Jhereg 02: Yendi (original 1984; edition 1984)

The second book in the Vlad Taltos series is something of a prequel to the first, Jhereg. In this we learn about how Vlad met and fell in love with Cawti, who would be his wife by the time of the first novel.

We also see much of Vlad's rise in the Jhereg organization. We see how he assembles his crew and stakes out a claim in the neighborhood. We see his early friendships blooming with his Dragonlord allies, Morrolan and Aliera.

Like the first book, this one is a story that is detective fiction set in a fantasy world. This has more elements of The Godfather thrown in, but still carries the mystery very well. Vlad has a problem and must use his resources, both magical and political, to figure out what is going on and survive it.

So far these Vlad books come across as episodes in a larger series. The individual stories are self-contained and pretty short, with everything being wrapped up as the mystery is solved. Yet there is also that feeling that each one contributes to a larger, epic scale that will be slowly explored over the 19 books that are planned in the series (12 are currently out there).

I'm definitely in this for the long haul... ( )

Book 2 in the Vlad Taltos series. This one backfills a lot of details from Jhereg. Poker players should love this book: Vlad spends a lot of time trying to figure out what his opponents are up to, so he can decide on the right course of action.

The second book of the Vlad Taltos series. This book doesn't let down from the first at all. These books are not giant, convoluted sagas, but reasonable length novels that deal with the main character and his constant escapades. Great stuff. ( )

There is an attractive romance subplot between the assassin crimelord narrator and the woman who kills him before he gets 'revivified', but the core story is mired in complex dynastic politics which were never explained to the point where I could actually care about them. ( )

I didn't like this book as much as Dzur or Jhereg. I didn't get to know the Sorceress in Green well enough for it to make sense that she was as involved in any of it. I also didn't like the vibe that Sethra gave off in this book. It makes me less interested in her than I was before.It was pretty funny to have Vlad so distrusting of Aliera and Morrolan compared to the almost complete trust he had towards them in Jhereg. I did enjoy learning about how Vlad and Cawti met and fell in love. That part at least seemed believable to me. I wonder if Cawti will continue to do "work" now that her partnership with Norathar is over. ( )