Rating: 
Summary: Definitely a different sort of story than the first two
Review: "Teckla" is almost a complete 180-degree turn from the sort of books the first two in this series were; it is a dark, introspective, thoroughly angst-ridden journey through very personal areas of Vlad's soul. I was expecting a light-hearted romp much like the first two stories, and was thusly surprised and disappointed by this book. My mind wandered as I plodded through the paragraphs, and I found myself thinking of other subjects; my attention just refused to be held by this story.Vlad and Cawti are completely at odds through most of the book, and Vlad is forced to confront his deepest fears, insecurities, and questions, right down to whether or not he can live with himself and with Cawti. He must face the huge question of being an assassin, or doing what might be The Right Thing...or not. There is quite a deep examination of social inequities, politics, and grass roots movement vs. The Way Things Have Always Been, which isn't my favorite sort of story, but if you like a political/social study, then you may love it. It's a very dark journey that's rather uncomfortable, and Brust puts us right there in the center of Vlad's soul, pressed up close to the discomfort itself - Vlad's inner turmoil is our constant companion, and it's not pleasant company. It's darned depressing, in fact, which is perhaps why I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two. There are, of course, the usual intra-organizational intrigues, multiple assassination attemps, and Vlad is naturally right smack in the middle. Still, there is very little spark to this story, no inner glow, no feel-good bits to keep us going; it almost felt to me like Brust had lost his enthusiasm for the series, or had run out of steam, or perhaps he was just trying something new that I wasn't as wild about. One thing, however, is developed more thoroughly here, and that is the relationship between Loiosh and Vlad, which had been fairly superficial in the first two. They gain depth and dimension, and we understand the bond between them more clearly after reading "Teckla." Loiosh actually offers opinions that go beyond snide one-liners, and we can see more affection between them. Still, honestly? I didn't enjoy this book a great deal. It's not a bad book, and it's well-written, but it was an uncomfortable, fidgety read - or at least it was for me. I looked forward to it ending, whereas with the first two, I wanted them to go on and on. Hopefully with the next installment (which I'll pick up straightaway,) Brust will take us back to a happier time for Vlad.
Rating: 
Summary: Best yet
Review: Apparently the detractors of this novel don't care for the touch of reality and depth of character it adds to the series. That's understandable -- it's been a very lightweight series up to this point and Teckla certainly takes a big turn. I also did miss the Dragon characters. However, it is by far the best written and most suspenseful novel so far and I personally enjoyed it immensely for those reasons. You may not enjoy it if you are looking exclusively for light material, but you also shouldn't skip it because for one, it might surprise you, and for another, it has a wealth of important plot developments.
Rating: 
Summary: Still cool, but depressing.
Review: Book 3 in the Taltos series. This one is still very well written, but I had to take
it down a point because it depressed the hell out of me. Vlad starts to have problems
with his wife, and then everything falls apart with the rest of his life. The ending isn't terribly
happy, but the plot is continued two books down the line in _Pheonix_.
Rating:
Summary: Still cool, but depressing.
Review: Book 3 in the Taltos series. This one is still very well written, but I had to takeit down a point because it depressed the hell out of me. Vlad starts to have problemswith his wife, and then everything falls apart with the rest of his life. The ending isn't terribly happy, but the plot is continued two books down the line in _Pheonix_.
Rating:
Summary: The Percussion of a Dramatic Symphony
Review: Brust reveals our super-hero, Vlad, to have real life faults with real life problems. It is amazing how much easier it is to recognize and wrestle through ones own difficulties when seen from the courtyard of Castle Black or dodging assassins during a revolution. Brusts own vulnerability will aid countless readers. Thanks.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but tough read
Review: I don't like "Teckla"; i can't imagine witnessing anyone's relationship selfdestruct could be considered a pleasant activity. So, i don't like it -- but i do respect it. It is a well-written book, and it is important as far as setting the stage for the rest of the series. "Teckla" and "Phoenix" should be read in succession for best effect.
