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Vlad Taltos #14
Hawk
Years ago, Vlad Taltos came to make his way as a human amidst the impossibly tall, fantastically long-lived natives of the Dragaeran Empire. He joined the Jhereg, the Dragaeran House (of which there are seventeen) that handles the Empire's vices: gambling, rackets, organized crime. He became a professional assassin. He was good at it.
But that was then, before Vlad and the Jhereg became mortal enemies.
For years, Vlad has run from one end of the Empire to the other, avoiding the Jhereg assassins who pursue him. Now, finally, he's back in the imperial capital where his family and friends are. He means to stay there this time. Whatever happens. And whatever it takes.
Hawk is the latest in Steven Brust's New York Times bestselling Vlad Taltos series.
"Watch Steven Brust. He's good. He moves fast. He surprises you. Watching him untangle the diverse threads of intrigue, honor, character and mayhem from amid the gears of a world as intricately constructed as a Swiss watch is a rare pleasure." —Roger Zelazny
But that was then, before Vlad and the Jhereg became mortal enemies.
For years, Vlad has run from one end of the Empire to the other, avoiding the Jhereg assassins who pursue him. Now, finally, he's back in the imperial capital where his family and friends are. He means to stay there this time. Whatever happens. And whatever it takes.
Hawk is the latest in Steven Brust's New York Times bestselling Vlad Taltos series.
"Watch Steven Brust. He's good. He moves fast. He surprises you. Watching him untangle the diverse threads of intrigue, honor, character and mayhem from amid the gears of a world as intricately constructed as a Swiss watch is a rare pleasure." —Roger Zelazny
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2014
86 people are currently reading
1491 people want to read
About the author
Steven Brust
99 books2,303 followersSteven 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)
http://us.macmillan.com/author/steven...
(Photo by David Dyer-Bennet)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
June 7, 2015
from the ol' blog at https://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2015/...
Assassins?
–check
Flying lizard that communicates psychically?
–check
Ridiculously complicated revenge/redemption plot?
–check and mate
It’s hard to review book fourteen in a series, partially because, well, I don’t. Read series that long, that is. Usually it is only mysteries that manage to extend that long, by virtue of the lead solving a new case each time. But it is an interesting question–how do you extend a character life over a multitude of books? Does your character change or are they timeless? I find myself less of a fan of the ‘timeless’ sort of narrator, the sort that is relatively unscathed by life but might have surrounding events change from book to book (Evanovich’s Plum, Robb’s Eve, Harrison’s Rachel all come to mind). Vlad Taltos has changed a great deal over the course of fourteen books, perhaps because the series has been written at a very organic pace (Jhereg, the first book, was published in 1983). Obviously, so has Brust and so have I, so the changes sometimes bring a sort of nostalgia. Early Vlad was far more careless of long-term consequences (so was early me, for that matter). At any rate, Hawk feels like a return to form for Vlad, a decision to put his strengths to work for himself and take responsibility for his life instead of continuing to run.
Vlad is finally returning to his home city of Adrilankha, and he’d really prefer to stay. His son is growing up, relations are civil with his ex-wife, and his friends live there. The trouble is, way back when, Vlad royally, dramatically and irrevocably screwed the reining criminal organization and ever since, there’s been a price on his head. A rather large one, in fact, meaning he’s dodging professionals as well as amateurs.
Hawk has a relatively straightforward narrative–particularly early in the series, Brust did some interesting things with structure–with a ‘heist’-type plot. Told in first person, Vlad lets the reader know details as he builds his plan, but he avoids sharing the scheme until it unfolds real-time. The story definitely captures the feel of the oh-so-clever thief/con/criminal who hatches an elaborate scheme known only to himself (hello, George Clooney and Locke Lamora). It’s a clever story, and a decent return to action-Vlad. The cleverness does get a bit annoying at times, but that could be because I’m sensitive to arrogance (and if I thought Vlad was arrogant, did I ever have a character waiting for me with Jean in Quantum Thief!). It is nice to see the return of a familiar face or two, particularly an old associate of Vlad’s. I also appreciate that Brust avoided the “getting the gang back together” gimmick and allowed characters to make an appearance without being the ultimate solution to the plan. That decision also feels appropriate in terms of character growth.
I’d definitely recommend it to fans of the series. As it is book fourteen, I’m not sure it would be a good place to begin the series, however; it does reference prior events and world-building is not extensive. But so what? I envy you your chance to read from the beginning. In fact, I should put that on my to-do list.
February 9, 2017
Fantastic!
This is the Vlad I know and love, right down to the horrendously complicated plot, the refusal to explain to us what is going to happen until it happens, and now, an actual return to business as usual.
What? He's found a way to return to his home town, make things good with the Jhereg, that long-lived race that does everything better than everyone else? I mean, sure, Vlad has been assassinating them for most of his life and even though they made him a Lord even though they despise puny humans, he eventually screwed over the entire race pretty heavily... I mean... just how could he make things right after THAT?
Well, he could always make them an offer they can't refuse. Right? Godfather style. :) Oh Vlad, you're one insane mother. At least he'll be done with running, either permanently or not, and I believe it is TIME. :) Well past time. Hell, I'm gonna dance for joy that he's back...
Sure, he can never make everyone happy, and by making good with the Right hand he just happened to piss off the entire Left, but really, just how bad could that be? I mean, it's just the whole damn guild of sorcerers. I ask, just how bad could that be???
Seriously, I love this series. Always clear writing, always wonderfully humorous voices, great action, great friends, great enemies, and tension like you wouldn't believe. This is pure classic fantasy done really, really right.
Now what else does Brust have? Nom nom nom. :)
This is the Vlad I know and love, right down to the horrendously complicated plot, the refusal to explain to us what is going to happen until it happens, and now, an actual return to business as usual.
What? He's found a way to return to his home town, make things good with the Jhereg, that long-lived race that does everything better than everyone else? I mean, sure, Vlad has been assassinating them for most of his life and even though they made him a Lord even though they despise puny humans, he eventually screwed over the entire race pretty heavily... I mean... just how could he make things right after THAT?
Well, he could always make them an offer they can't refuse. Right? Godfather style. :) Oh Vlad, you're one insane mother. At least he'll be done with running, either permanently or not, and I believe it is TIME. :) Well past time. Hell, I'm gonna dance for joy that he's back...
Sure, he can never make everyone happy, and by making good with the Right hand he just happened to piss off the entire Left, but really, just how bad could that be? I mean, it's just the whole damn guild of sorcerers. I ask, just how bad could that be???
Seriously, I love this series. Always clear writing, always wonderfully humorous voices, great action, great friends, great enemies, and tension like you wouldn't believe. This is pure classic fantasy done really, really right.
