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Quick answer: If you loved Vlad Taltos, try Jhereg, Yendi, The Phoenix Guards, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Swords Against Death and The Way of Shadows. Each one is a witty fantasy about assassins, rogues and clever schemes in a richly built world.
Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos series began with Jhereg in 1983. Vlad is a human assassin and crime boss in the Dragaeran Empire, a world of long-lived, magical Dragaerans. With his sarcastic familiar Loiosh, a small flying lizard called a jhereg, he takes on jobs, schemes and political intrigue. Readers love its humor, its world and its first-person voice. These books share its rogues and its wit.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Heat level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jhereg | Steven Brust | Low | readers new to Vlad |
| Yendi | Steven Brust | Low | readers who want book two |
| The Phoenix Guards | Steven Brust | Low | readers who like Dumas-style fantasy |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Low | readers who like con men |
| Swords Against Death | Fritz Leiber | Low | readers who like rogue duos |
| The Way of Shadows | Brent Weeks | Low | readers who like assassins |
| Assassin's Apprentice | Robin Hobb | Low | readers who like assassin training |
| The Thief | Megan Whalen Turner | Low | readers who like clever thieves |
| Kings of the Wyld | Nicholas Eames | Low | readers who like humor |
| Storm Front | Jim Butcher | Low | readers who like snarky narrators |
| The Black Company | Glen Cook | Low | readers who like mercenaries |
| Elric of Melniboné | Michael Moorcock | Low | readers who like antiheroes |
| This Immortal | Roger Zelazny | Low | readers who like witty immortals |
| Nine Princes in Amber | Roger Zelazny | Low | readers who like witty narrators |
| Hawk | Steven Brust | Low | readers who want a late Vlad book |
1. Jhereg by Steven Brust
Vlad takes a dangerous contract.
Best for: readers new to Vlad.
2. Yendi by Steven Brust
Vlad is drawn into a gang war.
Best for: readers who want book two.
3. The Phoenix Guards by Steven Brust
Swashbuckling adventures in Dragaera.
Best for: readers who like Dumas-style fantasy.
4. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Thieves run cons.
Best for: readers who like con men.
5. Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser.
Best for: readers who like rogue duos.
6. The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks
A street kid apprentices to an assassin.
Best for: readers who like assassins.
7. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
A royal bastard trained as an assassin.
Best for: readers who like assassin training.
8. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
A thief is recruited for a quest.
Best for: readers who like clever thieves.
9. Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
Mercenaries reunite.
Best for: readers who like humor.
10. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
A wizard detective.
Best for: readers who like snarky narrators.
11. The Black Company by Glen Cook
A mercenary band.
Best for: readers who like mercenaries.
12. Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock
An emperor and his sword.
Best for: readers who like antiheroes.
13. This Immortal by Roger Zelazny
An immortal guide protects a visitor on a ruined Earth.
Best for: readers who like witty immortals.
14. Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny
A prince fights for the throne.
Best for: readers who like witty narrators.
15. Hawk by Steven Brust
Vlad plans an escape from his enemies.
Best for: readers who want a late Vlad book.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Vlad Taltos: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Vlad Taltos. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
Read Jhereg and Yendi first, then try The Phoenix Guards for Brust's swashbuckling side. For witty rogues, The Lies of Locke Lamora and Nine Princes in Amber are perfect. If you love assassins, Assassin's Apprentice and The Way of Shadows are favorites.
Related: Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vlad Taltos series about?
A human assassin and crime boss navigates a world of magical Dragaerans.
Where should I start?
Jhereg, or the publication order.
How many books are there?
More than fifteen.
Who is Loiosh?
Vlad's sarcastic flying lizard familiar.
Is it funny?
Yes. It has dry humor.
Is the series finished?
Brust has planned nineteen books, and the series is nearing its end.
What should I read next?
The Lies of Locke Lamora.
Who are the Dragaerans?
A tall, long-lived, magical people who rule the empire where Vlad lives.
What is a jhereg?
A small flying reptile, and also the name of the criminal House Vlad belongs to.
Is the series good for new fantasy readers?
Yes. The books are short and fun, and Jhereg works as an entry point.