Rating: 
Summary: Amateur and Badly Placed
Review: Brust's style in Jhereg is conversational, sarcastic and annoying. The main character's best friend, a tiny dragon with poisonous venom, exists to make sarcastic wisecracks that only the main character, Vlaad, can hear. On the whole, the chracters are uninteresting and flat. Vlaad is supposed to be an assassin, but he doesn't assassinate anyone in this book. The book also falls into the amateur fantasy novel trap: consant allusions to previous events and/or other people and locations that sound infinitely more interesting than the goings-on depicted. Brust's world is hardly as interesting as the multitude of other post-Tolkien fantasy universes; there is little to differentiate it from all the rest. Badly placed because it seems like the fifth or sixth novel in the series, not the opening. I give him two stars for effort.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, but....
Review: First, before I offend some Steven Brust fans, I did find this novel reasonably entertaining. But geez, I wanted to like it a whole lot more than I did. I loved the concept - a series of books about Vlad Taltos, an assassin on the world of Dragaera. Vlad is an "easterner", or human, who is a member of one of the Dragaeran "Houses" - the Jhereg. Each of the succeeding books is titled with one of the other "Houses" and presumably is a more in depth look at that "House". Sounds great (and it wasn't bad as I said), but I find Brust's style lacking in some of the elements I enjoy most. So far I've read two Brust novels (this one and To Reign in Hell) and I find that he puts all his energies into two things - an elaborate plot resolution and, most importantly, snappy dialogue repartee; LOTS of snappy repartee. I found myself begging for a description of almost anything - his wife, his assistant, his office, his apartment, Castle Black - anything. Most of his descriptions are reserved for his knives and daggers. He also creates some very intriguing characters, but leaves them largely with little descriptive meat on their bones. So, while I'll probably read more novels in this series, I'm in no rush to do so.
Rating: 
Summary: Completely & utterly charming
Review: From the very first passage, I was completely enchanted with this book. It's been several years since I've read any fantasy books, but this one quickly & skillfully drew me in, heart and soul. Brust writes with wit, humor and charm, colorfully describing characters, scenes, weapons, animals, thoughts, simply everything about the world he's created. It's obvious that a great deal of thought went into this creation; he passes along casual details that hint of greater stories to come, including histories, myths, and rumors. The central figure is Vlad Taltos, one of the top assassins in the land. The other important figures are his assistants, his wife, a few antagonists, assorted friends and colleagues, but most importantly, his familiar, Loiosh. In addition to being a highly-skilled assassin, Vlad is also a very powerful witch. As a boy, he called a small, dragon-like creature to him, and asked her to give him one of her eggs. He would raise her baby as his own, teaching him, befriending him, and protecting him. Naturally, she agrees, and Loiosh is perhaps his strongest ally, being able to communicate with Vlad telepathically. Several characters are able to communicate this way, and it's a very handy method to advance the story more quickly, without intrusive time delays and journeys back and forth. But the bond between Vlad and Loiosh is very deep, and is something I would like to see developed more in the coming books; in this story, the dialogue was mostly superficial, with only rare exception. In all honesty, I think Brust made Loiosh a little too..."Jersey" may be the right word for it; he's got a lot of attitude, which is obviously part of his charm, but the constant "yes, boss" and sarcastic comments kept making me grimace. That being said, however, part of what makes this story so easy to read is Brust's use of common language - he doesn't try to take us back into Olde Tyme, using overly-flowery, excessively eloquent language; he makes use of language as many of us do today, with only a few quirks thrown in to keep things interesting. The world he has created here is rich and vast, teeming with widely-varying people and places, each with distinct traits and histories. I sincerely hope that Brust manages to keep the magic alive throughout this series without going campy or formulaic. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series, and in fact, as soon as I save this review, I plan to start reading it, despite the fact that it is now 2:30am. I really, truly recommend this book - it's an encompassing experience that will bring you into a new world almost completely, if you have any affinity for the genre whatsoever. I honestly can't wait to see what's around the next corner. :-) It takes a lot to charm me this thoroughly, and I can't think of the words to describe how happy I am with this book, and everything about it - the characters, the dialogue, the quick pace, the story line, the plot twists, the detail, the simple elegance, the vivacity of it all. It is, in other words, amazing. Give it a shot, and you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Perfectamundo
Review: I am writing to review the book Jhereg, by Steven Brust. I was pulled into the book by my dad�s referral, and one of the things I first noticed is that the book is FUNNY! There is always a sarcastic undertone, even throughout the book. The hero (or anti-hero) of the book is an assassin named Vladimir Taltos. One of the high points for some people is that there isn�t too much romance in this novel, mainly just action. Taltos lives in a world where there are very tall, long-lived elves called Dragereans as the �dominant race�. Taltos is an �Easterner� or a human.