Now what else does Brust have? Nom nom nom. :)
October 1, 2014
One of the oddities of ranking things is that, while I'd give the Draegaren books five stars as a series, I'd feel kind of silly giving every single book in that series the same mark. But Hawk is, I think, the book in the series that some of us have been waiting for (waiting with pleasure, but still, waiting) for years, and Brust does not disappoint. Even though there's still a good number of books left to go, it feels like we're moving into some kind of endgame now, and the scheme at the center of this book is just as inventive and well executed as fans would hope from the title. Not only is it good to see some of these characters again, it's great to see one of the major plotlines of the series hit such a height.
August 9, 2024
Book number 527 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project
I need to be in a particular state of mind to enjoy Vlad Taltos. I was when I started this book, then I had to set it aside for a little, and when I had time to resume reading, the moment had passed. I was no longer in the mood for Lord Taltos' smartassery or his intricately planned deceits. Finishing the novel was a relief—I really didn't want to renew my library copy yet again.
Vlad is back in the capitol, the city where his son and ex-wife live. The Jhereg are still hunting him and he is wearing an amulet that prevents them from easily finding him. Impatient Jhereg are starting to use spontaneous attacks to try to please their bosses and Vlad is tired of it. When there are lurkers on his ex-wife's doorstep, they have stepped on his last nerve. He devises one of his usual elaborate plans to get them off his back: he will give them a way to eavesdrop on psychic communication in exchange for his freedom. It's a good thing Vlad has friends who will help him.
For once, things don't go entirely Vlad's way. I suspect that Brust is tired of the whole “avoiding assassination attempts" plotline and has planned a way to change the channel. Too many readers love Vlad Taltos to just abandon him, so steering the series in a new direction is imperative. This volume makes a start at altering the vessel's course, but I expect it will take at least one more installment to get the ship on its new bearing. I will explore that after a good, long break from the series to regain my appreciation for Brust's talents.
I need to be in a particular state of mind to enjoy Vlad Taltos. I was when I started this book, then I had to set it aside for a little, and when I had time to resume reading, the moment had passed. I was no longer in the mood for Lord Taltos' smartassery or his intricately planned deceits. Finishing the novel was a relief—I really didn't want to renew my library copy yet again.
Vlad is back in the capitol, the city where his son and ex-wife live. The Jhereg are still hunting him and he is wearing an amulet that prevents them from easily finding him. Impatient Jhereg are starting to use spontaneous attacks to try to please their bosses and Vlad is tired of it. When there are lurkers on his ex-wife's doorstep, they have stepped on his last nerve. He devises one of his usual elaborate plans to get them off his back: he will give them a way to eavesdrop on psychic communication in exchange for his freedom. It's a good thing Vlad has friends who will help him.
For once, things don't go entirely Vlad's way. I suspect that Brust is tired of the whole “avoiding assassination attempts" plotline and has planned a way to change the channel. Too many readers love Vlad Taltos to just abandon him, so steering the series in a new direction is imperative. This volume makes a start at altering the vessel's course, but I expect it will take at least one more installment to get the ship on its new bearing. I will explore that after a good, long break from the series to regain my appreciation for Brust's talents.
October 15, 2014
This was a fine read, but like much of the last decade or so, Brust's output feels more like a novella than a novel, and a set piece at that. There's no emotional story any more, and all the "I'll put the pieces into place and then blind you with a brilliant outcome" has gotten on my nerves. There is one point where the most irritating feature of the last bunch of novels might have been resolved and then turns out not to be and I'm just over that.
So yeah, I liked it because Brust could publish his shopping list and I'd probably like it (in fact, much of this book really does read like a shopping list) but I think it's time to put Vlad away and show a real, emotionally-based story where something happens to a character and that's the most important change in that character's life, so I can start caring again.
So yeah, I liked it because Brust could publish his shopping list and I'd probably like it (in fact, much of this book really does read like a shopping list) but I think it's time to put Vlad away and show a real, emotionally-based story where something happens to a character and that's the most important change in that character's life, so I can start caring again.
October 9, 2014
By this point, you should know what you're getting from a Taltos book. And yes, it meets all the expectations. I was particularly happy to see Vlad coming up with solutions to his long-term problem of being on the run all the time and having more Kragar than we've seen in a while was a delight.
My only disappointment was that it was over too soon. I'm a little torn by the ending, but mostly in a "can't wait to get the next book" kind of way—and I suspect that would have been the case regardless...
My only disappointment was that it was over too soon. I'm a little torn by the ending, but mostly in a "can't wait to get the next book" kind of way—and I suspect that would have been the case regardless...
July 29, 2022
Book 14 in the Vlad Taltos series. Another re-read.
Vlad is really sick and tired of running from the Jhereg assassins. He wants to see his estranged wife and their son, little Vladimir junior, (who is now eight). He stays away in order to keep his son safe, but he's getting more and more angry about it. So what does he do? In true Vlad fashion, he plots, schemes and concocts an elaborate plan to get the Organization off his back for good. No character can plot quite like him, and his plans are about as convoluted as they come.
Since he is in Adrilankha, a lot of the characters from earlier in the series have cameos. The Demon, Kiera the Thief, Daymar, Kragar, Khaavren, Cawti, etc, all have parts to play. I've particularly missed Kragar! I always enjoyed his interactions with Vlad. There are also some new characters, of which Deragar was a terrific addition. And there were some new developments regarding Lady Teldra.
Excellent, excellent series!!
Vlad is really sick and tired of running from the Jhereg assassins. He wants to see his estranged wife and their son, little Vladimir junior, (who is now eight). He stays away in order to keep his son safe, but he's getting more and more angry about it. So what does he do? In true Vlad fashion, he plots, schemes and concocts an elaborate plan to get the Organization off his back for good. No character can plot quite like him, and his plans are about as convoluted as they come.
Since he is in Adrilankha, a lot of the characters from earlier in the series have cameos. The Demon, Kiera the Thief, Daymar, Kragar, Khaavren, Cawti, etc, all have parts to play. I've particularly missed Kragar! I always enjoyed his interactions with Vlad. There are also some new characters, of which Deragar was a terrific addition. And there were some new developments regarding Lady Teldra.
Excellent, excellent series!!
March 20, 2015
"My heart gave a thump. It had been doing that a lot lately. I wished it would stop. I mean stop giving random thumps, not, you know, stop." ~Vlad Taltos
Note: This review contains spoilers for previous novels in the series.
Hawk is Steven Brust’s fourteenth (and latest) novel about Vlad Taltos, a charming assassin living in Dragaera. Over the past 31 years, fans of this series have been through a lot with Vlad and Loiosh, Vlad’s flying reptilian familiar.
We first met Vlad when he was at the top of his game, running the Jhereg criminal organization of Adrilankha. Then he married Cawti, who also used to be an assassin but later became a social revolutionary. The change in her worldview was too much for the marriage to handle and they separated, but that didn’t stop Vlad from betraying the Jhereg in order to save Cawti from being executed. ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Note: This review contains spoilers for previous novels in the series.
Hawk is Steven Brust’s fourteenth (and latest) novel about Vlad Taltos, a charming assassin living in Dragaera. Over the past 31 years, fans of this series have been through a lot with Vlad and Loiosh, Vlad’s flying reptilian familiar.
