The Paths of the Dead

The Viscount of Adrilankha: 4

ISBN: 0-312-86478-7 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com

A skilled and clever, but ultimately disappointing Dumas pastiche set in the fantastic world of Draegera, dragged down by frequent view-hopping and lack of character appeal.

Reviewed by David on January 04, 2003

Genre: Fantasy (High Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery)

Synopsis: Set many years after Five Hundred Years After, this novel takes place in and around Draegera, an empire without an emperor, with all-important sorcery unaccessible to the tall, long-lived "elfs" of the seventeen Houses. The novel introduces some new characters, including several fostered youngsters ignorant of their parents: the girl Zivra, and young Morrolan. The moves are afoot to recreate the empire. The conflicts between these schemes involve many beings: from Gods to bandits.

Following the steps of Dumas, and yet using his own creation, Brust tells the story of the Interregnum, showing more of the world and its history than ever before.

Full Review: For the fan of this series (started really in The Phoenix Guards, the equivalent of The Three Musketeers), this book is indispensable. For a novice, the novel is probably confusing, as it assumes quite a bit of background knowledge.

However, even for a fan of Brust, this book presents some challenges. First, one is impressed by author's skill in maintaining a stilted, verbose style of the pompous narrator, Paarfi of Roundwood, throughout the adventure, while allowing some identity to the characters. This individualism is very challenging, as all characters speak in Paarfi's dialect.

And yet, despite the author's skill, the challenge is not quite met. Part of it is the sheer determination to maintain the style throughout the novel, the determination that succeeds at the cost of excitement. This is compounded by the view-hopping: just as some sympathy is established with a character, the narrative switches away.

While successful in describing historical events, the book barely sketches the motivations of its characters. The reader approaches the Eight Deadly Words territory, although Brusts's skill keeps one from giving up on the book.

While the author's skill and the interesting and colorful world carry the load of this books' verbose style and shallow characters, they do so with a strain that leaves little pleasure to the reader.

Universe: Dragaera

Overall: 5.5; Plot: 6; Characters: 5.5; Style: 6; World-building: 7; Originality: 7;

ISBN: 0-312-86478-7 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com