by Steven Brust
First published 1984
Vlad Taltos looks back on his formative years as a young assassin climbing the ranks of House Jhereg. The criminal organization controls murder, theft, and prostitution in the Dragaeran Empire, and Vlad must prove himself worthy of advancement. When rival factions within the House clash over territory and influence, Vlad finds himself caught in the middle of a bloody war between Jhereg bosses. He takes contracts, eliminates targets, and tries to survive the escalating violence around him. During this chaos, he encounters Cawti, a skilled female assassin who becomes both his greatest love and his most dangerous opponent. She kills him during their first meeting, yet somehow this violent introduction leads to an unexpected romance. Vlad must balance his growing feelings for Cawti with his loyalty to his Jhereg superiors and his own survival instincts. The war forces him to make choices that will define his future in the organization and determine whether his relationship with the woman who murdered him can actually work.
Genres: adventure, crime, fantasy, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Dragaeran Empire
209 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ace Books
Content warnings: violence