by Steven Brust
First published 2011
Vlad Taltos thinks he has found the perfect prop for his latest scheme. The silver tiassa looks like nothing more than a shiny trinket, exactly what he needs to pull off his con. But this ancient artifact was crafted by the gods themselves, and everyone wants it for different reasons. Devera the Wanderer sees it as an amusing plaything. The Empire views it as their best weapon against the alien Jenoine. The Jhereg crime organization recognizes an opportunity to eliminate Vlad once and for all. The silver tiassa has plans of its own, though, and none of these groups understand what they are truly dealing with. As Vlad navigates the dangerous game surrounding the artifact, his path crosses with Khaavren from the Phoenix Guards. Their meeting will determine whether Khaavren becomes Vlad's closest ally or his deadliest foe. The story spans more than a decade of Vlad's life as the consequences of his involvement with the silver tiassa reshape his world.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Empire, Jenoine
Period: More Than a Decade
335 pages · Hardcover · Tor Books