Vlad Taltos ist ein Hexer, freiberuflicher Attentäter, lebt als Ostländer (also Mensch) unter Dragaeranern und nennt einen reptilischen Vertrauten ...
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Jan 15, 2011
Brad
rated it: 
Immediate Reaction: This was a blast. A little fantasy-noir fun for anyone who likes bad men behaving with honour. Vlad Taltos is an anti-hero extraordinaire, and all the minor characters and relationships he's surrounded with are equally cool.
Later: This is only the second book I've read by Steven Brust, and the first I've read that he wrote alone. I read his collaboration with Emma Bull, Freedom and Necessity a couple of months ago, and loved their book so much I knew I had to hunt More...
Later: This is only the second book I've read by Steven Brust, and the first I've read that he wrote alone. I read his collaboration with Emma Bull, Freedom and Necessity a couple of months ago, and loved their book so much I knew I had to hunt More...
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Mar 13, 2010
Monk
rated it:
This book took me a while to get around to, but was well worth the ride.
It covers a rather grim society of Dragerans (more like particularly evil, seven-foot elves) and humans-beneath-notice, neither of which seem to view death as much more than an inconvenience. One of the key elements of the story is that death is not permanent - provided you can pay to be revived. Their society is based around twelve noble houses, one of which is House Jhereg. The Jhereg do 'work' for the right pr More...
It covers a rather grim society of Dragerans (more like particularly evil, seven-foot elves) and humans-beneath-notice, neither of which seem to view death as much more than an inconvenience. One of the key elements of the story is that death is not permanent - provided you can pay to be revived. Their society is based around twelve noble houses, one of which is House Jhereg. The Jhereg do 'work' for the right pr More...
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Jan 14, 2012
Mervi
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This is the first written Vlad Taltos-book and the fourth in the current internal chronological order. After reading the previous ones I have to admit that this is the one to start the series with. It’s full of background information which isn’t told either extensively or at all about Vlad, his job and family, the world, the Great Weapons, and everything.
The book is short, quick to read, fast paced, and full of plot twists and witty banter. Vlad owns his own small sector of the city More...
The book is short, quick to read, fast paced, and full of plot twists and witty banter. Vlad owns his own small sector of the city More...
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Aug 22, 2011
Jason
rated it:
4 Stars
This was a really good beginning to the first book in the Vlad Taltos series. This was my first time reading a Steven Brust novel even though he has been in my queue for as long as I can remember. This is a novel that was first published nearly 30 years ago. It is written in a fashion that keeps it fresh and relative to todays fantasy scene.
The combination of magic(sorcery)and witchcraft is very unique. The book gives some creative back story that explains the dif More...
This was a really good beginning to the first book in the Vlad Taltos series. This was my first time reading a Steven Brust novel even though he has been in my queue for as long as I can remember. This is a novel that was first published nearly 30 years ago. It is written in a fashion that keeps it fresh and relative to todays fantasy scene.
The combination of magic(sorcery)and witchcraft is very unique. The book gives some creative back story that explains the dif More...
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Oct 29, 2010
Susan
rated it:
My reading was starting to slow down, and I realized that the stuff I was reading was too downer and artsy. I needed a good rollickin' adventure for a change. Terran has recommended the Vlad Taltos series repeatedly as fun fantasy adventure from his youth. We own that series, and it is not in boxes waiting for us to finish building bookcases, so I decided to give it a try.
The first book, while it reads like a rookie effort in some ways, really is brilliant. Vlad is a great narrator w More...
The first book, while it reads like a rookie effort in some ways, really is brilliant. Vlad is a great narrator w More...
Jan 12, 2012
Rita
rated it: 
I've been looking for a long, satisfying fantasy series to dig into, so I really wanted to love Jhereg, but sadly it was only competent, not awesome.
Brust has a lot of things going for him. The mythology seems original, and well-constructed that I'd guess it unfolds slowly as the series goes on. The worldbuilding is excellent, too; Brust parcels it out in little chunks. The story is well-paced. What I like best, though, is that Brust is refreshingly unpretentious. As far as I can tell, More...
Brust has a lot of things going for him. The mythology seems original, and well-constructed that I'd guess it unfolds slowly as the series goes on. The worldbuilding is excellent, too; Brust parcels it out in little chunks. The story is well-paced. What I like best, though, is that Brust is refreshingly unpretentious. As far as I can tell, More...
