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Brokedown Palace

(Dragaera)

Steven Brust (Goodreads Author)

3.63 · Rating details · 1,848 ratings · 90 reviews

Back in print after a decade, Brokedown Palace is a stand-alone fantasy in the world of Steven Brust's bestselling Vlad Taltos novels.

Once upon a time…far to the East of the Dragaeran Empire, four brothers ruled in Fenario:

King Laszlo, a good man—though perhaps a little mad; Prince Andor, a clever man—though perhaps a little shallow; Prince Vilmos, a strong man—though perh ...more

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Paperback, 352 pages

Published September 5th 2006 by Orb Books (first published 1985)

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3.63 ·

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· 1,848 ratings · 90 reviews

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Aug 31, 2013 Bookwraiths rated it did not like it

Shelves: fantasy

Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews
Brokedown Palace is a fantasy fable, as told by Stephen Brust.

The tale itself is set in the Dragaeran world of Vlad Taltos in the human (Easterner) kingdom of Fenario, which borders the land of Faerie (Dragaera). Legend tells that mighty Fenarr established the land and brought it peace by riding a Taltos horse (talking horse) across the mountains into Faerie, where he took up the magic sword Allam, and forced the lords of Faerie to swear to leave his peo ...more

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Oct 01, 2009 Jon rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to Jon by: Beyond Reality November 2009 Fantasy Selection

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, read-in-my-40s

Synopsis : A stand-alone fantasy set in the world of Steven Brust's bestselling "Vlad Taltos" novels. Once upon a time . . . far to the East of the Dragaeran Empire, four brothers ruled in Fenario: King Laszlo, a good man — though perhaps a little mad; Prince Andor, a clever man — though perhaps a little shallow; Prince Vilmos, a strong man — though perhaps a little stupid; and Prince Miklos, the youngest brother, perhaps a little — no, a lot-stubborn. Once upon a time . . . there were four bro ...more

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Jun 26, 2013 [Name Redacted] rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fantasy, politics

I first picked this book up because it had cover art by Alan Lee, and at the age of 13 (as today) I was an avid fan of Lee's work. What is more, I somehow managed to read the entire thing, enjoy it thoroughly, and NEVER CONNECT IT WITH BRUST'S "VLAD TALTOS" SERIES. Despite the fact that it mentions animals specific to the world in which that series was set. Despite the fact that I was already a fan of Brust's work. DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAD JUST READ THE FIRST SIX BOOKS IN HIS "VLAD TALTOS" SE ...more

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Nov 08, 2009 Kathi rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 09, 2008 Jack rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Possibly my favorite Brust novel, it's a curious little work set in the same world as the Vlad Taltos series, albeit with no obvious connection other than geography. This takes place in Fenario, a small kingdom in the East. King Lazslo has three brothers and the crumbling palace of the title, and the book revolves, as these so often do, around the future of the kingdom. Where it differs from most palace intrigue novels is that there is no villain. None of the brothers is inflamed with hatred aga ...more

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Aug 22, 2009 Emma rated it it was ok

Shelves: sci-fifantasy

I'm not sure how to rate this book because I came away from it quite confused about what actually happened. I feel like a lot of it went over my head, so it'd be interesting to read a wikipedia article (or something similar) written by someone who actually understood it. For example, who is Miklos' daughter supposed to be? Minor point, I know, but presumably there's some allusion I'm missing there...

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May 05, 2015 Wm rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction-and-fantasy

I like the way that the characters/setting didn't always react in the way that a fantasy reader would expect. Part of that is due to the novel being an allegory, but I think it outgrows the allegorical-ness and turns into something a bit more interesting and strange while still very familiar -- a fairytale-ish, family drama-ish, high fantasy-ish, allegorical-ish kind of thing.

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May 17, 2015 Blake rated it it was amazing

loved the cover art. the story it self was tremendous my favorite character being Vilmos. a little disappointed with the ending of the book didn't go quite as I had expected. But I can definitely see myself rereading this book at some point.

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Jan 16, 2009 Chy rated it really liked it

Short Summation

This is the tale of four brothers, the oldest of whom is the King of Fenario, and they are in the last days of their crumbling 400-year-old castle. The king refuses to acknowledge that it’s crumbling, even as stairwells and walls collapse. The others struggle in one way or another to back him up, make him see truth, or do what they can to keep the walls from collapsing another day. And the whole time, something is growing in the youngest prince’s room. Something that is special. ...more

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Dec 19, 2014 Tim Hicks rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I'll skip the plot summary since Wendell Adams has written a 449-word one earlier (!)

