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The Loyal Opposition #1
Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead
Not even the Church of the Invincible Sun is invincible – and somebody has to do its dirty work. Enter Sister Svangerd and her accompanying priest, both first-rate practitioners. Their mission is simple: to make a meddlesome princess disappear (permanently).
To get to her, they must attend the legendary Ecumenical Council, the once-in-a-century convening of the greatest spiritual minds the world has to offer. But when they arrive, they find instead a den of villainy that would make the most hardened criminal blush.
To complicate matters further, it appears that some people who were definitely grim reapered might be not quite dead after all. What began as a little assassination is about to escalate into a theological debate with terrifying consequences for everyone.
To get to her, they must attend the legendary Ecumenical Council, the once-in-a-century convening of the greatest spiritual minds the world has to offer. But when they arrive, they find instead a den of villainy that would make the most hardened criminal blush.
To complicate matters further, it appears that some people who were definitely grim reapered might be not quite dead after all. What began as a little assassination is about to escalate into a theological debate with terrifying consequences for everyone.
352 pages, Trade Paperback
First published January 27, 2026
70 people are currently reading
1235 people want to read
About the author
K.J. Parker
130 books1,699 followersK.J. Parker is a pseudonym for Tom Holt.
According to the biographical notes in some of Parker's books, Parker has previously worked in law, journalism, and numismatics, and now writes and makes things out of wood and metal. It is also claimed that Parker is married to a solicitor and now lives in southern England. According to an autobiographical note, Parker was raised in rural Vermont, a lifestyle which influenced Parker's work.
According to the biographical notes in some of Parker's books, Parker has previously worked in law, journalism, and numismatics, and now writes and makes things out of wood and metal. It is also claimed that Parker is married to a solicitor and now lives in southern England. According to an autobiographical note, Parker was raised in rural Vermont, a lifestyle which influenced Parker's work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
November 18, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up for Parker bias.
The intelligibility of this review is directly related to how many Parker books you've read. One might say this is a Parker review *for* Parker reviewers.
This book feels like the novel-length version of what Parker explored in THE INSIDE MAN or THE LONG GAME or, to a lesser extent, PULLING THE WINGS. It's SAEVUS CORAX meets THE LONG GAME. The protagonist will be familiar to long-time Parker fans: quick-witted, egotistical and self-deprecating, eternally put-upon, the universe revolves around him and his family. He's from *the Mesoge*. He's Saevus Corax meets Bardas Loredan.
Now, did you like any of those things that I just said? If you did, then you'll really enjoy this book.
For newcomers, I still don't think this is the best place to start with Parker. I strongly suggest reading the novellas INSIDE MAN and LONG GAME. If you like what you read, then pick this up for sure. Otherwise, I still think Saevus Corax is the easiest introduction to this style of Parker novel.
Personally, I liked it. It wasn't my favorite. I wasn't in love with (repulsed by) the characters the way I was with Basso, Kunessin, Gig, Daurenja, Ziana, etc. But Parker is one of my favorite authors and the way he writes, his prose, his turns of phrase (mostly. see: 'world without end, amen') and the intelligence behind what he's doing always makes his books worth reading to me. In this we learn all about forgery, especially how to forge parchment. There's also deep discussions about belief, are Good and Evil basically the same? Can any outcome be considered Good or Evil if the opposite decision was made to get there? Is an action either good or evil *inherently* or are they given the attribution afterwards? Some read Euthyphro stuff here.
For my tastes, though I love his writing, the plot is a little too whiplashing for me, though the deeper philosophical discussions as well as forgery talk kept me going. But, oh my gosh, please Mr. Parker, retire the Mesoge and bring back the Vesani Republic!
Thanks to Orbit, Netgalley, and the author for the ARC!
The intelligibility of this review is directly related to how many Parker books you've read. One might say this is a Parker review *for* Parker reviewers.
This book feels like the novel-length version of what Parker explored in THE INSIDE MAN or THE LONG GAME or, to a lesser extent, PULLING THE WINGS. It's SAEVUS CORAX meets THE LONG GAME. The protagonist will be familiar to long-time Parker fans: quick-witted, egotistical and self-deprecating, eternally put-upon, the universe revolves around him and his family. He's from *the Mesoge*. He's Saevus Corax meets Bardas Loredan.
Now, did you like any of those things that I just said? If you did, then you'll really enjoy this book.
For newcomers, I still don't think this is the best place to start with Parker. I strongly suggest reading the novellas INSIDE MAN and LONG GAME. If you like what you read, then pick this up for sure. Otherwise, I still think Saevus Corax is the easiest introduction to this style of Parker novel.
Personally, I liked it. It wasn't my favorite. I wasn't in love with (repulsed by) the characters the way I was with Basso, Kunessin, Gig, Daurenja, Ziana, etc. But Parker is one of my favorite authors and the way he writes, his prose, his turns of phrase (mostly. see: 'world without end, amen') and the intelligence behind what he's doing always makes his books worth reading to me. In this we learn all about forgery, especially how to forge parchment. There's also deep discussions about belief, are Good and Evil basically the same? Can any outcome be considered Good or Evil if the opposite decision was made to get there? Is an action either good or evil *inherently* or are they given the attribution afterwards? Some read Euthyphro stuff here.
For my tastes, though I love his writing, the plot is a little too whiplashing for me, though the deeper philosophical discussions as well as forgery talk kept me going. But, oh my gosh, please Mr. Parker, retire the Mesoge and bring back the Vesani Republic!
Thanks to Orbit, Netgalley, and the author for the ARC!
February 3, 2026
The Devils ohne Spice, und mein Bauch tut weh. Finished this in my Uber, and the driver was like "Wtf is wrong with you? Tell me why you're smiling so brightly at your phone. Even me, I want to be happy." When I told him it was just words on Kindle app, he almost threw me out 🤣 I can’t do slow burn, my fucking heart!
I didn't know, prior to picking up Sissy Svangerd & the Not Quite Dead, that my world was going to be rocked left and right because of the confused yearning of Brother Priest Desiderius. Was I aware of the laughable situations that he would get into just to tell Sissy about?? I did not foresee Brother Priest perceiving and fixing this girl's needs in advance; I've been in such awe.
K.J. Parker is not an author for everyone. I did not subscribe to the atheism and Good vs Evil discussions after the same third tangent, the pacing of the plot, and the side characters being shallow for the most part. However, the rest! I enjoyed the atmosphere immensely! The Scandinavian folklore was so good! And the MCs!!! The tiny romance instances here and there! I guess, bated-breath waiting is gonna have to do until May.
I didn't know, prior to picking up Sissy Svangerd & the Not Quite Dead, that my world was going to be rocked left and right because of the confused yearning of Brother Priest Desiderius. Was I aware of the laughable situations that he would get into just to tell Sissy about?? I did not foresee Brother Priest perceiving and fixing this girl's needs in advance; I've been in such awe.
K.J. Parker is not an author for everyone. I did not subscribe to the atheism and Good vs Evil discussions after the same third tangent, the pacing of the plot, and the side characters being shallow for the most part. However, the rest! I enjoyed the atmosphere immensely! The Scandinavian folklore was so good! And the MCs!!! The tiny romance instances here and there! I guess, bated-breath waiting is gonna have to do until May.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The cover caught my eye and the plot seemed interesting - a priest and a nun in charge of permanently murking a princess, but getting waylaid by the literal undead. How could that go wrong?
I’ll tell you. Misogyny. So much misogyny that reading this made me feel sick at times with disgust.
Most reviews don’t mention it, and I’ll admit that it’s subtle - but once I noticed it, I couldn’t stop noticing it. It was distracting. I was going to ignore it but then one specific plot point was revealed in such a crass way, it immediately ruined my reading experience. And not only that - it negatively recontextualized some previous passages in a whole new unpleasant light.
“She, on the other hand, got sold to a whorehouse at more or less the same age as you joined the order…” [Twelve. The stated age was twelve, here.]
And THIS revelation, while not only never properly addressed, makes the previous statements of -
“Svangerd came to the cloister relatively late in life, after seven years in the hospitality and entertainment sector in Auxentia City. One of those sudden epiphanies of faith turned her into a passionately sincere believer and she takes her vows desperately seriously, but you’d never think she was a nun in a million years.” [Wow. Right, it’s not a ‘sudden epiphany,’ actually, it was - escaped sexual slavery and I’m sure she would have actually loved to have chosen to join the Church as opposed to where she was actually forced to go.]
And
“With her past, she had to fight like a wildcat before they’d let her be a nun.” [Considering this is part of her introduction, AKA BEFORE WE LEARN SHE WAS FORCED INTO SEX WORK AS A CHILD, YIIIIIIIIIIIIKES.]
I don’t want to give too much away but the world in this novel focuses on the Church of the Invincible Sun and I’ll just save you the wonder - it’s basically the Catholic Church, including all the misogyny and double-standards with barely any question about them.
And despite the book being named after Sister Svangerd - who is, without a doubt, the coolest and most interesting character in this entire novel - she’s not the main character. Why would she be? Why would we ever want to explore how she personally feels about the events of the novel, nor how she lives with the prejudices she faces from the trauma she was forced to endure? Nonsense. Instead, she’s barely there - except when the main character wants to judge her for being religious or some side character wants to call her a whore. But don’t worry ‘she confessed; she did penance; and she was absolved,’ (wise words from our main character. A man, if that wasn’t obvious) - so it’s okay to equate her being forced into sex work as a child to being promiscuous!
Our main character is also just the most pretentious and boring man in existence - an atheist who thinks he’s better than anyone who believes in religion. And yes, this includes Sister Svangerd, despite his claims to respect her thoughts and opinions. And never once does he bother to consider why a woman sexually abused from such a young age would take comfort in the thought of a fight between Good and Evil where Good will win and she is forgiven for the things that cause her trauma and guilt. Because - once again - society sees forcing her into this as a child as a mark against her own character, and not their own.
