Iorich (Vlad Taltos Series #12)

A good entry for the series

...although I admit I wish that after twelve books there was some sense of larger story arc. It's probably fine--LIFE doesn't have much of a large story arc--but it would be nice to know if this was going anywhere. Still, even if it doesn't, I enjoy the Taltos books better than those in the "Phoenix Guards" style, and it's good to see everyone in action again.

Another excellent book in a wonderful series

same as title :)

Vlad is back.

If you are a fan, you just can't stop reading the series. Please keep writing.

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Vald Taltos series Iorich

I have just finished the last in the Vlad Series , this book as with all these in the series was written with the reader in mind the story holds ones interest the conversations between the main character and his familiar never ceases to give me a good laugh. Brust has a since of the entire story line and carries all the characters into the next story line. This book was no exception although I felt it was a bit rushed compared to the previous books in the series. There seem to be less of the extremes of danger then in the earlier works, less fighting,less magic,less Vlad. I enjoyed the story but just felt there was some things missing. No trip in to death gate not fights to the death just bang bang then straight to the end. I will of course read anything Brust publishes I just hope he go back to the previous depth.

Your Itch For Justice Iorich, by Steven Brust / Tor Books, New York City; January 2010; ISBN: 978-0-7653-1208-2 / Vlad # 12; Hardcover; 320 pages / A review by Grant C. McCormick

Vladimir Taltos, a Baron of House Jhereg and the Count of Szurke, has been on the run from the Jhereg (the criminal organization as distinct from the house, if there is any such distinction) for nearly a decade now. For bad and sufficient reasons (covered in earlier books in this series¹), the Jhereg as an organization² wants to end his running in the worst way - to kill him with a Morganti³ weapon that will put an end to his story, forever. Now, as a mere human, an Easterner, Vladimir would be expected to kick off on this own in just a few more decades, anyway - he's already starting to feel his years. His main concern in life these days is staying out of the grasp of those who want him no longer to be.

Most of those who have worked with and for Vlad during his active career in the Jhereg (both in that house and out) are loyal to him even now, as he is loyal to them. And, naturally, he's just found out that someone that he knows, that he cares about, that he considers to be a loyal friend, has been arrested on a capital charge - and only by sticking his head in the noose and returning to the capital city can he save her. And Aliera, being the Dragon that she is, refuses even to get a lawyer - in her mind, that would imply she's guilty. And she has other motives, as well.

Now, the members of each of the seventeen houses of the Dragaerae share certain common stereotypes: Dragons are stubborn, brave, and warlike; Jhereg tend to be criminals (Vlad was); Dzur are impulsive and reckless; Orca most often are sailors, merchants, or pirates; Issola are graceful and polite; and Iorich are usually lawyers or involved in the justice system. And Vlad has to deal with more Iorich than ever before in his life to save his friend.

Most of Brust's books are in this series, or in the related Phoenix Guards series, and I find all of them to be very good, but I think that I like Iorich the most of all of them. The world that contains the Dragaeran Empire is radically different from our own, with accepted assumptions that we would find bizarre - and Brust makes it all believable. With this book, suspension of disbelief is not a chore, but a natural result of the quality of his writing.

Two things in particular stand out: the deleted scenes at the end of the book are a real hoot; and the fact that (to the best of my memory) Brust does not make even one lawyer joke in Iorich - and you don't miss them.

¹ See Phoenix (from Ace) and Dzur (from Tor) particularly, both in this series. It is best if you've read all of the previous books - Iorich is the latest in the internal chronology, as well as the most recently written.

² Or, rather, as two organizations: the (main) Jhereg that we all know and fear, the Mafia of the Dragaeran Empire; and the Left Hand of the Jhereg, the sisterhood of sorceresses that has its own sinister reasons to see Vladimir terminated with all possible prejudice.

³ A Morganti weapon is one that can, will, and (usually) wants to destroy its victim's soul.

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I like Vlad

Given the likeability of the main character, any new books about Vlad are welcome. I hope this means that we'll be seeing more in the near future.

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Welcome back home

We get to see some of our favorite characters and Vlad's friedns from Adrilanka since Vlad started running. There is an interesting new plot as Vlad tries to solve a mystery while trying to stay alive. Again Brust alows for multiple laugh out loud humor, and witty references to other facts about Vlad and friends.

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