Taltos - Vlad Taltos 4 - Steven Brust Book Review

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Review Summaries

"Although this book was published fourth, by internal chronology it comes before Jhereg. Taltos tells the story of Vlad and Morrolan's trip to the Paths of the Dead to recover the soul of Aliera. Vlad's first challenge is resisting the temptation to challenge Morrolan, whom he has just met and does not much like, to a duel. His second challenge is stealing a staff from an Athyra wizard. Next comes getting through the Paths of the Dead without losing his life. And his final challenge is finding some way to get both Aliera and Morrolan - who, technically, is not allowed to leave the Paths once he's arrived - home. Tough work for an assassin, but Vlad manages. This is one of the better early books in the series, and a light, fast, and enjoyable read. "
Ivy, Resident Steven Brust Scholar

"Fourth in a series, Vlad Taltos walks the Paths of the Dead to rescue the soul of a long dead princess that has been trapped in a staff for a thousand years."
Christopher Ware, Resident Steven Brust Scholar

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Overall Review

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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 - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - rescue mission/escape from confinement
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
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - killer - killer
Age: - 20's-30's - 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can cast many different spells
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How much violence does he/she use? - a significant amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - none - none

Setting
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Planet outside solar system? Yes
Mountains/Cliffs Yes
Mountains: - climbing on trails - climbing with ropes
Prairie? Yes
City? Yes
Misc setting - fancy mansion

Style
Person? - mostly 1st
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment - very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies
How many deaths? - 2
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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

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