The weakest book in the series so far. It's still a lot of fun to read, but there's a lot of verbal exposition, and one of Miles' main discoveries (the vote farming scheme) is so obvious that anyone could have told them, starting with the Barrayaran consulate. That scene right at the end, though, was very powerful from an emotional point of view. ( )

I gave it the 100 page test, and it didn't pass. I tried hard to like it, but it just didn't work for me. I hear that it's not a good intro to the series. I'm willing to try another one. Recommendations?

It was just too dry and "procedural". ( )

There is no series like the Vorkosigan series. The books never disappoint. ( )

This is the second Vorkosigan book I've read (the library audiobook interface makes it difficult to tell which books are parts of which series, much less where in the series they are. The other one I read was the second one). It worked reasonably well on its own, though it probably spoiled some of the older ones a bit. Interesting exploration of what would happen if/when cryonics starts to really be feasible and medicine has advanced enough to start taking people back out. Manages to be simultaneously optimistic and cynical. ( )

It was so good it's bad. I'm kidding. No, who am I kidding? Myself? Overall this is a book of expectancies come true. And the main theme (and sub-theme too) are really not helping in stirring things up. They just feels flimsy. They do not have any pull. There is only good writing. ( )