I don’t even want to get into all the casual misogyny I highlighted in this novel - for instance, “don’t be such a girl” shows up multiple times as an insult. There was some nice, healthy homophobia as well - because gay men are obviously dangerous to children - and a plot reveal at the end that was so offensive it made me want to not even donate this book at all and instead to throw it out.
“I hadn’t seen the man [..] since I was ten years old, though I had reason to remember him. Don’t you go anywhere near him, my mother had told me. Stay away from him, my father said, and if he follows you, run and holler and make as much noise as you can.” [This is the only queer character in this novel, and this description indicates that he is a child predator - but the end for the plot reveal also simply equates him to being gay. As if the two are the same.]
I feel like I shouldn’t have to say why calling the only queer man in your novel a child predator is offense, nor is why equating this man to a woman forced into sex work as a child is also unthinkingly offense.
Without just adding an entire section of quotes here, I’ll just say that I wound up having to split my highlights between regular, run-of-the-mill misogyny, misogyny towards Sister Svangerd herself, homophobia, and just regular “this plot makes no sense, actually.” I was given a physical copy of this novel from Orbit, and I was constantly switching to my phone to highlight passages. As someone who barely highlights in my kindle, having over 30 highlights for this book is an absurd amount for me to have.
I will say that I feel like the author made a half-assed attempt into actually acknowledging the insane misogynistic double-standards leveled at his only notable female character, but with such a sensitive topic maybe equating her being assaulted to “a female prostitute, or someone who takes it in the ass” as being a main plot point about her was absolutely not the way to go.
Thank you Orbit for giving me a copy, and I truly wished I liked this book more.
I’ll tell you. Misogyny. So much misogyny that reading this made me feel sick at times with disgust.
Most reviews don’t mention it, and I’ll admit that it’s subtle - but once I noticed it, I couldn’t stop noticing it. It was distracting. I was going to ignore it but then one specific plot point was revealed in such a crass way, it immediately ruined my reading experience. And not only that - it negatively recontextualized some previous passages in a whole new unpleasant light.
“She, on the other hand, got sold to a whorehouse at more or less the same age as you joined the order…” [Twelve. The stated age was twelve, here.]
And THIS revelation, while not only never properly addressed, makes the previous statements of -
“Svangerd came to the cloister relatively late in life, after seven years in the hospitality and entertainment sector in Auxentia City. One of those sudden epiphanies of faith turned her into a passionately sincere believer and she takes her vows desperately seriously, but you’d never think she was a nun in a million years.” [Wow. Right, it’s not a ‘sudden epiphany,’ actually, it was - escaped sexual slavery and I’m sure she would have actually loved to have chosen to join the Church as opposed to where she was actually forced to go.]
And
“With her past, she had to fight like a wildcat before they’d let her be a nun.” [Considering this is part of her introduction, AKA BEFORE WE LEARN SHE WAS FORCED INTO SEX WORK AS A CHILD, YIIIIIIIIIIIIKES.]
I don’t want to give too much away but the world in this novel focuses on the Church of the Invincible Sun and I’ll just save you the wonder - it’s basically the Catholic Church, including all the misogyny and double-standards with barely any question about them.
And despite the book being named after Sister Svangerd - who is, without a doubt, the coolest and most interesting character in this entire novel - she’s not the main character. Why would she be? Why would we ever want to explore how she personally feels about the events of the novel, nor how she lives with the prejudices she faces from the trauma she was forced to endure? Nonsense. Instead, she’s barely there - except when the main character wants to judge her for being religious or some side character wants to call her a whore. But don’t worry ‘she confessed; she did penance; and she was absolved,’ (wise words from our main character. A man, if that wasn’t obvious) - so it’s okay to equate her being forced into sex work as a child to being promiscuous!
Our main character is also just the most pretentious and boring man in existence - an atheist who thinks he’s better than anyone who believes in religion. And yes, this includes Sister Svangerd, despite his claims to respect her thoughts and opinions. And never once does he bother to consider why a woman sexually abused from such a young age would take comfort in the thought of a fight between Good and Evil where Good will win and she is forgiven for the things that cause her trauma and guilt. Because - once again - society sees forcing her into this as a child as a mark against her own character, and not their own.
I don’t even want to get into all the casual misogyny I highlighted in this novel - for instance, “don’t be such a girl” shows up multiple times as an insult. There was some nice, healthy homophobia as well - because gay men are obviously dangerous to children - and a plot reveal at the end that was so offensive it made me want to not even donate this book at all and instead to throw it out.
“I hadn’t seen the man [..] since I was ten years old, though I had reason to remember him. Don’t you go anywhere near him, my mother had told me. Stay away from him, my father said, and if he follows you, run and holler and make as much noise as you can.” [This is the only queer character in this novel, and this description indicates that he is a child predator - but the end for the plot reveal also simply equates him to being gay. As if the two are the same.]
I feel like I shouldn’t have to say why calling the only queer man in your novel a child predator is offense, nor is why equating this man to a woman forced into sex work as a child is also unthinkingly offense.
Without just adding an entire section of quotes here, I’ll just say that I wound up having to split my highlights between regular, run-of-the-mill misogyny, misogyny towards Sister Svangerd herself, homophobia, and just regular “this plot makes no sense, actually.” I was given a physical copy of this novel from Orbit, and I was constantly switching to my phone to highlight passages. As someone who barely highlights in my kindle, having over 30 highlights for this book is an absurd amount for me to have.
I will say that I feel like the author made a half-assed attempt into actually acknowledging the insane misogynistic double-standards leveled at his only notable female character, but with such a sensitive topic maybe equating her being assaulted to “a female prostitute, or someone who takes it in the ass” as being a main plot point about her was absolutely not the way to go.
Thank you Orbit for giving me a copy, and I truly wished I liked this book more.
February 9, 2026
I should have written up my review as soon as I finished it because now I can't remember if it was written 3rd or 1st person, sorry/swearing including F-word/Un-dead/Religious debates
The title is cool but it's a misnomer because Sister Svangerd is not the main charater. Our MC is Sister Svangerd's partner in crime (I forget his name, it's only mentioned once or twice). These two do live in a monastery-like place that has both men and women but their quarters and wings are separated by gender. So that's their cover. They are part of an unnamed shadowy organization within the monastery that provides assassins and thieves.
Svangerd is the fighter and what's-his-name is ....what? the brains maybe? Not that he's super smart he just reads a lot. Svangerd believes in their God (I think it was named the Eternal Sun or something like that) but what's-his-name does not, he's a firm atheist. Ironically he loves to hear the debates about various facets of the religion so he's thrilled when they get an assignment to a big council thing where all the big names of religion will be there.
They are tasked to assassinate a princess but before they can do so someone (or something!) beats them too it and the body is squashed, every bone broken and they are wondering who or what could do that. What's-his-name has a bad feeling because the dead body looks similar to ones he's seen in his home country, the Mesoge (which Parker has referred to in many of his novels and stories), a bleak country of farmers and ranchers scratching a living from the soil. For some unknown reason, the people born there tend to come back alive after they die and they are like 8 feet tall and super strong. It tends to run in families. And, you guessed it, that's what killed the princess. So now the head of the council wants what's-his-name to handle it because he comes from the Mesoge and knows some about these creatures.
As if he didn't have enough on his plate, a mysterious man approaches him and tells him things that the man shouldn't know. The man claims to be from The Loyal Opposition, aka Hell. Like religion in this book has good and evil in opposition and, like Christianity, they all know that the evil side will be defeated in the last days. But for now the evil side, even though they know they lost, play these games and manipulations just to antagonize the good side. At least that's my understanding from what I read. Anyway this mysterious man basically blackmails what's-his-name into doing something because it will help the Loyal Opposition. What's-his-name is torn because on the one hand he staunchly disbelieves but how could Mystery Man know some of the things he said?
As if that wasn't enough going on there are also some old scrolls found in a box that some people say are the true gospel (it's like if the Dead Sea Scrolls had different stuff written on them than the Bible) and others say they must be fakes. And there's more deaths. What's-his-name thinks a lot going round and round trying to figure out what's going on and how to rationalize it with his atheism.
This might be a spoiler but wanted to let you know that Sister Svangerd does play a role in the story and eventually gets to show off her mad skillz. I'll stop there so I don't tell you too much.
My thoughts: At first I thought this was gonna be a caper-type of story with them carrying out their assassination task but then it started to get real interesting, then even more interesting. I liked it a lot because I like thinking deep thoughts so I was right there with what's-his-name trying to figure out what's going on. Some readers will not like that part I'm sure so fair warning. Just go with it. It's like when I watch a spy movie sometimes I get lost about what's going on beneath the surface, like someone's hidden motivations, but I just shrug and keep watching and just go with it.
This is the first novel in, I think, a trilogy. This book has an ending so don't worry about cliffhangers, there's none of that crap here. I'm eager to read what the two of them get up to in the next book.
The title is cool but it's a misnomer because Sister Svangerd is not the main charater. Our MC is Sister Svangerd's partner in crime (I forget his name, it's only mentioned once or twice). These two do live in a monastery-like place that has both men and women but their quarters and wings are separated by gender. So that's their cover. They are part of an unnamed shadowy organization within the monastery that provides assassins and thieves.
Svangerd is the fighter and what's-his-name is ....what? the brains maybe? Not that he's super smart he just reads a lot. Svangerd believes in their God (I think it was named the Eternal Sun or something like that) but what's-his-name does not, he's a firm atheist. Ironically he loves to hear the debates about various facets of the religion so he's thrilled when they get an assignment to a big council thing where all the big names of religion will be there.
They are tasked to assassinate a princess but before they can do so someone (or something!) beats them too it and the body is squashed, every bone broken and they are wondering who or what could do that. What's-his-name has a bad feeling because the dead body looks similar to ones he's seen in his home country, the Mesoge (which Parker has referred to in many of his novels and stories), a bleak country of farmers and ranchers scratching a living from the soil. For some unknown reason, the people born there tend to come back alive after they die and they are like 8 feet tall and super strong. It tends to run in families. And, you guessed it, that's what killed the princess. So now the head of the council wants what's-his-name to handle it because he comes from the Mesoge and knows some about these creatures.
