The Short Victorious War (Honor Harrington #3) (original 1994; edition 2002)

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Another grim one - well, there are some very good parts (especially with Paul), but when the war actually gets started, it gets pretty dark. And the assumptions about what the enemy (either enemy, from either side) will/won't do and does/doesn't know, versus reality, become extremely important. This becomes a theme throughout the Harrington books - "they can't possibly...X" while they're off doing X. Or the assumption that "they just missed the other side of the trap" when in fact there was no trap, just a lucky return at the right time... Sarnow is good people, the Admiral...isn't, though he does eventually more or less overcome his prejudice. Though not until disaster has already ensued and Honor has pulled survival out of said disaster. And Haven starts down its nasty little path into the pit, largely because of a complete accident of timing. If young Pierre hadn't died...who knows?
Again, very strange reading this when I know Honor's future. Every bit of Paul's and White Haven's actions have strong echoes, knowing what they'll be to Honor. And others - Young, and Parnell, and so on. It makes it hard to see the events in this book alone. But it's still definitely worth reading (for the dozenth time). ( )

The writing improves yet more. The story is interesting and some of the people in earlier sotires are reappearing. This series of books definitely should be rea in order. In this book Honor meets old antigonist and has developed a love live. ( )

More Honor Harrington by one of the masters of military sf. Thoroughly enjoyable. ( )

Ok, but I wish Honor got at least one chance to use our new ship on less powerful ships. It gets boring when she keeps getting a new one, only to find that her opponents are always better too. ( )