The cover of The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal, sillhouttes of a man and a woman laid out like a playing card

Lady Amelia Smallhope and her companion, Pennyroyal, are ancillary characters in Jodie Taylor’s St. Mary’s series and her Time Police series, where they appear as mercenary bounty hunters who swoop in to thwart or save the heroes at the last second.

More recent entries have seen their characters emerge more fully, and actively working with both entities. Until now, Taylor has given us very little of their histories.

The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal seeks to shed light on the duo, by showing fans how they met, and a portion of Lady Amelia’s early life and upbringing.

It’s a good idea, but in this case, it doesn’t really work. It can’t be read as a standalone novel, and huge chunks are missing where the author assumes readers will be able to fill in the blanks from general knowledge of the other two series.

The book feels incomplete and rushed, and the methods of resolving the central problems don’t hang well together.

If you’re a die-hard fan or completist, go for it. Otherwise, leave The Ballad of Smallhope and Pennyroyal alone.