Back in print after a decade, a stand-alone fantasy in the world of Steven Brust’s bestselling “Vlad Taltos” novels.

Once upon a time…far to the East of the Dragaeran Empire, four brothers ruled in Fenario:

King Laszlo, a good man--though perhaps a little mad;

Prince Andor, a clever man--though perhaps a little shallow;

Prince Vilmos, a strong man--though perhaps a little stupid; and

Prince Miklos, the youngest brother, perhaps a little--no, a lot—stubborn.

Once upon a time there were four brothers--and a goddess, a wizard, an enigmatic talking stallion, a very hungry dragon--and a crumbling, broken-down palace with hungry jhereg circling overhead. And then…

Praise

“Brust is an indubitable master of swashbuckling high fantasy.”
--Booklist on Five Hundred Years After

“Steven Brust just might be America’s best fantasy writer.”
--Tad Williams on Steven Brust

“Watch Steven Brust. He’s good. He moves fast. He surprises you. Watching him untangle the diverse threads of intrigue, honor, character and mayhem from amid the gears of a world as intricately constructed as a Swiss watch is a rare pleasure.”
--Roger Zelazny on Steven Brust

“Delightful, exciting and sometimes brilliant, Steven Brust is the latest in a line of great Hungarian writers, which (I have no doubt) includes Alexandre Dumas, C. S. Forester, Mark Twain, and the author of the juciest bits of the Old Testament.”
--Neil Gaiman on Steven Brust

About the Author(s)

Steven Brust

Steven Brust is the bestselling author of Issola, Dragon, The Phoenix Guards, Five Hundred Years After, and many others. A native of Minneapolis, he currently lives in Las Vegas.

photo: David Dyer-Bennet

Steven Brust’s Website

Steven Brust’s Blog

Excerpt

Chapter One 
The Horse
 
First, consider the river.           
 
It began in thunder; a cascade from Lake Fenarr, pouring over the lip of Mount Szaniszló. From there it cut a deep, straight path through the center of Fenario, eventually joined by other, lesser rivers. It cut a gap in the Eastern Grimwall, after which it turned south toward the sea, passing beyond the ken of Fenario’s denizens.

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