Rating: 
Summary: Fresh viewpoint helps series
Review: I have not enjoyed a Vlad book as much as this once since the first three. Switching the narrative away from Vlad was a refreshing, and necessary move to invigorate the story. Savn, an innocent Dragaeran youth is a wonderfully sympathetic character studying to be a physicker when Vlad arrives at his town. He befriends Vlad and begins to find himself ostracized from his friends for hanging around the Easterner. Once he helps Vlad with his injuries there is no turning back. Through Savn's eyes we get to see a vulnerable Vlad, a hurting Vlad without the cockiness, one who is rethinking virtually everything about his life, life in general and the universe. We see Savn grow through meeting the challenges of befriending Vlad, his sister also and we see Vlad changed and changing from the flippant assassin. The pace is relaxed, without being slow, and builds to a climactic ending with consequences for everyone. A very well done effort from Brust, it was almost like reading about Vlad for the first time due to the change of viewpoint.
Rating:
Summary: Fresh viewpoint helps series
Review: I have not enjoyed a Vlad book as much as this once since the first three. Switching the narrative away from Vlad was a refreshing, and necessary move to invigorate the story. Savn, an innocent Dragaeran youth is a wonderfully sympathetic character studying to be a physicker when Vlad arrives at his town. He befriends Vlad and begins to find himself ostracized from his friends for hanging around the Easterner. Once he helps Vlad with his injuries there is no turning back. Through Savn's eyes we get to see a vulnerable Vlad, a hurting Vlad without the cockiness, one who is rethinking virtually everything about his life, life in general and the universe. We see Savn grow through meeting the challenges of befriending Vlad, his sister also and we see Vlad changed and changing from the flippant assassin. The pace is relaxed, without being slow, and builds to a climactic ending with consequences for everyone. A very well done effort from Brust, it was almost like reading about Vlad for the first time due to the change of viewpoint.
Rating: 
Summary: The weakest of the Vlad novels, but still worth reading...
Review: I wasn't very fond of the switch to the third person point of view. You never get to "see" Vlad's thought process which is one of the greatest things about the other books in the series. And you never hear Loiosh say one word! However, it is a Vlad book and if you enjoyed the others you should still read this one to keep you up on "current events." I had to give this book two stars instead of one because, it IS a Vlad novel and because, if nothing else, it makes a really great (if long) prologue to Orca!
Rating: 
Summary: Another excellent novel from Brust!
Review: If you haven't read Phoenix and Teckla, you probably won't get much out of this book. If you have read Phoenix and Teckla, then I'm sure you'll love Athyra! Athyra is a stark contrast to Brust's earlier novels. Instead of being a story of epic proportions, Athyra is instead the story of Vlad's visit to a small farming village. Instead of changing the outcome of the succession of the Imperial Orb, Vlad manages to make a change for for the town. The change of pace is great, and I recommend Athyra to any avid Taltos fan!
Rating:
Summary: A continuation of the Taltos series..but a little different
Review: In Athyra, Brust continues the adventures of Vlad Taltos,
sorcerer and (ex-)assassin. This book is written in a different
style that the others(jhereg,yendi,teckla,taltos,and pheonix),
and Vlad is no longer the principal narrator.As a result,
this book is not quite as enjoyable as the others, but it is
still a definate read if you read the others.
Rating:
Summary: Athyra: A Different Look At Vlad Taltos
Review: Sure, the sixth installment (the seventh chronologically) of the Vlad Taltos novels is different. We get a look at Vlad from an outsider's point of view. Some readers haven't liked this different approach but I think it's a fascinating way at giving us an alternate perspective of Vlad, warts and all. Athyra ends up being a strong novel, just as good as any of author Steven Brust's previous Taltos novels. I do wonder if, like Vlad, Steven Brust is having a difficult time deciding on which direction to take Vlad next. That's fine, though. I'm just as happy to read about Vald Taltos the Wanderer as I am to read about Vlad Taltos the Assassin. The progression and growth of this character still fascinates me. Where will Vlad end up next? Who will he end up becoming? This is a fun ride! Note: Chronologically, the Vlad Taltos novels go in this order: Taltos, Dragon, Yendi, Jhereg, Teckla, Phoenix, Athyra, Orca. I'd start with Taltos even though Jhereg was written first.
Rating:
Summary: Athyra: A Different Look At Vlad Taltos
Review: Sure, the sixth installment (the seventh chronologically) of the Vlad Taltos novels is different. We get a look at Vlad from an outsider's point of view. Some readers haven't liked this different approach but I think it's a fascinating way at giving us an alternate perspective of Vlad, warts and all. Athyra ends up being a strong novel, just as good as any of author Steven Brust's previous Taltos novels. I do wonder if, like Vlad, Steven Brust is having a difficult time deciding on which direction to take Vlad next. That's fine, though. I'm just as happy to read about Vald Taltos the Wanderer as I am to read about Vlad Taltos the Assassin. The progression and growth of this character still fascinates me. Where will Vlad end up next? Who will he end up becoming? This is a fun ride! Note: Chronologically, the Vlad Taltos novels go in this order: Taltos, Dragon, Yendi, Jhereg, Teckla, Phoenix, Athyra, Orca. I'd start with Taltos even though Jhereg was written first.
Rating: 
Summary: like Scooby Doo, but worse
Review: This book read like a Scooby Doo mystery "And it would have worked to, if it weren't for those darn kids!" Nothing happened in this book, nothing at all. You'll wonder why this book wasn't 5 pages long instead of 100+. It also is 3rd person instead of 1st person which is not a turn for the better. We don't get any of Vlad's usual sarcasm and wit. Definately the weakest book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: First time reader of Burst
Review: This is the first book I have ever read by Steven Burst and as a result I don't know the history of Vlad. Therefore, I can't compare this book to previous novels in the series. Howver, I think it's a great book and it has interested me to the point where I WANT to find out about Vlad's story and to read the rest of the series. It's a great book that I'd recommend to read.
Rating:
Summary: Brust gives us an outside view of Vlad Taltos
Review: This is the most complex exercise in writing of all the Vlad Taltos books.
Instead of Vlad's own wisecracking, hard-boiled, street-smart voice, this book is written
from the point of view of one of the alien Dragaerans. But this Dragaeran is a simple kid, and a humble Teckla peasant - a very sympathetic character. The Dragaeran, Savn, turns out to be a very necessary help to Vlad, and saves his life in a twisted ending, forcing Vlad to see him as a peer and a friend, making Vlad re-evaluate some of the nastier aspects of his own personality. Like all the other Vlad books, this one is loaded with action and mystery,
with, ultimately, a more mature Vlad emerging as a result of the blood debt.
Very satisfying
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