We first met Vlad when he was at the top of his game, running the Jhereg criminal organization of Adrilankha. Then he married Cawti, who also used to be an assassin but later became a social revolutionary. The change in her worldview was too much for the marriage to handle and they separated, but that didn’t stop Vlad from betraying the Jhereg in order to save Cawti from being executed. ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
October 13, 2014
Quick review. Wow! After 14 books and Vlad is still getting better! Stayed up way to late but read it in one sitting, literally could not put it down. Vlad is back and making more waves than ever!
Full review. There were some wonderful elements in this story, specifically Vlad being forced to take a few days to mend and during that time he recalls a few different conversations which separately would not mean much to almost anyone. But as we know Vlad is not anyone. He thinks he has found a way to get right with the organization, to get the monumental price taken off his head. And all he needs to do is borrow a magic lock pick, a device that prevents sleep, an enchanted musical instrument, a magical egg, the help of a few friends and more than a little luck. But as we have watched Vlad grow over the years and the two things he almost always has going for him is good friends and luck.
The majority of this story is set back in Adrilankha with a short visit to Dzur Mountain. As we know because of the Phoenix stones that Vlad wears in an amulet that no eastern magic nor sorcery can be used against him or to detect him. Because of the stones there is a lot of walking. Someone has made the price on Vlad's head personal, and the number of attacks and their brute force is getting increasingly dangerous. While recovering from one of these, Clad has a spark moment and comes up with a plan. Pulling together memories from his grandfather's fencing lessons, drinking sessions with Kiera the their and Daymar. Vlad asks a favor and sets up a base of operations in his old offices with Kragars and the help of many others he just might be able to pull it off again.
This was a wonderfully written novel. With ever novel by Steven Brust I read I appreciate his skill as a writer more. I have been reading his books for over 30 years now and eagerly anticipate each new one and as of yet none have failed to entertain. This one was addictive; I did not sleep in order to stay up reading. It is one of the best of the Vlad books. An amazing book in a great series!
Read the review and with links to other reviews of books by the author on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Full review. There were some wonderful elements in this story, specifically Vlad being forced to take a few days to mend and during that time he recalls a few different conversations which separately would not mean much to almost anyone. But as we know Vlad is not anyone. He thinks he has found a way to get right with the organization, to get the monumental price taken off his head. And all he needs to do is borrow a magic lock pick, a device that prevents sleep, an enchanted musical instrument, a magical egg, the help of a few friends and more than a little luck. But as we have watched Vlad grow over the years and the two things he almost always has going for him is good friends and luck.
The majority of this story is set back in Adrilankha with a short visit to Dzur Mountain. As we know because of the Phoenix stones that Vlad wears in an amulet that no eastern magic nor sorcery can be used against him or to detect him. Because of the stones there is a lot of walking. Someone has made the price on Vlad's head personal, and the number of attacks and their brute force is getting increasingly dangerous. While recovering from one of these, Clad has a spark moment and comes up with a plan. Pulling together memories from his grandfather's fencing lessons, drinking sessions with Kiera the their and Daymar. Vlad asks a favor and sets up a base of operations in his old offices with Kragars and the help of many others he just might be able to pull it off again.
This was a wonderfully written novel. With ever novel by Steven Brust I read I appreciate his skill as a writer more. I have been reading his books for over 30 years now and eagerly anticipate each new one and as of yet none have failed to entertain. This one was addictive; I did not sleep in order to stay up reading. It is one of the best of the Vlad books. An amazing book in a great series!
Read the review and with links to other reviews of books by the author on my blog Book Reviews and More.
November 10, 2017
This was probably the best in the series so far. All the in-jokes, relationships, frustration, and calling in favors building up.
February 1, 2017
2.5 stars. This would have been a nice short story, but padded out to 300 pages, only fondness for the character and enjoyment of Brust’s prose keeps this from being tedious.
Vlad has a plan for a trick, which, if he can pull it off, will stop the House of the Jhereg from trying to kill him. There is some urgency because lately the assassins seem to be better funded than usual, leading to a couple of close calls. I particularly liked the opening fight scene where, to save his life, Vlad is required to .
Vlad’s trick will require several rare magical objects, which he acquires by… asking his old friends to get them for him. They all but fall over themselves to provide everything he needs, pausing only to express wistful concern that Vlad is going to get himself killed this time.
So the novel consists of Vlad hiding, eating and drinking, exchanging sarcastic comments with Loiosh, having brief encounters with friends which only regular readers will appreciate, and surviving the occasional assassination attempt. The finale is the execution of the trick. It’s not a bad read (I liked it much better than the previous book) but it’s not one of my favorite entries in the series.
Vlad has a plan for a trick, which, if he can pull it off, will stop the House of the Jhereg from trying to kill him. There is some urgency because lately the assassins seem to be better funded than usual, leading to a couple of close calls. I particularly liked the opening fight scene where, to save his life, Vlad is required to .
Vlad’s trick will require several rare magical objects, which he acquires by… asking his old friends to get them for him. They all but fall over themselves to provide everything he needs, pausing only to express wistful concern that Vlad is going to get himself killed this time.
So the novel consists of Vlad hiding, eating and drinking, exchanging sarcastic comments with Loiosh, having brief encounters with friends which only regular readers will appreciate, and surviving the occasional assassination attempt. The finale is the execution of the trick. It’s not a bad read (I liked it much better than the previous book) but it’s not one of my favorite entries in the series.
July 6, 2024
Love! Wisecracking Vlad at his best. My favorite book since Issola, this is the old Vlad, tough and smart, but with new insight on life death and morality. I guess being on the run for 8 years gives a guy some time to philosophize. A few scenes with the old crowd, enough back referencing jokes to make the fangirl in me squeal. Tukko/Chaz issue finally addressed!
November 26, 2014
originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2014...
When I first looked up Hawk I saw that it was already the 14th book in the Vlad Taltos series so I was actually a bit hesitant to pick it up since this is my first Vlad Taltos book, but when I read the press release it stated that this would be a nice start to begin reading the series, so taking this into account I started reading and I have to be honest and say that this was a great start in the series as you got to learn some bits and pieces of the main protagonist Vlad and also some of the extensive background of the series so far. Hawk can be read a stand alone story but I think that in the bigger of it all, when you have read the whole series so far, you will understand it better than I did.
