Rating: 
Summary: Steven Brust does it yet again
Review: Does this guy ever fail?
This is easily the best of the three Viscount books, and really brings back the pacing and flair of the Pheonix Guard books. I know that saying "Its so good, I couldn't put it down" is cliche, but its the truth in this case. I bought the book last night around 10:30, and I had it finished by 5 today. My one complaint is that seeing the title of this book months ago, I was hoping to learn a little bit more about Sethra herself, but unfortunately there's not too much revealed. Long time Brust fans will definitely notice some occurences related to the Vlad series which I thought were entertaining If you're a Brust fan at all, you need this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the wait!
Review: For those of us who have devoured every word written by Brust his latest installment does not disappoint. This story although a bit predictable is told in that light hearted manner that I have found common from Brust and rare from others. The main characters once again engage in light banter during moments of high adventure! If you have never read Brust this might not be the book to start with. (I would say start with the Phoenix Guards") If you have, then you will not be disappointed with this latest entry in Dragaerean History. My only regret is that we really don't get to spend as much time with the title character as I had hoped. But on the bright side that just means there is that much more left to write in future volumes!
Rating:
Summary: The Last Defense of the Orb
Review: One of the few problems a reader might perceive with this epic of the re-establishment of the Dragaeran Empire is that Brust's alter-ego, Sir Paarfi of Roundwood, writes in a most circumlocutory style. For people who like their prose swift and to the point, this may be an irritant. For me, addicted to work that stretches the frame of grammer and language the result is often infectious. No surprise that, after reading a few chapters at lunch, the memos I write at work become three times longer and never quite get to the point. Of course, this is one of the most likeable things about the series as well, if you like playing with language, and I do.
This volume brings to a head the various threads that began in Paths of the Dead, when Zerika, as the last Phoenix received the Orb back from the Gods and went about rebuilding the empire that had collapse as the result of Adron's disaster. The first complication was that someone else (Kava) was also intent on becoming emperor, and a grand conflict was the inevitable result. Now Zerika, with the aid of a host of intriguing and quirky characters, must prepare for the last confrontation with Kava before the walls of Adrilankha.
Sethra Lavode, warlord, vampire, and enchantress is the brains behind Zerika's hopes, but others, such as Khaavran, the captain of the guard, and his son Piro (who has chosen to make his living as a highwayman), sparkle throughout the narrative. Brust has the knack of creating characters who have the charm of creativity, even when they are doing their best to be despicable.
Everyone who has been a fan of Brust knows how this book will turn out, since it is the prequel to many of his novels, thus the voyage is more important than the conclusion. Unlike many writers, Burst focuses on the interaction of the players, rather than ad infinitum detail or excesses of action. Most of this takes place in a wry style of dialogue that is difficult to describe.
However, don't be misled into thinking that there is a lack if activity here. After all, we have highwaymen, court politics, marching armies, gods, various magicks, and a whopping big battle at the end. Even a bit of romance when the characters think no one else is looking. Be warned that this is not a volume to start out with. You are best off starting with The Phoenix Guards and working forward.
Rating:
Summary: Not about the title character
Review: The book is good. Oh I could nitpick here and there wanting a little more of the Lyorn Ariec's journey, a little more of Verra's judgment reward, a little more danger in the city battle (get past one fort or make a second attempt on the empress). I also don't understand why Morolean did not finish the 4th village, why a few more people were not honnored at the end, or (and this could be the biggest item) the book is titled the way it is when there is no more about Sethra in this book than in many others. The book is the 3rd in a series about a number of characters we like. I almost do think it would be best read immediately after the other two. Nits aside, I laughed out loud several times delighting in the dragerean approach to time and turns of phrases.
Rating:
Summary: Not about the title character
Review: The book is good. Oh I could nitpick here and there wanting a little more of the Lyorn Ariec's journey, a little more of Verra's judgment reward, a little more danger in the city battle (get past one fort or make a second attempt on the empress). I also don't understand why Morolean did not finish the 4th village, why a few more people were not honnored at the end, or (and this could be the biggest item) the book is titled the way it is when there is no more about Sethra in this book than in many others. The book is the 3rd in a series about a number of characters we like. I almost do think it would be best read immediately after the other two. Nits aside, I laughed out loud several times delighting in the dragerean approach to time and turns of phrases.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, but ...
