Enjoyable, but not as good as the previous book in the series. There are just too many separate plot lines and the book loses focus as we hop between characters all the time.
Although some long-running plot lines are resolved, there's still quite a bit left to be sorted out by the next book in the series. ( )

If you start the Seranno/Suiza series with this book, you'll be painfully aware you entered the story in the middle. About the only shape this novel has is that it starts and ends with superficially similar events. It really only makes sense if you've read the rest of the series. There are dozens of characters in this book, and perhaps a dozen plot lines, none of which really begin or end.

I suppose you could count this one as an "Esmay book," but Esmay Suiza's part isn't really central. Heris Serrano makes only a cameo appearance, toward the end of the story.

That said: This was the first book I read in this series, and it caused me to hunt down the rest of them. The characters are convincing enough to get your attention, and you'll quickly decide whether the intricate story interests or frustrates you. ( )

(Alistair) And on we go with the sequel to Rules of Engagement, booklogged here. In which some of the aftermath of the previous book's kidnapping are dealt with, and in which the Familias Regnant find themselves in increasing difficulty with assassinations, incompetent politicians, bad rejuvenation, corruption, mutiny - and our protagonists specifically find themselves in more trouble with the revelation of a long-standing feud between their families...

Anyway, I'm not really going to indulge in reviewing at this time, because this is not a standalone book, dammit, even as a member of a series and I don't much care what the official story may be on that point. Characters and subplots proliferate - which leads to the book being a bit slow on some occasions - and just about every single one of them leaves a dangling plot thread to hang on into the next book, almost like Wheel of Time syndrome in miniature. From the looks of things, on a brief thumb-through, they are continued in Against the Odds, so I'm hoping that this is one long book bisected and that there will be pay-off when I pick that one up.

If so, I'll tell you then. If not... well, not recommended on its own, let me put it that way.
( http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/ce... )

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