Margaret's Reviews > Demon Daughter

In the previous book, Penric had an adult woman acolyte with a relatively new demon. Four years later, the acolyte has completed her sorceress training and is out on her own. In the new book, Penric meets a six-year-old child who has also acquired a demon by accident (as Penric had himself many years ago).

A child with a demon on board is a very different kettle of fish than an adult in the same situation. Is this child an orphan or does she have parents who will want her back? Penric can see the child is brought before a saint (who can remove the demon) but Desdemona understandably hates this solution.

Otta (the six-year-old girl in question) washes up on the beach not all that far from where Penric & Nikys live. The people who find her, unfortunately, can't make out a word she says, nor can she understand their speech. Otta is already terrified from her ordeal and not being able to communicate with anyone makes it worse.

Fortunately, Penric knows several languages and. when he meets Otta, he is able to quickly find one in common.
Penric very wisely involves his wife Nikys in this adventure. Nikys, after all, has lived with Penric and his resident demon Desdemona all of these years and has a good relationship with both of them.

And it turns out that Penric & Nikys already have a seven-year-old daughter and a four-year old son. And they had wanted a third child but Nikys miscarried a month or so before this book begins.

So, one possible solution is that the child be adopted and raised by Penric & Nikys. But will the child want to go back to her former life on board her father's merchant cog? Will she be able to adjust to a life on land having only known life at sea?

I especially enjoyed this Penric & Desdemona novella because we get a deep dive into Penric's family life. Potentially taking someone new into one's household affects Penric's entire family.

Highly recommended for all fantasy fans, Penric & Desdemona fans, and fans of a very well-told tale!