I hadn't heard of this book as I plowed my way through the entire Vlad Taltos and Phoenix Guards series.
This one was written in 1985, after Jhereg and Yendi. Brust was 30 then.

It's set in Dragaera but the overlap is limited to occasional mentions of jheregs and an appearance by the/a Demon Goddess.

But the style is unmistakably Brust - slightly arch, a bit cynical, with the occasional formal burst and quite a ...more

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Dec 19, 2007 Jim rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, sword-sorcery, favorites, 1paper, 2fiction

Brust is best known for his Vlad Taltos series. This takes place in the fully human part of same world across the mountains & is written as a fairy tale. Reminded me a bit of Patricia A. McKillip's style in the The Riddle-Master of Hed or Ursula K. Le Guin's in A Wizard of Earthsea. There is more unexplainable magic, something I usually don't care for, but it really worked well. The characters were great - all of them. I'd explain that last more, but it would be a spoiler.

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Jan 29, 2015 Frank Vasquez rated it it was amazing

"Point? I don't know, my Prince. Maybe, within this story, there is a prophecy of the tale of your own life. Maybe more. Maybe the point is the futility of all human endeavor. Maybe it is the triumph of justice, whatever the cost. The point? I don't know. You wanted to hear a story so I told you a story. Ask yourself the point. If you were entertained, that is enough for me."

What a brilliantly-written novel. Burst is on poin here. Each character is crafted finely, and you can really get a feel f ...more

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Dec 23, 2009 Daryl Nash rated it liked it

Prior to my planned re-reading of the Vlad Taltos series and reading of the Khaavren romances next year, I thought I'd get my feet wet with a book that has sat on my shelves unread for nearly twenty years. What a strange little book. It's like a fairy tale through the lens of Dragaeran mythology. Knowing Brust's political leanings, it's hard not to see this as sort of a Marxist fable, but the pieces don't line up just right, so perhaps I'm missing something and the Hungarian (and Greatful Dead!) ...more

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Dec 29, 2009 April rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: EVERYONE

Damn, damn and dammit. This book was over way too soon. Started it yesterday and finished it this morning. I even went so far as to make myself get up and get a new cup of coffee at the end of each chapter. I think this is my favorite book of the year! Whimsical, magical, heartbreaking and joyful I am sitting her contemplating picking the book up again and re-reading it.

I fell in love with each of the characters, I fell in love with the palace, both old and new, I fell in love with the land its ...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Jinjifore rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, speculative-fiction, fantasy, favorites

This was the first book by Steven Brust that I read, and it's still one of my favorites. I loved the disjointed, almost dreamy style of the narrative, and loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other, mostly based on how they regarded the old castle. I really enjoy stories where the characters come into conflict not because they are "bad" or "evil," but because they simply have different motivations, motivations that aren't necessarily in themselves wrong or misguided.

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Sep 17, 2011 Kat Zantow rated it liked it

Oh, I just glanced at my recently read list and I saw this.

It was startling. I had completely forgotten about it...in what, a month? Though most of Brust is win, this book was strikingly not memorable. I think it has something to do with the lack of conflict excepting building vs. tree, and different interpretations of conversations with horses.

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Mar 03, 2008 Kelly Moran rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I found this very powerful. The movie was good too, but the book was better.

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Sep 03, 2013 Rachel Schieffelbein rated it liked it

I'm going to reread this before I rate it. But I do remember really enjoying it.

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Nov 06, 2009 Chris rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I'll proably try reading this again at one point for the fairy motifs, but it is boring the H.E. double hockey sticks out me and I like the idea of talking horses.

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Dec 11, 2017 William Leight rated it liked it

“Brokedown Palace” is part of Brust’s Vlad Taltos series, though it’s far from clear whether it has a significant connection to the central storyline or is more of a standalone story in the same universe. It’s also clearly inspired in some way by the Grateful Dead song. And, finally, and unfortunately, I’m pretty sure, after my latest reread, that it’s a political parable: a Marxist one, to be precise, since Brust is a lifelong Communist, of the Trotskyist persuasion. (Interestingly, when Brust “Brokedown Palace” is part of Brust’s Vlad Taltos series, though it’s far from clear whether it has a significant connection to the central storyline or is more of a standalone story in the same universe. It’s also clearly inspired in some way by the Grateful Dead song. And, finally, and unfortunately, I’m pretty sure, after my latest reread, that it’s a political parable: a Marxist one, to be precise, since Brust is a lifelong Communist, of the Trotskyist persuasion. (Interestingly, when Brust overtly addresses politics he usually deliberately writes against his political beliefs; his latest series is called “The Incrementalists”, not “The Revolutionaries”.) The problem with political parables is, of course, that the plot is inevitably driven by factors external to the book and hence unknowable to the characters: as a result, their actions often don’t really seem to make sense. This is most vividly clear in the central conflict here, between Miklos and his older brother Laszlo, the king. Miklos thinks that the titular palace, where they live, is a dump (as it is, hence the “Brokedown” in the title). The king of course knows that it’s a dump, but is defensive of it: indeed, so defensive that he comes to feel that he has no choice but to either kill Miklos or be killed by him. If the issue at hand were simply the question of whether the Palace needs extensive renovations or maybe a replacement, this would be, frankly, kind of ridiculous: I can’t say it’s never happened, but I imagine that architecture is fairly far down the list of things that princes tend to come to blows over. (Generally speaking, kings are only too happy to build expensive new palaces when the old ones start to get a bit run down.) It only makes sense when you realize that in reality the Palace represents the old order, and what Miklos and Laszlo are actually fighting over is the continued viability of capitalism. Unfortunately, this means that Laszlo’s character just doesn’t work. Brust does his best to persuade us that maybe the man really does love his castle more than his youngest brother, but the Palace’s importance as a place in the book can never match its symbolic importance in Brust’s scheme, and the story’s central conflict ends up feeling rather artificial.

Given this constraint, the rest of the book holds up fairly well, with the other characters slowly picking one side or another, for more or less internally-consistent reasons, leading up to the final showdown. Still, even if the other characters mostly work as characters, they also have to serve as part of the parable, and that prevents them from connecting the way they otherwise might. Once you’re aware that, for instance, Miklos’s brothers Vilmos and Andor represent the working classes and intelligentsia respectively, it’s difficult-to-impossible to think of them as being in some way actual people, the way you would like to be able to think of characters in a novel, something that remains true even though their actions aren’t obviously driven by the imperatives of the author’s scheme. Within the novel itself, it’s perfectly reasonable for Vilmos and Andor to end up siding with Miklos against Laszlo: for one thing, Laszlo must be crazy if he thinks a falling-down castle is more important than his youngest brother. But the fact that the structure of the parable also requires them to side with Miklos makes the reasons that the novel gives for their choices less important, and saps the interest from the internal conflicts that lead them to their decisions.

“Brokedown Palace” is not, by any means, unreadable. Brust brings in politics but doesn’t let it affect his writing: the book isn’t didactic or preachy, and his usual gifts — snappy dialogue, quick-moving action, sympathetic characters — are all present. And fans of the Taltos books will probably want to read this, just in case the brief appearances of the Demon Goddess Verra and Devera end up having some relevance for the main cycle. Plus, the presence of some sort of politics is inevitable in any book, as illustrated by Orwell’s maxim that all art is propaganda. Still, though “Brokedown Palace” doesn’t fall under the second half of that quote, “not all propaganda is art”, it leans a little too much towards the propaganda side. Though Brust’s scheme for the book is not as obvious and unsubtle as some I’ve read, it nevertheless ends up casting a shadow over everything. ...more

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Jul 20, 2017 Aelvana rated it it was ok

Four brothers live in a crumbling Palace. When Miklós, the youngest, butts heads with his eldest brother László, he finds himself walking straight into myths. But though he journey all the way to Faerie, his heart and his destiny are with his home. Only Miklós seems willing to admit the Palace is rotting. Yet he has no idea what he's supposed to do about it.

This was an odd book. I liked the way it balances between myth and fact, often muddling the two so much that it's not clear where any lines Four brothers live in a crumbling Palace. When Miklós, the youngest, butts heads with his eldest brother László, he finds himself walking straight into myths. But though he journey all the way to Faerie, his heart and his destiny are with his home. Only Miklós seems willing to admit the Palace is rotting. Yet he has no idea what he's supposed to do about it.

This was an odd book. I liked the way it balances between myth and fact, often muddling the two so much that it's not clear where any lines ought to be drawn. The Palace is both itself and a symbol of many things, primarily the old, broken, and decaying. I liked the Palace, too. The little details about various things going wrong is almost comical in places, because the King is so determined to just keep on with his everyday life he can ignore gaping holes in the floor.

The complex relationships between the four brothers is also more of a literary bent. The story doesn't follow events as much as the twists and turns of those relationships, as Miklós tries to escape László, then re-integrate into some kind of family (which is troublesome because he and his eldest brother have polar opposite views on some critical things, and both of them aren't willing to give any ground). There are also two women, one that László takes as a whore and one he intends to wed, who are themselves set against each other as foils.

The problem for me is that all this literary stuff isn't nearly as interesting as even my least favorite Vlad Taltos book. This book isn't often funny, or full of action, and the nods to the wider world it shares with the Vlad books are either incidental or rather subtle (for instance, Brigitta's end very obscurely ties to a familiar character, but it took out-of-book author confirmation to say for sure as the reference could have also referred to just about anything).

Overall, this will probably appeal more to those who like diving into complex family relationships and spotting various bits of symbolism. For myself, I don't think I'm going to read it again, but I don't mind having read it once. I rate this book Neutral.

See my reviews and more at https://offtheshelfreviews.wordpress.... ...more

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Nov 21, 2017 Kathy rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I read this the first time fresh out of college, the first Steven Brust I ever read. I dug out my old paperback, and was rather surprised to discover it was a first paperback edition, and at the time, he'd only written three other books. (And Prince Andor's name is written as "Prince Andre" on the back cover...) I don't know why I didn't start reading the Taltos books right then, because I sure remember loving this story, and I know I went on to read several of his other unrelated books (like Co I read this the first time fresh out of college, the first Steven Brust I ever read. I dug out my old paperback, and was rather surprised to discover it was a first paperback edition, and at the time, he'd only written three other books. (And Prince Andor's name is written as "Prince Andre" on the back cover...) I don't know why I didn't start reading the Taltos books right then, because I sure remember loving this story, and I know I went on to read several of his other unrelated books (like Cowboy Feng's).

And I liked it again, on this many-years-later re-read. Especially now, after having read everything else in the Dragaerian world in the last year, I see a lot further into the story and the wider world than I did way back then. Especially the surprise appearance of Devera. (And I know what they're talking about when they say Miklos went away to "Faerie.")

Now, I know that the world of Fenario and Dragaeria is a world of magic, but the events of Brokedown Palace do read a bit like a fantasy, even so - it's hard to tell how much of this is "real" within the universe and how much of it parable or tall tale. It could be Miklos' descendants have embellished the tale over the centuries since the sudden death of young King Laszlo... So did the tree truly grow within the ruins and become the new palace? Or did the old palace simply collapse and then a tree grew there in the courtyard as King Vilmos built a new palace on the spot? And who is Brigitta's father? Who is Miklos' daughter? (I read on some fan site somewhere that the connection to the main story is through Cawti -- as in, Brigitta & Miklos' dangerous daughter will become Cawti, but I'm not sure if that's canon or supposition, since it seems that this story takes place LONG before Cawti should be born. But it's hard to tell, since it's also clearly long after the events of Phoenix Guards, so... )

Anyway, I said it when I first read a Steven Brust novel, and I still say it now: He writes so well he makes me want to bite my wrists.

...more

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Jan 13, 2019 Pat rated it did not like it

Shelves: dnf

DNF'd past the halfway mark, where things just got slower and slooower and ... slooooower. Started well and was interesting; and the interludes were great; and I don't mind good allegory; but I don't enjoy tedious allegory, which is what this one seemed to become. Scenes full of piffling conversations where characters slowly guide each other to uninteresting conclusions. Cardboard characters taaaalk and taaaalk and taaaalk. I skipped ahead to see if things picked up, and no, they didn't.