Feb 03, 2009
Madolyn
rated it: 
This book begins the series about the adventures of Vlad the assassin. The series is wildly uneven, with a few really weak entries, but the best novels in the group are some of the most original fantasy out there. The best of the series are fast, funny, irreverent, and wildly creative.
The books take place on another world, where humans co-exist with Draegarans, a race of tall, aggressive and extremely long-lived humanoids - basically "elves," but not like you've ever seen the More...
The books take place on another world, where humans co-exist with Draegarans, a race of tall, aggressive and extremely long-lived humanoids - basically "elves," but not like you've ever seen the More...
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Jul 31, 2009
Nicolas
rated it:
Dans ce roman, on suit un assassin, Vlad Tatlos, auquel on a confié une mission d'assassinat des plus dangereuses, à la fois pour lui et pour la ville dans laquelle il travaille(1). Comme un assassinat, c'est avant tout un plan bien fichu, je ne vais pas vous en parler, histoire d'éviter de déflorer cette intrigue rudement bien fichue. Je vais donc plutôt vous parler de ce que j'en ai pensé.
Pour moi, ce bouquin fait partie d'une longue tradition, comme le dit justement la quatrième de couv More...
Pour moi, ce bouquin fait partie d'une longue tradition, comme le dit justement la quatrième de couv More...
Apr 18, 2011
Jenn
rated it:
Steven Brust is by far my favorite author. I have read every one of his books, some of them several times. I truly enjoy the worlds he has created in his novels. Jhereg was the first one to capture me and it was one of his first books. It tells the story of a young assassin trying to make his way in the world. From the very first passage, I was completely enchanted; it quickly & skillfully drew me in, heart and soul. Brust writes with wit, humor and charm, colorfully describing characters, scene
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Jul 31, 2010
Mike (the Paladin)
rated it:
I've had this (and I believe 2 of the novels that follow it) on my shelves waiting to be read for years. I think I picked them up after I read Phoenix Guard...but, whatever prompted me to buy them they, like Dracula when he's staked but still a whole skeleton in his coffin, they were there... condemned to endless waiting. Happily this one was selected as the subject of a group read here on Goodreads, and I had a reason (excuse ?)to move it ahead of the huge pile of library books that are always
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Nov 02, 2011
Robin
rated it: 
I have heard a lot of hype about this novel. It is allegedly "quick with both sword and wit," and the protagonist is supposed to be "archly sophisticated and wryly humorous" as well as selflessly heroic.
I found myself disappointed. There were maybe two whole lines that made me laugh out loud, and on the whole the humor was forced and flat (unless you like repeatedly reading "Shut up, Loiosh."). The setting was vague, and although society seems intriguing More...
I found myself disappointed. There were maybe two whole lines that made me laugh out loud, and on the whole the humor was forced and flat (unless you like repeatedly reading "Shut up, Loiosh."). The setting was vague, and although society seems intriguing More...
Aug 16, 2010
Simon
rated it:
An assassin is offerred a job that sounds to good to refuse but soon finds himself in an impossible situation. Can Vladimir find a way out that doesn't besmirch his friend's honour or lead to an all out war between three factions of the empire? Unfortunately, he doesn't have much time, a matter of days before all hell breaks loose...
A light, easy read in an interesting world. A simple narrative structure that that sets up the framework of the impossible situation and then we see how More...
A light, easy read in an interesting world. A simple narrative structure that that sets up the framework of the impossible situation and then we see how More...
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Sep 27, 2010
Tom
rated it:
Jhereg was given to me by a friend of the family on my 13th birthday. It turned out to be my introduction to mature fantasy and remains my favorite fantasy series to this day. Brust combines snappy no-nonsense dialogue and visceral action scenes with intricately twisting plots, snaking through a deep and complex arc, much of which has yet to surface on the page. Vlad Taltos is a far cry from the invincible two-dimensional killing machines populating most fantasy series. The supporting character
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Sep 07, 2009
Kati
rated it:
I think that this book together with "Taltos" are the best parts of the "Vlad Taltos" series. Why? This book is set in Adrilankha and it focuses on Vlad and his relationship with the Dragaerans in general and with Morrolan, Aliera, Kiera and Kragar in particular. I just love this, the way his friendship with these Dragaerans boggles Vlad's mind, he hates all Dragaerans after all. But Verra forbid someone hurts Morrolan or Aliera. At least Vlad's friendship with Aliera is expl
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Apr 15, 2009
Emily
rated it: 
This book has first-book-itis. Bad pacing, bad dialogue, bad outtakes, a shift from third person to third person omniscient with abandon. It had sort of an interesting idea about this high level mobster/Baron messing with more high level people and pulling off a heist to kill a guy who couldn't be killed.
