I've said it before, I'm certain, but Bujold is one of those writers whose works I can enjoy over and over again. She's like comfort food for my brain.
Knot of Shadows continues the saga of Penric and Desdemona which began with Penric's Demon, and has generated a total of nine novelettes so far. Can't determine whether the story length selection by Bujold has been an inspirational affair or a financial decision; more books at a lower prices = better net sales over time? It certainly has made it an easier decision for me to pull the trigger on the latest Kindle offering at $3.99 rather than $14.99 for most other authors. Dorothy Grant has done something similar that seems to be working out well.
Anyway, most of the recent offerings in this saga have had at their heart some quirky mystery that Penric needs to solve, using his wits, sorcerous skills, and Desdemona's experience, as well as a little help from his friends. In this story, a body has been fished out of the harbor which is only, as they say "mostly dead". It turns out to have been inhabited by a ghost, not the spirit of the person who occupied the body originally, who has been slain by death magic, or death miracle, depending on your theological point of view in the world of the Five Gods.
For those who have been following Bujold for some time, this further explores some concepts that arose in her first book in this world, Curse of Chalion, about how death magic/miracles work and some of their more unexpected consequences. Hmmm...we don't seem to have any novels by Bujold involving death magic where it happens exactly as expected, do we? Point to ponder.
Reading this one inspired me to go back and binge read Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls over the weeekend. I highly recommend all of Bujold's books, but most especially the Vorkosigan stories and the Five Gods stories.
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