As if he didn't have enough on his plate, a mysterious man approaches him and tells him things that the man shouldn't know. The man claims to be from The Loyal Opposition, aka Hell. Like religion in this book has good and evil in opposition and, like Christianity, they all know that the evil side will be defeated in the last days. But for now the evil side, even though they know they lost, play these games and manipulations just to antagonize the good side. At least that's my understanding from what I read. Anyway this mysterious man basically blackmails what's-his-name into doing something because it will help the Loyal Opposition. What's-his-name is torn because on the one hand he staunchly disbelieves but how could Mystery Man know some of the things he said?
As if that wasn't enough going on there are also some old scrolls found in a box that some people say are the true gospel (it's like if the Dead Sea Scrolls had different stuff written on them than the Bible) and others say they must be fakes. And there's more deaths. What's-his-name thinks a lot going round and round trying to figure out what's going on and how to rationalize it with his atheism.
This might be a spoiler but wanted to let you know that Sister Svangerd does play a role in the story and eventually gets to show off her mad skillz. I'll stop there so I don't tell you too much.
My thoughts: At first I thought this was gonna be a caper-type of story with them carrying out their assassination task but then it started to get real interesting, then even more interesting. I liked it a lot because I like thinking deep thoughts so I was right there with what's-his-name trying to figure out what's going on. Some readers will not like that part I'm sure so fair warning. Just go with it. It's like when I watch a spy movie sometimes I get lost about what's going on beneath the surface, like someone's hidden motivations, but I just shrug and keep watching and just go with it.
This is the first novel in, I think, a trilogy. This book has an ending so don't worry about cliffhangers, there's none of that crap here. I'm eager to read what the two of them get up to in the next book.
January 19, 2026
3.5 stars. Thank you to Orbit Books for an eARC of this novel. Every time I read a KJ Parker book, I think we must share a lot of areas of interest. Academia, particularly the study of ancient and medieval cultures, the formation and evolution of the Church, the art of making manuscripts. All of these elements shine in Sister Svangerd, lovingly poked at with Parker's signature satirical wit. I particularly enjoyed the concept of the walkers from the Mesoge (take a shot every time Brother Desiderius mentions it). They reminded me of the draugr of Icelandic sagas and, given the heavy influence of medieval Scandinavia on the Mesoge, this makes sense. Brother Desiderius's insistence on a scientific explanation for the walkers, and all phenomena, made him a fascinating and cynical monk. His constant atheism contrasted well with Sister Svangerd's blind faith. The overarching plot, however, leaves something to be desired. I began to feel like the plot was trying too hard to trick and shock the reader while making the point that "Good" and "Evil" often work along the same ideas. Keeping track of who was who and on what side was difficult - which in hindsight is perhaps the point. However, I found the reading experience more confusing than I would like. An enjoyable read nonetheless.
Read
February 9, 2026rtc
December 8, 2025
KJ Parker twists his patented formula into a vexing little Dark Ages rumination on faith, good and evil that’ll probably drive normie readers to despair and be absolute catnip to philosophy grads and other victims of overeducation. Nothing changes even as history is made, everything matters unless it doesn’t, this priceless Mezentine clock is also just another hunk of dead rock washed up on the beach. And like life, it makes no d**n sense. Compels me though.
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Sat next to Parker’s other recent work, SSATNQD fits fairly neatly into the arc traced by the Siege and Corax trilogies; in the world of the Siege our protagonists play at being the Great Men (and Women) of history, bold if essentially fraudulent shapers of destiny, while in Corax our jaunty hero turns out to be essentially powerless, a well-connected bit player who can at best delay the inevitable course of history. But in Svangerd no one can achieve much of anything at all, even amidst plenty of sound and fury. Svangerd and Brother Deseridatus go to the conclave but can’t carry out the job they were sent to do, they waffle for a long time about going home while the situation changes turbulently around them, and they eventually leave without much to show for it all. Saloninus somehow captured most of modern philosophy and science thousands of years ago, but mankind hasn’t done much with that wisdom but eke out a squalid life squatting in the ruins of Empire. The dead die, but even death doesn’t take.
There’s more than a little bit of Waiting for Godot about it all, or maybe Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Just as in the Stoppard play, great events are forever happening juuuuuust off screen in Svangerd, leaving our protagonists to wander about struggling against an externally imposed narrative they can neither see nor understand. Fortunately Parker draws back the fog just enough at the end to provide a satisfying sense of closure, but fifty pages from the end I was still wondering whether I’d have been better off throwing my ARC out the window and going for a walk instead. In some ways this is a tremendous accomplishment of creating empathy for the (similarly trapped) narrator — and it’s most definitely a deliberate effect — but not all readers are likely to be tolerant of being toyed with as much as Parker does here.
Svangerd’s pleasures, however, are real and considerable, if a bit cerebral. Parker really stews on questions of faith here, laying into the seeming irrationality of Brother Deseridatus’ strict materialism in a world where The Not Quite Dead really do walk the earth and impossible world- and history-spanning conspiracies genuinely seem to dictate his every move. But even if Good and Evil appear to be real forces in Svangerd’s world, they come across not only as two sides of the same coin but far more divided within themselves than they are truly opposed. And like the clashing revenants that stalk the story, or perhaps Le Carre’s Cold War superpowers, they talk a good game about the long game and a higher purpose but in practice mostly just wreck stuff. These are all typical Parkerian themes, but he works them through with intelligence and a philosophical eye, never letting a point go unopposed or a thesis unproblematized. There are of course some discordant notes, from the strangely tokenising treatment of the book’s one queer character through to Sister Svangerd’s relatively flat characterisation, and you really do have to be masochistic enough to see it all through to the end. But I think it’s a trip work taking, even as it pointedly leaves you stuck right where you started.
————————
Sat next to Parker’s other recent work, SSATNQD fits fairly neatly into the arc traced by the Siege and Corax trilogies; in the world of the Siege our protagonists play at being the Great Men (and Women) of history, bold if essentially fraudulent shapers of destiny, while in Corax our jaunty hero turns out to be essentially powerless, a well-connected bit player who can at best delay the inevitable course of history. But in Svangerd no one can achieve much of anything at all, even amidst plenty of sound and fury. Svangerd and Brother Deseridatus go to the conclave but can’t carry out the job they were sent to do, they waffle for a long time about going home while the situation changes turbulently around them, and they eventually leave without much to show for it all. Saloninus somehow captured most of modern philosophy and science thousands of years ago, but mankind hasn’t done much with that wisdom but eke out a squalid life squatting in the ruins of Empire. The dead die, but even death doesn’t take.
There’s more than a little bit of Waiting for Godot about it all, or maybe Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Just as in the Stoppard play, great events are forever happening juuuuuust off screen in Svangerd, leaving our protagonists to wander about struggling against an externally imposed narrative they can neither see nor understand. Fortunately Parker draws back the fog just enough at the end to provide a satisfying sense of closure, but fifty pages from the end I was still wondering whether I’d have been better off throwing my ARC out the window and going for a walk instead. In some ways this is a tremendous accomplishment of creating empathy for the (similarly trapped) narrator — and it’s most definitely a deliberate effect — but not all readers are likely to be tolerant of being toyed with as much as Parker does here.
Svangerd’s pleasures, however, are real and considerable, if a bit cerebral. Parker really stews on questions of faith here, laying into the seeming irrationality of Brother Deseridatus’ strict materialism in a world where The Not Quite Dead really do walk the earth and impossible world- and history-spanning conspiracies genuinely seem to dictate his every move. But even if Good and Evil appear to be real forces in Svangerd’s world, they come across not only as two sides of the same coin but far more divided within themselves than they are truly opposed. And like the clashing revenants that stalk the story, or perhaps Le Carre’s Cold War superpowers, they talk a good game about the long game and a higher purpose but in practice mostly just wreck stuff. These are all typical Parkerian themes, but he works them through with intelligence and a philosophical eye, never letting a point go unopposed or a thesis unproblematized. There are of course some discordant notes, from the strangely tokenising treatment of the book’s one queer character through to Sister Svangerd’s relatively flat characterisation, and you really do have to be masochistic enough to see it all through to the end. But I think it’s a trip work taking, even as it pointedly leaves you stuck right where you started.
November 24, 2025
Brother Desiderius and Sister Svangerd are off to the 15th Ecumenical Council on a mission to bring a permanent rest to a certain princess nun who is overseeing the council. But things do not go as scheduled. Desiderius manages to lay his hands on a certain box that contains explosive document that could cause a schism in the church. That would be bad enough, but a part of Desiderius's past comes visiting the Council causing havoc and destruction. And then there are the folks who jeep trying to manipulate Desiderius one way or another which he really dislikes and finds annoying. So in typical K. J. Parker fashion everything goes pear-shaped and ends up in a big mess which will be continued in the next volume! A fun dark comedy, but be warned, there is a bit of a cliff-hanger at the end.
Thanks Netgalley and Orbit for the chance to read this title!
Thanks Netgalley and Orbit for the chance to read this title!
January 30, 2026
3.75 rounded up to 4 stars
First, the good. This was so much fun. An interesting world that is presented through the lenses of an equally interesting main character whose cynicism provides a nice contrast to the deeply religious environment he moves in. For all his stubbornness, I enjoyed being in Desiderius' head.
Sister Svangerd, on the other hand, remains a mystery. As a reader I felt distanced from her character, and I wish we'd seen more of her and of her partnership with Desiderius, because for the entire book it felt like they were just doing their own thing separately and while some of it is justified in the context of the story, it makes little sense to have a duo if they never do anything together.
