The Phoenix Guards
Steven Brust
491 pages

This is quite an enjoyable book, written in the style of the great French swashbuckling writers of the nineteenth century, monsieur Alexandre Dumas paramount amongst them. Quite recommended.

Five Hundred Years After
Steve Brust
553 pages

Where The Phoenix Guards was an entertaining Dumas pastiche, this sequel went over the top and wasn't half as enjoyable as the former book.

Too much dialogue consisted of exchanges like the following: "I have a story to tell"

"Then by all means tell it."

"I will do so."

"I look forward to hearing it."

"Shall I begin then."

"Please do so."

"Thank you, I will"

A little bit of this goes a long way. Five Hundred Years After overdid it