Rating: 
Summary: Great read
Review: Castle Black's Lady Teldra surprisingly finds Vlad Taltos, who buried himself in the wilderness more worried about survival than comfort. Teldra explains that she received help from Kiera the Thief who pointed in the general direction followed by the supreme sorceress Sethra Lavode who traced the specific spot via a link to Vlad's dragon Loiosh. Vlad concludes that the Jhereg would not be able to follow Teldra's path so he should remain safe. Teldra wants Vlad to rescue Morrolan and Aliera who have vanished without leaving a psychic trace. For a decent cup of klava, Vlad would risk anything so he agrees to accompany Teldra to learn more from Sethra, whose servant knows how to make a mean klava. Vlad concludes that the creators of Dragaera, the ultra powerful Jenoine have captured his two friends. This explains the lack of a psychic trace. He knows any attempt to free his friends means visibility to his foes and a new set of dangerous enemies whose illusions make Vlad's abilities look like child play. Long term fans of the Lord Taltos series will have a field day with ISSOLA, one of the best entries in several years. The story line contains the usual humor, illusions, and duels yet Vlad seems fresh mainly due to his relationship with Teldra who humanizes him. Loiosh remains a funny sidekick comic lightening the tale. Though new readers will struggle with the tone and self deprecating amusing references to previous novels, Steven Brust has written a triumphant story that fantasy fans will appreciate. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: The best Vlad Taltos book yet!
Review: Each installment of this series seems to top the last, and the trend continues. After waiting months for this book to finally come out, my expectations were insane, and yet they were surpassed. This one ranks right up there with Five Hundred Years after, and now I have to count the days until the next Brust masterpiece. Ah well.
Rating:
Summary: Another Superb Dragaeran Tale
Review: Every time I give up hope and decide that Stephen Brust has decided to stick to making music and drop out of the writing business he produces another delightful tale. "Issola," next in the Vlad Taltos series, is classic Brust, funny, imaginative and captivating. It is easy to run out of superlatives with this series, which is consistently good fantasy. This latest effort is certainly one of his finest. After a very bad run in with House Jhereg (his adopted clan) Vlad Taltos decides his best policy is to stay out of Adrilankha, maybe forever. While camping out in the woods with Loiosh his wisecracking familiar he receives a visit from Lady Teldra, one of Lord Morrolan's attendants. Vlad is more than a bit surprised since no one knows where he is, and he is supposed to be invisible. Teldra reassures him, and tells him that he is needed to help find Lord Morrolan and Aliera, close friends of Vlad. Off they go to Sethra Lavode's home (she's the world's oldest vampire) on Dzur Mountain. Vlad and Teldra manage to track down Morrolan and Aliera, only to be captured themselves. The villains of the piece are the Jenoine, an ancient race who have no love for anyone else, god or mortal. Vlad and Teldra discover that the Jenoine plan to tap a huge source of Amorphia to get rid of the more irritating parts of the scenery, like Vlad, Loiosh, Teldra, and, possible, even a good chunk of the universe. A complicated chess game starts with Vlad feeling very much like a pawn as gods, demons, Dragaerans, the Jenoine, and a few more impossibilities wrestle for the fate of his world. Vlad's frustration mounts as he deals with folk and superfolk who are legendary and who have little interest in having to explain everything to a mere Easterner. Vlad's continuous patter of sharp comments and sarcastic remarks, provide much entertainment to the reader (and to Loiosh), but they hide a deep anxiety about the outcome. He finds himself with a vital role in a struggle but one that is not clearly defined. The drama plays out with surprises for all involved, especially Vlad, who finds that he has a new role in the workings of the Dragaerans. Brust, who always creates intriguing characters, outdoes himself in "Issola." He provides the reader with additional insights into Morrolan, Aliera, Sethra Lavode, the Necromancer, and Verra the Demon Goddess. Teldra, previously just a bit player, is a work of art. Nor can one fault the narrative, which has Brust's usual clarity and flow. Needless to say the new reader might be better off with an earlier volume in the series, but Brust spends just enough time on history to provide the reader with enough to go on. Naturally, the faithful will be delighted. As will anyone else who is looking for what will probably be considered one of the year's best fantasies.
