Book Review: Honor Harrington: In Enemy Hands SPOILERS!

In 1997, David Weber returned with another thrilling novel set in his Honorverse. This time, Honor's captured by the enemy and her only hope of rescue lies in a dicey bit of betrayal from a friend and that not all Peeps are evil. Synopsis: Honor Harrington's career has its ups and downs. She's survived ship-to-ship battles, assassins, political vendettas, and duels. She's been shot at, shot down, and just plain shot, had starships blown out from under her, and made personal enemies who will stop at nothing to ruin her, and somehow she's survived it all. But this time she's really in trouble. The People's Republic of Haven has finally found an admiral who can win battles, and Honor's orders take her straight into an ambush. Outnumbered, outgunned, and unable to run, she has just two options: see the people under her command die in a hopeless, futile battle... or surrender them-and herself-to the People's Republic of Haven. There can only be one choice, and at least the People's Navy promises to treat their prisoners honorably. But the Navy is overruled by the political authorities, and Honor finds herself bound for a prison planet aptly named "Hell" ... and her scheduled execution. Put into solitary confinement, separated from her officers and her treecat Nimitz, and subjected to systematic humiliation by her jailers, Honor's future has become both bleak and short. Yet bad as things look, they're about to get worse ... for the People's Republic of Haven.

The novel opens with Cordelia Ransom arguing with Oscar Saint-Just and Rob Pierre about letting Esther McQueen have a seat on the Committee. Honor Harrington, accompanied by her armsmen and part of Nimitz's clan, land on Grayson and later talk shop with Hamish Alexander. Citizen Admiral Thomas Theisman, Citizen Commander Warner Caslet, and Commissioner Denis LePic also talk shop on the borders of the Haven Republic. Honor, on board HMS Prince Adrien--with Alistair McKeon--head out to protect cargo ships going to the Adler system. Ester McQueen begins  to settle into her role and use it as a way to pull a coup. Meanwhile, Citizen Rear Admiral Lester Tourville plans to take the fight to the Adler system. Cordellia Ransom arrives at Barnett system to oversee Theisman and tells him she plans to dispense with the Deneb Accords--something Theisman happens to value. At Clairmont, Vice Admiral of the Red Dame Madeleine Sorbanne received word that Tourville's taken Adler and nothing can save Honor's two ships. At Adler, and after a short fight, Honor orders McKeon to surrender.

Tourville dispatches a message to Theisman, unaware that Ransom is there. Theisman, Caslet, LePic, and Ransom arrive to take Honor prisoner and have her killed to some trumped up charges for the incident at Basilisk (HH1:OBS). Ransom orders Nimitz killed but Citizen Lieutenant Shannon Foraker lies  by saying that if Nimitz dies, then so does honor which Dr. Fritz Montoya corroborates. It's a lie that everyone but Ransom and her goons knows is a lie. Ransom takes the senior officers and Honor, with Caslet to the Cerberus system to execute Honor. Faking to switch sides, Senior Chief Petty Officer Horace Harkness sabotages Ransom's ship and rescues the officers and Caslet and Honor. During the fight to escape, armsman Jamie Candless sacrifices himself to ensure Honor gerts away. Harkness, as they flee in a damaged pinnace, has a second pinnace bring up its impeller wedge in the hangar, which destroys Ransom's ship and Ransom. Tourville, on his own ship, erases the records of what happened, stating that Honor deserved better than to be disintegrated in Ransom's ship. In the epilogue, Honor, with destroyed implants and missing an arm, wakes up on Hades with Harkness, Tremaine, McKeon, Caslet, Fritz, Nimitz, LaFollet and a few dozen others, saying that the Peeps are outnumbered here.

All in all, a very decent novel with enough action and world-building to satisfy any number of sci-fi lovers. Weber continues to show his masterful characterizations with any character no matter how great of small. A wonderful addition to the Honorverse. 

Upcoming book reviews

Okay, sorry, but that last list I made was way too long with too many books. From here on out, I'm just sticking with the series I've started.

Confirmed:
Honor Harrington (from In Enemy Hands on up, including the Saganami duology and Torch Slaves duology) by David Weber with Eric Flint [This will take a while to do, so bear with me]
The Old Republic: Annihilation by Drew Karpyshyn [It comes out soon, that's all I know]
Halo: The Thursday War by Karen Traviss [haven't visited Barnes and Noble yet this month]
Halo: Cryptum by Greg Bear [I will get around to it in about three weeks or so]
Halo: Primordium by Greg Bear [when my library gets it]

Star Wars X-Wing series (from Wedge's Gamble on up) by Michael A. Stackpole and Aaron Allston [can do from home, but they're all in different boxes, so please be patient. I'm also loaning them to a friend, so it will take a while]

Possibilities:
The Vorkosigan Saga (from Brothers In Arms upward) by Lois McMaster Bujold. Was going to do this, but the local library no longer has Brothers or Mirror Dance or Memory.
The Wess'har series by Karen Traviss
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (broken into two parts) by JRR Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (broken into two parts) by JRR Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (broken into two parts) by JRR Tolkien

I will try and post regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the future, but if Life takes a different turn, then I may be forced to change the posting schedule. I'll let you all know in advance if I can.

