Jhegaala
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| Author | Steven Brust |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Stephen Hickman |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Vlad Taltos novels |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
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Publication date
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July 8, 2008 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 304 (1st ed., hardback) |
| ISBN | (1st ed., hardback) |
| OCLC | 184823001 |
| 813/.54 22 | |
| LC Class | PS3552.R84 J48 2008 |
| Preceded by | Dzur |
| Followed by | Iorich |
Jhegaala is the eleventh book in Steven Brust′s Vlad Taltos series, set in the fantasy world of Dragaera. It was published in 2008. Following the trend of the series, it is named after one of the Great Houses and usually features that House as an important element to its plot.
Each house uses a creature from the Dragaeran world as their symbol; the jhegaala itself is a creature that metamorphosizes many times throughout its lifespan. The mental aspect of this trait is observed in members of House Jhegaala suddenly changing walks of life at intervals. At the beginning of each chapter in the book, there is a short excerpt from a Dragaeran textbook describing the life cycle of a jhegaala or an excerpt from a Dragaeran play. One phase is described as being similar to the jhereg, explaining where its name came from, as that form is the most visible.
Vlad Taltos, after leaving Adrilankha, decides to visit Noish-pa, currently residing in the Szurke region as Vlad′s regent. While there, Vlad expresses interest in finding out about his mother. Noish-pa directs him to a town called Burz.
After arriving in Burz, Vlad takes on the name Merss and discovers he doesn′t fit in among other Easterners. Good witches have birds, mice, or cats. Vlad stays at an inn run by a man named Inchay. There he is approached by Barash Orbahn, liquor importer.
Upon inquiry into his family, the name Merss is taken as a threat. Vlad returns to the inn without receiving much information.
The next day Orbahn meets Vlad again and informs him the head of the Guild is a man named Chayoor, and it would be best if Vlad stopped searching for his family at the risk of upsetting the Guild. Digesting this information at the dock, Vlad is approached by Tereza, a prostitute, who after proper bribing tells him to seek out a coachman named Zollie at the inn Cellar Mouse. Vlad meets with Zollie, who informs him the Merss belonged to a group of witches the Count believed was trying to kill him, and that most of the family fled west. The remaining members live outside of town.
Vlad decides to visit the family, only to find that they have been murdered and their house burned down with fire that could only have been produced by a witch. He is aided in burying the family by neighbors and a Verra priest named Father Noij. Vlad is filled with uncharacteristic rage and decides he will seek revenge for the murder of his kin. The next day Vlad decides to use the Art to heal the blisters from the previous day; during the spell his mind is read and Loiosh cannot prevent it.
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