Dzur

After a few so-so outings this is pretty much a return to Vlad Taltos "classic," as our hero finds that old business always has a way of asserting itself and that just because you've become something of a paladin it doesn't mean that your life gets any easier. One is also reminded of how much the nuts and bolts of the given caper in question contributes to the charm of the series.

This is not my favorite book in the Vlad Taltos series, but it does have a charm all its own. Here we meet Telnan, the newest (and only) recruit of Sethra Lavode's Army. Told through a meal at Valabars, each course a new chapter. Basically, this a book about how Vlad manages to get the left hand of Jhereg off his back.

As always, the writing is on par, but theres a bit too much chance in this story, and maybe that part of what be Dzur is about. Also bloodthirsty-ness,

Dzur is set immediately after Issola, and sees Vlad - finally - return to Adrilankha.

Vlad goes to great lengths and risks his own life to help someone who would really prefer not to need Vlad's help, thank you very much, for reasons that are more emotional than rational. (That last statement could apply to either of them.) It's a gripping novel, but… sort of bleak, and hard to talk about without discussing spoilers.

At the time, I suppose I wasn't so aware of being happy; but then, spending your time asking yourself if you're happy is as good a way to be miserable as I know. If you want to be happy, don't ask yourself difficult questions, just sit in a quiet, peaceful place and enjoy your solitary klava.

Definitely not the worst of the series, it follows right after the previous book and firmly brings Vlad back into his hometown, and much to my relief. It's a very decent read, self-contained, and of course it had to do with his ex-wife. :) What return to his old haunt with intentions of resuming a semblance of his old life after making such an enjoyable hash of it would be right without making sure that his Ex was involved?

The whole novel was enjoyable, but it wasn't huge except for the whole assassinating his goddess or taking down a whole room full of sorcerers, though. You know, little things. :)

What? Assassinating his goddess? Well... she has it coming. ;) It's complicated. You know how relationship problems are. :)

Nice return, but show more not precisely epic like that last one. *sigh* show less

I enjoyed the set-up of this book - each chapter begins with the in depth description of another course in a meal Vlad is having at his favorite restaurant in Adrilankha. The plot, and who's out to kill him this time, unwinds with the food.

Felt good stepping back into this after taking a break to read a long novel. Made me really appreciate the conciseness of the Taltos books. This one was pretty fun; lots of Loisch/Vlad interactions (well, there's always lots of those, but these just seemed to be especially good).

Vlad returns to his roots in Adrilankha, and to some extent, his old ways of running things there. It is paced around the courses of a dinner at Valabar's and his companion there, and many musings about the relation of a fine dinner to life in general. Very well done if you are a fan of Vlad and Brust.