It has a nice fight in the end but it spends almost 200 pages trying to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up. The book is mostly "BEHOLD MY WORLD! IS IT NOT WORLD More...
It has a nice fight in the end but it spends almost 200 pages trying to figure out what it wants to be when it grows up. The book is mostly "BEHOLD MY WORLD! IS IT NOT WORLD More...
Sep 22, 2011
Jamie
rated it:
This was a fun read, a mystery/caper fantasy story about an assassin who accepts a challenging job that turns out to be even more dangerous and consequential than he expects.
I enjoyed the lighthearted tone of the narrative, and I liked Vlad's first-person account. He's a little incongruous as an assassin who goes weak at the knees at the thought of being targeted himself, even though death is not often permanent in this universe.
I liked the magical system pretty well, and More...
I enjoyed the lighthearted tone of the narrative, and I liked Vlad's first-person account. He's a little incongruous as an assassin who goes weak at the knees at the thought of being targeted himself, even though death is not often permanent in this universe.
I liked the magical system pretty well, and More...
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May 04, 2011
Nathan
rated it:
It's been a while since I picked up a book that I have legitimately been unable to put down. This is a book that I picked up one evening and found myself reading until far to late in the morning. The story is great.
I appreciated the way that Brust simply thrust me into his world. It's filled with unique, fantastic creatures that he takes no breath to explain to me. I had the feeling of someone truly stepping into a fantasy and constantly wondering ohhh what is THAT?
Th More...
I appreciated the way that Brust simply thrust me into his world. It's filled with unique, fantastic creatures that he takes no breath to explain to me. I had the feeling of someone truly stepping into a fantasy and constantly wondering ohhh what is THAT?
Th More...
Feb 03, 2010
Chris
rated it:
This was a delightful beginning to a series that I am sure to be addicted to very soon. In fact, I've already jumped into the second volume.
But on this. Jhereg is a first person narrative of an assassin and a particular job he undertook. A huge amount of money offered showed that if something seemed too good to be true, it probably was.
Mischief and mayhem ensue. What I thought of as a combination of a crime caper and an epic fantasy turned out to be a quickly paced and of More...
But on this. Jhereg is a first person narrative of an assassin and a particular job he undertook. A huge amount of money offered showed that if something seemed too good to be true, it probably was.
Mischief and mayhem ensue. What I thought of as a combination of a crime caper and an epic fantasy turned out to be a quickly paced and of More...
Feb 14, 2008
Sarah
rated it:
This is a fantasy book, yes, with all the kingdoms, intrigue, magic, and invincible swords one expects from a fantasy. What makes Jhereg more than typical fantasy, however, is Vlad, the first-person narrator, who reads like an escapee from a contemporary mystery novel who just happens to be living in a world where humans are an inconsequential minority. Vlad's got a modern sensibility -- hey, he's just a guy trying to make his way in a world -- that makes this such an incredibly entertaining re
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Feb 12, 2012
Jim
rated it:
Reread Feb2012, review added.
I originally gave this 4 stars, although I've read it numerous times & really enjoyed it. I just never thought it had any redeeming features beyond sheer enjoyment. Now that I've read most of the rest of the series, I see on a re-read that the craftsmanship of this story demands another star.
This is not the first book in the chronology of the series, but it is the first published. Why should you read it first? Because the author couldn More...
I originally gave this 4 stars, although I've read it numerous times & really enjoyed it. I just never thought it had any redeeming features beyond sheer enjoyment. Now that I've read most of the rest of the series, I see on a re-read that the craftsmanship of this story demands another star.
This is not the first book in the chronology of the series, but it is the first published. Why should you read it first? Because the author couldn More...
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Oct 05, 2007
Sam
rated it:
Vlad has been paid heavily in advance by very violent, powerful men to perform an assassination. Failure is not an option, and success becomes more impossible at every turn.
