Book number 14 (by publication order) in Steven Brust's fantasy series about Vlad Taltos, former assassin/crime boss and current fugitive. Although this time, he's got a plan to remove the price from his head.

I'll be honest, I possibly often end up talking myself into thinking I like the books in this series better than I actually do, just because they seem so much like things I ought to really like. But I'm pleased to say that this one didn't require any such mental effort. Mind you, it could have. The way it plays coy with Vlad's plan, showing him gathering up all the elements of it without explaining exactly what they're for could have been annoying, as could the somewhat arbitrary-feeling ways in which he gets his hands on some of those elements. But the payoff for it really worked for me. The plan itself was a bit ridiculous, but in a fun way, and it left Vlad in a fairly interesting place in the end. And I enjoyed Vlad as a character quite a bit here, too, as he's portrayed with just about the perfect balance of smartassery and weariness. ( )

I'd been doing some work on my account when it struck me that I was three novels behind in following the doings of Vlad Taltos, and it had been over a decade since I had read "Jhegaala." In my defense, it's not as though Brust has been anything but careful in what he's writing, but "Issola" felt like something of a culmination point and the stories weren't grabbing me as much as they had been. Be that as it may, this number in the series was at hand, and seemed like a good place to jump back in. Short version, while this was basically a comfort read for me, Brust does continue to develop Vlad's character, and a Vlad with a clever scheme to try and right accounts with the Jhereg is more enjoyable than a Vlad that is eternally on the run. ( )

Great story with lots of action. This one read like a caper movie. Kept me guessing what Vlad was trying to pull off until the very end. Extremely satisfying! The only bad part is that I'm now at the end of the published series, chronologically. One more book to read, but that one is set earlier. I'll have an indefinite wait now to see what happens next! ( )

Fantastic!

This is the Vlad I know and love, right down to the horrendously complicated plot, the refusal to explain to us what is going to happen until it happens, and now, an actual return to business as usual.

What? He's found a way to return to his home town, make things good with the Jhereg, that long-lived race that does everything better than everyone else? I mean, sure, Vlad has been assassinating them for most of his life and even though they made him a Lord even though they despise puny humans, he eventually screwed over the entire race pretty heavily... I mean... just how could he make things right after THAT?

Well, he could always make them an offer they can't refuse. Right? Godfather style. :) Oh Vlad, you're one insane mother. At least he'll be done with running, either permanently or not, and I believe it is TIME. :) Well past time. Hell, I'm gonna dance for joy that he's back...

Sure, he can never make everyone happy, and by making good with the Right hand he just happened to piss off the entire Left, but really, just how bad could that be? I mean, it's just the whole damn guild of sorcerers. I ask, just how bad could that be???

Seriously, I love this series. Always clear writing, always wonderfully humorous voices, great action, great friends, great enemies, and tension like you wouldn't believe. This is pure classic fantasy done really, really right.

Now what else does Brust have? Nom nom nom. :) ( )

Love! ( )