by
Steven Brust
ISBN: 0-312-85927-9 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com
An excellent continuation to a very entertaining series, this novel resolves many subplots, introduces new changes, and reveals new things about likable and colorful characters.
Reviewed by David on August 08, 2001
Genre: Fantasy (War, High Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Assassin)
Synopsis: Ever since Brust introduced the Draegeran Empire and the intricate society of long-lived, magic-wielding humanoid Draegerans in Jhereg, this series has been a favorite. Not the least for the hero of most of his books, the despised and occasionally feared human Vlad Taltos, part of the criminal house of Jhereg.
In this book, Vlad who's been on the run from his former associates of the House Jhereg, comes back to help find some of his aristocratic friends. It seems some very old and very powerful enemies are meddling in Draegera again. And while Vlad is hardly the heroic type, once again, somehow he is stuck doing insanely dangerous things.
Full Review: Full of sarcastic observation, this book combines the swashbuckling adventure o the earlier novels with inetersting plot developments and some subtle observations. And manages not to fall into depressing angst of books such as Teckla. Vlad develops quite a bit—but with Brust's, the growth has occured in the background, and the events of the book just reveal the fact, to the readers and Vlad alike.
The conclusion of the book is satisfying. Not a cliffhanger, it still leaves the reader with an intense desire to find what happens next to Vlad and his Draegeran friends. All in all, the long wait for this book, slim by today's fantasy standards, is more than justified by its contents.
Highly recommended.
Universe: Dragaera
Overall: 7.5; Plot: 7.5; Characters: 7; Style: 7; World-building: 7.5; Originality: 7;
Copyright date 2001, Tom Doherty Associates (Tor), July 2001, Cloth, 255 pages
ISBN: 0-312-85927-9 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com