I did struggle a bit with the length of the chapters but that's my own preference more than a critique. Meanwhile, as for the plot I felt like sometimes it was a bit too convoluted. For that reason, I liked that the final solution was given to us all in one go, wrapping up and explaining point for point what happened, but generally speaking, with blends of fantasy and mystery, I tend to prefer when the characters themselves are able to get to the solution instead of having it delivered to them by a third person, so I would have found it more satisfying if we had gotten to that point in a different way.
Overall, I had a great time with this, and even if it's not a flawless book it kept me engaged and interested the whole way through, and I found myself anticipating my time reading it which is always a good feeling!
I'm curious to see how the second book will wrap things up, and I'm hopeful that at least some of the things I was doubtful about will be handled better.
First, the good. This was so much fun. An interesting world that is presented through the lenses of an equally interesting main character whose cynicism provides a nice contrast to the deeply religious environment he moves in. For all his stubbornness, I enjoyed being in Desiderius' head.
Sister Svangerd, on the other hand, remains a mystery. As a reader I felt distanced from her character, and I wish we'd seen more of her and of her partnership with Desiderius, because for the entire book it felt like they were just doing their own thing separately and while some of it is justified in the context of the story, it makes little sense to have a duo if they never do anything together.
I did struggle a bit with the length of the chapters but that's my own preference more than a critique. Meanwhile, as for the plot I felt like sometimes it was a bit too convoluted. For that reason, I liked that the final solution was given to us all in one go, wrapping up and explaining point for point what happened, but generally speaking, with blends of fantasy and mystery, I tend to prefer when the characters themselves are able to get to the solution instead of having it delivered to them by a third person, so I would have found it more satisfying if we had gotten to that point in a different way.
Overall, I had a great time with this, and even if it's not a flawless book it kept me engaged and interested the whole way through, and I found myself anticipating my time reading it which is always a good feeling!
I'm curious to see how the second book will wrap things up, and I'm hopeful that at least some of the things I was doubtful about will be handled better.
January 31, 2026
Another sneaky, deceptive and self-effacing character from K.J. Parker. As with the Saevus Corax books, he is teamed with an extremely capable woman who can't stand him. It's Parker's version of a rom-com, with lots more killing and scheming involved.
This is the first of a two-part series, although the plot wraps up pretty well by the end; no cliffhanger to drive readers crazy.
The monk and the nun (oh, I didn't mention that, did I?) are sent to kill a princess at a religious convocation, but someone (actually, some thing) kills her first, along with others. How do you deal with 8 foot tall undead zombies with superhuman strength who keep coming back? Well, there's a method from the old country that might work...
If you read K.J. Parker you will enjoy this. There's lots of inside jokes about the ancient character Saloninus and his many written works which parallel Plato, Newton, Shakespeare, and even Arthur C. Clarke. There is actually quite a bit of discussion about the nature of religious faith and belief in this one, which makes it chewier than some of his other recent work.
Tom Holt (the author's real name) is on a role with this pseudonym and is cranking them out, to the delight of fans of his snarky, sneaky, capable characters with an interesting moral sense.
(See the interview with Holt in the January 2026 issue of Locus Magazine to read his discussion about the creation of the Parker pseudonym and the stories he's created with it.)
This is the first of a two-part series, although the plot wraps up pretty well by the end; no cliffhanger to drive readers crazy.
The monk and the nun (oh, I didn't mention that, did I?) are sent to kill a princess at a religious convocation, but someone (actually, some thing) kills her first, along with others. How do you deal with 8 foot tall undead zombies with superhuman strength who keep coming back? Well, there's a method from the old country that might work...
If you read K.J. Parker you will enjoy this. There's lots of inside jokes about the ancient character Saloninus and his many written works which parallel Plato, Newton, Shakespeare, and even Arthur C. Clarke. There is actually quite a bit of discussion about the nature of religious faith and belief in this one, which makes it chewier than some of his other recent work.
Tom Holt (the author's real name) is on a role with this pseudonym and is cranking them out, to the delight of fans of his snarky, sneaky, capable characters with an interesting moral sense.
(See the interview with Holt in the January 2026 issue of Locus Magazine to read his discussion about the creation of the Parker pseudonym and the stories he's created with it.)
January 27, 2026
In many ways, I felt like I was reading a book written by Monty Python. This is the first KJ Parker book I have read, and it will not be the last. I loved the sarcasm, satire, and general absurdity of it all. Who knew a monk and a nun could get up to that much trouble trying to commit a simple murder? Oh, and did I mention there are zombies? As I sit here reflecting back on the novel, I am still chuckling at the absurdity of it all. This book is not serious; if you go in expecting a serious fantasy, abandon all thought of that. This is a jaunt in a foreign land with an ecumenical council, where is the highlight of the day is the debate over some obscure religious point. Heady stuff. Which only adds to the absurdity of it all. I'm using that word a lot, but I truly felt like I was in a Monty Python sketch. John Cleese would have made a great monk.
The plot appears simple. Desiderius (the monk) and Svangerd (the nun) are being sent to the Ecumenical Council not to learn but to murder a princess. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, if it can go wrong, it does. I found the idea that the monk is an atheist and he spends a majority of his time defending his atheism to himself in the face of the faith of many of those around him entertaining. In many ways, you can understand why he is the way he is, and Sister Svangerd is the way she is (aside from that one part of being an assassin). I did find the story lagged at times, as the monk, being self-centered, tended to pontificate a bit, which slowed the story's progress. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to the second book.
The plot appears simple. Desiderius (the monk) and Svangerd (the nun) are being sent to the Ecumenical Council not to learn but to murder a princess. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, if it can go wrong, it does. I found the idea that the monk is an atheist and he spends a majority of his time defending his atheism to himself in the face of the faith of many of those around him entertaining. In many ways, you can understand why he is the way he is, and Sister Svangerd is the way she is (aside from that one part of being an assassin). I did find the story lagged at times, as the monk, being self-centered, tended to pontificate a bit, which slowed the story's progress. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to the second book.
February 1, 2026
Reading K.J. Parker is pretty close to my definition of bliss. I was a bit worried at the start. It felt a bit shaky. Also, I didn’t vibe with the audiobook narrator’s voice. Still, once I got into the groove, there you have it - bliss!
Parker is a bit tricky to start with… it’s an acquired taste. My best recommendation is Blue and Gold and Purple and Black. These two novellas converted me fully.
My gateway drug, however, was this old short story: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/park...
It rhymes with some plot elements from Sister Svangerd, so it could be of interest in its own right.
Alternatively, Sister Svangerd is a good place to start as well!
If you’ve read the Corax series or Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City, I think you’ll enjoy this start of a new series. I pre-ordered the next instalment. Can’t wait…
Parker is a bit tricky to start with… it’s an acquired taste. My best recommendation is Blue and Gold and Purple and Black. These two novellas converted me fully.
My gateway drug, however, was this old short story: https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/park...
It rhymes with some plot elements from Sister Svangerd, so it could be of interest in its own right.
Alternatively, Sister Svangerd is a good place to start as well!
If you’ve read the Corax series or Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City, I think you’ll enjoy this start of a new series. I pre-ordered the next instalment. Can’t wait…
February 2, 2026
This was the fun beginning of a new K.J. Parker series (maybe trilogy) about a monk who has a penchant for forgery teaming up with a nun who is good at "guzzling" those who need to be removed, and they end up in an adventure going to a conclave where they are supposed to murder a princess-nun only someone else beats them to it. The usual clever twists. I rushed through it little since I had a short loan from the library. Definitely a lot of fun, also Parker's take on zombies was pretty interesting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead
Rating: 3.25
My first foray into the writing of K. J. Parker, and I very much enjoyed it although it took me a moment to get into the rhythm of the book and the writing style.
Funny and irreverant, it follows Sister Svangerd and her partner Brother Desiderius as they are sent out to do the dirty work for the church in their own distinct fashion.
This tale gives space for ruminations of faith, philosphy and morality whilst also making the reader chuckle and want to be able to commit excellent forgeries.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!
Rating: 3.25
My first foray into the writing of K. J. Parker, and I very much enjoyed it although it took me a moment to get into the rhythm of the book and the writing style.
Funny and irreverant, it follows Sister Svangerd and her partner Brother Desiderius as they are sent out to do the dirty work for the church in their own distinct fashion.
This tale gives space for ruminations of faith, philosphy and morality whilst also making the reader chuckle and want to be able to commit excellent forgeries.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!
December 23, 2025
Review: Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead by K.J.Parker
Reading Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead, I expected a dark, strange tale—and it delivered, but in a subtler, more contemplative way than I anticipated. This Parker fantasy weaves humour with depth, exploring themes of faith, duty, and the uneasy limbo between life and death.
What truly makes this story stand out is Sister Svangerd herself. Sharp, weary, stubborn, yet unexpectedly compassionate, she feels like someone who’s been in her line of work far too long. Her voice is wry yet not smug, serious yet not joyless but it kept me hooked, even during the quieter moments when little seemed to happen.
However, the pacing falters at times. Especially in the middle, it slows considerably, circling the same thoughts and questions without much progress. I found myself wishing the story would pick up the pace or that the stakes would escalate earlier.
The atmospheric, understated worldbuilding largely works for me. The setting and rituals are grounded and haunting without long exposés. On the flip side, some rules surrounding the “not quite dead” remain vague. While the ambiguity adds to the story’s mystique, i was occasionally pulled me out of the story, longing for clearer explanations.
Where the book truly excels is in its exploration of moral uncertainty. It’s less about defeating evil and more about grappling with doubt and choosing mercy—even when rules suggest otherwise. It’s a refreshing take, that refuses easy answers.
Overall, I recommend Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead to fans of character-driven fantasy with gothic undertones who don’t mind a slower, reflective pace. Though not perfect and requiring patience, Sister Svangerd’s compelling voice made the journey worthwhile. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Little Brown for an e-arc and an honest opinion.
Reading Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead, I expected a dark, strange tale—and it delivered, but in a subtler, more contemplative way than I anticipated. This Parker fantasy weaves humour with depth, exploring themes of faith, duty, and the uneasy limbo between life and death.