Review: The good news is that Steven Brust's witty, elegant, writing is still a delight to read. Structurally, though, _Sethra Lavode_ shares some flaws with the earlier books in this trilogy (flaws which do *not* mar Brust's marvelous _The Phoenix Guard_ and _Five Hundred Years After_). For instance: * There are a great many characters. We are exposed to Khaavren, Tazenda, Pel, Aerich, his wife Daro, his son Piro, Piro's companions, Morrolan, Zerika, and Sethra herself in about equal measure. As a result, no one character gets much face time, and no one plot thread is fully developed. * There are too many villains as well, and their plot threads are hardly developed at all. We barely see any of them, and at least one of them (returning from the very first Khaavren book) has no evident function other than to be mean. The enemy action that provokes the climactic struggle of the novel doesn't even enter the book until about half-way through. * The climax is divided into several narrative streams. One of these is a battle, in which (unlike the battle at the end of _500YA_) out heroes are largely on the sidelines. Sethra and Zerika, the primary protagonists in this section, spend most of their time worrying about their lack of ability to do certain things. * The action takes place over a period of several years, which makes the book a little disjointed. On the plus side, the meandering plots of the trilogy are perforce resolved; it's neat to get some backstory on Morrolan; and there's the aforementioned gorgeous language. I suspect that relatively few people will come to this volume without having read the first two. _Sethra Lavode_ is the best of the three, and if you've followed the story this far it's definitely worth finishing. Steven Brust is a writer of genius (no exaggeration) ... but this isn't his best work, all the same.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond a Doubt
Review: The Viscount of Ardilanka series stood in stark contrast to the previous Khaavren Romances, Phoenix Guards and 500 Years After; yet it's style was that of one continous novel- as it was meant to be. The last addition, Sethra Lavode was no exception to Brust's usual brilliance. Thus, this emotionally charged epic moves us to a realization that the four's friendship is a timeless relationship that is unmatched by any other story. I give this book five stars because it moved me, the conclusion of Khaavren's story is a complete and fulfilling end.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond a Doubt
Review: The Viscount of Ardilanka series stood in stark contrast to the previous Khaavren Romances, Phoenix Guards and 500 Years After; yet it's style was that of one continous novel- as it was meant to be. The last addition, Sethra Lavode was no exception to Brust's usual brilliance. Thus, this emotionally charged epic moves us to a realization that the four's friendship is a timeless relationship that is unmatched by any other story. I give this book five stars because it moved me, the conclusion of Khaavren's story is a complete and fulfilling end.
Rating: 
Summary: These are Terrible!
Review: This book (and Castle Black) are absolutely terrible. The worst part--besides the utter lack of plot or interesting settings--is the dialog. Let me give you a sample:
"Where are you going?"
"Going?"
"Yes"
"Well?"
"Yes?"
"Going?"
"I'm Going to the docks."
"The docks?"
"The docks."
"The docks?"
"The docks."
"The docks?"
"The docks."
"Hey?"
"What you say?"
"The docks."
"The docks?"
... etc... It never ends.
Rating:
Summary: a satisfying conclusion
Review: While this is sold as the third book in a trilogy, it is really the third part of a single novel. Past Kaavhren Romances have started slowly, introducing a lot of characters and plot threads, then picked up in the middle, and finally come together in a definitive ending. This story (The Viscount Of Adrilankha) is exactly the same, except those three portions of the novel are split between three books. The first (Paths Of The Dead) therefore suffered greatly, because it was slow and had no payoff. The second (Lord Of Castle Black) was more entertaining, but also had no payoff. That was because the payoff comes in the third book. Much is learned regarding the relationship between Love, Duty, Honor, and Friendship. A father learns that he can love his son without necessarily understanding or approving of everything he does. An empress learns the value of subjects who respect her enough to fail to show her respect. And a dragonlord learns much about his sword, as well as interior decorating and the science of throwing a party. The reader, however, learns very little about Sethra Lavode, even though she is the lynchpin around which the rest of the plot revolves. These three books would probably rate five stars if they were published together as a single volume, but individually none of them quite reaches that level. Neither Lord Of Castle Black nor Sethra Lavode can really be read on their own, and Paths Of The Dead really isn't worth reading on its own.
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