One thing that Brust succeeds in doing is that you actually want Taltos to succeed in completing his jobs! You may not side with an assassin in your everyday life, but Jhereg is something that will make you feel for the �bad guy�! This book is the first book in the series, but it is the fourth chronologically. The novel makes you ask who, what, and where� all of the good questions to have in a fantasy novel. Once you pick up the book, you can�t put it down! A few other things that I like abut this book: a good storyline, characters you can relate to, and humor.
In case you were wondering, a Jhereg is a small, flying reptile with leathery wings and poisonous teeth. Taltos made a pact with the beast�s mother, saying that �I offer your egg long life and fresh, red meat without struggle, and I offer my friendship. I ask for aid in my endeavors. I ask for it�s wisdom, and I ask for its friendship.�
If you are a fan of fantasy in general, or are just looking for something refreshingly different, I�d recommend Jhereg. However, if you dislike humor, a good story line or any of the things described in the above article, don�t pick this book up. Otherwise, enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Perfectamundo
Review: I am writing to review the book Jhereg, by Steven Brust. I was pulled into the book by my dad's referral, and one of the things I first noticed is that the book is FUNNY! There is always a sarcastic undertone, even throughout the book. The hero (or anti-hero) of the book is an assassin named Vladimir Taltos. One of the high points for some people is that there isn't too much romance in this novel, mainly just action. Taltos lives in a world where there are very tall, long-lived elves called Dragereans as the 'dominant race'. Taltos is an 'Easterner' or a human.
One thing that Brust succeeds in doing is that you actually want Taltos to succeed in completing his jobs! You may not side with an assassin in your everyday life, but Jhereg is something that will make you feel for the 'bad guy'! This book is the first book in the series, but it is the fourth chronologically. The novel makes you ask who, what, and where' all of the good questions to have in a fantasy novel. Once you pick up the book, you can't put it down! A few other things that I like abut this book: a good storyline, characters you can relate to, and humor.
In case you were wondering, a Jhereg is a small, flying reptile with leathery wings and poisonous teeth. Taltos made a pact with the beast's mother, saying that 'I offer your egg long life and fresh, red meat without struggle, and I offer my friendship. I ask for aid in my endeavors. I ask for it's wisdom, and I ask for its friendship.'
If you are a fan of fantasy in general, or are just looking for something refreshingly different, I'd recommend Jhereg. However, if you dislike humor, a good story line or any of the things described in the above article, don't pick this book up. Otherwise, enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: I couldn't put this book down once I got a hold of it. From start to finish, Prologue to Epilogue, I was interested in what Brust, or rather Vlad, had to say next. Steven Brust succeeeds in writing in one of the best manners of first-person perspective I've ever read. He doesn't bore you with too many details right away, but lets things sink in slowly so you can read on and learn more of the plot as you go. Vlad, Loiosh, and Kragar succeeded in making me laugh when I wouldn't expect it. If you've read anything by Steven Brust, or are looking to start, pick this one up first. I guarentee you won't be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Decent fantasy, an interesting world, a convoluted plot...