Rating:
Summary: Vlad's life takes a darker turn
Review: I've been rereading the Vlad Taltos books lately, in no particular order. I had never read "Teckla," and was a bit leery of it, after reading the reviews which all seem to call it depressing. Well, it is depressing. Very depressing, actually. However, that doesn't necessarily make it bad. In fact, I think it may be one of the better books in the series, in terms of human drama. If you follow this series chronologically, Vlad becomes more complex and human with each book, and "Teckla" is an important step on his journey. In "Teckla," Vlad discovers that his wife, Cawti, has joined a revolutionary organization, composed of Easterners and Teckla, and based in South Adrilankha. Vlad can't understand why Cawti cares about revolution and social justice; they argue throughout the book, and their marriage is under serious strain. The plot is complicated, as usual, involving numerous assassination attempts, Jhereg internal wars, and the three-way clash of the revolutionaries, the Jhereg, and the Phoenix Guards. However, it isn't nearly as fun as the chronologically "earlier" books; Brust poses serious questions about the social and political organization of the Dragaeran Empire, and the costs and true effects of revolution. Along the way, he finally manages to make Vlad question the morality of his lifestyle. Vlad, who had previously accepted organized crime and assassination now has to face Cawti's disapproval, and realize that maybe, when he looks very closely, he doesn't like himself that much. This was the third Vlad book Brust wrote, but at the moment, it is chronologically fifth in the series. However you count, this is NOT the place to start reading; without knowing Vlad's past, "Teckla" is a bit confusing. It's also a lot darker than the earlier novels, and less fun, but it builds logically on everything we know about Vlad. Brust, interestingly, makes Vlad a real, changing, growing person, not just an entertaining but utterly unrealistic assassin.
Rating:
Summary: Vlad's life takes a darker turn
Review: I've been rereading the Vlad Taltos books lately, in no particular order. I had never read "Teckla," and was a bit leery of it, after reading the reviews which all seem to call it depressing. Well, it is depressing. Very depressing, actually. However, that doesn't necessarily make it bad. In fact, I think it may be one of the better books in the series, in terms of human drama. If you follow this series chronologically, Vlad becomes more complex and human with each book, and "Teckla" is an important step on his journey. In "Teckla," Vlad discovers that his wife, Cawti, has joined a revolutionary organization, composed of Easterners and Teckla, and based in South Adrilankha. Vlad can't understand why Cawti cares about revolution and social justice; they argue throughout the book, and their marriage is under serious strain. The plot is complicated, as usual, involving numerous assassination attempts, Jhereg internal wars, and the three-way clash of the revolutionaries, the Jhereg, and the Phoenix Guards. However, it isn't nearly as fun as the chronologically "earlier" books; Brust poses serious questions about the social and political organization of the Dragaeran Empire, and the costs and true effects of revolution. Along the way, he finally manages to make Vlad question the morality of his lifestyle. Vlad, who had previously accepted organized crime and assassination now has to face Cawti's disapproval, and realize that maybe, when he looks very closely, he doesn't like himself that much. This was the third Vlad book Brust wrote, but at the moment, it is chronologically fifth in the series. However you count, this is NOT the place to start reading; without knowing Vlad's past, "Teckla" is a bit confusing. It's also a lot darker than the earlier novels, and less fun, but it builds logically on everything we know about Vlad. Brust, interestingly, makes Vlad a real, changing, growing person, not just an entertaining but utterly unrealistic assassin.
Rating:
Summary: Vlad's life takes a darker turn
Review: I've been rereading the Vlad Taltos books lately, in no particular order. I had never read "Teckla," and was a bit leery of it, after reading the reviews which all seem to call it depressing. Well, it is depressing. Very depressing, actually. However, that doesn't necessarily make it bad. In fact, I think it may be one of the better books in the series, in terms of human drama. If you follow this series chronologically, Vlad becomes more complex and human with each book, and "Teckla" is an important step on his journey. In "Teckla," Vlad discovers that his wife, Cawti, has joined a revolutionary organization, composed of Easterners and Teckla, and based in South Adrilankha. Vlad can't understand why Cawti cares about revolution and social justice; they argue throughout the book, and their marriage is under serious strain. The plot is complicated, as usual, involving numerous assassination attempts, Jhereg internal wars, and the three-way clash of the revolutionaries, the Jhereg, and the Phoenix Guards. However, it isn't nearly as fun as the chronologically "earlier" books; Brust poses serious questions about the social and political organization of the Dragaeran Empire, and the costs and true effects of revolution. Along the way, he finally manages to make Vlad question the morality of his lifestyle. Vlad, who had previously accepted organized crime and assassination now has to face Cawti's disapproval, and realize that maybe, when he looks very closely, he doesn't like himself that much. This was the third Vlad book Brust wrote, but at the moment, it is chronologically fifth in the series. However you count, this is NOT the place to start reading; without knowing Vlad's past, "Teckla" is a bit confusing. It's also a lot darker than the earlier novels, and less fun, but it builds logically on everything we know about Vlad. Brust, interestingly, makes Vlad a real, changing, growing person, not just an entertaining but utterly unrealistic assassin.
Rating: 
Summary: Exqueeze me?
Review: In this book, several major characters seem to have been replaced by alien pod-replicants and forgotten everything that made them likeable and distinct in previous parts of the series, and quite a few minor characters never get a chance to be likeable OR distinct. I'm as in favor of peasant uprisings as the next prole, but the less Brust has going on in the socio-political background the better his books seem to be.
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