What truly makes this story stand out is Sister Svangerd herself. Sharp, weary, stubborn, yet unexpectedly compassionate, she feels like someone who’s been in her line of work far too long. Her voice is wry yet not smug, serious yet not joyless but it kept me hooked, even during the quieter moments when little seemed to happen.
However, the pacing falters at times. Especially in the middle, it slows considerably, circling the same thoughts and questions without much progress. I found myself wishing the story would pick up the pace or that the stakes would escalate earlier.
The atmospheric, understated worldbuilding largely works for me. The setting and rituals are grounded and haunting without long exposés. On the flip side, some rules surrounding the “not quite dead” remain vague. While the ambiguity adds to the story’s mystique, i was occasionally pulled me out of the story, longing for clearer explanations.
Where the book truly excels is in its exploration of moral uncertainty. It’s less about defeating evil and more about grappling with doubt and choosing mercy—even when rules suggest otherwise. It’s a refreshing take, that refuses easy answers.
Overall, I recommend Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead to fans of character-driven fantasy with gothic undertones who don’t mind a slower, reflective pace. Though not perfect and requiring patience, Sister Svangerd’s compelling voice made the journey worthwhile. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Little Brown for an e-arc and an honest opinion.
January 3, 2026
One of my favorite absurd niche genres is fantasy monastery and religious based intrigues, possibly involving secret operations, and goddamn does KJ Parker deliver here. We get a duo (a monk and a nun) engaged to run some light sabotage on an important enclave, and wouldn't you know, it only snowballs from there. Apparently this is also the first in a series, so I'm excited to see more of these. Comes out at the end of this month (Jan 2026)!
December 11, 2025
probably 4.25⭐️
I felt very lost basically 80% of this book but in a fun way that left me curious and interested instead of left alone and frustrated.
I liked the main characters and I enjoyed the (controlled) chaos of this world! Also, surprisingly, I really liked the theological discussions!
I felt very lost basically 80% of this book but in a fun way that left me curious and interested instead of left alone and frustrated.
I liked the main characters and I enjoyed the (controlled) chaos of this world! Also, surprisingly, I really liked the theological discussions!
January 28, 2026
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
all spoilers are properly marked.
initially, i was incredibly excited for this book; the topics seemed right up my alley and the writing style seemed fine, if a little silly. however, i have been known to enjoy some goofy writing styles and i'm a nerd for an ecclesiastical council, so i went in with high hopes.
i have a lot of issues with this book, but i'll start with my positives. it is incredibly fast-paced (almost too fast-paced, but at least this was over rather quickly). i found many of the explored concepts to be interesting, including the idea of , and loved every philosophical or theological conversation that the characters had. that was partially why i picked this book up, and it delivered. i even liked the reveal that it was a cool, genuinely fun little twist.
however, there was a lot more that i disliked, to the point i'm wondering if this was the best place to start with this author or if i should have began somewhere else. certain things about this book have me thinking that i won't try anymore of his work though.
the writing was fast-paced, to the point of being jumpy and disjointed. at times, there was no transition, we were just in a new place or speaking to person and it felt like my feet were taken out from under me. also, the central characters weren't that gripping. sister svangerd (the titular character and someone i was very excited to follow) felt like a side character and i didn't much enjoy whenever she was on page. she felt so plastic and uninteresting compared to the synopsis. this is tied into a larger issue with the constant yelling and not showing. everything interesting about the characters is told to us by the characters, rather than allowing the narrative to show it to us. for instance this book is constantly telling us things, but almost never showing it and allowing me to interpret it.
another thing i really disliked about this book was the random references to things that would become plot relevant later. usually, these are completely fine and even appreciated in other books, but those books do it subtly. this book had as much subtlety as a brick when bringing up i literally asked aloud, why is he saying this right here, and all i could think of was the mickey mouse clubhouse “this is a surprise tool that could help us later.”
finally, the most egregious thing about this book was the handling of the final battle scene.
overall, this book had an interesting premise, but i believe this was a failure of execution.
all spoilers are properly marked.
initially, i was incredibly excited for this book; the topics seemed right up my alley and the writing style seemed fine, if a little silly. however, i have been known to enjoy some goofy writing styles and i'm a nerd for an ecclesiastical council, so i went in with high hopes.
i have a lot of issues with this book, but i'll start with my positives. it is incredibly fast-paced (almost too fast-paced, but at least this was over rather quickly). i found many of the explored concepts to be interesting, including the idea of , and loved every philosophical or theological conversation that the characters had. that was partially why i picked this book up, and it delivered. i even liked the reveal that it was a cool, genuinely fun little twist.
however, there was a lot more that i disliked, to the point i'm wondering if this was the best place to start with this author or if i should have began somewhere else. certain things about this book have me thinking that i won't try anymore of his work though.
the writing was fast-paced, to the point of being jumpy and disjointed. at times, there was no transition, we were just in a new place or speaking to person and it felt like my feet were taken out from under me. also, the central characters weren't that gripping. sister svangerd (the titular character and someone i was very excited to follow) felt like a side character and i didn't much enjoy whenever she was on page. she felt so plastic and uninteresting compared to the synopsis. this is tied into a larger issue with the constant yelling and not showing. everything interesting about the characters is told to us by the characters, rather than allowing the narrative to show it to us. for instance this book is constantly telling us things, but almost never showing it and allowing me to interpret it.
another thing i really disliked about this book was the random references to things that would become plot relevant later. usually, these are completely fine and even appreciated in other books, but those books do it subtly. this book had as much subtlety as a brick when bringing up i literally asked aloud, why is he saying this right here, and all i could think of was the mickey mouse clubhouse “this is a surprise tool that could help us later.”
finally, the most egregious thing about this book was the handling of the final battle scene.
overall, this book had an interesting premise, but i believe this was a failure of execution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
KJ Parker at his darkly funny and irreverent best, in a novel that brings together all the references from his Invincible Sun/Robur/Loyal Opposition novels, novellas, and short stories, from Saloninus, Calojan, to the emperor Florian, and of course the Sashan, the Mesoge, the emissaries of the supernatural, and so on...
The book narrator, Brother Desiderius, is a humble monk copier in an obscure monastery in the north, but with secret depths - coming from the backward Mesoge where some dead return as "walkers" to haunt the living, an expert forger formerly in the employment of a duke who met an untimely death, extremely well read at least by the standards of the day, and the strategist in the "action team" duo with Sister Svangerd, a young woman sold into the "hospitality" business as a girl, but redemeed eventually by a famous abbess, Mother Krimhild, and allowed to join the holy orders despite her former profession, and who is a highly devout weapons expert with a powerful hate for the rich and the mighty of the world, so very reliable when ordered to kill such for the good of the Church...
And of course, Desiderius has a not-so-secret crush on Svangerd, while she definitely has had enough of that type of interaction with men to utterly abhor it, so he wisely keeps his feelings to himself.
And now with the Ecumenical Council, which decides on all matters religious every century or so, on hand, the two are ordered to kill the Princess who hosts it in the former Imperial capital, for unspecified reasons they try to guess at on the way there. And while Desiderius is mostly reluctant, as he believes this to be a suicide mission, Svangerd is actually quite eager for reasons we find out later, though not that hard to guess.
Waylaid on their way by some inept assassins and stopping for longer than needed in a formerly important city, Desiderius comes across by chance (so to speak) to some documents that produced at the right (or wrong depending on perspective) time and in the right (or wrong) place, may shatter the Church, alter the course of history for the bad (or the good, again depending on perspective), and of course the not even once in a lifetime Ecumenical Council is that time and place...
And while a devout atheist who thinks all the dogma and theological debate is an intellectually fascinating game, Desiderius actually loves the Church for providing stability in the dark ages since the Fall of the Empire, so he definitely does not plan to produce those documents there and then...
And so it goes, with a lot of action, philosophical musings, fascinating characters, and quite a few twists and turns - the book ends at a very good tbc point, though as one of those emissaries mentioned above tells him, the Loyal Opposition (meaning the Devil and his minions, at least as the general beliefs go) have further need of Desiderius for new unspecified purposes...
Highly recommended for a distillation of KJ Parker's darkly funny blend of fantasy and pseudo-historical fiction with a bit of fantasy elements thrown in for extra fun, as well as a book that makes one laugh out loud quite frequently, as it surprises and delights.
The book narrator, Brother Desiderius, is a humble monk copier in an obscure monastery in the north, but with secret depths - coming from the backward Mesoge where some dead return as "walkers" to haunt the living, an expert forger formerly in the employment of a duke who met an untimely death, extremely well read at least by the standards of the day, and the strategist in the "action team" duo with Sister Svangerd, a young woman sold into the "hospitality" business as a girl, but redemeed eventually by a famous abbess, Mother Krimhild, and allowed to join the holy orders despite her former profession, and who is a highly devout weapons expert with a powerful hate for the rich and the mighty of the world, so very reliable when ordered to kill such for the good of the Church...
And of course, Desiderius has a not-so-secret crush on Svangerd, while she definitely has had enough of that type of interaction with men to utterly abhor it, so he wisely keeps his feelings to himself.
And now with the Ecumenical Council, which decides on all matters religious every century or so, on hand, the two are ordered to kill the Princess who hosts it in the former Imperial capital, for unspecified reasons they try to guess at on the way there. And while Desiderius is mostly reluctant, as he believes this to be a suicide mission, Svangerd is actually quite eager for reasons we find out later, though not that hard to guess.
Waylaid on their way by some inept assassins and stopping for longer than needed in a formerly important city, Desiderius comes across by chance (so to speak) to some documents that produced at the right (or wrong depending on perspective) time and in the right (or wrong) place, may shatter the Church, alter the course of history for the bad (or the good, again depending on perspective), and of course the not even once in a lifetime Ecumenical Council is that time and place...
And while a devout atheist who thinks all the dogma and theological debate is an intellectually fascinating game, Desiderius actually loves the Church for providing stability in the dark ages since the Fall of the Empire, so he definitely does not plan to produce those documents there and then...
