Review by Booklist Review
A mysterious exorcist faces the ultimate challenge: fight the possession of the most intelligent, well-loved sage in the kingdom and his inadvertent cultivation of the perfect demonic vessel. Fantasy author Tom Holt, writing as Parker, tells of a nameless exorcist managing his territory (109 demons exorcised and counting). Unfortunately, the kingdom's newly wed Princess and Duke are expecting a child and their guru, Prosper of Schanz, is possessed by a demon that is plotting to raise the royal baby as its new host. The tone of the book is equal parts dryly amusing and horrifying, as the exorcist contemplates the (often fatal) risks and rewards of ejecting demons. Moreover, the realization that Prosper's genius may have stemmed largely from his possession haunts the exorcist as he contemplates what the demons will do with the royal baby, given time and other advantages. His solution is extreme, to be sure, and readers may be shocked by the abrupt ending. This tightly told little parable of good versus evil will linger in the minds of readers long after the last page is turned.--Erin Downey Howerton Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Set in a demon-haunted, Renaissance Europe--inspired world, this dark fantasy novella from Holt (An Orc on the Wild Side) is a captivating character study. The unnamed, morally ambiguous narrator is able to perceive and communicate with demons, and has been authorized by the church to evict them from their human hosts, but his ruthless approach to exorcisms makes him unpopular with demons and humans alike. When a princess's pregnancy attracts the attention of a demon the narrator has known all his life, the narrator follows the demon to the palace. There he meets the princess's tutor, Prosper of Schanz, a philosopher and artist in the mold of da Vinci. When the narrator realizes that Prosper is inhabited by a demon who is likely responsible for Prosper's artistic genius, the narrator faces a challenging moral decision about whether to expel the demon and deprive the world of more masterworks. The engrossing narrative voice and assured worldbuilding compensate for a slight plot and rushed conclusion. Readers will be pleasantly surprised by this new direction for Holt. (Jan.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
An unnamed and morally ambiguous narrator begins this eerie and darkly humorous novella by explaining his prowess as an exorcist. Providing multiple, successful exorcisms a week, he does not care if the human client lives or dies. His job is to banish the demon from their bodies, no matter the cost or the mess. Elsewhere in this medieval world, life is harsh, dark, and violent, but Prosper of Schanz, one of the era's greatest thinkers, knows that science can be the antidote. To prove his point, he will raise the baby Prince to be a pure and perfect example of humanity. And while Prosper may not believe in demons, our narrator knows that both he and the baby are possessed. Readers will be surprised by how much fun they have while reading such an unsettling story and how they will continue to ponder the themes and their implications in our modern world. VERDICT With a fresh take on the well-trod demonic possession trope, solid worldbuilding, high-court politics, and an engaging narrator, this short tale will draw in fans of dark speculative fiction, especially admirers of Martha Wells and Grady Hendrix.
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