This is the second volume of Brust’s epic
The Viscount of Adrilankha, which (like
The Lord of the Rings) is really a single novel in three
volumes. It’s just as delightful as its predecessor–in fact, it’s better–and I’m eagerly awaiting the publication of the third volume in the set.

For those who came in late, Brust has long been working on a series of
historical novels set in the same world as his Vlad Taltos books. Yes, I
said historical novels; they are (supposedly) written by a citizen of
that world, Sir Paarfi of Roundwood, a verbose and increasingly testy
academic; by the time of the current volume, his books have become quite
popular in Dragaera and one senses that he’s letting it go to his head.

If you like fantasy, and you haven’t read any books by Steven Brust, then
you need to do something about that. This, however enjoyable, is not the
book to start with. Not only is the middle third of a single novel, but
The Viscount of Adrilanhka, taken altogether, is the third
novel in a larger series which Brust has written as an homage to
Alexandre Dumas‘s Three Musketeers saga. These books are by no
means simple retellings of Dumas’ classic works–the plots are entirely
different–but there are decided and amusing parallels. You can go to
our Steven Brust page to find the other books.

And then there are the Vlad Taltos novels; start with Jhereg,
or the more recent omnibus edition, The Book of Jhereg, which
groups the first three or so Vlad novels.