Book Review - SISTER SVANGERD AND THE DEVIL YOU KNOW by KJ Parker

Sister Svangerd and the Devil You Know by K.J. Parker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm usually a huge fan of KJ Parker's work. I love his blend of cool battle scenes, mysterious hard to pin down characters, and snarky dialogue. His Saevus Corax trilogy is one of my all-time favorites. Do you feel a huge BUT coming? Well, it's not a devastating but, though I have to say I am not enjoying this most recent series as much as the previous one I'm sad to say.

Don't get me wrong, if it were any other author than KJ Parker, this would have been an outstanding read. There were times when this book was very entertaining in fact. But when you have the high standards of Parker, I just expected more. Now maybe this is a classic case of middle-book syndrome, I'm not sure. But whatever the reason, this installment just didn't move me as much as his other books have.

The one thing that saved this one for me was Parker's always solid characterization. He never fails to deliver the goods in that regard and I think it has to do with the fact that he writes such great dialogue that the characters become instant acquaintances. You feel like you are there as these rogues are bantering on the battlefield or in a dusty Ale House. So that part of it worked for me as it always does. Had the characters been ones that I didn't really connect with, this may have been an even lower rating.

This is a bit of a quest fantasy, and part of the pitfalls that can tend to arise is that during these journeys, the plot may bog down somewhat. And I did feel that way occasionally. It's very uncharacteristic for this author, and I'm hoping it's not a harbinger for how this series will eventually end. I'm going to put my faith in KJ Parker because he's never let me down in the past. I'm just going to chalk it up to this book fell a little flat for me and leave it at that. I'm sure we will get a slam bang finish, because that's what the last two series have provided.

In the end, this was a fun read, filled with amazing characters, while lacking a bit in plot advancement and intrigue. But I still recommend it for anyone who enjoys a dark adventure with cutting dialogue. I eagerly wait book number three to see what Parker has in store for us with Brother Desiderius and Sister Svangerd.



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