http://startredder.livejournal.com/38... Athyra

http://www.amazon.com/review/R2Z7SIXF... ( )

An omnibus of Athyra and Orca.

Athyra A noticably different Vlad book, not only because it is chronologically (so far at least) the first book after Vlad's self-imposed exile but also because it is the first book not told by Vlad himself. Looking at Vlad through the eyes of a teenage Teckla who has lived his life in a rural farming community gives a very strange view of the assassin and his jheregs, removing most of the mystery elements (at least to the reader who already knows what Vlad is) but in turn giving a very different view of Vlad's philosophy and sarcasm.

OrcaI really enjoyed this book, although I wouldn't list it as the best Vlad book it was a much more interesting break from the standard style then Athyra was. While we get to see Vlad through someone else's eyes again we also get to hear from Vlad himself and I almost cheered the first time I read him talking to Loiosh. The mystery is a bit convoluted and it's a shame so much exposition got crammed into the last couple of chapters, but the journey was fun and it was great to see more of Kiera. ( )

This is an omnibus containing two books, Athyra and Orca.

Vlad has been living the wandering life for a couple of years, not being an assassin and just generally trying to keep himself together.

He meets a young apprentice, and decides to teach him a few things, for his own reasons. However, his past Jhereg life catches up with him, and he and the boy Savn are put to the test to get out of it alive.
3.5 out of 5

Kiera the Thief is friends with Cawti, Vlad's estranged wife. She wants to know what he is up to, so Kiera fills her in, and a large part of the book has to deal with Kiera, and who she really is.

Vlad is trying to get help for Savn from a local woman named Mother. She agrees, if Vlad will look into her own problem.

He takes her up on the deal Vlad ends up in a private investigator type role, looking into some Orca financial skullduggery that could have very serious ramifications. This he does with Kiera's help.

4 out of 5

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2007/01... ( )