The story of Hawk picks up with the focus on Vlad Taltos, the main protagonist of the series. It starts of pretty interesting with the prologue where Vlad, in first person narration, relates something of his earlier life, "My name is Vlad Taltos. I used to be an assassin, until—", this already makes you wonder what happened or what might happen in a bit, Vlad also mentions that he broke certain rules that you shouldn't break and now he has the House of Jhereg working against him. Every moment he has to fear his life, assassins lurk around every corner to take a shot at him, to remove him from the picture. But Vlad wouldn't be Vlad if he didn't have a plan of his own to go against them. Added to this you also learn to Vlad has a young son, only 8 years old and that he would very much like to spend time with him. But the story basically boils down to Vlad trying to survive many assassination plots while he is planning to make sure he doesn't have to face any Jhereg no more. This might sound like an pretty plain plot line and well yes it is, but there is a big but coming, in setting up the story of Hawk, like I mentioned, Steven Brust does take into account a lot of possible new readers and here come the true aspect of the story, recapturing a lot of the history but still delivering a very action packed story for already existing readers. Vlad finds himself in a very thick plot and he does everything, sort of like urban fantasy MacGyver kind of style to get out of it all. One aspect that I liked of Vlad's character that he isn't an untouchable character, he is a former assassin and knows how to work a blade but he can still be touched and on more than one occasion Vlad has to call in his angel on his shoulder.
As I was new to the whole Vlad Taltos series I can only say that I was nightly impressed by what Steven Brust managed to show in this unfortunately too short of a story. I have to admit that I didn't get the full grasp of the universe or kingdom or several places that were mentioned, their descriptions were very nicely done but I couldn't compare them with earlier. This aside, the world that Steven Brust show in Hawk is something to think about, it feels like there are endless possibilities, it is full of magic and weird creatures and definitely inspires something in the lines of a mashup between Epic Fantasy and Urban Fantasy, there aren't that concrete a line present but they seem to blur into each other creating a very cool effect on the world itself.
Now one thing I always like in fantasy are magical things; weapons and the likes. This is precisely what Steven Brust brings to the forefront in Hawk, the objects that Vlad requires to set his masterplan into motion are all of magical origins. It's just plain cool stuff. Magic weapons or items have a tendency for me to really liven up the storyline, but what normally happens is that there are actually not that many restraints on said items, like take for example magical swords they just slice and dice everything up, in the story of Hawk, there are definite restraints on these items. Vlad carries with him a powerful sword, but it comes with a cost. Adding this part in the equation does inspire a much more darker sense to the story that even Vlad isn't completely untouchable.
Vlad makes up for a interesting character, I do think this is mainly owed to the fact that you read this story in his first person narration, as this helps to make several experiences resonate that much stronger. From the first sentence in the book you just know, even without the prior knowledge of the 13 other books, that Vlad is a character with a definite past, a complicated past. Soon after this you learn that he wasn't always a nice guy or someone to get along easily, he has a mindset of his own but besides being only a real hardass he does have a bit of a soft side when it comes down to his family as I already explained. Added to this comes that he is a very smart and resourceful guy. Two other characters that I really enjoyed reading about where Vlad's familiars: Loiosh and Rocza, they help to liven up the story of Hawk, some of their commentary given to Vlad put a big grin on my face. Oftentimes you see that a main protagonist has something in the lines of a sidekick, but with these familiars you are once again led into your own thoughts and let you imagination play in how it all should look like, very cool and gave a very nice extra engagement to the story.
Hawk is a fast pace and highly entertaining read, the plot of the story might not involve a very deep storyline but this is skillfully masked by involving a lot of extra's in setting up the story of it. Vlad makes up for an interesting protagonist to say the least and Steven Brust's world of the Vlad Taltos series so far gets a nice re-introduction. The world itself is something that really drew me in and of which I am eager to learn a lot more from. Even though Hawk is already the 14th book in the series, it features as a solid standalone. If you ever want to read something that is hard to place within a single category, pick up this series it will be more than worth your time!
When I first looked up Hawk I saw that it was already the 14th book in the Vlad Taltos series so I was actually a bit hesitant to pick it up since this is my first Vlad Taltos book, but when I read the press release it stated that this would be a nice start to begin reading the series, so taking this into account I started reading and I have to be honest and say that this was a great start in the series as you got to learn some bits and pieces of the main protagonist Vlad and also some of the extensive background of the series so far. Hawk can be read a stand alone story but I think that in the bigger of it all, when you have read the whole series so far, you will understand it better than I did.
The story of Hawk picks up with the focus on Vlad Taltos, the main protagonist of the series. It starts of pretty interesting with the prologue where Vlad, in first person narration, relates something of his earlier life, "My name is Vlad Taltos. I used to be an assassin, until—", this already makes you wonder what happened or what might happen in a bit, Vlad also mentions that he broke certain rules that you shouldn't break and now he has the House of Jhereg working against him. Every moment he has to fear his life, assassins lurk around every corner to take a shot at him, to remove him from the picture. But Vlad wouldn't be Vlad if he didn't have a plan of his own to go against them. Added to this you also learn to Vlad has a young son, only 8 years old and that he would very much like to spend time with him. But the story basically boils down to Vlad trying to survive many assassination plots while he is planning to make sure he doesn't have to face any Jhereg no more. This might sound like an pretty plain plot line and well yes it is, but there is a big but coming, in setting up the story of Hawk, like I mentioned, Steven Brust does take into account a lot of possible new readers and here come the true aspect of the story, recapturing a lot of the history but still delivering a very action packed story for already existing readers. Vlad finds himself in a very thick plot and he does everything, sort of like urban fantasy MacGyver kind of style to get out of it all. One aspect that I liked of Vlad's character that he isn't an untouchable character, he is a former assassin and knows how to work a blade but he can still be touched and on more than one occasion Vlad has to call in his angel on his shoulder.
As I was new to the whole Vlad Taltos series I can only say that I was nightly impressed by what Steven Brust managed to show in this unfortunately too short of a story. I have to admit that I didn't get the full grasp of the universe or kingdom or several places that were mentioned, their descriptions were very nicely done but I couldn't compare them with earlier. This aside, the world that Steven Brust show in Hawk is something to think about, it feels like there are endless possibilities, it is full of magic and weird creatures and definitely inspires something in the lines of a mashup between Epic Fantasy and Urban Fantasy, there aren't that concrete a line present but they seem to blur into each other creating a very cool effect on the world itself.
Now one thing I always like in fantasy are magical things; weapons and the likes. This is precisely what Steven Brust brings to the forefront in Hawk, the objects that Vlad requires to set his masterplan into motion are all of magical origins. It's just plain cool stuff. Magic weapons or items have a tendency for me to really liven up the storyline, but what normally happens is that there are actually not that many restraints on said items, like take for example magical swords they just slice and dice everything up, in the story of Hawk, there are definite restraints on these items. Vlad carries with him a powerful sword, but it comes with a cost. Adding this part in the equation does inspire a much more darker sense to the story that even Vlad isn't completely untouchable.
Vlad makes up for a interesting character, I do think this is mainly owed to the fact that you read this story in his first person narration, as this helps to make several experiences resonate that much stronger. From the first sentence in the book you just know, even without the prior knowledge of the 13 other books, that Vlad is a character with a definite past, a complicated past. Soon after this you learn that he wasn't always a nice guy or someone to get along easily, he has a mindset of his own but besides being only a real hardass he does have a bit of a soft side when it comes down to his family as I already explained. Added to this comes that he is a very smart and resourceful guy. Two other characters that I really enjoyed reading about where Vlad's familiars: Loiosh and Rocza, they help to liven up the story of Hawk, some of their commentary given to Vlad put a big grin on my face. Oftentimes you see that a main protagonist has something in the lines of a sidekick, but with these familiars you are once again led into your own thoughts and let you imagination play in how it all should look like, very cool and gave a very nice extra engagement to the story.
