I find it interesting that the aggregated review scores I see for this book are somewhat lower than for the first two. I suspect this is because this is where Brust pulls the rug out from under you to a degree. In this book, Brust makes his protagonist look at his life as a mafioso boss and assassin and find he doesn't like what he sees. It's masterful in that way and why I have given it 5 stars. The lower score from others is going to be because he did that, they just wanted more of the same. There's also going to be a degree of pushback on the politics but as I, myself, am an unrepentant old lefty the political angle here is a positive for me. My previous recollection of this one is as a 'difficult' book, I realise on this re-read that's because it challenges your assumptions about the character and worldbuilding and as such is a strength, not a weakness. This book is quite mordant and sad in that it explores the fissures at the edge of his society as his protagonist's marriage comes under pressure. There are no easy answers given but there is enough dark humour to lighten the tone from time to time. As I said in my review of Yendi, 17 books of mafioso boss/assassin shenanigans would be boring to write and read. This book changes thing in a masterful way and opens out his setting and protagonist to become so much more. A definite recommend.