Dragon

November 2, 1998
"So there I was, in a full-scale battle; that is, in a place where no self-respecting assassin ought to be." Dashing Vlad Taltos, the swashbuckling hero of Brust's popular Taltos fantasy series, makes his hardcover debut after seven mass market appearances (Athyra, etc.), with an early episode in his adventures. Vlad's cleverness and skill as an assassin have earned him a place in House Jhereg. They've also drawn to him some interesting friends and enemies, as well as acquaintances who can be called a little of both. At the request of Lord Morrolan, a powerful figure in House of the Dragon, Vlad traces the theft of an ancient artifact, a Morganti greatsword, to a rival Dragonlord, the Count of Fornia. Although Fornia's motivation in the crime seems transparent--he wants to start a war over the accusation of theft--Morrolan obligingly agrees to fight. And when Fornia sends a couple of bruisers to tell Vlad to stay out of the matter, the assassin's outrage leads him to join Morrolan's forces. While Morrolan and his military strategist coolly plan each phase of the conflict, Vlad gets a close-up look at the ugliness of war. It doesn't take him long to decide that the physical fighting is a cover for a more subtle battle, and that the Morganti greatsword is the key. As always, Brust invests Vlad with the panache of a Dumas musketeer and the colloquial voice of one of Roger Zelazny's Amber heroes. This is a rousing adventure with enough humor, action and sneaky plot twists to please newcomers as well as longtime series fans.

September 15, 1998
The large readership Brust won with his best-known fantasy creation, professional assassin Vlad Taltos, should greet Vlad's promotion to hardcovers, some years after his last appearance, enthusiastically. This book is set early in Vlad's career, between the first, "Jhereg," and the second, "Yendi," installments of his saga, and details some events hinted at in previous volumes. Although an elite criminal and fond of his comforts, Vlad somehow is one of the poor, bloody Infantry in a deadly struggle between two dragon lords. Explaining how he got in this situation, how he survives many bloody, well-choreographed battles and intrigues, and how he finally gets out with a reasonably whole skin makes for an engrossing story. Brust's writing style has changed noticeably since the last Vlad yarn, but Vlad's devotees will not be put off by anything so petty as stylistic dissonance. ((Reviewed September 15, 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.)