Kurda Smahlt divided opinions in Vampire Mountain and far beyond with the decisions and actions that he took in the run-up to the War of the Scars. But I don't think there will be any divisions among the ranks of Shansters regarding the high quality of these four drawings of him, which were recently shared with me by artistic fans of the books who wished to bring him to life visually...

The first two are by Lavendar, and capture the vulnerability and yet strength of purpose that helped make him such an interesting character to write about.

The third, by Liv, finds Kurda at his lowest ebb, not long after his investiture ceremony in The Vampire Prince.

The fourth, by Noel, is set much earlier, during the time period described in The Saga Of Larten Crepsley, when Kurda crossed paths with Larten Crepsley and his blood-brother, Wester Flack. Wester had a VERY dim view of the vampaneze, and this picture recreates a night when Wester and Kurda had a long, passionate argument about the purple-skinned killers, and how the vampires should best deal with the problem of their existence. I think it's fair to note that neither Wester nor Kurda's recommended "solution" would have seen them nominated for a Nobel Peace Price...