Hawk is a fast pace and highly entertaining read, the plot of the story might not involve a very deep storyline but this is skillfully masked by involving a lot of extra's in setting up the story of it. Vlad makes up for an interesting protagonist to say the least and Steven Brust's world of the Vlad Taltos series so far gets a nice re-introduction. The world itself is something that really drew me in and of which I am eager to learn a lot more from. Even though Hawk is already the 14th book in the series, it features as a solid standalone. If you ever want to read something that is hard to place within a single category, pick up this series it will be more than worth your time!
August 27, 2015
Loved it but didn't LOVE it, and that's Brust's fault for setting the bar so high; I tend to compare books in this series to each other, so basically four stars here is closer to six stars for any other book. Or something. Really loved the way he resolves one long-standing conflict only to set up another one, especially since I've always liked the idea of the Left Hand of the Jhereg. I'm also a fan of Vlad moving closer to the possibility of making a new life for himself that includes his son (and, to some extent, Cawti--never been happy that the two of them split up). As we head into the end of this series (only four Houses left, and who knows what will happen then) Brust is definitely bringing things together for, if he chooses, a fabulous conclusion. Also, DAYMAR! I can never get enough of that guy.
Read
December 28, 2016That should probably be a 5, because I loved *everything* about this... except for the ending. Vlad is finally using his fabulously sneaky wits to come up with a plan that might, might, that has at least a 0.001% chance of getting him out of trouble with the Jhereg, and it's brilliant. Extraordinarily difficult to set up, of course, and nobody can stop everyone in the Jhereg (not to mention the Left Hand) trying to kill him while he does so, but it's so Vlad. And he needs to be back in Adrilanka, both emotionally as a character and narratively!
So, yes. Next book is supposed to take place before Hawk, thank you so very much. I may not live long enough to find out if Vlad is finally got by the enemies who are out to get him, though it won't be death by impatience. Probably.
So, yes. Next book is supposed to take place before Hawk, thank you so very much. I may not live long enough to find out if Vlad is finally got by the enemies who are out to get him, though it won't be death by impatience. Probably.
January 16, 2020
Notes:
Hawk was from start to finish, classic Vlad! You don't quite know what's going on and you're holding on to find out what/why/when/how/whaaaaaat of it all. Great humor, snippets of past events to color the present and seeing Vlad taking a stand. He's rather fierce when he decides on what he's going to do. Love it!
Hawk was from start to finish, classic Vlad! You don't quite know what's going on and you're holding on to find out what/why/when/how/whaaaaaat of it all. Great humor, snippets of past events to color the present and seeing Vlad taking a stand. He's rather fierce when he decides on what he's going to do. Love it!
March 7, 2016
Can this actually be a return to old form? Many of the previous books were one step forward, one step back or at least a little sideways and then came the glimmer of hope in the shape of Tiassa and then finally this, Hawk.
To cut to the chase, Vlad's problems with the Jhereg are still not over but he is not running anymore, and he is fighting back. The book is relatively short and could also have been a novella but this is so refreshing.
One thing I like about the Taltos books is that there are always the elaborate setups that the reader is made aware of but only receives the full information as everything unfolds at the end when everything comes together for the grand finale. The series usually features plots within plots, Inception-style and I love it. This stands in stark contrast to say, Casino Royale, where "they discussed their plan" and you never find out about the plan or The Wise Man's Fear where you know EVERYTHING about the plan and how smart and clever Kvothe is in doing so. Sure, Vlad is a smartass but damned if I don't enjoy reading about him being good at what he does and surprising me in the end. Also, the orange. Heh. Almost as good as the leg in Guardians of the galaxy.
I really did not expect book 14 (!) in the series to actually make me feel excited about it again but here we are. Well done. I am feeling a bit apprehensive about the follow-up Vallista being set immediately before Hawk (with all the progress in this book, what will happen or what could happen to still be relevant and readable?) but this will not take away the enjoyment I've had reading this.
To cut to the chase, Vlad's problems with the Jhereg are still not over but he is not running anymore, and he is fighting back. The book is relatively short and could also have been a novella but this is so refreshing.
One thing I like about the Taltos books is that there are always the elaborate setups that the reader is made aware of but only receives the full information as everything unfolds at the end when everything comes together for the grand finale. The series usually features plots within plots, Inception-style and I love it. This stands in stark contrast to say, Casino Royale, where "they discussed their plan" and you never find out about the plan or The Wise Man's Fear where you know EVERYTHING about the plan and how smart and clever Kvothe is in doing so. Sure, Vlad is a smartass but damned if I don't enjoy reading about him being good at what he does and surprising me in the end. Also, the orange. Heh. Almost as good as the leg in Guardians of the galaxy.
I really did not expect book 14 (!) in the series to actually make me feel excited about it again but here we are. Well done. I am feeling a bit apprehensive about the follow-up Vallista being set immediately before Hawk (with all the progress in this book, what will happen or what could happen to still be relevant and readable?) but this will not take away the enjoyment I've had reading this.
January 2, 2015
This good book might have made an even better novella, because there isn't a huge plot and occasionally I felt as if I was in a section of padding.
But it's still a Vlad Taltos book, and great fun.
Now lookit, those of us who want to take these books seriously when we review them, can you really, really say a book means to be serious when the plot crisis depends on ? Surely Brust had one drink too many one night, and foolishly told his friends that he could write ANYthing into the plot, and this is what they gave him.
The Big Scene is really quite ludicrous, but somehow it works, even if it strains the suspension of disbelief to the max. As Vlad himself noted, there were SO many ways this could have gone wrong. This story makes us believe that Vlad rolled double sixes ten times in a row (and that's AFTER allowing for his meticulous planning.
Nice to see the Captain of the Guard again, naming no names but you know how I mean. He's always good for a slightly raised eyebrow and the tiniest hint of a smile.
Didn't quite buy the part where Vlad was horribly at risk for about 40 pages then not bothered nearly as much for quite a while, because the book would have become unworkable otherwise.
And I'm not at all sure what to think about Vlad's attitude to killing. One moment he's deploring the need, the next he's obviously proud of his skills.
Also, re the serious part ... it was somewhat amusing to learn what the orange was for.
Keep going, Steven, or maybe give us another Phoenix Guards book.
But it's still a Vlad Taltos book, and great fun.
Now lookit, those of us who want to take these books seriously when we review them, can you really, really say a book means to be serious when the plot crisis depends on ? Surely Brust had one drink too many one night, and foolishly told his friends that he could write ANYthing into the plot, and this is what they gave him.
The Big Scene is really quite ludicrous, but somehow it works, even if it strains the suspension of disbelief to the max. As Vlad himself noted, there were SO many ways this could have gone wrong. This story makes us believe that Vlad rolled double sixes ten times in a row (and that's AFTER allowing for his meticulous planning.