Author Steven Brust sets this action thriller in a fantasy world that is rich and fleshed out. For instance, race relations are ugly between the Easterners, who are built like us, and the seven + foot tall Dragaerans who live for centuries. Each race calls themselves "human." Vlad has a telepathic link w More...
Author Steven Brust sets this action thriller in a fantasy world that is rich and fleshed out. For instance, race relations are ugly between the Easterners, who are built like us, and the seven + foot tall Dragaerans who live for centuries. Each race calls themselves "human." Vlad has a telepathic link w More...
Jun 30, 2010
Gail
rated it:
The first of the Vlad books, this universe slurped me right in, quickly and painlessly. Here be dragons, and I have had a lot of luck reading books with dragons on the cover. It turns out a jhereg is not a dragon, but on the other had there are a couple different kinds of dragons in the story.
Unique and compelling, all this series are good reads. Vlad's life is gradually revealed as he tells stories.
This review can stand for all this series.
Unique and compelling, all this series are good reads. Vlad's life is gradually revealed as he tells stories.
This review can stand for all this series.
Jul 06, 2010
Hallie
rated it:
A reread - it's difficult to assign ratings, as I read the books long enough ago to have been fuzzy, but not so long ago that a reread didn't carry with it the knowledge that Vlad does grow as a character. 11 or 12 books of a skilled assassin with a bit of a chip on his shoulder (about being human in a world in which humans are very definite second-class citizens) would have been hard to take, no matter how cool he was.
Apr 10, 2010
Rfjeff9
rated it:
Vlad is a low level boss in the mob in a fantasy setting. He used to be an assassain, but now he runs a section of a city. He has to deal with a "superior" race at all times, being one of the few humans around, and certainly one of the only ones in the mob. It just makes it more interesting.
THe story is a great intro into this world and most of the following Vlad Taltos books are up to par as well.
THe story is a great intro into this world and most of the following Vlad Taltos books are up to par as well.
Jan 23, 2012
Theresa
rated it:
This was probably closer to 2.5 stars. This was interesting, but there was something very odd about this book, something I can't quite put my fingers on. I did feel like I was missing something (a feeling I often have with science fiction). I felt like Vlad was having a conversation with me, and I can't figure out if I liked that sense of intimacy or if it irritated me.
May 11, 2010
Aaron
rated it:
Very enjoyable first book of a series. Vlad Taltos is an assassin turned crime boss. He is a human living in the Dragaera empire. Dragaerans are a long-lived race (2000 years perhaps) that physically are a lot like elves. Philosophically they're all over, depending on which of the 17 houses they're from.
This first book was very good, 4.5 range, almost.
This first book was very good, 4.5 range, almost.
Dec 31, 2009
Karen
rated it:
One of my all-time favorite books. I love the characters, and as many times as I have read it, still get a tingle when Vlad finally figures out how to get the job done. Plus, it contains one of my very favorite paragraphs, as Vlad is describing his relationship with his newborn familiar: "I called him 'Loiosh.' He called me 'Mamma.' I trained him. He bit me. Slowly, over the course of the next few months, I developed an immunity to his poison. Even more slowly, over the course of ye
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Sep 05, 2011
Derrick
rated it:
The first in a series in a world where humans and reptilian'ish humaniforms coexist, but not peacefully.
Vlad Taltos is a human who lives among the Draegon. He becomes an assassin and works his way up the ranks, basically being a mob boss. This reminded me of a murder mystery in a fantasy setting from the Mafia's point of view. Interesting.
Vlad Taltos is a human who lives among the Draegon. He becomes an assassin and works his way up the ranks, basically being a mob boss. This reminded me of a murder mystery in a fantasy setting from the Mafia's point of view. Interesting.
Dec 19, 2010
Erik
rated it:
First of the Vlad Taltos novels. It's a bit simpler and less complicated than some of the later ones, with fewer shades of grey. It does a good job of introducing the world and characters. I re-read it regularly when I want something pleasant and unchallenging to pass the time (I use Tolkien similarly).
Sep 02, 2011
Hitandmiss
rated it:
Short Review - An enjoyable read, A little complex understanding the house structure and the magic system,(Reviving dead people sounded a little thin). A well paced magic fantasy with plenty of dept to draw me into the seried, and at 12 books long im hoping we dont get too much repetition.