Rating: 
Summary: Self Development and Introspection
Review: First, I should confess that I've read all of the books in this series and I've pretty much enjoyed all of them. I mention this because I think that this book will appeal to long time fans of the series more than someone picking it up cold. That said the book has a very interesting story and reveals new aspects of Vlad's powers and "destiny". As I compare this book to the earlier ones in the series, this book focuses much less on the physical action that Vlad engaged in when working for the Jhereg as an assassin. There are some really interesting philosophical discussions between Vlad and other characters. I particularly enjoyed the ongoing discussin of manners and courtesy throughout the story. If you've been reading the other books in the story - don't even hesitate - you have to read this one. If you're looking to try a new author, definitely do not start with this one (the 10th in the series). I'd definitely start with Jhereg (the first published) or Taltos (the first chronologically)
Rating:
Summary: Self Development and Introspection
Review: First, I should confess that I've read all of the books in this series and I've pretty much enjoyed all of them. I mention this because I think that this book will appeal to long time fans of the series more than someone picking it up cold. That said the book has a very interesting story and reveals new aspects of Vlad's powers and "destiny". As I compare this book to the earlier ones in the series, this book focuses much less on the physical action that Vlad engaged in when working for the Jhereg as an assassin. There are some really interesting philosophical discussions between Vlad and other characters. I particularly enjoyed the ongoing discussin of manners and courtesy throughout the story. If you've been reading the other books in the story - don't even hesitate - you have to read this one. If you're looking to try a new author, definitely do not start with this one (the 10th in the series). I'd definitely start with Jhereg (the first published) or Taltos (the first chronologically)
Rating:
Summary: Gripping
Review: How can I recommend Steven Brust enough? One of the best writers of all time, and definitely underappreciated. Newcomers would be well advised to start at the beginning of the series; but for those already familiar with his work, Issola is one of the best.
Rating: 
Summary: Short, puzzling and Vlad didn't kill anyone?
Review: I enjoy the Vlad Taltos character, wit and stories very much, but Issola left me dry. Although a necessary tale in the history of the character the whole story dragged on, and left too many questions and unfulfilled expectations that I had from the moment I heard the book was to be published. The style of writing and timing elements that were present in Dragon and Taltos are in my opinion pure genius and show a real fore thought and planning for the character. The story telling elements in Athyra, Orca and Yendi, give the reader an appreciation for the whole character of Vlad by seeing him through other character's eyes. These elements are what I missed from Issola. I will treasure this book in my collection, but it may not be one I reread for quite some time.
Rating:
Summary: Vlad is back
Review: I have read all of the books in this series and I really enjoy them. Issola is a good example of what attracted me. Vlad is narrating the story again which i seem to enjoy more than the others. I have to agree with other reviewers in the observation that this might not be a good "stand-alone" book, you need to have some of the background of the previous books. If you like a good, wise-cracking, first person fantasy novel, this series is hard to beat.
Rating:
Summary: More To come
Review: I have talked to Steven Brust recently and he has informed me he plans on a few more books after this one so keep looking for more to come.
Rating:
Summary: I can't seem to let it rest
Review: I think the best Vlad book is Dragon. But for some reason when I find myself drawn to rereading a Vlad novel, I usually end up choosing this one. Probably because it is not really a Vlad novel.
Sure, it is told from the point of view of our favorite severely emotionally handicapped assassin. And it has all the typical biting and caustic exchanges between Vlad and his only friends. But that is only the form of the book. The heart of the book is the genuine goodness of the title character.
She consciously redeems Vlad the same way that during the entire series he unwillingly redeems himself through his actions and his loyalty. He is a man who feels too much, and tries therefore to feel nothing. But she allows herself to feel everything, because she really believes the world is worth feeling.
I'm assuming here that the reader has read most or all of the novels that lead up to this one. If not, this is not the place to start from. Start with "Jhereg", or possibly "Taltos". But do get around to reading this one. I think it is worth it.
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