Book Review: Honor Harrington: Honor Among Enemies SPOILERS!

In February of 1996, David Weber published a massive 538 page novel about Honor Harrington coming back into the Manticoran Navy via Klaus Hauptman who wants to use this chance to rid himself of both piracy and Honor. Synopsis: For Captain Honor Harrington, it's sometimes hard to know who the enemy really is. Despite political foes, professional jealousies, and the scandal that drove her into exile, she's been offered a chance to reclaim her career as an officer of the Royal Manticoran Navy. But there's a catch. She must assume command of a "squadron" of jury-rigged armed merchantmen with crew drawn from the dregs of her service and somehow stop the pirates who have taken advantage of the Havenite War to plunder the Star Kingdom's commerce. That would be hard enough, but some of the "pirates" aren't exactly what they seem . . . and neither are some of her "friends." For Honor has been carefully chosen for her mission - by two implacable and powerful enemies. The way they see it, either she stops the raiders or the raiders kill her . . . and either way, they win.

The novel opens with Manticoran Captain Harold Sukowski, working for the Hauptman Catrel, making a cargo run in the Silesian Confederacy when a pirate group ambushes and captures him and his crew. In the Star Kingdom of Manticore, Klaus Hauptman demands that something be done. When nothing happens, Hauptman suggests to Reginald Houseman and Erika Dempsey that they petition to bring Honor back to patrol the Confederacy and discover the people behind the pirate attacks. Houseman is against it but is convinced when he realizes that Honor would die fighting the Silesian pirates. On Grayson, Adml. Hamish Alexander (Earl White Haven) brings news to Honor that she's being reactivated in the Royal Manticoran Navy, but still a captain. Honor agrees and during the few months she and hew four Q-ships are in the Silesian Confederacy, pirate activity is reduced. Havenite Citizen Commander Warner Caslet ambushes pirates and recovers Harold and his crew. During another pirate attack, Warner and his crew plus Harold are captured by Honor. From pooled information, Honor learns that the formerly deceased pirate leader, Andre Warnecke, is still alive and has taken over Marsh and she puts an end to his activities and Warnecke. In a vicious duel with a Havenite ship, Hauptman and his daughter, Stacey--both believing Honor's a loose cannon after Basilisk and that she's dead--travel to the Silesian Confederacy to do the task themselves and their ship is wounded. Honor rescues them and transfers her wounded crew to Hauptman's ship.

Hauptman orders Honor to escort his daughter back to Manticore, but Honor refuses as her ship has minimal life support left and that she's going to draw the Havenite ship away, allowing for Hauptman's ship to make repairs. Stacy, seeing what Honor is really like, tells her dad to shut up and be grateful that Honor's willing to die luring the Havenite ship away. Rafael Cardones, Prescott "Scotty" Tremaine, Horace Harkness, and several new characters--Ginger Lewis, Yoshiro Tatsumi, Dr. Angela Ryder, Harold Tschu, and Aubrey Wanderman and several others--stay with Honor and help her lure the Havenite ship away. In that fight, harold is kiled and his treecat Samantha, in a cage with Nimitz, goes into a near catatonic state, despite being pregnant with Nimitz's kittens. Both ships heavily damage one another and end up drifting too close the the Veil. Agreeing that Warfare can support more people and work out who's who's prisoner after a rescue, the Havenites join the Manticorans on their ship. With life support failing, Honor and the Havenite captain try and keep up good spirits. A Manticoran pinnace from Hauptman's ship arrives and they begin transfers back to Hauptman's ship with the Havenites becoming POWs. Hauptman invites Honor to dinner to prove to Stacy that he's apologized to Honor over his behavior here and at Basilisk and offers the use ot the Hauptman Cartel should Honor ever need help again as repayment for the sacrifices she endured on their behalf. In the end, Honor transfers Caslet and his fellow Havenite POWs to the Andermani Empire.

