If it was the Five Gods and the way Penric’s accidental bond with Desdemona becomes a spiritual vocation that hooked you, you’ll love how The Curse of Chalion lets the gods step directly into a mortal’s life. Watching Cazaril wrestle with divine intervention, prayer, and sacrifice echoes Penric’s candid talks with temple divines and his hard-won understanding of the Bastard’s will—only here the miracles cut even closer to the bone.

Miss Penric and Desdemona’s sharp, funny back-and-forth as they learn to trust each other? Swordheart pairs practical widow Halla with Sarkis, the extremely opinionated warrior bound to her enchanted sword. Their road-trip misadventures and deadpan arguing will scratch the same itch as Penric trying to keep his composure while Desdemona offers sardonic commentary—and unexpected help—at the worst possible moments.

If you enjoyed how Penric’s Demon keeps the focus tight—Penric, Desdemona, a few guides and adversaries—while the theology and politics hum in the background, The Bird King offers a similarly intimate arc. It follows Fatima and Hassan fleeing the Inquisition, their bond and small choices mattering more than armies. Like Penric’s escorted trip to the temple and quiet reckonings with faith, this is a personal odyssey with tender stakes and wonder at its edges.

Penric’s growth—from a good-hearted village youth who inherits a demon on the roadside to a thoughtful temple sorcerer—pairs beautifully with Ged’s journey. In A Wizard of Earthsea, Ged’s mistakes carry real consequences, and his education feels as tactile as Penric’s early training with the Bastard’s Order. If you valued watching Penric mature through humility, study, and courage, Ged’s path toward self-knowledge will resonate deeply.

If staying in Penric’s viewpoint—listening to Desdemona in his head while he fumbles, learns, and chooses grace—was your favorite part, The Goblin Emperor offers that same intimacy. We’re in Maia’s thoughts as he faces court pitfalls with empathy and restraint. Like Penric’s gentle decency amid temple politics, Maia’s goodness becomes his strength, making victories feel earned and personal.