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469th out of 1,207 books
—
6,934 voters
Tiassa (Vlad Taltos #13)
by
Steven Brust (Goodreads Author)
Long ago, one of the gods fashioned an artifact called the silver tiassa. To Devera the Wanderer, it's a pretty toy to play with. To Vlad Taltos, it's a handy prop for a con he's running. To the Empire, it's a tool to be used against their greatest enemies—the Jenoine. To the Jhereg, it's a trap to kill Vlad.
The silver tiassa, however, had its own agenda.
Steven Brust's Tia...more
The silver tiassa, however, had its own agenda.
Steven Brust's Tia...more
Hardcover, 335 pages
Published
March 29th 2011
by Tor Books
(first published March 17th 2011)
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Good but not great. You'll miss a lot if you haven't read most of the other Taltos books, and you might be confused if you haven't read at least one of the Phoenix Guards series. Especially since it takes a while to realize that the book's timeline isn't linear. Characters X and Y will sound familiar, and if you haven't been keeping up you might not realize that it's because you HAVE met them before.
The overall world structure is getting a bit of what Doctor Who would call "wibbly wobbly, timey...more
The overall world structure is getting a bit of what Doctor Who would call "wibbly wobbly, timey...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Mr. Brust’s Dragaera books have been a special love more me; Vlad I’ve loved since the beginning; the directness, the humor, and Vlad’s honor, with its ever so slight twist; what’s not to love. Then Mr. Brust added to his Dragaera books by bringing us the Khaavren Romances. Rather than the direct first person accounts that Vlad has, the Khaavren Romances are Dumasian; meaning our author goes to extravagant efforts to stretch things out almost as long as he could, an excellent counter point to Vl...more
I was disappointed at the end of this book. Only because I was hoping for some dialogue with Lady Teldra. That is it. That is the most critical I can be about a Vlad book.
I should add at this point that I have loved every single Vlad book and will tell anyone stupid enough to mention fantasy books near me that Steven Brust is one of the best and yet under-rated authors around. There is just something about the way he writes that get into my head almost without me reading. I am not a fast reader...more
I should add at this point that I have loved every single Vlad book and will tell anyone stupid enough to mention fantasy books near me that Steven Brust is one of the best and yet under-rated authors around. There is just something about the way he writes that get into my head almost without me reading. I am not a fast reader...more
Sadly Disappointed.
Two books ago (Jhegaala), I wrote one of my first reviews on this site. I was slightly disappointed with the book. I still found Vlad entertaining, but coming after 3 solid books (Dragon, Issola, and Dzur), the book just fell short. Not enough action, not enough stakes, and unfortunately, a disappointing novel.
One book ago (Iorich), I finished the book and was very disappointed. So disappointed in fact, that I just gave the book a rating and didn't bother to write anything. W...more
Two books ago (Jhegaala), I wrote one of my first reviews on this site. I was slightly disappointed with the book. I still found Vlad entertaining, but coming after 3 solid books (Dragon, Issola, and Dzur), the book just fell short. Not enough action, not enough stakes, and unfortunately, a disappointing novel.
One book ago (Iorich), I finished the book and was very disappointed. So disappointed in fact, that I just gave the book a rating and didn't bother to write anything. W...more
From my blog: http://serialdistractions.com
It was my loverly wife that first introduced me to Steven Brust…one of the many reasons I’m still madly in love with her. His “Vlad Taltos” series is probably my all-time favorite. Brust is one of the few authors for whom I actively look to see when the next book is coming out. This, the thirteenth of the long-running-yet-never-boring series, delivers. It contains all of the trademark wit and verbal acrobatics of the previous entries and manages to tie...more
It was my loverly wife that first introduced me to Steven Brust…one of the many reasons I’m still madly in love with her. His “Vlad Taltos” series is probably my all-time favorite. Brust is one of the few authors for whom I actively look to see when the next book is coming out. This, the thirteenth of the long-running-yet-never-boring series, delivers. It contains all of the trademark wit and verbal acrobatics of the previous entries and manages to tie...more
It is difficult to write a review of Tiassa because I will not know myself exactly what I think of it until I have read it at least 3 or 4 more times. And even after those re-readings I suspect that I would find it difficult to give the book an exact grade.