Review: I enjoyed reading "Jhereg." A friend pushed it into my hand saying that it had the best familiar ever since Tanya Huff's "Summon the Keeper," and so I eagerly awaited my introduction to Loiosh, the familiar of the 'hero' of the story, Vlad.
Thing is, Vlad's not that much a hero. An assassin for hire, I found it hard to get all that attached to him, and read the book more for the interest of the setting itself. Brust has put a rich world together here, where Sorcery and Witchcraft are two natural forces in a place where people have clanlines based on animals, and a complex "cycle" puts people into dominance based on their clan at various times. It's rich, and interesting to explore the setting.
The plot itself was very convoluted. Put very simply, Vlad's target for assassination turns out to be somewhere very inconvienient for the act, politically speaking. And from there the snarls and tangles of intrigue get really complicated. While the setting made this interesting, I got lost more than once or twice, and frustrated at skipping back to reexamine why one individual hated another's family or clan.
In and of itself, this was decent fantasy fare, and I don't regret reading it. It made me smile, Vlad is witty, and although for the most part I was interested in how Vlad was going to figure out a way to make things work, I did find the ultimate solution a little deus et machina.
My friend was right though, Loiosh is a fabulously funny familiar. I'm not sure if I'll be likely to grab any other Brust books, but I'm not going to avoid them, either. If you enjoy anti-hero books with high political intrigue alongside the murders and manipulations, I'm sure Brust will be just your cup of tea.
Thanan
Rating:
Summary: Decent fantasy, an interesting world, a convoluted plot...
Review: I enjoyed reading "Jhereg." A friend pushed it into my hand saying that it had the best familiar ever since Tanya Huff's "Summon the Keeper," and so I eagerly awaited my introduction to Loiosh, the familiar of the 'hero' of the story, Vlad.
Thing is, Vlad's not that much a hero. An assassin for hire, I found it hard to get all that attached to him, and read the book more for the interest of the setting itself. Brust has put a rich world together here, where Sorcery and Witchcraft are two natural forces in a place where people have clanlines based on animals, and a complex "cycle" puts people into dominance based on their clan at various times. It's rich, and interesting to explore the setting.
The plot itself was very convoluted. Put very simply, Vlad's target for assassination turns out to be somewhere very inconvienient for the act, politically speaking. And from there the snarls and tangles of intrigue get really complicated. While the setting made this interesting, I got lost more than once or twice, and frustrated at skipping back to reexamine why one individual hated another's family or clan.
In and of itself, this was decent fantasy fare, and I don't regret reading it. It made me smile, Vlad is witty, and although for the most part I was interested in how Vlad was going to figure out a way to make things work, I did find the ultimate solution a little deus et machina.
My friend was right though, Loiosh is a fabulously funny familiar. I'm not sure if I'll be likely to grab any other Brust books, but I'm not going to avoid them, either. If you enjoy anti-hero books with high political intrigue alongside the murders and manipulations, I'm sure Brust will be just your cup of tea.
Thanan
Rating: 
Summary: Fun and action-packed fantasy for all
Review: I have read all but the latest installment of this series (Issola), and I have to say that they're all fun to read. I equate the main character, Vlad Taltos, with James Bond. Charismatic, intelligent, dangerous, with enough high-powered friends to fill a small warehouse; this guy has it all. Intrigue, violence, and magic is the Taltos series in a nutshell. No prose or flowery descriptiveness here, which makes each installment a quick and easy read. Great stuff for someone with limited read time, or for someone longing for some fast action.
Rating:
Summary: Great light reading
Review: I really enjoyed this series. I thought the books were fun
and I enjoyed everyone of them (Orca was a bit slow). These
books a great fun but they are intellectual pop-corn. Light,
airy, not socially or emotionally challenging, but still
good solid fun. I recommend these books for plane rides or
bus trips because they move quickly and dont require much though. Also, Brust has an EXCELLENT sense of humor. Check
them out. Although these books are not challenging, look at the score I gave them... I gave them an 8 because they are
quite entertaining and engaging.
|
