Yet Another Excellent Read: Mr. Brust is one of my favorite author's, and "Issola" does not disappoint.

Great series. Whole is greater than the sum of its parts I suspect; I should buy the whole thing and read them in sequence when I get the chance. I love Vlad. His irony, mostly, and refusal to admit to taking anything seriously. I like reading the books just to spend time with him. This wasn't the best of them though. The Jenoine annoyed me: "oh, they really are stupid" wasn't a sufficient explanation for the stupid plotting. ( )

Almost the whole book took place in the realm of the Jenoine and yet I learned very little about them. It was kind of disappointing. Also I'm not sure I buy the whole lab-rat theory. I did however enjoy the dialogue between Vlad and Lady Teldra. I was also happy to finally hear how Vlad ended up with his great weapon. I'm not sure why Morrolan should have any reason to blame Vlad. After reading this book I really want to learn more about the Serioli. ( )

I definitely enjoyed this book, even more than I expected. I would like to read more by this author, definitely more of the adventures of Vlad. I've not read any of this series before this one. ( )

This is an interesting departure from the normal run of Vlad Taltos books. Not at all unusual is that he is thrown into a situation with lots and lots of trouble and sometimes he's annoying, but he often provides the thought that allows the others save the day.

In this situation, the threat is the Jenoine and one of their plots - that as one of its minor elements includes an attempt to kill Verra, the Demon Goddess. Vlad, Morrolan, Aliera, Sethra and the Necromancer, with help from most of the Gods manage to avert this and in so doing Vlad manages to make a Morganti blade, Spellbreaker and something that would be a huge spoiler to reveal, into a Great Weapon of his own. In fact this act allows him to kill one of the Jenoine and decisively turn the battle his way.

There is also quite a lot of the history of the world revealed, and a lot about the nature of the Gods and more.

Against all of this it might seem odd to suggest this, but the main story is a number of discourses about manners, courtesy and the like. You would probably expect this in a book about the Issola, but to have it so well worked and so central to the book whilst it also advances other story elements so adeptly is great to read.

This story ends literally seconds before Dzur starts, with Vlad at the door to Valabar's. ( )