So, first things first.
Did I enjoy Tiassa?
Yes indeed.
Did Tiassa live up to your expectations?
It is difficult to answer that question because I have learned to have few expectations of any of Brust's books except that the time and effort spent...more
So, first things first.
Did I enjoy Tiassa?
Yes indeed.
Did Tiassa live up to your expectations?
It is difficult to answer that question because I have learned to have few expectations of any of Brust's books except that the time and effort spent...more
For starters, I liked this book. What's not to like? There's some classic Vlad action (back in classic Vlad timeline). There's some Cawti/Norathar bits. There are gods. And Devera. There's (a lot of) Paarfi-written elegance (including Paarfi writing Vlad, which is worth the price of admission). There's Khaavren. There's Vlad AND Khaavren. And Pel. There's the Empress. There's even a bit of Aliera. Therre's even a big, if vague, overarching plot.
Every little bit is fun to read. But ... the total...more
Every little bit is fun to read. But ... the total...more
Yikes! Usually Brust books instantly fall in my 'best books evah' category, but I had some problems with this one- actually 3.
1. The timeline jumps around aggressively. I mean, once I finished the last page, I strung it all back together, and just didn't see what the hell was going on. Brust has a habit of kind of thematically writing his books, and this one probably follows a style or theme that I am simply unfamiliar with, however, regardless of the reasoning, I didn't care for that.
2. He slip...more
1. The timeline jumps around aggressively. I mean, once I finished the last page, I strung it all back together, and just didn't see what the hell was going on. Brust has a habit of kind of thematically writing his books, and this one probably follows a style or theme that I am simply unfamiliar with, however, regardless of the reasoning, I didn't care for that.
2. He slip...more
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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This one isn't really a novel, but more like a few short stories (a couple of which are quite confusing, really) and vignettes thrown together with a silver figurine holding the threads together. Hmmm, dunno what to think of it. I would probably have more coherent thoughts about it if I were more awake, I suppose. The theme here, relating to the House Tiassa, should be inspiration -- not sure I'm really getting that out of the story, though. What I did get was irritation from the prose style in...more
One thing I really enjoy about the Taltos books is that Brust isn't afraid to mess around with his formula. This is the most unusual book in the series, I think. Instead of following Vlad's exploits, either through his eyes or someone else's, this book follows around an animal figurine made of some mystically-infused metal as it changes hands through time. It's more a collection of short stories on a theme with hints of a plot arc.
One thing this accomplishes well is that it touches Vlad at mult...more
One thing this accomplishes well is that it touches Vlad at mult...more
I enjoyed this more than any Vlad book since Dragon. I'm not necessarily sure that means it was a better book; just that it covers the time periods of Vlad's life that I'm most interested in. I also appreciate that the stories, despite involving gods and (possibly) Jenoine, were smaller scale. I like Vlad best when he's operating on the level of individuals. And I love the follow-up to Athyra, which remains (stubbornly) my favorite Vlad book.
I was a little frustrated at what I'll call slopping e...more
I was a little frustrated at what I'll call slopping e...more
Not a whole lot to say about this one. It's billed as a Vlad Taltos novel (apparently the 13th in the series), but it's actually more of a series of vignettes or episodes, all centering around a particular MacGuffin. Some of them only involve series protagonist Vlad tangentially at best. One is a crossover with Brust's other series in the same universe, a blatant love affair with the Dumas and the Musketeers. It's done in that sort of formal ornate language, too, which is a pretty jarring contra...more
This is one of the first Brust books that nearly lost me, not because it wasn't well-written, but because it was so choppy I had a hard time sticking to what was going on. The central character of the book is a small silver figurine, and as such, the central character is neither animated nor conversational, which makes the whole thing a bit difficult. As ever, props to Brust's imagination and ability to experiment with different writing styles (although not all of them are of the same delight le...more
Well, this book was a definite improvement over the last couple of Steven Brust's books.
