Issola

Rating:
Summary: Back to the basics, but a little uneven...
Review: I think the Taltos books are at the top of their game when Brust is speaking through Vlad and seeing the world through the assassin's eyes. Luckily, Issola is just such a book. Vlad is back in all his caustic glory, and sharing his innermost perspective with only the readers and Loiosh, as he so eloquently puts it.

Unfortunately, Brust goes a bit over the top with Vlad in this book. With the resolution of the story, one reason why Vlad's personality is so ridiculously exaggerated becomes immediately apparent, but that's small comfort when you are being battered with line after line of sarcasm and overly-vicious wit directed at friends, enemies, familiars and gods. I almost had to give up at some points, and I definitely wanted to scream "Enough already!" more than once.

Brust also does a pretty significant bit of revisionism that totally alters every former interaction between mortals and gods (or at least Verra) in the Taltos series. It's quite annoying and handled poorly- Vlad makes note of it once in the book when he is told by another character, and then proceeds to act very perplexed every time that certain event happens again. It isn't good writing, and it's disappointing- you'll notice it too if you are careful, and it will probably proceed to grate on your nerves as well.

But after wading through the rough spots, Issola winds up with an excellent climax that makes reading it worthwhile. Vlad is back, he's grown from his experiences, and he's got me honestly excited to see what comes next.

Rating:
Summary: The series is starting to pick up again...
Review: I thought that the first few books of this series were truly excellent, must read types of books. The series then sort of tapered off a bit, and I think Athyra, although a still a good book, was a bit of a low point. This book is a triumph, and show that Brust has not lost his feel for this setting.

Fans of Brust should buy this book without hesitation. However, I've never really found rave reviews to be that helpful, so here's what I thought was wrong with the book.

1) It was a bit too much of Vlad standing around while his super-powerful friends did things. I found myself wishing that he was a bit more involved.

2) This is of course just a personal preference, but I'm starting to think that it's time for Vlad to resolve his conflict with the Jhereg and move on. He's clearly in transition from assassin to something else, but several books have come and gone without his coming any closer to a resolution.

But these are relatively minor things. It was really a great book, and I look forward to more like it in the future.

Rating:
Summary: Unexpected ending!
Review: I was initially amazed at the insight of the "Taltos universe" he was revealing. Then I became frightened that there maybe no mystery left in the series, but the last tenth of the book put all new mystery back into the series with intensity that cannot be denied. Issola is a must read for those that follow the series (although, truth be known, you can start just about anywhere in the "Taltos books".) Issola was such a pleasure to read that I'm reading it again, only this time with a friend outloud (luckily there are more female parts for her to read) Please enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Finally!!
Review: I'll keep this short. This book is great! The last couple had gotten almost to philosophical for my personal taste. This is one is more down to earth. Reminds of the 1st couple of books. He does a great job of answering some of the lingering questions and keeps the pace and Vlad's wit going throughout.

Rating:
Summary: A fun quick read
Review: If you are into Vlad and Co. this will not disappoint you.

Brust does have one major flaw in my opinion.

He writes too slow.

Rating:
Summary: Brust believes his press...a LOT..
Review: If you have never read any Brust, start with Taltos.
This book betrays virtually everything that made his earlier Vlad books great, while rubbing the readers nose in constant Klava-talk.
Yet-another Winnebago payment for Stephen.
He's seen better days.

Rating:
Summary: Vlad Taltos really steps into it this time!
Review: In the ninth installment of the Vlad Taltos series, Vlad must, again, rescue his friends Morrolan and Aliera. But this time it is the Jenoine he must rescue them from--the creators of Dragaera!

Issola is a good book--and satisfying. I know many fans were unhappy with recent installments of the Taltos series because they felt Vlad wasn't evolving as a character. Never fear, my fellow Taltos fans, Vlad does indeed evolve as he faces his most challenging adventure yet.

Lady Teldra, Morrolan's "door greeter" at Castle Black, plays a big role in this book. The interplay between Vlad and Teldra offers fascinating new insights into Vlad's friends including major revelations about Lord Morrolan--revelations that will shock you. New information is revealed about Sethra Lavode and the Necromancer as well. Teldra also helps Vlad realize things about himself. And because of this relationship and the insights Lady Teldra offers, Vlad does indeed evolve.

The climatic battle at the end of the book will surprise you. Something major happens, something that has been hinted about in earlier Taltos novels (Hint: It involves Vlad's magical chain, Spellbreaker).

This is one of the best Taltos novels. There are some big surprises in Issola. The next step in the evolution of Vlad Taltos is taken. And it's a big step.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping
Review: In the same vein as Orca, we have another Taltos talks tale. However this is much superior in that things actually happen and there is a major event at the end of the book.

Vlad, Aliera, Morrolan, Sethra Lavode, the Goddess Verra, and Lady Teldra spend much of the book either in a cell, or at castle Black talking amongst themselves on how to escape, and after escaping, how to defeat the Jenoin who have battled the Dragaerans for ages and are making a major offensive to gain a link to the raw power of sorcery.

I fully expect the next Vlad adventure to be Vlad having a meal and talking for the whole book about his food. Despite all the talking though, it is a superior entry in the series. Much new is revealed and we get to see a major battle at the end as well as some further characterization of all the major players.

Vlad's journey is becoming a long one, and a slower paced one than at the start. It is still a worthwhile journey though.

Rating:
Summary: We talk until a climactic battle is reached
Review: In the same vein as Orca, we have another Taltos talks tale. However this is much superior in that things actually happen and there is a major event at the end of the book.

Vlad, Aliera, Morrolan, Sethra Lavode, the Goddess Verra, and Lady Teldra spend much of the book either in a cell, or at castle Black talking amongst themselves on how to escape, and after escaping, how to defeat the Jenoin who have battled the Dragaerans for ages and are making a major offensive to gain a link to the raw power of sorcery.

I fully expect the next Vlad adventure to be Vlad having a meal and talking for the whole book about his food. Despite all the talking though, it is a superior entry in the series. Much new is revealed and we get to see a major battle at the end as well as some further characterization of all the major players.

Vlad's journey is becoming a long one, and a slower paced one than at the start. It is still a worthwhile journey though.

Rating:
Summary: Kick it up a notch
Review: Issola continues an excellent series. Brust's Vlad Taltos novels are not formulaic, telling a fresh story every time, yet the characters are familiar and easy to approach. Issola is no exception. While the book can stand alone, I expect it would have more of an impact if read after the other books of the series (Jhereg, Yendi, Teckla, Taltos, Phoenix, Athyra, Orca, Dragon). My only complaint is that Vlad's attitude, while certainly a noticable character trait in previous books and developed over the course of the series, seems strangely out of place in some of the scenes. This is, however, a book that many fans have been waiting for, and I don't think they'll be disappointed. I wasn't.