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.