Another entirely up-to-standard installment in the Vladiad, clearly approaching the end (not just because we're almost through the Cycle but based on internal occurrences).

The expected stylistic experimentation, this time, has the structure mirror the subject: the subject is a musical production (where Vlad us hiding out and whose performance becomes of importance to him), and each chapter not only begins with a song from the musical but has a third party central scene - there are several scene shifts per chapter - which involves third party narration; I think of them as chorus scenes because they are part of the way in which almost every character who has been significant gets a bit part. (Except for the one you might expect, whose absence is noted. But I might have missed a glancing appearance by Devera.)

The songs are parodies of American musical songs, with a couple of G&S songs thrown in for good measure. They're fun in themselves. The musical is about the production of a musical, so some are about the production aspects, and some are about the subject of the musical, which is also the subject of a short history book which is excerpted throughout the story as Vlad reads it.

At the same time, there's a general issue which has (Vlad is told, by Verra) been building since Adron's disaster. Vlad has a role to play, though which role he will end up playing is as yet not clear. One of the transitions in the book is in Vlad's attitude to what he might be doing, and why.

Accordingly this starts to make a whole set of connections between various events in the previous books in the series. It's definitely not a book to read as an introduction to the series.

There is one constraint remaining making it very unclear what is happening: if the two options which seem to be up for bid are the complete eradication of the cycle, which Verra wants and which Vlad seems to favour, and its remaking in favour of the Jhereg, as the Left Hand favours, then the production of the Paarfi books under the Empress Norathar, after the Cycle has turned from Phoenix to Dragon, would suggest an outcome which is neither of the above.

Overall, an entirely welcome addition to an already excellent series. ( )

Vlad’s in trouble—again!

A return to the Vlad shenanigans is always a welcome experience. This time Vlad’s hiding out in a theater from quite a few factions. He sorted the problem with the Jhereg but now The Left Hand is after him, and he no longer has sorcery protections. Oh, and also, being turned into a demon was unplanned and particularly unhelpful. Yet Vlad needs to stay in the City. Big Problem!!
A friend advises him to hide out in a theater because apparently , “Every theater in the City has spells to prevent sorcery, and powerful spells to prevent clairvoyance and any other sort of detection until the show opens, and most of them don’t bother to take the spells down after that.”
Perfect! Sort of! A musical farce is being performed based on the challenge of theatre productions and the empire. I recognised some Gilbert and Sullivan repartee. Vlad by the way dislikes musicals.
He has a bed to sleep in but the food is abysmal so Vlad communicates with the outside to have it delivered. Of course! He’s a foodie! (Personally, I think that’s a bad idea, but I’m only a reader)
It seems the producer is having trouble with Jhereg investors. The latest a Lyorn. Of course Vlad lends a hand. After all he’s in hiding and bored and is doing nothing to bring attention to himself. Ha!
He also has Sethra Lavode, Warlord, working on his problem.
Along the way we’re given a potted history of the Empire and the Stage.
As usual I enjoyed the misadventures of the likeable rogue Vlad (officially Lord Vladimir Taltos, First Count of Szurke by the grace of Her Majesty) and his two small, long suffering, quite vocal, put upon companions, Loiosh and Rocza.
A long time reader of Vlad novels, I love the tone, the irony, the sarcasm and the wit of it all. Well played Brust!

A Tor ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change ( )