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A review by mary_soon_lee
Teckla by Steven Brust
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Going by publication order, this is the third book in the Vlad Taltos fantasy series. I've read the first three books in the past week, so it will come as little surprise to learn that I've been enjoying them very much. Vlad, the narrator, is a young human assassin in a society run by far longer-lived Dragaerans. I find Vlad very likable and appreciate the moments of humor that pepper his narration.
For me, books 1 and 2 approached pure fun. Yes, Vlad's an assassin and there was the requisite mayhem, but it had that slight remove from reality that allowed me to take it less seriously than real-world mayhem. "Teckla," on the other hand, is less purely escapist fun. I liked it just as much, if anything more, but the sensibility of the book is different. Among other things, a content warning is in order for both torture and suicidal thoughts. Significant spoilers ahead....
SpoilerSo, yes, there is a torture scene in chapter six. It's neither very lengthy, nor very specific, but it has an intensity to it and leads to suicidal thoughts. In addition, Vlad is at odds with Cawti (his wife) for much of the book. This, too, gets closer to realism than I would have expected based on books one and two in particular, and this sub-genre of fantasy in general. Though unexpected, I ended up liking how the book handled Vlad and Cawti's relationship. I don't mind a series shifting tone if it does so well. Not that this reads like a literary exploration of difficulties in human relationships. It just gets closer to that than I'd anticipated.
Likewise, during the course of the book, Vlad is driven to think about the choices he's made: being an assassin, killing people, whether those were immoral choices, whether he ought to have loftier ethics or a larger goal. Again, I thought this well done, but unexpected.
Three more remarks and I'm done. Firstly, there was one moment in chapter eleven where I found Vlad's behavior unsympathetic. (Others might well take exception to more than this one moment, but it was the only one that crossed the line for me.) Secondly, I continue to love Vlad's familiar, Loiosh. Thirdly, I also love Vlad's grandfather.
Four out of five unanticipated stars.
4/22/2024 update: just finished re-reading this -- I'm letting myself re-read the series at a rate of one book a month. I liked it even better the second time around. Four and a half stars out of five. Very
good. Unexpected and much more downbeat than the first two books, yet still entertaining.... [N.B. I couldn't work out how to show both the original read and the re-read here on StoryGraph.]
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
For me, books 1 and 2 approached pure fun. Yes, Vlad's an assassin and there was the requisite mayhem, but it had that slight remove from reality that allowed me to take it less seriously than real-world mayhem. "Teckla," on the other hand, is less purely escapist fun. I liked it just as much, if anything more, but the sensibility of the book is different. Among other things, a content warning is in order for both torture and suicidal thoughts. Significant spoilers ahead....
SpoilerSo, yes, there is a torture scene in chapter six. It's neither very lengthy, nor very specific, but it has an intensity to it and leads to suicidal thoughts. In addition, Vlad is at odds with Cawti (his wife) for much of the book. This, too, gets closer to realism than I would have expected based on books one and two in particular, and this sub-genre of fantasy in general. Though unexpected, I ended up liking how the book handled Vlad and Cawti's relationship. I don't mind a series shifting tone if it does so well. Not that this reads like a literary exploration of difficulties in human relationships. It just gets closer to that than I'd anticipated.
Likewise, during the course of the book, Vlad is driven to think about the choices he's made: being an assassin, killing people, whether those were immoral choices, whether he ought to have loftier ethics or a larger goal. Again, I thought this well done, but unexpected.
Three more remarks and I'm done. Firstly, there was one moment in chapter eleven where I found Vlad's behavior unsympathetic. (Others might well take exception to more than this one moment, but it was the only one that crossed the line for me.) Secondly, I continue to love Vlad's familiar, Loiosh. Thirdly, I also love Vlad's grandfather.
Four out of five unanticipated stars.
4/22/2024 update: just finished re-reading this -- I'm letting myself re-read the series at a rate of one book a month. I liked it even better the second time around. Four and a half stars out of five. Very
good. Unexpected and much more downbeat than the first two books, yet still entertaining.... [N.B. I couldn't work out how to show both the original read and the re-read here on StoryGraph.]
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).