And so it goes, with a lot of action, philosophical musings, fascinating characters, and quite a few twists and turns - the book ends at a very good tbc point, though as one of those emissaries mentioned above tells him, the Loyal Opposition (meaning the Devil and his minions, at least as the general beliefs go) have further need of Desiderius for new unspecified purposes...
Highly recommended for a distillation of KJ Parker's darkly funny blend of fantasy and pseudo-historical fiction with a bit of fantasy elements thrown in for extra fun, as well as a book that makes one laugh out loud quite frequently, as it surprises and delights.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
...we dig up their filigree and cloisonné and their rusted-solid clocks, we conserve and steal their books, and we know deep in our hearts that there are some things -- a lot of things -- that human beings used to be able to do once upon a time but can do no longer: that as a species we've shrunk and diminished, and we'll never be smart like that ever again. [loc. 220]
I was a great fan of Parker's earlier work, but lost enthusiasm somewhere around Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City -- an enthusiasm that I have now regained, and look! one and two-thirds trilogies to catch up on! Not including the new trilogy that begins with Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead ...
The eponymous Sister is a former prostitute turned deadly assassin: our narrator, Brother Desiderius, is her partner -- in a strictly professional sense, of course -- and a talented forger. Unlike Sister Svangerd, he happens to be an atheist. The two are sent to the fifteenth ecumenical council in Choris Anthropou to assassinate a princess: but of course it is not that simple. There are angels and/or devils; ancient gospels acquired by what might look like coincidence; heresies and schisms, convenient and inconvenient demises, and ... well, the titular Not Quite Dead. Desiderius spends a lot of time bemoaning the fall of the old empire (which gives the novel a somewhat Dark Ages feel) and refusing to believe in either the Invincible Sun or the Loyal Opposition. He clings to that atheism despite all signs to the contrary: I do love a stubborn protagonist, especially one who's given to philosophising.
I liked this a great deal, though recognised some familiar Parkerian tics: overuse of pronouns, a world-weary narrator who regards himself (probably rightly) as more competent than those around him, a certain cynicism (wholly reasonable, considering the setting and the events). I liked Sister Svangerd -- also fearsomely competent, and as flawed as Desiderius in completely different ways. The setting feels medieval, and not especially magical. (This is a good thing.) And I am vastly intrigued by the Loyal Opposition, of whom I expect to see more in the remaining two-thirds of the trilogy.
I would love a map and a timeline encompassing the whole of Parker's oeuvre: I'm pretty sure it all takes place in the same world, with its echoes of Classical and medieval history, its familiar technologies, its fierce and pointless wars, its great cities and fallen empires.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy, in exchange for this full honest review. UK Publication Date is 27 JAN 2026.
January 27, 2026
Conclave-ish with a side of Angels & Demons, assassin monks and (as the titles goes) Undead
Conclave had this fantastic achievement of crafting a thriller out of a Papal election (without typically any action). Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead (SSATNQD) crafts an intellectual intense thriller around a religious workshop/ gathering and delivers in fantastic style in a typical KJ Parker style
You know what you are getting with a KJ Parker book. Unassuming lead character who have the most boring of professions but with a fiercely independent, sharp and rebellious mind, making them the best problem solver/ out of box thinker. This lead is usually put in a situation that requires them to come up with innovative ways to solve problems even as the problems themselves get more and more complex.
The writing is the another KJ Parker speciality - Precise, scientific, all sharp angles, mathematical laced with sardonic, dry, cool humor & sharp observations with dollops of irony heaped in. All this served with undercurrents of almost fatalistic bleakness. It is supremely well written but it is also wonderfully dense - you really have to focus as there is no waste sentence. KJ Parker uses every sentence or paragraph to share a ton of history, some relevant/ some irrelevant but all done to give a broader sense of this world
Add religion to this combustible mix and you have a brilliant book. A brilliance that is elevated by making the lead, Brother Desiderius, an atheist. The mere setting of an atheist priest heading to a religious conference of the ages itself is brimming with irony and making him a stealth weapon of the church and burdening with an assassination mission elevates the irony further
In typical style, nothing goes to plan right from the start as Brother Desiderius and Sister Svangerd hit the road and sea to reach the conference (and their mission). There are greater forces at work and the question of good and evil, angels and demons plays around constantly as the mission parameter changes and Desiderius often has to ponder if he has free will or if everything is fated
The question of Fate vs Free Will gets quite the airing as every decision and action has consequences no matter how it is taken or is played out. The examinations of faith and religion and the role of God (in fact what God is itself) takes place through the book and is very interesting for it. Desiderius also has to contend with his family through this and the place he hails from - it is chilling and thrilling while somewhat lacking in familial emotions
If I had to quibble about something, its about the title. While the title says Sister Svangerd, it is primarily about Brother Desiderius and the title is kind of misleading
Conclave had this fantastic achievement of crafting a thriller out of a Papal election (without typically any action). Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead (SSATNQD) crafts an intellectual intense thriller around a religious workshop/ gathering and delivers in fantastic style in a typical KJ Parker style
You know what you are getting with a KJ Parker book. Unassuming lead character who have the most boring of professions but with a fiercely independent, sharp and rebellious mind, making them the best problem solver/ out of box thinker. This lead is usually put in a situation that requires them to come up with innovative ways to solve problems even as the problems themselves get more and more complex.
The writing is the another KJ Parker speciality - Precise, scientific, all sharp angles, mathematical laced with sardonic, dry, cool humor & sharp observations with dollops of irony heaped in. All this served with undercurrents of almost fatalistic bleakness. It is supremely well written but it is also wonderfully dense - you really have to focus as there is no waste sentence. KJ Parker uses every sentence or paragraph to share a ton of history, some relevant/ some irrelevant but all done to give a broader sense of this world
Add religion to this combustible mix and you have a brilliant book. A brilliance that is elevated by making the lead, Brother Desiderius, an atheist. The mere setting of an atheist priest heading to a religious conference of the ages itself is brimming with irony and making him a stealth weapon of the church and burdening with an assassination mission elevates the irony further
In typical style, nothing goes to plan right from the start as Brother Desiderius and Sister Svangerd hit the road and sea to reach the conference (and their mission). There are greater forces at work and the question of good and evil, angels and demons plays around constantly as the mission parameter changes and Desiderius often has to ponder if he has free will or if everything is fated
The question of Fate vs Free Will gets quite the airing as every decision and action has consequences no matter how it is taken or is played out. The examinations of faith and religion and the role of God (in fact what God is itself) takes place through the book and is very interesting for it. Desiderius also has to contend with his family through this and the place he hails from - it is chilling and thrilling while somewhat lacking in familial emotions
If I had to quibble about something, its about the title. While the title says Sister Svangerd, it is primarily about Brother Desiderius and the title is kind of misleading
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5/5
I’m a die-hard fan of K.J. Parker’s cynical wit. He’s had some ups and downs lately, but, to me, Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead is one of his best books in years.
The voice is unmistakable. It's dry, calmly funny and precise in its take on power, religion, history, and the stories people tell themselves to survive. Parker’s logic is brutal, almost mathematical, and every belief gets poked. Every moral claim gets cross-examined.
Brother Desiderius, the atheist monk and professional forger, is classic Parker lead: smart, tired, self-justifying, and painfully aware that history tends to happen to people like him. Sister Svangerd, meanwhile, is a knife-expert nun with a dark reputation and a very practical view of violence. They’re sent to an ecumenical council to assassinate a princess. Naturally, everything goes wrong.
The council itself is a great setting. People gathered there are petty, corrupt, verbose, and buzzing with theological politics. When we add fake manuscripts, real heresies, half-dead assassins, and arguments about whether good and evil actually mean anything at all to the mix, things get complicated. Parker has a lot of fun inventing theology and fake scholarship, and somehow makes parchment forgery feel suspenseful (for real).
The story remains engaging moment to moment. Things happen and deals are made. Knives come out. People die, or don’t quite. On top of this, we also get a truly philosophical and cerebral take on religion. The pacing worked for me, though it mat feel to slow for some readers. Parker's quiet, bleak humor is running through everything and make it work. I like it because it's not joke-heavy, just a steady drip of irony and weary observation.
Above all, this is a book about belief and who controls it, who benefits from it, and whether it survives contact with reality. Good and evil exist, maybe, but they’re compromised, and oddly similar. History looms large, yet nothing ever quite changes. Even death struggles to finish the job.
It won’t be for everyone. Parker still plays with the reader. He still withholds, doubles back, and shrugs at tidy meaning. But if you like his voice, this is him in strong form. Sharp, funny, bleak, and intellectually alive.
I loved it.
ARC through NetGalley.
I’m a die-hard fan of K.J. Parker’s cynical wit. He’s had some ups and downs lately, but, to me, Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead is one of his best books in years.
The voice is unmistakable. It's dry, calmly funny and precise in its take on power, religion, history, and the stories people tell themselves to survive. Parker’s logic is brutal, almost mathematical, and every belief gets poked. Every moral claim gets cross-examined.
Brother Desiderius, the atheist monk and professional forger, is classic Parker lead: smart, tired, self-justifying, and painfully aware that history tends to happen to people like him. Sister Svangerd, meanwhile, is a knife-expert nun with a dark reputation and a very practical view of violence. They’re sent to an ecumenical council to assassinate a princess. Naturally, everything goes wrong.
The council itself is a great setting. People gathered there are petty, corrupt, verbose, and buzzing with theological politics. When we add fake manuscripts, real heresies, half-dead assassins, and arguments about whether good and evil actually mean anything at all to the mix, things get complicated. Parker has a lot of fun inventing theology and fake scholarship, and somehow makes parchment forgery feel suspenseful (for real).
The story remains engaging moment to moment. Things happen and deals are made. Knives come out. People die, or don’t quite. On top of this, we also get a truly philosophical and cerebral take on religion. The pacing worked for me, though it mat feel to slow for some readers. Parker's quiet, bleak humor is running through everything and make it work. I like it because it's not joke-heavy, just a steady drip of irony and weary observation.