Nice to see the Captain of the Guard again, naming no names but you know how I mean. He's always good for a slightly raised eyebrow and the tiniest hint of a smile.
Didn't quite buy the part where Vlad was horribly at risk for about 40 pages then not bothered nearly as much for quite a while, because the book would have become unworkable otherwise.
And I'm not at all sure what to think about Vlad's attitude to killing. One moment he's deploring the need, the next he's obviously proud of his skills.
Also, re the serious part ... it was somewhat amusing to learn what the orange was for.
Keep going, Steven, or maybe give us another Phoenix Guards book.
October 17, 2014
I've been following Brust's Vlad Taltos books for nearly 20 years, it seems. The series started off as light reading - the tale of a wisecracking assassin and his smartass pet flying lizard. But later books became increasingly less "fun" and more serious themes started creeping in, along with stylistic experiments in storytelling. I liked the deeper, more serious tales, but it was the wisecracking that made me like the series to begin with, and there was less of it of late.
This latest installment is a return to form in that respect. The book is just so FUN. I have not had so much fun reading anything for years. This is basically a sort of heist plot, in which Vlad concocts a trick to get him from under the thumb of the Jhereg who want him dead. Will he succeed? what do you think?
Anyway, as I said - just a fun book, nothing profound, setting up things for the next one in the series, but oh gods, it was just so enjoyable. The dialog between Vlad and Loiosh... I really missed it. Every line sparkled, every paragraph bursting with humor or an interesting turn of phrase. IT's just a perfect Vlad book.
This latest installment is a return to form in that respect. The book is just so FUN. I have not had so much fun reading anything for years. This is basically a sort of heist plot, in which Vlad concocts a trick to get him from under the thumb of the Jhereg who want him dead. Will he succeed? what do you think?
Anyway, as I said - just a fun book, nothing profound, setting up things for the next one in the series, but oh gods, it was just so enjoyable. The dialog between Vlad and Loiosh... I really missed it. Every line sparkled, every paragraph bursting with humor or an interesting turn of phrase. IT's just a perfect Vlad book.
November 15, 2014
It turns out that the only thing more frustrating than a plot coupon story is one in which the reader isn't told why the protagonist needs the items he's collecting. There are some clever twists, of course, but not much emotion. Brust mentions people and past events that are meant to evoke longing or nostalgia in readers familiar with Vlad's ongoing problems, but doesn't invest this installment with much new depth.
October 17, 2014
I am so glad the Vlad Taltos has decided to quit running and return to solving all life's "little problems" with a well-placed stiletto and a smart-ass quip.
This is the "Vlad" book I've been waiting for. All your favorites characters get to make an appearance in their finest form, the plot is full of twists and turns and clever asides, and the ending is bitter-sweet. These are the elements I love in Steven Brust's work.
This is the "Vlad" book I've been waiting for. All your favorites characters get to make an appearance in their finest form, the plot is full of twists and turns and clever asides, and the ending is bitter-sweet. These are the elements I love in Steven Brust's work.
October 14, 2019
4/5 for plot: Typical, convoluted plot/solution but this time the hints started in the first quarter of the book so it was quite some time of errand running and risks before the grand finale. It was a bit boring, now that’s he’s got so many friends in high places to fetch him this and that, like they aren’t precious items. Although, I suppose that it’s reflective of any high level adventurer, in D&D terms. Kinda nice to revisit almost of the big characters from previous books, if briefly.
4/5 writing: I don’t particularly care for his incorporating very modern phrasing, such as, “this is my surprised wing-flap” and “You know. Like you do.” but otherwise keeping to informal/formal Dragaeran phrasing.
4/5 writing: I don’t particularly care for his incorporating very modern phrasing, such as, “this is my surprised wing-flap” and “You know. Like you do.” but otherwise keeping to informal/formal Dragaeran phrasing.
February 14, 2019
I received a copy of Hawk from Pan Macmillan Australia.
Rating of 4.5.
I did a short review of this book in the Canberra Weekly:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/02/14/...
Originally reviewed back in March 2017, I have re-published this review on my blog as part of my Throwback Thursday series.
Click the link below to see my review of the sequel to this book, Vallista:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2018/05/30/...
For other interesting reviews, visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Rating of 4.5.
I did a short review of this book in the Canberra Weekly:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2019/02/14/...
Originally reviewed back in March 2017, I have re-published this review on my blog as part of my Throwback Thursday series.
Click the link below to see my review of the sequel to this book, Vallista:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2018/05/30/...
For other interesting reviews, visit my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
May 9, 2019
If you know what this story is about, you know why this book is so good.
Yes, sorry. Couldn't say a thing without spoiling.
If you're new to the series, and for some reason care about my opinion of it, read the thirteen other reviews I've written so far. They should give you a decent picture.
...
...sooogoooood~
Yes, sorry. Couldn't say a thing without spoiling.
If you're new to the series, and for some reason care about my opinion of it, read the thirteen other reviews I've written so far. They should give you a decent picture.
...
...sooogoooood~
October 26, 2024
[3.5 stars really]
Reviewing “Hawk” is, in the final analysis, pretty pointless. If, like me, you’ve followed Vlad Taltos through all thirteen prior adventures, there is almost certainly nothing any review could say that would persuade you not to read the fourteenth in the series (even a review saying “Brust has lost it, this book is unreadable” would merely have encouraged me to find out if that were true, which I’m glad to say it isn’t). And if you’re unfamiliar with the Taltos books, this is a terrible place to start. Brust often enjoys playing with chronologies and settings to create books that, while clearly part of the series, are only loosely dependent on the previous books and the knowledge you would have gained from reading them and thus can be read almost independently, but in “Hawk” he does none of that. Instead, the story is told straight through from beginning to end and definitely takes place both at a single point in time and after all the previous novels. Plus, it puts Vlad back in Adrilankha, where he started and a number of the previous books were set, so Brust doesn’t spend much time setting the scene, and most of the characters are familiar from previous books — Daymar (naturally) and Kragar both have important parts to play, and Morrolan, Aliera, Sethra, Cawti, Kiera, the Demon, and Lord Khaavren all make appearances of more or less significance — so they don’t get extended introductions. In fact, the whole thing is really a throwback to the early books, with Vlad re-assuming his old role as a Jhereg boss and formulating devious plans that inevitably involve killing somebody. But his role is actually borrowed — Kragar is the boss now — and the whole thing seems a little bit off, as if Vlad is performing his old persona rather than inhabiting it. Which he is: Vlad has changed quite a bit over the course of thirteen books. The most telling scene for illustrating these changes is a throwaway one in which Vlad rescues an Orca boy from a couple of cops: in the earlier books, a Vlad whose hatred of Dragaerans was nurtured in part by fights with similar Orca boys would not have dreamed of doing such a thing. (This fact is not explicitly explained, because Vlad is narrating the book and that kind of introspection is something he rarely engages in, one more reason why new readers should definitely not start here.) The treatment of assassination is also worth noting in this respect: in the early books, Vlad the assassin is constantly harping on the necessity for intensive and time-consuming preparation before killing someone to make sure that everything is set up perfectly, but the assassination Vlad the ex-assassin carries out in this book, and the numerous attempts on his own life, are quick, desperate, and messy. The stakes have gotten much higher, and the idea of the perfect assassination is no longer something Vlad can afford to entertain.
