Book number 536 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project
Brust takes a very basic idea and somehow builds a novel around it. Vlad is entreated by the youthful Devera, “Please help me, Uncle Vlad.” There's something odd going on, so Vlad follows her into a large building, where she promptly disappears. Now the doors where he entered will no longer open, the house is huge, and nothing makes any sense. Vlad is basically in a magical escape room.
People show up occasionally or Vlad stumbles upon them during his exploration of Precipice Manor. Devera appears from time to time, assuring him that “future Devera" recruited him to help her escape from the structure. I have to give it to Brust, my description sounds dull as dust, but he manages to make it intriguing.
Precipice Manor is like a circus fun house. Hallways run all over the place but often lead nowhere. The rooms seem to move and change. There are mirrors everywhere. Whenever Vlad finds an exit to the outside, he will mysteriously find himself back indoors. He encounters many people and asks as many questions as he can, despite receiving confusing answers. It appears that he is not only walking through the space of the manor, but also through time. It’s confusing, but this is Vlad Taltos and he doesn't give up.
Vlad doesn't get as much time to make smart alec remarks and his familiar, Loiosh, doesn't have much to do in this book. If you're into sword play and exotic travel, this novel may frustrate you. It is more of a thought experiment. However Vlad Taltos is rarely boring and I found that I followed the answers that he arrived at and felt a sense of satisfaction when the puzzle was solved.
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