, Book 3
  • By: Lois McMaster Bujold
  • Narrated by: Grover Gardner
  • Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (695 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Penric's Mission: A Novella in the World of the Five Gods

By: Lois McMaster Bujold
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.47

Buy for $17.47

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In his 30th year, Penric fell in love with light.

Learned Penric, a sorcerer and divine of the Bastard's Order, travels across the sea to sunlit Cedonia on his first covert diplomatic mission, to attempt to secure the services of a disaffected Cedonian general for the Duke of Adria. However, nothing is as it seems. Penric is betrayed and thrown into a dungeon, and worse follows for the general and his kin.

Penric's narrow escapes and adventures - including his interest in a young widow - are told with Bujold's remarkable energy, wit, and humor. Once again, Bujold has created unforgettable characters and a wondrous, often dangerous world of intrigue and sorcery.

©2016 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Penric's Mission: A Novella in the World of the Five Gods

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    559
  • 4 Stars
    121
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    552
  • 4 Stars
    71
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    504
  • 4 Stars
    111
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Relaxing

Yet interesting
Character was laid back and wasn’t a superhero
Different outlooks from everyone
Basically this is a good read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

These just get better!!

So happy I stumbled in these novellas. They are filled with very interesting characters and entertaining imaginative stories

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing! Funny and Touching.

Tremendously fun while being light hearted story a must hear book. Penric stories are fun and enjoyable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very fun story. reorder is a bit confusing

the premise behind all the stories in the series is very interesting. I have definitely gotten confused on which books are in which order. in saying this every story that I've read in whatever order has been very enjoyable

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good book

Very emotional book i loved it like all of Luise McMaster Bujold's books, i recommended them dearly, and Grover Gardner is a fine narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Too short

I started reading Ms. Bujold nearly 17 years ago with her first Vorkosigan novel, Shards of Honor. When she wrote her first 5 God's novel, I read it and had mixed feelings. This is just such a great change over from her superb Space Opera that I had to absorb the new direction before truly appreciating her excellent creation of some of the most elegantly entertaining main characters in this world, also.

I do appreciate Ms. Bujold's artistry in the World of the 5 God's series and this story did not disappoint sage it was far too short and took far too long to get to market.

I understand we are all getting into the retirement age generation and many of my favorite authors are slowing down but I have to beg here. Please Ms. Bujold, more stories? I hate the waiting to see if you will continue writing and when I can get my hands on the next book.

As always, Mr. Gardener is a most excellent narrator for this one of my favorite authors. Having met the author and spoken with her on numerous occasions, I have to believe she will continue to be consistent (unlike many other "suddenly successful" authors) and insist on the continued narration that has made her books a pleasure to listen to. I dislike when a great narrator is replaced by the powers that be!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Penric and Desdemona continue

I have been a fan of Bujold's work for years. Now that she is semi-retired, she seems to be focusing on telling novella length tales about Penric and the demon (who he named DesDEMONa) who changed his life forever. These tales have a wonderful mixture of humor and philosophy and character building. I recommend reading (or listening to) the three tales in order, to watch how Penric and Desdemona develop and the way they learn to work together. I don't want to go into details about the plot, but this novella has Penric traveling to a place new to him, but a country where Desdemona started her demon life hundreds of years earlier. I especially love the visual impact, as Penric sees this sunny land for the first time. The ending may be a bit abrupt for some, but I find it hopeful, as Bujold is obviously leaving an excellent jumping off place for further adventures.

The Penric novella's are richer if readers/listeners also know the three full length novels set in the World of the Five Gods. If you move on to them, I recommend starting with The Curse of Chalion. But I feel that the novella's can stand alone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bujold is great

Great story, too short. Penric is a great character, he needs to kick a little more @ss.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

ok, but...

I really like this series, but this is my least fave of the first 4 because it has little connection to the previous 3. It’s almost as if Penric is yanked out of context. Then the story ends with the 3 up on the mountain, with no clear resolution. For me, it’s as if the story and ending are both left dangling.
Lois McMaster Bujold is still one of my very favorite authors - top 5 - and I will always recommend her work. She earned all those awards.
Love Gardner’s work.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bujold and Gardner Always Deliver

Thanks to these audio friends of tens of years! I wish there was more, but I will patiently wait for the next, knowing the story will be ripe for the picking when it comes.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful