Paths of the Dead - Steven Brust Book Review

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Review Summary

The world of Dragaera has been in turmoil since the cataclysm of Adron's Disaster. The Interregnum has been in effect for some 200 years now, and many of the inhabitants of Dragaera are beginning to believe that there will be no more adventures. But boy, are they wrong.

This book picks up on the tail end of 500 Years After. The children of many of our original heroes set off on adventures of their own. Piro, the son of beloved Khaavren, is summoned to Dzur Mountain on mysterious pretenses. Pel has allied himself with the power-hungry Khana, who wishes to re-create the Empire, with himself as ruler. Tazendra (now Lavode) has taken up residence with Sethra, the Enchantress of Dzur Mountain. Sethra herself has been entrusted the task of repelling the advances of the Jenoine, who have not been idle during the Interregnum.

It was at first believed that the House of the Phoenix died with Adron's Disaster, but we are soon informed that this is not so. Brought up in secret, is a new Zerika, who is trained by Sethra Lavode herself to bring the Orb back from the Paths of the Dead. She is aided in this quest by none other than Piro, Tazendra, much-maligned Mica, and Kytraan e'Lanya (the son of the remembered Uttrik). Their plan is hindered by the machinations of Kana, who must foil the plans of the Phoenix to claim the Cycle and the Orb for himself.

Ty F., Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of Paths of the Dead

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%

Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Tech./$$$/Info hunt Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying - magical artifact
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
Age: - long lived adults
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Eccentric: Yes
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
Has magical powers? Yes
Eccentric: Yes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence

Setting
Terrain - Mountains
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a fair amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

Most similar books to Paths of the Dead
The Chalice of Life by Karen Anne Webb
Sky Trillium by Julian May
Discover the Destroyer by K.A. Applegate
Dragon Bones by Patricia Briggs
Journey Into the Void - Sovereign Stone Trilogy 3 by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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