Above all, this is a book about belief and who controls it, who benefits from it, and whether it survives contact with reality. Good and evil exist, maybe, but they’re compromised, and oddly similar. History looms large, yet nothing ever quite changes. Even death struggles to finish the job.
It won’t be for everyone. Parker still plays with the reader. He still withholds, doubles back, and shrugs at tidy meaning. But if you like his voice, this is him in strong form. Sharp, funny, bleak, and intellectually alive.
I loved it.
ARC through NetGalley.
Read
February 3, 2026Ah, I do love a good K.J. Parker book. The wry tone, the self-aware characters, the clever tongue-in-cheek writing…K.J. Parker does it all so well. And of all the K.J. Parker books I’ve read, this might just be the Parker-est (I realize this is a horrible sentence, but it makes me chuckle, so it stays).
Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead contains philosophical musings on Good vs. Evil, church divisions, free will, and atheism as its own version of faith, all wrapped up in a delightful fantasy-shaped package. The book starts with a priest and a priestess being sent on a “holy” mission- to assassinate a princess. Oddly enough, this beginning ends up having very little to do with the actual storyline, although it’s quite the catalyst. It also seems that, in a hotbed of debate among the great spiritual leaders, one lowly priest is the focus of all the trouble that follows. And there is a lot of trouble. Oops.
The humor of the book (and yes, it is rather humorous) is smart and snarky. The priest, who happens to be an atheist, finds his way smack into the middle of a crisis of not-faith. Furthermore, not-dead dead people are wandering around, creating all kinds of havoc and violence. This combination of inner turmoil and outer disaster was massively entertaining. The fact that the priest was a rather likable fellow made the book even more interesting.
A small note to any religious readers: while the religion in the book is completely fictional, there are some intentional parallels to certain aspects of actual religions. While I was not offended in any way, I know each reader will have their own threshold of what they deem as “okay.” This is a satirical book, after all.
That being said, it’s up to the reader to decide whether to just come for the mayhem or take a seat and really consider the more faith-based side of things. Either way, you’re getting a massively fun book. Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead might just be my favorite K.J. Parker book, and that’s saying something. I loved this sardonic, monster-laden trek through ideas of faith and religion.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to Orbit Books for providing me with a copy of this book. My opinions are completely my own.
Full review: https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead contains philosophical musings on Good vs. Evil, church divisions, free will, and atheism as its own version of faith, all wrapped up in a delightful fantasy-shaped package. The book starts with a priest and a priestess being sent on a “holy” mission- to assassinate a princess. Oddly enough, this beginning ends up having very little to do with the actual storyline, although it’s quite the catalyst. It also seems that, in a hotbed of debate among the great spiritual leaders, one lowly priest is the focus of all the trouble that follows. And there is a lot of trouble. Oops.
The humor of the book (and yes, it is rather humorous) is smart and snarky. The priest, who happens to be an atheist, finds his way smack into the middle of a crisis of not-faith. Furthermore, not-dead dead people are wandering around, creating all kinds of havoc and violence. This combination of inner turmoil and outer disaster was massively entertaining. The fact that the priest was a rather likable fellow made the book even more interesting.
A small note to any religious readers: while the religion in the book is completely fictional, there are some intentional parallels to certain aspects of actual religions. While I was not offended in any way, I know each reader will have their own threshold of what they deem as “okay.” This is a satirical book, after all.
That being said, it’s up to the reader to decide whether to just come for the mayhem or take a seat and really consider the more faith-based side of things. Either way, you’re getting a massively fun book. Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead might just be my favorite K.J. Parker book, and that’s saying something. I loved this sardonic, monster-laden trek through ideas of faith and religion.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to Orbit Books for providing me with a copy of this book. My opinions are completely my own.
Full review: https://wittyandsarcasticbookclub.hom...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Two servants of the Church of the invincible Sun, a priest, who also happens to be a forgery expert, and a nun, who also happens to be an assassin, are tasked with the order to kill a princess who just happens to be a high ranking authority in said church. This is not the first order of this ilk they've received so they don't question it. When a monster from the priest's home country does the deed for them, it leads to confusion, hilarity, and true existential crisis.
I give this novel an enthusiastic 4.5 stars. It gripped me from the beginning with its humor and the relationship between the priest and the nun. The church they serve feels so much like the Catholic Church, but it's not, and the world they live in feels like medieval Europe, but it's not, which makes the setting both familiar and foreign. All of this builds an instability in the reader which reflects the imbalance that the priest, our pov character feels. He's a non-believer, yet he's faced with events and players he cannot explain. The best part were the conversations. They’re witty, fast, and full of alternate meanings. That bit is brilliant. The characters are also twisty and complicated and expertly portrayed. The plot took a turn I didn't see coming a number of times.
I had one issue with the writing style. More than once, the pov character makes an observation about a character trait or a past experience and then bam, they’re in a new location without any sort of guidance to the reader that they’ve moved at all. It’s jarring and always threw me out of the story until I dug myself back in.
The main theme of the novel was the debate over who was controlling what and what was the difference between good and evil. At first it was compelling, but it went on well past the point that I cared anymore and just wanted to know where the story ended. Hence, I never longed to pick the book up or thought about it when I wasn’t reading it. Basically there was a ton of debate and very little answers. It’s not satisfying to read for me.
Overall, there was so much to love that I'm eager to pick up the next book to see what happens to our main characters and the church one believes in and the other doesn't.
I give this novel an enthusiastic 4.5 stars. It gripped me from the beginning with its humor and the relationship between the priest and the nun. The church they serve feels so much like the Catholic Church, but it's not, and the world they live in feels like medieval Europe, but it's not, which makes the setting both familiar and foreign. All of this builds an instability in the reader which reflects the imbalance that the priest, our pov character feels. He's a non-believer, yet he's faced with events and players he cannot explain. The best part were the conversations. They’re witty, fast, and full of alternate meanings. That bit is brilliant. The characters are also twisty and complicated and expertly portrayed. The plot took a turn I didn't see coming a number of times.
I had one issue with the writing style. More than once, the pov character makes an observation about a character trait or a past experience and then bam, they’re in a new location without any sort of guidance to the reader that they’ve moved at all. It’s jarring and always threw me out of the story until I dug myself back in.
The main theme of the novel was the debate over who was controlling what and what was the difference between good and evil. At first it was compelling, but it went on well past the point that I cared anymore and just wanted to know where the story ended. Hence, I never longed to pick the book up or thought about it when I wasn’t reading it. Basically there was a ton of debate and very little answers. It’s not satisfying to read for me.
Overall, there was so much to love that I'm eager to pick up the next book to see what happens to our main characters and the church one believes in and the other doesn't.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this ARC!
Rating: 3.5 Stars rounded up.
“Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead” is the first book in K.J. Parker’s new duology, “The Loyal Opposition”. This duology is set in the same world as his Salonius trilogy, but you can 100% read one without knowing the other. In this book, we follow Sister Svangerd and her accompanying priest, whose POV we get to read. They are in the service of the Church of the Invincible Sun, tasked with killing a princess at the Ecumenial Council, a sort of convention of this religion’s greatest minds. However, what was meant to be a straightforward assassination is suddenly complicated by the appearance of people long considered dead, and a discovery which threatens to shake up the entire belief system…
I really enjoyed this book, and if you are familiar with Parker’s style, you will enjoy it too. This book is the perfect mix of ridiculous and intriguing, equally humorous and tense. I feel that this may be a bit heavier than his other works I have read, though this may just be related to its length. Nonetheless I had a great time reading it, and I am already looking forward to book two, because I honestly have NO idea what the plot of that one will be. I mean that in a positive way – There are a lot of possibilities, and I need to know which one it will be.
If you like fantasy that is full of dark humour (in the fun way, not the wannabe edgy way), well thought-out worldbuilding, and amazingly ridiculous plot lines, you will certainly have an amazing time with this (and also Parker’s other works, which have gone up my priority tbr list after reading this).
Rating: 3.5 Stars rounded up.
“Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead” is the first book in K.J. Parker’s new duology, “The Loyal Opposition”. This duology is set in the same world as his Salonius trilogy, but you can 100% read one without knowing the other. In this book, we follow Sister Svangerd and her accompanying priest, whose POV we get to read. They are in the service of the Church of the Invincible Sun, tasked with killing a princess at the Ecumenial Council, a sort of convention of this religion’s greatest minds. However, what was meant to be a straightforward assassination is suddenly complicated by the appearance of people long considered dead, and a discovery which threatens to shake up the entire belief system…
I really enjoyed this book, and if you are familiar with Parker’s style, you will enjoy it too. This book is the perfect mix of ridiculous and intriguing, equally humorous and tense. I feel that this may be a bit heavier than his other works I have read, though this may just be related to its length. Nonetheless I had a great time reading it, and I am already looking forward to book two, because I honestly have NO idea what the plot of that one will be. I mean that in a positive way – There are a lot of possibilities, and I need to know which one it will be.
If you like fantasy that is full of dark humour (in the fun way, not the wannabe edgy way), well thought-out worldbuilding, and amazingly ridiculous plot lines, you will certainly have an amazing time with this (and also Parker’s other works, which have gone up my priority tbr list after reading this).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book Review: Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead (The Loyal Opposition Trilogy 1) by K.J. Parker
4.75/5 stars, rounded up. This is my first read of a book by KJ Parker. I have been interested in reading his work for some time, so when I got the opportunity from Orbit Books and NetGalley to read the eARC of this book, I was very excited. My excitement was not misplaced. Parker is an excellent writer and wordsmith; he creates intriguing characters and tells an interesting political/religious story in a richly constructed fantasy setting.