My secon ...more

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Jun 06, 2017 Dev Null rated it really liked it

Shelves: faerie-tale, fantasy

Brust always does an amazing job of adopting styles in his writing. This time he does an excellent imitation of something like one of Grimm's faerie tales, with maybe a touch of 1001 Nights... but set in his own fantasy world (which will be familiar to readers of his Taltos books, but you don't need to have read those to understand and enjoy this.)

I liked this rather a lot. The plot is a little twisty, and even at the end you're never quite sure exactly what happened and why, but it has some int ...more

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Nov 20, 2016 Jaye rated it really liked it

I decided to pick this one up after finishing The Khaavren Romances. It's set in the same universe as the Dragaeran stories, but set entirely in the East. Miklos is the youngest of four brothers, and his eldest brother is the King of Fenario. The Palace is falling apart, and the Demon Goddess Verra tells him that the only way to save the Palace is to kill or drive away Miklos. Things do not go according to plan.

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Aug 11, 2018 Glenn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It's a tough read. Not a style I'm used to. But a good yarn.

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May 14, 2017 Lisa rated it liked it

Serviceable and recognizably Brust, but not one that I want to read over and over like the early Vlad Taltos books.

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Dec 13, 2017 Scott Minkoff rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

I wish that I can find my copy, it's been years out of print. Loved it at the time, though I barely remember the book itself, I do remember my strong reaction to it.

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Feb 06, 2019 Ashley rated it really liked it

Shelves: a-book-from-every-shelf, 1980-2000, fantasy-sci-fi

I enjoyed this. I picked it up mainly for the novelty of a fantasy novel with Hungarian names, but ended up quite enchanted.

I do feel like I should have a lot more to say about it, other than that I'll seek out more of Brust's novels now--and the fact that I find the concerns about communism in some of the other reviews I've seen comical.

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Feb 18, 2014 Eskana rated it really liked it

Shelves: a-different-angle

This story centers on four brothers, the oldest of whom, Laszlo, is the ruler of the kingdom of Fenario, a fantasy kingdom right across the mountains from Faerie. Mostly the story is about the youngest brother Miklos, but all the brother's POVs are used from time to time, letting you get to know them. At the beginning of the story, Miklos has been horribly beaten by his older brother (not a typical happening, fyi), although we don't quite know why, and he runs away for two years to Faerie. The s This story centers on four brothers, the oldest of whom, Laszlo, is the ruler of the kingdom of Fenario, a fantasy kingdom right across the mountains from Faerie. Mostly the story is about the youngest brother Miklos, but all the brother's POVs are used from time to time, letting you get to know them. At the beginning of the story, Miklos has been horribly beaten by his older brother (not a typical happening, fyi), although we don't quite know why, and he runs away for two years to Faerie. The story really sets off, though, when he returns.
You see, the royal family- and heart of the kingdom- lives in an ancient "brokedown" palace, which is literally crumbling. The author kind of uses this (I think) as a sort of allegory for the family, but as they try to repair and change their relationships, there are things happening to the Palace itself.
All this and a goddess, a wizard, a conspiracy, a talking horse, and a magic tree too!

This book was definitely a refreshingly read- a fantasy that involved magic, mystical fairy elements, a goddess, and a family of princes and their relationships, but really was about the family itself, and the duty towards family versus the duty of a king, and a violent fear of change when backed by hundreds of years of tradition.

Each brother had clearly his own personality, desires, and character; no cookie cutters here. And no one acted unreasonably, either- each stayed true to his character. This could be true of every character, in my opinion, including Brigitta, Bolk, and Mariska, and more minor characters such as Viktor and Rezso. Really, it was well written and I felt like every character got his due. It was really a delicate balance.

My only problems of the book were these: I felt like there was a lot of information missing. According to Goodreads, this is supposed to be a "stand-alone" novel, and it's kind of its own series; that being said, I felt like there were people, places, and things that I was missing out on. There were a lot of allusions to things I had no idea about, and while it kind of added to the mystery of the whole story, I was left at the end feeling like I just finished the third book in a series after having missed the first two. However, not enough information was given to really pique my interest, although I'm a little curious about the others. (view spoiler)

In the end, I will say that this is definitely a great read, definitely pick it up if you are a fantasy fan or even just like to read about inter-family relationships like this, as the elements of fantasy are not central to the story as much as most fantasies. Good for just about anyone (although a little PG-13 rated...) ...more

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About Steven Brust

Steven Brust

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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...

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