Which is why the incredibly complex plot that Vlad puts together to get the Jhereg off his back seems out of place. Much like in "Dzur", Vlad intends to use himself, the only irresistible bait he can offer, to maneuver his opponents into the positions he needs them to be in. In this case, the title refers to those opponents, whose single-minded focus on Vlad will lead them to miss the trap that he is constructing for them. Which would be fine, except that the trap relies on an intricate series of steps, every one of which must go exactly as Vlad has planned if he is not to end up dead. Somehow, this is less plausible than the divine intervention that saved Vlad in "Dzur" (after all, he and Verra are practically related, modulo some reincarnation: why shouldn't she intervene on his behalf?). And the clockwork nature of Vlad's plan is, in a way, too reminiscent of the old days: it clashes with the person that Vlad has become. Vlad himself clearly feels the difference: throughout the book he shows no signs of missing his time in the Jhereg, and though he enjoys hanging out with Kragar he is clearly anticipating severing all his ties with the Organization. The result is a melancholy lurking beneath the planning and occasional bursts of action, as well as a slowly rising tension, as the increasing tempo of assassination attempts pushes Vlad towards a breaking point. When, at the end of the book, he discards the Phoenix Stone amulet that protects him from sorcery, it seems that such a point has arrived. Vlad is, apparently, done with complex plots carried out from the shadows: a full-on confrontation looms.
And looms soon, furthermore. Assuming that Brust intends to write one book for each House of the Cycle, plus “Taltos”, he has only four remaining in which to bring about this confrontation, as well as resolve the more mystical plot lines he has developed (a chapter featuring Sethra and Morrolan reminds you of those, which are otherwise mostly neglected) and maybe even sort out Vlad’s personal life. In typical Brust fashion, then, “Vallista”, the next book of the series, will (according to a blogpost from July 2014) take place immediately prior to “Hawk”. Well, though I may curse a little under my breath, I will certainly read it anyway, and I probably won’t bother reading any reviews beforehand either.
Reviewing “Hawk” is, in the final analysis, pretty pointless. If, like me, you’ve followed Vlad Taltos through all thirteen prior adventures, there is almost certainly nothing any review could say that would persuade you not to read the fourteenth in the series (even a review saying “Brust has lost it, this book is unreadable” would merely have encouraged me to find out if that were true, which I’m glad to say it isn’t). And if you’re unfamiliar with the Taltos books, this is a terrible place to start. Brust often enjoys playing with chronologies and settings to create books that, while clearly part of the series, are only loosely dependent on the previous books and the knowledge you would have gained from reading them and thus can be read almost independently, but in “Hawk” he does none of that. Instead, the story is told straight through from beginning to end and definitely takes place both at a single point in time and after all the previous novels. Plus, it puts Vlad back in Adrilankha, where he started and a number of the previous books were set, so Brust doesn’t spend much time setting the scene, and most of the characters are familiar from previous books — Daymar (naturally) and Kragar both have important parts to play, and Morrolan, Aliera, Sethra, Cawti, Kiera, the Demon, and Lord Khaavren all make appearances of more or less significance — so they don’t get extended introductions. In fact, the whole thing is really a throwback to the early books, with Vlad re-assuming his old role as a Jhereg boss and formulating devious plans that inevitably involve killing somebody. But his role is actually borrowed — Kragar is the boss now — and the whole thing seems a little bit off, as if Vlad is performing his old persona rather than inhabiting it. Which he is: Vlad has changed quite a bit over the course of thirteen books. The most telling scene for illustrating these changes is a throwaway one in which Vlad rescues an Orca boy from a couple of cops: in the earlier books, a Vlad whose hatred of Dragaerans was nurtured in part by fights with similar Orca boys would not have dreamed of doing such a thing. (This fact is not explicitly explained, because Vlad is narrating the book and that kind of introspection is something he rarely engages in, one more reason why new readers should definitely not start here.) The treatment of assassination is also worth noting in this respect: in the early books, Vlad the assassin is constantly harping on the necessity for intensive and time-consuming preparation before killing someone to make sure that everything is set up perfectly, but the assassination Vlad the ex-assassin carries out in this book, and the numerous attempts on his own life, are quick, desperate, and messy. The stakes have gotten much higher, and the idea of the perfect assassination is no longer something Vlad can afford to entertain.
Which is why the incredibly complex plot that Vlad puts together to get the Jhereg off his back seems out of place. Much like in "Dzur", Vlad intends to use himself, the only irresistible bait he can offer, to maneuver his opponents into the positions he needs them to be in. In this case, the title refers to those opponents, whose single-minded focus on Vlad will lead them to miss the trap that he is constructing for them. Which would be fine, except that the trap relies on an intricate series of steps, every one of which must go exactly as Vlad has planned if he is not to end up dead. Somehow, this is less plausible than the divine intervention that saved Vlad in "Dzur" (after all, he and Verra are practically related, modulo some reincarnation: why shouldn't she intervene on his behalf?). And the clockwork nature of Vlad's plan is, in a way, too reminiscent of the old days: it clashes with the person that Vlad has become. Vlad himself clearly feels the difference: throughout the book he shows no signs of missing his time in the Jhereg, and though he enjoys hanging out with Kragar he is clearly anticipating severing all his ties with the Organization. The result is a melancholy lurking beneath the planning and occasional bursts of action, as well as a slowly rising tension, as the increasing tempo of assassination attempts pushes Vlad towards a breaking point. When, at the end of the book, he discards the Phoenix Stone amulet that protects him from sorcery, it seems that such a point has arrived. Vlad is, apparently, done with complex plots carried out from the shadows: a full-on confrontation looms.
And looms soon, furthermore. Assuming that Brust intends to write one book for each House of the Cycle, plus “Taltos”, he has only four remaining in which to bring about this confrontation, as well as resolve the more mystical plot lines he has developed (a chapter featuring Sethra and Morrolan reminds you of those, which are otherwise mostly neglected) and maybe even sort out Vlad’s personal life. In typical Brust fashion, then, “Vallista”, the next book of the series, will (according to a blogpost from July 2014) take place immediately prior to “Hawk”. Well, though I may curse a little under my breath, I will certainly read it anyway, and I probably won’t bother reading any reviews beforehand either.
September 26, 2017
Another Rube Goldberg plot! Lots of fun, and has a certain pleasant nostalgia without being cloying. This makes me wonder whether future books will be set before or after this one in the chronology. (I hope afterward.)
