Athyra by Steven BrustMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
We've got a whole new Vlad in a whole new land and a whole new MC.
Yup, we've gone from big boss to a side role as a mentor for a backwater healer's apprentice, and I can't say I dislike it. We've got all the traditional coming of age elements, a murder mystery, undead lords, and mean small-town peeps.
More importantly, we have the mental space and development necessary to turn a young man into a fully-functioning and thoughtful killer who will be henceforth plagued with not just nightmares, but full-blooming madness.
Great job, Vlad. Smooth move.
/em facepalm
What it doesn't have in huge action and movement, it makes up for in fully developed new characters.
Two thumbs up! Very entertaining!
View all my reviews
Not my favorite Vlad book. Savn is low wattage bulb which is fine but he's also uninteresting (contrast him with Telnan in Dzur who is also low wattage but interesting). Add to this just an average plot and...eh, not a great book.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not my favorite Vlad book either, but I can't complain with the change made in the direction of the greater story.Too powerful is too powerful. We're brought back down low with the promise of another rise.
ReplyDeleteAs for a standalone novel, well, when you're right, you're right. I never would have given this a 4 star. Probably a 3 star, max. There wasn't enough hinted at or promised to either qualify as a good start or seriously satisfying. Fortunately, though, it isn't meant to be read alone.