From here on, I began to like the series less. That might just be me getting burnt out on it, but I don't think so. It felt forced for the first time. ( )

It's past five in the morning. I've been up reading for almost the last four hours because I wanted to finish the book. It's good. The pace is much slower than I remember previous Honor Harrington books being, but things do move along.

Reading all of the Honor anthologies before this book is highly recommended.

Spoilers below.

As usual, the end of the book is very open for more. Also as usual, I'm left with the feeling of, "Okay, what now?" Giancola needs to be removed from office. Unfortunately, that's probably not going to happen until late into the next book, at best. And what of Honor, Hamish, and Emily? Emily seems more accepting of a three-way relationship now (or, at least, of Hamish having relationships with two women). Can Honor do the same? Can Hamish balance two relationships? (If he can't, I fear Emily will be the poorer, given the newly forged empathic bond between Honor and Hamish.)

Hm. Other thoughts. I knew from the dust jacket that there'd again be escalations of hostility. (I hate those things; they can spoil a lot. Don't even get me started on the ones for Archangel.) I was, however, left guessing for much of the book about whether it would be with the Republic of Haven or the Andermani Empire.

It was very hard to read about the political manuverings of the High Ridge government. Sadly, I'm too willing to believe that their actions were plausible. It just turns my stomach to see people behaving in that manner. (Have I mentioned that I get very involved in the books I read?) Giancola, too. Watching his political machinations, just for personal political gain, drive two governments to war with each other was rough.

A lot of people died. This has happened in other Honor Harrington books, too, but I noticed it more this time around. That gets depressing.

On the whole, the book was enjoyable. Good writing of the sort that Weber does well--consistent science, detailed military encounters, well-written politics, and a larger-than-life Honor.

A necessary book, but much more details and intrincate politics than what tends to interest me. ( )

i've read a bunch of Honor Harringtons without incident. but this was the end: not reading any more, thanks. 800 pp of exposition before anything happens at all - and i've got a pretty high tolerance for exposition, but this was too much. about as deadly as studying RPG stats and never getting into the game. i can only assume the editor fell asleep. ( )

Was reading this as an ebook and going very slowly - got it in paper (I think I loaned it to my father a long time ago and just got it back) and finished off the last third in two days. Honor's dealing with a lot of politics; Prichart and Thiesman are dealing with even more. There are a _lot_ of slimy politicos in here - all of the Manticore government (well, most - one or two develop a spine late in the book) and Giancola on the Havenite side. He's just incredible. There's a lot of decent people being totally helpless to affect what's going on - though Honor does manage to make one major lateral move around 'what can I do' - again, towards the end. Although a lot happens in this book, including several spectacular space battles, it's really a setup for the next book(s) - there isn't much in the way of conclusions. And Emily's comment at the end is really totally useless! They have acknowledged, the problem is there isn't anything they can do about it. Hmmmph. Not bad, some good scenes, but very far from my favorite Honor. ( )