The Lord of Castle Black (The Viscount of Adrilankha, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Steven Brust (Author) "Two hundred and forty-six years after Adron's Disaster, Zerika succeeded in retrieving the Orb..." (more)
Key Phrases: black wand, Dzur Mountain, Sethra Lavode, South Mountain (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Full enjoyment and occasionally mere understanding of Brust's first book in his Viscount of Adrilankha series, Paths of Glory (2002), depended on knowledge of the author's two earlier books, Phoenix Guards (1991) and Five Hundred Years After (1994), inspired by Dumas pere's swashbuckling D'Artagnan romances. This amusing if somewhat pale pastiche makes similar demands. Zerika, the Phoenix Heir, emerges from the Paths of the Dead with the Orb. Thus Zerika becomes empress and the Interregnum ends, but pseudo-Emperor Kuna has two huge armies rushing to possess the Orb. Luckily, the Musketeer-like Khaavren, Pel, Aerich and Tazendra have reunited and-along with Khaavren's son Viscount Piro of Adrilankha, hero of Paths of Glory, and his companions-make up a small but valiant band to defend and reinstate the Empire. Meanwhile, the Dragonlord Morrolan, befriended by the Enchantress of Dzur Mountain, is fulfilling his vision and establishing himself as Count of Southmoor. As before, the author uses the conceit of his being the "translator" of the prolix historian Sir Paarfi to narrate and overexplain. Once Brust completes the trilogy, readers will probably be well rewarded by reading all five volumes of this wry high fantasy epic in order, but starting here may prove perplexing.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Brust resumes his pastiche of Dumas' musketeers saga with this recasting of Le Vicomte de Brantome that relates the adventures of Piro, son of Brust's D'Artagnan, Khaavren. Piro's experiences, the restoration of the Dragaeran Empire, the doings of the young dragonlord Morrolan, and a number of subplots make for a detailed, fast-moving story that ends with another cliffhanger. Readers familiar with the Khaavren romances (start with The Phoenix Guards, 1991; continue with Five Hundred Years After, 1994) and Brust's earlier Vlad Taltos yarns will enjoy this most recent chapter in the long series. A good read on its own, it also discloses the backgrounds of some important characters in the Vlad novels. For those unfamiliar with the series, at least Brust amusingly summarizes this book's immediate predecessor, The Paths of the Dead [BKL D 15 02], and provides a list of characters. Frieda Murray
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Tor Fantasy (April 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812534190
• ISBN-13: 978-0812534191
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #246,418 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 4 in The Khaavren Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book 4 of the Khaavren series-the plot thickens!, November 4, 2004

By	R. Kelly Wagner "[e-mail]" (MD, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As others have mentioned, this may be Book 2 of the Viscount trilogy, but it's actually book 4 of a series, and you DO need to read the previous 3 in order to appreciate this one.

I have noticed, as time goes by, that there is a pattern to opinions about the Khaavren series: those who started reading Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series first, and bought one of the Khaavren books because it was by Brust, don't seem to appreciate the Khaavren books as much. Those of us, on the other hand, who started on Brust with this series, or with some of Brust's other fantasies entirely, seem to enjoy the Khaavren books more. I believe it's a question both of writing style, and of one's definition of action. Thus, if you really, really like the Vlad Taltos books, and you expect these to be similar, it may be that you will be less than enchanted with these.

I believe that those who have read a lot of older literature - Dumas, as many have mentioned, and definitely Shakespeare - will enjoy this book, and the Khaavren series, more than the Vlad Taltos fans will, on average. (Of course, every reader has a unique background and a unique perspective - don't let me stop you from reading!!) Certainly a background of the Three Musketeers (and not the movie, people!) helps one appreciate what's going on here - but a knowledge of, say, the battles in Shakespeare's Richard and Henry plays, does not come at all amiss. And a comfort level with the intricate language of Shakespeare, as well as the overwrought prose of Dumas, gives one the stamina to follow Paarfi's extensive perorations.

Let me also mention that there's a dash of Romeo and Juliet in here, with lovers from different houses and their disapproving families. Those who feel that there is not enough action in this book, apparently do not consider a good heartbreaking love story to be action. But it is! So is the evolution of the magic taking place - if moving hundreds of warriors via magic/mental powers, over hundreds of miles, which has never been done before in this world, is not action, then what is? There are no slow moments if one is interested in emotion and magic as well as in swords and battle; there is always something happening between people.

As with previous books in the series, if you do like it, it has an effect on you: you talk funny for days afterward, if not weeks! Hey, if you are planning on taking the GREs or GMATs, this series is a terrific vocabulary builder!! There will be nothing in the verbal section that you can't handle, if you enjoy and appreciate Paarfi!

In short - if you already like this series, this volume is a must; if you like Dumas and Shakespeare, you'll like this; if you like Vlad Taltos, then start in on this series in cautious, easy steps.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true delight for fans of Paarfi, August 16, 2003

By	"masterkaga" (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lord of Castle Black (Viscount of Adrilankha, Book 2) (Hardcover)

Indeed, this is perhaps Paarfi's best one yet. The previous book, The Paths of the Dead, introduced the series, got us acquainted with the cast of characters, and pretty much stopped there. The Lord of Castle Black brings on the action and plot twists that many complained were lacking in the first book of the series. While I sympathize with these complaints, it must be kept in mind that Paths was merely the first act of this particular "play".

I have been a huge fan of Brust since To Reign in Hell, and find his Paarfi novels as good as any of the Vlad series. I enjoy the sheer wordplay involved in the descriptions of both scene and action, and find the dialogue to be laugh-out-loud funny in parts. The Lord of Castle Black is a veritable feast of amusing asides, gripping action, and wonderful dialogue-all hallmarks of The Phoenix Guards and Five Hundred Years After. I do not wish to give any of the plot away, so I will merely say that it performs satisfactory twists throughout, and the end of the book finds the Viscount and the rest of the remarkable cast in situations that have me eagerly awaiting the next installment.

I am sure that it would be a bit confusing to be thrown into the maelstrom of intrigues and power struggles contained in Lord without having read Paths. However, for those who wish to read a top-notch fantasy novelist at the top of his form, I can make no higher recommendation than The Lord of Castle Black.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Now that the full series is published..., June 29, 2004

By	Mike Garrison (Covington, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Lord of Castle Black (Viscount of Adrilankha, Book 2) (Hardcover)

The full VofA series (Paths of the Dead, Lord of Castle Black, and Sethra Lavode) has now been published. So I am submitting a new review.

There is one thing you must know about this book: it is incomplete. If you buy this thinking it is one book of a trilogy, you will find it disappointing. Dozens of characters are brought in unintroduced and then left unresolved, and almost all of the plot threads are left hanging.

But ... if you get the whole VofA series and read it as though it is one novel, you will probably not mind any of this. Because all the flaws have to do with this book being nothing but the middle section of a single story. And if you actually get the full story by reading the other books, that works.

No one would read "The Two Towers" and attempt to treat it as a work in isolation from rest of The Lord Of The Rings. The same should be true of this book.

This part of the full novel deals mainly with the the reunion of the four guardsmen and the backstory of Morrolan (who comes off as much more complex than the inscrutable and testy warrior-wizard of the Vlad books).