All in all, a well paced, lengthy novel with a big side plot featuring Ginger Lewis, Aubrey Wanderman, Horace Harkness and four technicians who want to desert. Aubrey suffers injuries and harassment by Randy Steilman--the leader of the rogue technicians and a brute--while learning how to defend himself with the aid of Horace Harkness. Ginger is wounded in the process and Aubrey bests Steilman in a fight. Honor puts Steilman and his friends in the stockade; they die during the fight with the Havenites at the end. That subplot is one-third of the novel itself. David Weber shows just why he's the best military sci-fi author out there, surpassing the best of the best with his attention to detail and world-building. A great read for any fan of military science fiction.

Book Review: The Ephemera Series: Belladonna SPOILERS!

In 2007, Anne Bishop returned to her Landscapes of Ephemera for another chapter in the story, this time focusing heavily on Glorianna Belladonna, her love life, and the events in another part of Ephemera. Plus, Glorianna becomes even more evil that the Eater and we see how well It takes that. Synopsis: The thrilling follow-up to Sebastian. The Eater of the World continues to spread its dark influence across the realm of Ephemera, corrupting people's souls with doubts and fears. Only Glorianna Belladonna possesses the ability to thwart the Eater's plans. But she has been branded a rogue, and must stand alone against the encroaching entity. But she is not alone. In dreams, a call has traveled throughout Ephemera-"Heart's hope lies within Belladonna"-and reached Michael, a man with mysterious powers of his own. It awakens a fierce hunger within him to find the dark-haired sorceress he's dreamt of-a beautiful woman named Belladonna. Together, they may be Ephemera's only hope.

The novel opens with Glorianna Belladona and Sebastian pondering if the Eater of the World is dead. Two weeks earlier, in the town of Dunberry, a woman died to It (Eater of the World). In the present, the Magician, Michael, attempts to use his magic gift for listening to people's souls to sooth the town and lighten Dunberry. On the White Isle, Sister Merrill and Sister Shaela travel to Raven's Hill to demand (Merrill demands) that their former Sister, Brighid, force her nieve, Caitlin Marie--Michael's sister--to give them heart's hope and belladonna plants for a prayer cicle. They git it to them and send them off, Merrill, Shaela, and the other Sisters manage to separate White Isle from that realm of Ephemera. It is angered and attacks a convoy of ships. Michael, scared and angry, attacked at Raven's Hill by the Eater and hate-filled villagers, crosses a boarder and ends up in one of Glorianna's dark landscapes. Caitlin wants to go somewhere safe and ends up in the Bonelover's landscape. Michael travels to the Den of Iniquity and Sebastian takes him to Gloriana via a dock and boat that Michael must use. He passes the River's Test, then Glorianna's. She's puzzled by the fat that Michael has some kind of connection to the "wild child" (as Michael calls Ephemera) and takes him to meet her family and see that Caitlin ended up in Aurora, Nadia's home. After getting to know Glorianna, Michael realizes that she's the Warrior of Light and according to a story, she must drink from the Dark Cup to trap Evil and become the thing that Evil fears. Even though both of them are falling for each other, they hesitate to take things further.

Glorianna, Lee, Michael, and Caitlin travel back to Raven's Hill. Michael and Lee learn from Captain Kenneday that, though the White Isle is visible, no one can reach it. Gloriana tells Caitlin that her secret, hidden, unseen garden is at Raven's Hill because Caitlin needs it to be and that's it's grounded elsewhere. The four of them decide to take Brighid back to the White Isle via Kenneday's ship. When they can't reach it, Lee creates a Bridge and they cross over to the White Isle. Merrill will let Brighid back into the Place of Light if she leaves and denounces the evil (Michael, Caitlin, Lee, and Glorianna). Merrill, loathing Caitlin because she's a "sorceress," says, at the same time Caitlin does, that "I don't want you."* In response, Ephemera shatters the White Isle, creating a sort of moat around the Place of Light. Lee creates Sentinel Stones in the lake to guide people coming and going. Glorianna and Brighid learn from Shaela that people from Darling's Harbor--on the White Isle--have been searching for the Heart Seer for twelve years, since Caitlin found Darling's Garden. Caitlin settles in and Brighid does the same in Sanctuary. Sebastian tells Michael that he (Michael) is both a threat and a promise. Learning that the Eater is striking in his territories, Michael tells Gloriana about the Warrior of Light. After spending one private day with Michael, Gloriana goes back to the remains of the Landscapers School and lures most of the Dark Guides and the Eater there. She then seals off that landscape and sheds all her light and becomes the thing that Evil fears. It realizes, after being harmed by Its former friends that It needs light to survive. Lee is angry at Michael. Michael asks Sebastian to help him get Glorianna out of that pure dark landscape. Ephemera pulls Gloriana out after months of her family and Michael sending her gifts. She comes back as two halves of a whole. Michael and Sebastian both are glad that Glorianna is back.

