Steven Brust is really more a musician than a writer, but you wouldn't know it from reading this series. A Jhereg, in this fantasy setting, is a poisonous flying reptile with near-human intelligence. It is also the lowest-ranked noble House of the Empire, filled with the dregs of society - often useful, but never desirable. This series is the story of Vladimir Taltos, assassin and witch. And I ain't saying no more. Read it.