We are now in a run on these books where the quality just does not dip until Vallista. This, like the book before, is another strong 4.5. Ostensibly this should be the most straightforward 'big fantasy' book of the series. Vlad is still running around in the wilderness avoiding the fantasy mafia, two of his powerful friends go missing and the most unlikely minor character comes to get him to help. Cosmic powers type shenanigans ensue. Gods and monsters battle for the fate of the world. Except, Brust skips by that lot as if to say, boring (because with Fantasy as a whole, it has largely become boring). I mean there's also a locked room thing going on with various Zelazny/Dumas type theatrics there but that's still just a side issue. That minor character that comes to the fore? She is all about courtesy, and courtesy is the meat of this. Brust does a good line in pointing out that courtesy is combat by any other means and when facing inscrutable ancient alien cosmic powers, courtesy might just be your best weapon. It's also a sad book at the end given the twist that gives Vlad the power up that has been hinted at since he just flat out stole an artifact from the undead wizard we have met twice before. Just excellent stuff even with all this going on. Recommended.