Brokedown Palace

Brokedown Palace (1986) Steven Brust

I don’t know how long it’s been since I read Brokedown Palace, but it was long enough ago that I didn’t remember any of the story, and I don’t think I’d yet read many of his books other than the first couple Vlad Taltos books. Which meant that there were plenty of pleasant surprise in store for me as I reread this book.

Although set in the same world as the Vlad Taltos books and the Khaavren romances, Brokedown Palace is set not in Dragaera, but in Fenario (the land that Vlad’s grandfather came from). Although the only familiar characters I caught were Devera, the Demon Goddess, and Miska the coachman, there are references to other books (or, considering when it was written, books yet to come.) Anyone familiar with The Phoenix Guards should recognize the prologue, although it comes at the tale from a different direction.

I’m not quite certain where this book fits into the time frame. Near as I can tell, it’s about a thousand years after The Phoenix Guards, but I’m not sure where that places it precisely in the time line, although my guess is just before Vlad is born. (This is only a guess)

Brokedown Palace reads like a folktale, which is one of the things I really like about it. I particularly love the interludes, which are small stories within the story. (I know that these stories and the title of the book relate to Grateful Dead songs, but I’ve never liked the Grateful Dead, so all those references are lost on me.)

The story is of four brothers, although told primarily from the point of view of the youngest of the four, Miklos. Although I like Miklos, I find Vilmos the most interesting of the four brothers. Mostly because the other three seem to want to use Vilmos for their own ends, while his wants and needs are simply to care for his norska. (And I have to say, I still can’t figure out precisely what norska look like. Are they rabbit like? Yet omnivores requiring meat?)

The oldest and youngest brothers are at odds, while the middle two brothers are to some degree, caught between their feuds, the point of contention is the palace–the brokedown palace that is falling apart around them.

The downside of this book? Good luck finding a copy. I found mine used years ago, but haven’t ever seen it again since.

If you have not read any Steven Brust, Brokedown Palace would make an excellent introduction. If you have read the Vlad and Khaavren novels, then you’ll enjoy this book for the vague references to things Dragaeran, and the way Dragaera is called Faerie, the way Vlad’s grandfather refers to it.
Rating: 9/10

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