Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Well, it had to happen sooner or later - after goodness only knows how many fantastic books, Lois has written a clunker. I was about halfway through when the thought struck me that if I didn't already care about these characters, I would have given up by now. There are a few good points, which save it from one-star status (just). Oliver Jole seems like a nice guy. It's interesting to see Sergyar colony in action. There's an interesting point about the Cetagandans and their invasion of Barrayar two generations back, which would be far more worth developing than the main plot line, in my opinion. All this is for hardened Vorkosigan fans. If you're not one of them, the good points will hold little appeal. Over against this, there are the bad points. (Spoilers coming!) The main one is, it's just not very interesting. Cordelia is strangely muted - perhaps because there is no life-or-death dilemma for her to grapple with. But much worse is the dilution of her love story with Aral by turning it into the three way romance between Aral, the young Jole and Cordelia. Yes, we all knew Aral was bisexual. But the idea that he was obsessed with anyone apart from Cordelia comes as news to series fans. Playing fast and loose with the canon in this way might be the author's prerogative, but exercising it like this, so late in the series, is simply an abuse of authorial power, in my opinion. Vorkosigan completists will want this book, but others will find it a waste of time.