December 9, 2020
Again, the meeting between Vlad and the Demon at the end was a little bit anticlimactic for my taste, in spite of the flurry of activity towards the end. I am impressed, however, with how Vlad fully planned for being betrayed, and was able to work it to his advantage. Slightly disappointed that he didn’t account for the Left Hand ladies of the Jehreg still having a vendetta against him, but since I had just about forgotten about it myself, I suppose it’s forgivable. Plus, he does have a bit of a buffer against them now, since it’s in the Right Hand’s best interest to keep him alive now. So perhaps they’ll be forced to continue to help him in that regards.
June 4, 2015
I've read so many of these things that I couldn't even tell you. How long has he been doing this series? When it started out, Vlad Taltos was a gritty street thug/assassin, just trying to get by in the dirty city of Adrilahnka (or however you spell that). I loved especially that the stories were all jumbled in time, addressed to a third person, like a man writing his memoirs. In this book, there's a little of that "addressing the third person" voice, but by this book, he's not as frightened anymore. He says he's frightened, but I didn't believe it.
One of the drawbacks of Vlad Taltos is that he is best friends with some of the most amazing and powerful people in the entire world. He knows the best thief, the best healer, the best sorceress, the best necromancer, the best psychic. He has scads of money and a title in the Empire. He even has a great weapon and a phoenix stone and not one but two poisonous flying psychic familiars. Super heroes need super villians, and Vlad has something he desperately wants--to see his ex-wife and son again without people killing him.
There's a huge price on his head, and the Jhereg want him dead with a Morganti weapon so that he can't be resurrected or reborn ever. I can't even remember what it was that he did that merited such ostracizing, but it doesn't matter. Suffice it to say that people try to kill him the whole book long. And he mostly shrugs them off. So he hatches a bizarre and convoluted plan, getting his team of friends to provide the myriad unique and oft-times legendary things he needs for the plan. He sets it up the whole book long, meanwhile engaging in friendly "we're such long-time friends" banter as heroes of long-running series are wont to do.
I suppose it would have maybe been possible to guess what his plan was, if you were such a huge nerd on the series that you understood the difference between psychic and sorcerous and if you happened to know the law books of the Empire of Dragerea, but I don't, so I just kind of went along with it. Think of it as like Ocean's Eleven or some other heist, except that only one team member does the actual action, and they don't tell you what the plan is.
I guess I liked it, though I found the payout to be less than promised, since it took only like a half dozen pages while the rest of the setup was the entire rest of the book. I got a little confused as well. I wished I could remember why the left hand of the Jhereg were mad at him. I thought the utter congeniality of all of Vlad's friends to be a wasted opportunity for conflict. I do like the character, but this has gone from "fantasy's Sam Spade" to "Stainless Steel rat tricks the Dragereans." I like con stories, heist stories, but Brust did the hardboiled novel better. I do commend him for trying.
One of the drawbacks of Vlad Taltos is that he is best friends with some of the most amazing and powerful people in the entire world. He knows the best thief, the best healer, the best sorceress, the best necromancer, the best psychic. He has scads of money and a title in the Empire. He even has a great weapon and a phoenix stone and not one but two poisonous flying psychic familiars. Super heroes need super villians, and Vlad has something he desperately wants--to see his ex-wife and son again without people killing him.
There's a huge price on his head, and the Jhereg want him dead with a Morganti weapon so that he can't be resurrected or reborn ever. I can't even remember what it was that he did that merited such ostracizing, but it doesn't matter. Suffice it to say that people try to kill him the whole book long. And he mostly shrugs them off. So he hatches a bizarre and convoluted plan, getting his team of friends to provide the myriad unique and oft-times legendary things he needs for the plan. He sets it up the whole book long, meanwhile engaging in friendly "we're such long-time friends" banter as heroes of long-running series are wont to do.
I suppose it would have maybe been possible to guess what his plan was, if you were such a huge nerd on the series that you understood the difference between psychic and sorcerous and if you happened to know the law books of the Empire of Dragerea, but I don't, so I just kind of went along with it. Think of it as like Ocean's Eleven or some other heist, except that only one team member does the actual action, and they don't tell you what the plan is.
I guess I liked it, though I found the payout to be less than promised, since it took only like a half dozen pages while the rest of the setup was the entire rest of the book. I got a little confused as well. I wished I could remember why the left hand of the Jhereg were mad at him. I thought the utter congeniality of all of Vlad's friends to be a wasted opportunity for conflict. I do like the character, but this has gone from "fantasy's Sam Spade" to "Stainless Steel rat tricks the Dragereans." I like con stories, heist stories, but Brust did the hardboiled novel better. I do commend him for trying.
February 15, 2017
I really enjoyed the return to the feel of the first couple of books in the series. Having Vlad home again and up to his old/new tricks was a ton of fun. Now I'm bummed because, for the first time, I have to wait for the next book!
October 28, 2014
Simply put, Steven Brust does it once more in the latest book featuring Vlad Taltos, the intrepid assassin, rogue and ne'er-do well, one of my favorite characters in fiction.
This is a long running series and there are more optimal books to start one's journey through the Dragaeran Empire. But for readers familiar with the mythos, this is one of the best books in the series, in my opinion.
I won't spend time describing the background of the series. That is an adventure best savored from first hand experience.
To me, "Hawk" represents a crucial turning point in Vlad's life. He examines his choices, makes humbling realizations, is determined to make change (no matter the cost) and does so; in his typical, genius-level sneaky fashion to always stack the deck for the best possible outcome.
At first glance, this book reads like a "caper tale" and is done exceptionally well.
But a closer inspection will show that it is a crucible event for our protagonist. He's cashing in his favors, making grand plans and is intent on taking his life back despite really, really poor odds. He's shooting at a big pot with a low pair, hoping for a full house.
I could go on for another few pages about how much I enjoyed "Hawk" but I'll leave it with a simple opinion.
Pound for pound, you'll be hard pressed to find better, more engaging or entertaining dialogue out there today.
Brust transform the act of two characters speaking to each other into an entirely different experience.
This is a long running series and there are more optimal books to start one's journey through the Dragaeran Empire. But for readers familiar with the mythos, this is one of the best books in the series, in my opinion.
I won't spend time describing the background of the series. That is an adventure best savored from first hand experience.
To me, "Hawk" represents a crucial turning point in Vlad's life. He examines his choices, makes humbling realizations, is determined to make change (no matter the cost) and does so; in his typical, genius-level sneaky fashion to always stack the deck for the best possible outcome.
At first glance, this book reads like a "caper tale" and is done exceptionally well.
But a closer inspection will show that it is a crucible event for our protagonist. He's cashing in his favors, making grand plans and is intent on taking his life back despite really, really poor odds. He's shooting at a big pot with a low pair, hoping for a full house.
I could go on for another few pages about how much I enjoyed "Hawk" but I'll leave it with a simple opinion.
Pound for pound, you'll be hard pressed to find better, more engaging or entertaining dialogue out there today.
Brust transform the act of two characters speaking to each other into an entirely different experience.
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