All in all, a great read and one of the best fantasy-romance novels I've read in a while. So much world building and magic and romance to fill a novel and keep you entertained for a couple of weeks. Definitely worth reading for any fan of Fantasy and Romance.

Book Review: Honor Harrington: Flag In Exile SPOILERS!

In September of 1995, David Weber published Honor Harrington: Flag In Exile, which features Honor and Nimitz on Grayson, exiled from Manticore, where they attempt to help build Harrington Steading while both the Havenites and religious zealots attempt to thwart her--the former doesn't even know she's there, and the latter are Graysonites who are too set in their ways and can't handle the idea of a woman in charge. Synopsis: Hounded into retirement and disgrace by political enemies, cut to the heart by the murder of the man she loved, and bereft of confidence in herself and her abilities, Captain Honor Harrington has retreated to the planet Grayson to take up her role as Steadholder while she tries to heal her bitter wounds. But the People's Republic of Haven is rising from defeat to threaten Grayson anew, and the newborn Grayson Navy needs her experience desperately. It's a call Honor cannot refuse, yet even as she once more accepts the duty whose challenges she fears she can no longer meet, powerful men who hate and fear the changes she's brought to their world are determined to reverse them. They have a plan ... and for it to succeed Honor Harrington must die. Two irresistible forces are rushing together to crush Grayson between them, and only one woman uncertain of her capabilities, weary unto death, and marked for murder-stands between her adopted planet and its devastation.Two irresistible forces are rushing together to crush Grayson between them. Only one woman--uncertain of her capabilities, weary unto death, and marked for murder--stands between her adopted planet and its devastation.

The novel opens with Adml White Haven, aboard HMS Queen Caitrin, under attack by Havenites. On Grayson, High Admiral Wesley Matthews tells Protector Benjamin IX that he wants Honor Harrington in the Grayson Space Navy for her battle experience by Mayhew doesn't believe that, even after nearly a year, that Honor's not recovered from losing Paul. In Harrington Steading, Honor attends a dedication of the city dome with her armsman Andrew LaFollet, treecat Nimitz, and her Regent Howard Clinkscales plus the Reverend Julius Hanks of the Church of Humanity Unchained. Brother Marchant, a member of William Fitzclarence--Lord Burdette's--Steading, disrupts the gathering and insults Honor because she's not a subservient woman or a member of the Church of Humanity Unchained; it goes too far and the Harrington Steaders descend on him. While her armsmen escort Marchant away, Hanks assures Honor that Marchant will be "dealt with." Marchant is expelled from the Church. HAdml Matthews visits Honor and asks her to accept the position of Admiral in the GSN on the Terrible with the entire First Battle Squadron. In Haven, Chairmen Robert S. Pierre of the Committee of Public Safety activates Operation Stalking Horse and Operation Dagger. Back on Grayson, Honor begins her duties as Admiral with Captain Alfredo Yu as her flag captain and Captain (Junior Grade) Mercedes Brigham. As Honor gets situated on GSN Terrible, Burdette plots with Marchant and Steadholders Mueller and Mackenzie to ruin Honor.

The Havenites are gearing up to attack the Yeltsin System. At a Grayson SkyDomes Ltd construction site, a dome collapses, killing dozens of workers and children. Honor is shocked by this especially when people begin to blame her for the incident and deaths. Adam Gerrick and a couple of his men find out the truth and inform Honor. As Honor, Adam, Reverend Hanks, LaFollet and Nimitz and Jared Sutton, in a pinnance, leave Terrible for Grayson for a special Keys meeting led by Mayhew IX, when it's attacked. Adam and a couple of armsmen die when the pinnance crashes. LaFollet searches the ship for survivors, assassins attack Honor, but kill Hanks when he throws himself in front of her to save her. One assassin is captured and confesses all. Mueller overhears about the affair and sends his armsmen to Burdette Steading to arrest Marchant while Second Elder Jeremiah Sullivan gets the truth from the assassin, Edward Julian Martin. Mayhew keeps the Keys in the Conclave and tells them what happened and demands to know how it came to this. When no one answers, Honor enters and names Burdette as the mastermind. He admits it and challenges Honor, Mayhew's champion, to a duel to preserve God's righteousness. Honor accepts, despite her woulds and slays Burdette in a sword duel. Immediately afterwards, she returns to the Terrible and Operation Dagger jumps in. After a brief battle, Honor destroys the first wave and chases off the second group of Havenites. She's honored again on Grayson; Mueller is scared of her and will bide his time, while putting on a cheerful and thankful face.

All in all, a decent novel that is the best in show-casing world building. The entire novel is focused on Grayson and the Grayson Space Navy as well as a male-dominated society with heavy  politics and religion intermixed together becoming exposed to someone like Honor Harrington.