It was like three separate, but related stories. They were written in different styles, and from different perspectives. There was a little of the old Vlad, and a little in the style of "The Phoenix Guards". I felt that the different parts of the story being presented, as they were, in different styles and from alternate perspectives, provided some variety that helped the story-telling. This book also had a...more
It was like three separate, but related stories. They were written in different styles, and from different perspectives. There was a little of the old Vlad, and a little in the style of "The Phoenix Guards". I felt that the different parts of the story being presented, as they were, in different styles and from alternate perspectives, provided some variety that helped the story-telling. This book also had a...more
1.5 stars. I did finish it, but it's my least favorite of all the Vlad Taltos novels. From reading other reviews, I take it that this one is a crossover with Brust’s other series, the Khaavren Romances, which I have not read, and that likely explains my discontent with the latter two-thirds of the book.
It began well enough with one of Vlad’s usual capers, which I enjoyed despite the fact that Cawti was in it (I’ve never liked Cawti). Then the style of the story changed, and I sighed, figuring th...more
It began well enough with one of Vlad’s usual capers, which I enjoyed despite the fact that Cawti was in it (I’ve never liked Cawti). Then the style of the story changed, and I sighed, figuring th...more
The ultimate love letter to his loyal readers. Quite a bit of fan service, but after over a quarter of a century of writing, Brust deserves it.
Bringing together so many of the elements of his writing and finally uniting his disparate works together really made me think about my history with his books. I've been reading his work for over half my life now. This is true for authors like Tolkien and Lewis, but unlike them, Brust is still writing new material that I'm able to follow. That I've been f...more
Bringing together so many of the elements of his writing and finally uniting his disparate works together really made me think about my history with his books. I've been reading his work for over half my life now. This is true for authors like Tolkien and Lewis, but unlike them, Brust is still writing new material that I'm able to follow. That I've been f...more
I love older Vlad books. I was even willing to forgive Iorich. This is lousy, plain and simply lousy. Take some bad fanfic, and slap Brust's name on it, and you have Tiassa.
A writer writes for himself, and good on Brust for doing that. But this former fan doesn't appreciate a middle finger from an author I had a lot of respect for. I wouldn't be so vehement in my ire if the story had done anything to move forward for the last three books.
Sadly, I'm done with Brust and Vlad. There is so much mo...more
A writer writes for himself, and good on Brust for doing that. But this former fan doesn't appreciate a middle finger from an author I had a lot of respect for. I wouldn't be so vehement in my ire if the story had done anything to move forward for the last three books.
Sadly, I'm done with Brust and Vlad. There is so much mo...more
An absolute chore to read from about chapter 2 on. I love the series, but it's been written distinctly different from the tedious Khaavren Romances prequels. Vlad's POV has always been the best thing about the series, this book instead brings in Khaavren from those books and does the vast majority of the story in the Alexandre Dumas style of those stories. It's not at all what one is looking for when they dig in to a Vlad Taltos book and was just a huge disappointment after Iorich was such a we...more
This is effectively a "crossover" book where Vlad and Khaavren's paths cross - as such its probably required to have read both of Brust's series set in this world.
Only the first third of this is directly a Vlad story, there is a Cawti interlude and a fairly lengthy Khaavren tale - each told in their usual style, first person for Vlad and in Paarfi's distinct style for Khaavren.
All of the tales do come together but the ending is either oddly anti-climactic or a "prologue" for future events.
Even g...more
Only the first third of this is directly a Vlad story, there is a Cawti interlude and a fairly lengthy Khaavren tale - each told in their usual style, first person for Vlad and in Paarfi's distinct style for Khaavren.
All of the tales do come together but the ending is either oddly anti-climactic or a "prologue" for future events.
Even g...more
I felt that both Tiassa and Iorich were "in between" novels. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed them both. They were fun, but there's this feeling that Brust is just filling in details. My curiosity about such details could probably have been sated with something shorter than full length novels. Again, still entertaining, but I had this feeling of waiting and even a little stagnation (as far as overall plot movement goes) when I was reading. I think it was hard to come back from Issola where some maj...more
Brust continues his experimental novel mode, which is not unexpected with Tiassa, the sigil of inspiration. This one is structured like a fixup novel, with short stories from multiple points of view. We get a little omniscient, a touch of Devera, a con job from Vlad, a plot foiled by Cawti, and (ugh) a Khaavren romance from Paarfi. All pulled together by a catalyzing force, a small silver statue. We get about half the story on whom Vlad has been telling his tales to. And some tie-in to the event...more
It was good to have another Vlad Taltos book to read, but this book was all over the place it seemed. It follows three stories from different periods in time involving a silver tiassa figurine which is said to have magical powers. My biggest problem with the book was the dialogue, especially between Khaavren and anyone else. Here's an example:
"Let us reflect."
