I did a full re-read of this series last year, and I found this volume to be one of my favorites. This is a story of how Lady Teldra saved Morrolan and Aliera, and in the process, saved the world. This book also explains how the Issola think, with manners before all else, even in the midst of a cataclysm. We also learn a bit more about the Jenoine (those godly creatures that maybe created the Gods, and also like to perform science experiments on sentient creatures). Its also a very sad book- with each creation of a Great Weapon, a soul is consumed. Highly recommended, but you should read the earlier books since this one has some callbacks to older events. ( )

It's probably really ironic that this is one of my favorite of the "Vlad Taltos" books. The reason is a spoiler so I'm not going to write it here. It's a close tie with "Orca", which makes more sense.

I'd been waiting for Brust to go into Lady Teldra's life/personality, and this is sort of what we got in the book. Her relationship with Vlad is cute and quite humorous. Brust always makes me burst out laughing early and repeatedly in these books and he's in top shape for "Issola". Most of my favorite quotations in the series come from this book. Lady Teldra is an interesting character once she's allowed more of the spotlight and I liked how she 'stood' up to Vlad and we get to see how the other characters react to her as more than an ornament.

The plot is fun and Vlad is up to his mischief back with the regular gang than wandering on his own. This book marks a big change in recent plot developments, so be prepared. Overall I love it.

My suggestion isn't to start with this book, but rather at "Jhereg". While you could pick up any of the books as stand-alone and publishing order is different than chronological order, I don't think a lot of this book would make any sense if you read it first, second or even third. It's a good treat when you get to it in chronological order, though. And of course read the rest of the series. I love it to bits. ( )

Well it's obvious to me why this is the highest-rated of the entire series. So much new information, so many new mysteries. Some tragedy and heartbreak. Great stuff. ( )

I didn't expect this book to go where it went. Seriously. Wow.

It takes place as the latest, chronologically, with Vlad in the wilds in exile, but it just goes to show, you never know where you'll wind up. Do you think he's going home? hahahahaha wow.

As fantasy, we get to join in a war between gods, but as science fiction, I've just been titillated more about the deep SFal past in this book than all the rest, combined. I mean, there's tons of reveals here and none of them are enough to satisfy me. I'd be perfectly content to read 400-500 pages of straight exposition on this. Seriously. But no, we only get concise and quick reveals that only make me ask more questions and get even more impressed with the world-building even as we get to dive into a much, much larger conflict with nothing but guts, magic, and the beginnings of a legendary weapon. Note that the legendary is only partially complete. Even the gods and the demigods and the necromancers and the demon gods and the Others don't know everything. :) Apparently.

Do you want some answers? Oh yes, there ARE a few wonderful answers here, and some tragedy, too, which rather got to me. It hit me pretty hard. I might have to take a few moments to recover.

Here's the best part, folks. We get to go back to Castle Black. :) Excited? Yup. Me too. :)

And I'm entirely back in the swing of the series. I couldn't stop now even if I tried. :) YAY!


( )

My favorite book of the series so far. It has a huge cast (all familiar characters in the series make an appearance except one or two), a spectacular battle involving the Jenoine, and a heartbreaking ending. ( )