Our two main characters, the narrator – Brother Desiderius, a notorious forger; and, the titular Sister Svangerd, an assassin, are both monks who are sent to the ecumenical council of the Church of the Invincible Sun to carry out an assassination. Oh, and did I mention that Desiderius is deeply in love with Svangerd, but she only tolerates his companionship, at best. While at the council, they encounter ‘walkers’ – zombie-like creatures who are only found in Desiderius’s homeland of the Mesoge. Quite a coincidence that the only person in attendance just happens to be Desiderius. The story ensues from this point and has some fantastic horror-esque moments while the reader tries to keep up with all of the political maneuvers involving the council events, Desiderius, and Svangerd.
I enjoyed this story and will definitely read more books by Parker, especially the next one in the Sister Svangerd trilogy that will be released in May 2026. This first installment releases on January 27, 2026. Highly recommended!
4.75/5 stars, rounded up. This is my first read of a book by KJ Parker. I have been interested in reading his work for some time, so when I got the opportunity from Orbit Books and NetGalley to read the eARC of this book, I was very excited. My excitement was not misplaced. Parker is an excellent writer and wordsmith; he creates intriguing characters and tells an interesting political/religious story in a richly constructed fantasy setting.
Our two main characters, the narrator – Brother Desiderius, a notorious forger; and, the titular Sister Svangerd, an assassin, are both monks who are sent to the ecumenical council of the Church of the Invincible Sun to carry out an assassination. Oh, and did I mention that Desiderius is deeply in love with Svangerd, but she only tolerates his companionship, at best. While at the council, they encounter ‘walkers’ – zombie-like creatures who are only found in Desiderius’s homeland of the Mesoge. Quite a coincidence that the only person in attendance just happens to be Desiderius. The story ensues from this point and has some fantastic horror-esque moments while the reader tries to keep up with all of the political maneuvers involving the council events, Desiderius, and Svangerd.
I enjoyed this story and will definitely read more books by Parker, especially the next one in the Sister Svangerd trilogy that will be released in May 2026. This first installment releases on January 27, 2026. Highly recommended!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead by K.J. Parker
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Cynical Fantasy
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: January 27, 2026
Unlikely Assassin Duo
Theological Discussion
Corrupt Religious Institution
Political + Religious Intrigue
Den of Vipers
I’ll admit it: I completely judged this book by its cover, which is absolutely striking! Overall, this was a 3-star read for me—a story with high-concept ideas that didn't quite land the execution for my personal taste.
The "quest" vibes and the humor sprinkled throughout were definitely the highlights. I also found the "walkers" to be a fascinating and fun addition to the world, though I found myself wishing for much more lore and information about them.
In terms of characters, the MMC's cynicism was a bit difficult for me to connect with, but Sister Svangard herself was a delight. Her backstory is incredibly interesting, and I loved how she maintained a positive attitude and sharp wit despite her circumstances. The dynamic between the leads kept things moving, even when the plot felt a bit stagnant.
My main struggle was the pacing; the story has moments that really draw you in, but it tended to lull until the final 20%. While the ending picks up speed, the journey there felt a bit uneven. If you enjoy character-driven "odd couple" dynamics and a slow-burn mystery, this might be a great fit for you!
Thank you so much Orbit Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy.
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Cynical Fantasy
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: January 27, 2026
Unlikely Assassin Duo
Theological Discussion
Corrupt Religious Institution
Political + Religious Intrigue
Den of Vipers
I’ll admit it: I completely judged this book by its cover, which is absolutely striking! Overall, this was a 3-star read for me—a story with high-concept ideas that didn't quite land the execution for my personal taste.
The "quest" vibes and the humor sprinkled throughout were definitely the highlights. I also found the "walkers" to be a fascinating and fun addition to the world, though I found myself wishing for much more lore and information about them.
In terms of characters, the MMC's cynicism was a bit difficult for me to connect with, but Sister Svangard herself was a delight. Her backstory is incredibly interesting, and I loved how she maintained a positive attitude and sharp wit despite her circumstances. The dynamic between the leads kept things moving, even when the plot felt a bit stagnant.
My main struggle was the pacing; the story has moments that really draw you in, but it tended to lull until the final 20%. While the ending picks up speed, the journey there felt a bit uneven. If you enjoy character-driven "odd couple" dynamics and a slow-burn mystery, this might be a great fit for you!
Thank you so much Orbit Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy.
January 29, 2026
We got Ecumenical Council discussing the true nature of their religion, with the added threat of a possible "true" religious manuscript which could fracture the church and lead to the fall of the country. Also not quite dead people killing folks. K. J. Parker is back, today, with "Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead." Thank you Hachette Audio for the copy.
The Church of the Invincible Sun has people to deal with issues that would be...awkward to explain. Like killing people. Now this scribe and sister are a great team, one is a rather deft hand at killing, the other happens to be decent at not dying and handy for forgery (plus being decent at violence as well). Now they are off to the holy seat, pop in, kill a princess, go home. I'm sure theological debates and smushed heads won't over complicate things or anything.
Narrated by Oliver Hembrough, I hope he enjoys the dichotomy of good and evil because there are some hoops the people are jumping through to justify themselves.
Reasons to read:
-For folks whose religious upbringing killed their faith
-Once again, will fight all sun based churches
-Rather enjoy the asides about different historical notes and facts
-Wait are they doing this stuff because they couldn't find the opposition so they became it themselves?
-Sometimes dropping a giant metal object on your family is the answer, it's OK they got better
Cons:
-Oh crap all of Parker's books are connected aren't they?
The Church of the Invincible Sun has people to deal with issues that would be...awkward to explain. Like killing people. Now this scribe and sister are a great team, one is a rather deft hand at killing, the other happens to be decent at not dying and handy for forgery (plus being decent at violence as well). Now they are off to the holy seat, pop in, kill a princess, go home. I'm sure theological debates and smushed heads won't over complicate things or anything.
Narrated by Oliver Hembrough, I hope he enjoys the dichotomy of good and evil because there are some hoops the people are jumping through to justify themselves.
Reasons to read:
-For folks whose religious upbringing killed their faith
-Once again, will fight all sun based churches
-Rather enjoy the asides about different historical notes and facts
-Wait are they doing this stuff because they couldn't find the opposition so they became it themselves?
-Sometimes dropping a giant metal object on your family is the answer, it's OK they got better
Cons:
-Oh crap all of Parker's books are connected aren't they?
February 6, 2026
My rating: 3.75★
This is the future? But also swamp magic. Yep.
When you sit down to read Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead you will be bored but also intrigued. Or maybe you really love reading books about copying many other books by hand in ye olden days—in that case you'll LOVE this book. The humor and sacrilege combo that form the meat of this reminded me of The Devils (of which I've only read the first chapter) but make it way less magic, a smaller scale conflict, and just two ne'er-do-wells. Sister Svangerd is the best part (who doesn't love an intelligent badass nun?) so it's unfortunate that she isn't present for a lot of the story, we instead follow her partner around who is a well-meaning but relatively clueless man. Ugh. Here's to hoping the next entry in the series has a better Sister Svangerd ratio—Yes, this is in fact the first book in a series, but this one wraps up nicely if you don't want to invest your time in a whole thing.
As a bonus, there were many moments of really incredible writing, mostly about life and love:
and my favorite
Thank you to Orbit for providing me an e-ARC of this book.
This is the future? But also swamp magic. Yep.
When you sit down to read Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead you will be bored but also intrigued. Or maybe you really love reading books about copying many other books by hand in ye olden days—in that case you'll LOVE this book. The humor and sacrilege combo that form the meat of this reminded me of The Devils (of which I've only read the first chapter) but make it way less magic, a smaller scale conflict, and just two ne'er-do-wells. Sister Svangerd is the best part (who doesn't love an intelligent badass nun?) so it's unfortunate that she isn't present for a lot of the story, we instead follow her partner around who is a well-meaning but relatively clueless man. Ugh. Here's to hoping the next entry in the series has a better Sister Svangerd ratio—Yes, this is in fact the first book in a series, but this one wraps up nicely if you don't want to invest your time in a whole thing.
As a bonus, there were many moments of really incredible writing, mostly about life and love:
The thing that makes human life a misery is love, because love plus loss equals pain, and loss is inevitable.
and my favorite
...never attribute to malice anything that can be explained by incompetence.
Thank you to Orbit for providing me an e-ARC of this book.
January 28, 2026
This isn't a simple murder. This is a world full of intrigue and chaos. A world full of chaotic stumbling, bureaucratic mishaps, and church orders galore. It's like a mix of Warhammer 40k mixed with poison and intrigue in an unfriendly world that is desperate to wring the soul out of you. That is how this novel is 'Not Quite Dead.'
Honestly, RJ Parker knows how to build a world. The author pulls you into a trance, writing a believable, outstanding main character whose first-person prose is exhilarating enough to keep you entranced in the world. Every single time I was not pulling my eyes off the page. It was that good. There are believable characters, there are evil characters, there are moral characters, and there are characters in-between. This, if continued, could be the start of an outstanding fantasy world that I REALLY want to be more involved in.
Already you can judge from my review how well-written this story is. This story feels more like the opening to the Lion Graphic Bible for one, and it feels like an amazing book. Also, kudos to the cover designer who did a brilliant job interpreting this world. It's like Orbit Books and Little Brown always choose the best cover designers that really understand the craft.
I've submitted my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, but it may take some time to appear
Honestly, RJ Parker knows how to build a world. The author pulls you into a trance, writing a believable, outstanding main character whose first-person prose is exhilarating enough to keep you entranced in the world. Every single time I was not pulling my eyes off the page. It was that good. There are believable characters, there are evil characters, there are moral characters, and there are characters in-between. This, if continued, could be the start of an outstanding fantasy world that I REALLY want to be more involved in.
Already you can judge from my review how well-written this story is. This story feels more like the opening to the Lion Graphic Bible for one, and it feels like an amazing book. Also, kudos to the cover designer who did a brilliant job interpreting this world. It's like Orbit Books and Little Brown always choose the best cover designers that really understand the craft.
I've submitted my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, but it may take some time to appear
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