"Oh, I am entirely in favor of reflecting."
"Good then."
"Upon what should we reflect?"
"Ah, you ask that?"
"I do, and, if necessary, I even a...more
"Let us reflect."
"Oh, I am entirely in favor of reflecting."
"Good then."
"Upon what should we reflect?"
"Ah, you ask that?"
"I do, and, if necessary, I even a...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Unlike other books in the Vlad Taltos series, Tiassa is a series of stories from multiple points on Vlad's timeline that all involve a silver tiassa figurine. In addition to skipping about in time, the novel also skips around in narrator voice, with one story from Vlad's estranged wife Catwi's perspective (finally!) and one from Khaavren from the Phoenix Guards companion stories. The storytelling is light and crisp for Vlad, moving more towards the silliness level of the Phoenix Guards. I tend t...more
WIN. I've been wanting this book since I finished Sethra Lavode, and remember distinctly that when SKZB started Dzur, it was going to be Tiassa. Dzur came out in 2006, so you can imagine my impatience. And it didn't disappoint! You probably have to love Paarfi to love it, but I do, and I love Vlad, and I love Khaavren, and the last section is the most AMAZING THING EVER.
(I notice from checking publication dates on Wiki that it's introduced new contortions to any proposed chronological reading or...more
(I notice from checking publication dates on Wiki that it's introduced new contortions to any proposed chronological reading or...more
Definitely a different style than previous books in the Dragaera series... but I think that's one reason I like it so much. This book is broken into three distinct stories which are written (or told, as I listened to the audiobook) in different styles and from different perspectives. Many beloved characters from previous Dragarea books return in this outing, bringing together some characters who have not met previously. Perhaps not my favorite (that still goes to The Phoenix Guards and 500 Year...more
Tiassa: catalyst and inspiration..
The book came of with a bit of a slow start. Although the section "Tag" got better it still left the feeling of a fake version of Vlad of that particular time (pre marriage to Cawti, already engaged. The job was set up and executed in the way of old Vlad with twist and double twist - it was neat yet almost flat. I cannot put my finger on why I did not enjoy it the way I enjoyed earlier Vlad books, probably because of all the things that have already happened in...more
The book came of with a bit of a slow start. Although the section "Tag" got better it still left the feeling of a fake version of Vlad of that particular time (pre marriage to Cawti, already engaged. The job was set up and executed in the way of old Vlad with twist and double twist - it was neat yet almost flat. I cannot put my finger on why I did not enjoy it the way I enjoyed earlier Vlad books, probably because of all the things that have already happened in...more
Overall, if you enjoy the Vlad Taltos books, I would find it hard to believe you wouldn't like this. Moreover, if you also enjoyed the Khaavren books, you'll finally get to see the joining of those two "lines" in this novel.
The book essentially includes 3 "Parts" or novellas which are all connected by a thread. The first part concerns an episode from Vlad's past, primarily during the time of his engagement to Cawti.
The second part focuses on a consequence to this first episode, told in Cawti's...more
The book essentially includes 3 "Parts" or novellas which are all connected by a thread. The first part concerns an episode from Vlad's past, primarily during the time of his engagement to Cawti.
The second part focuses on a consequence to this first episode, told in Cawti's...more
Steven Karl Zoltán Brust (born November 23, 1955) is an American fantasy and science fiction author of Hungarian descent. He was a member of the writers' group The Scribblies, which included Emma Bull, Pamela Dean, Will Shetterly, Nate Bucklin, Kara Dalkey, and Patricia Wrede, and also belongs to the Pre-Joycean Fellowship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
(Photo by David Dyer-Bennet)
More about Steven Brust...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
(Photo by David Dyer-Bennet)
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