“When the Church of the Invincible Sun is looking for someone to do its dirty work, they call on Sister Svangerd and her priest. Stealing a book might sound like a relatively simple task, but this isn’t any old book.

To get their hands on it, they must impersonate a legendary figure, create the world’s most expensive letter of introduction, and sneak into the most heavily guarded library in the world. All in a day’s work, but the machinations of the mysterious Loyal Opposition threaten to derail their best-laid plans.”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to hand the blog over to my guest reviewer, Ryan (my husband) who will be sharing his thoughts on Sister Svangerd and the Devil You Know by K.J. Parker. Sister Svangerd and the Devil You Know was published by Orbit Boks on 12th May 2026 and is available in paperback, audio and digital formats. Ryan chose to read a free eARC but that has not influenced his review.

Here’s what he thought…

Sister Svangerd and the Devil You Know is the second book in the Loyal Opposition trilogy. The first book, Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead, introduces us to Sister Svangerd and Brother Desiderius, part of the Militia wing of their monastic order. Brother Desiderius spends his time between missions making high-quality copies of religious tomes. Whilst Sister Svangerd is the most devout of the Nuns, atoning for her mysterious life before she joined the Order. However, once on a mission, Brother Desiderius’s skills allow him to be a master forger, and Sister Svangerd just happens to be very handy with any weapons that fall her way! In this novel, the pair are sent to an impregnable fortress to steal a book of great value. It would just be helpful if everyone knew which book it was and why its contents are quite so valuable!

For those who aren’t aware, K.J. Parker is the pen name for much-loved fantasy author Tom Holt. And just as his J.W. Wells series satirised office culture, the Loyal Opposition Trilogy brings his humorous take on religion. The Loyal Opposition are agents of evil, opposing and tempting our heroes at every turn. Parker’s writing satirises organised religion and theology, cleverly allowing the Loyal Opposition to confound Desiderius and Svangerd at every turn, bringing an element of the spy thriller to the series with the occasional farcical twist. Fans of this author’s other work will know that he can create brilliant fast-moving plots with dark humour and clever dialogue. The setting of this story allows a well-balanced mix of action and dialogue, with well-crafted characters helping move the story forward.

Would I recommend the Sister Svangerd series – absolutely! Great fiction with laughs and dialogue to engage and keep you thinking. This author’s ability to create well-formed worlds and characters marks him out as one of the leading fantasy authors. If it sounds like something you would enjoy, I suggest you start at the beginning with Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead. But please be aware that the dialogue versus action balance is a little heavier towards the dialogue in that one, compared to the second book in the series. Sister Svangerd and the Chosen One is coming in December 2026 and I can’t wait!

Ryan chose to read and review a free eARC of Sister Svangerd and the Devil You Know. The above review is his own unbiased opinion.

Sister Svangerd and the Devil You Know by K.J. Parker was published in the UK by Orbit Books on 12th May 2026 and is available in paperback, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Apple Books [eBook] x Apple Books [Audio] | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

K.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.