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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you've never read any of the Vorkosigan books, I wouldn't recommend this one. While the author goes to some lengths to acquaint the reader with a basic outline of the previous 20 or so books, this does not work as a standalone in a longer series or larger universe. You could read the 2 before it--Captain Vorpatril's Alliance and/or Cryoburn, which are much less dependent on the reader's familiarity with the world and its characters. A very unusual science-fiction/speculative fiction novel, there's very little in the way of a standard plot or conflict to resolve. I've not read any adult romances, but this struck me as being close to that genre. Namely, it's just about people making decisions about their lives. Important ones, but nothing to be very concerned about. Very leisurely pace, things resolve themselves in good time. Lois McMaster Bujold loves bureaucracy--and not just as a plot device or symbol, but as a significant part of most of the characters lives who work in or with the military and government. That's a good part of the world-building and manages to make the futuristic universe she's created much more relatable and plausible.
While a very different book than the standard vorkosigan series, I enjoyed the fan service and visit with the characters. It was interesting to read the perspective on parenting and generations while on maternity leave. But I still prefer to political volbarr sultana stories to the space battles.
I didn't really enjoy reading this book. It was a romance, but a very boring one. Cordelia is just really, really boring now. Her love interest is more interesting than her. They do the same things over and over again until Miles shows up. I am sad to see that in one of her books. Loved seeing Miles, as usual, and she of course did him better than anyone. The ending was spectacular--but then Bujold always comes through on the endings. It was an okay book at most, which is so much lower than her normal writing standards. I get that she wanted the characters to be mature, but mature does not mean boring as hell. Again, mostly this book frustrated me and made me sad.
How do I love [a:Lois McMaster Bujold|16094|Lois McMaster Bujold|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1623465132p2/16094.jpg]? Let me count the ways.
1. She writes about grown-ups. Do you know how rare this is, especially in SFF? I didn't until I started looking for it. But Bujold does, and she does it well.
2. She does not let genre boss her around. The Vorkosigan novels fall into all sorts of different genres even though they're all nominally "space opera." This one is, at bottom, a romance. And again, it's done well.
3. Her characters. They're funny and flawed and thoughtful. They're real people, not sketches, ciphers, or caricatures. They're interesting and intriguing. They're also likable, though that's neither here nor there.
4. Her world. She has fleshed out an entire universe, going back and retconning whenever she wants to, but again, executing it skillfully.
5. She can write stories that are both fluffy and entertaining (as well as occasionally predictable) as well as deep and true at the same time. That is a rare skill in an author.
There are lots more reasons. But those are the main ones I can think of for right now.
This book was awesome. I will always read everything she writes, and I'll probably love them all, too.
1. She writes about grown-ups. Do you know how rare this is, especially in SFF? I didn't until I started looking for it. But Bujold does, and she does it well.
2. She does not let genre boss her around. The Vorkosigan novels fall into all sorts of different genres even though they're all nominally "space opera." This one is, at bottom, a romance. And again, it's done well.
3. Her characters. They're funny and flawed and thoughtful. They're real people, not sketches, ciphers, or caricatures. They're interesting and intriguing. They're also likable, though that's neither here nor there.
4. Her world. She has fleshed out an entire universe, going back and retconning whenever she wants to, but again, executing it skillfully.
5. She can write stories that are both fluffy and entertaining (as well as occasionally predictable) as well as deep and true at the same time. That is a rare skill in an author.
There are lots more reasons. But those are the main ones I can think of for right now.
This book was awesome. I will always read everything she writes, and I'll probably love them all, too.
You know how in “The Force Awakens,” Han and Leia are split up? And the last time we saw them (outside of any expanded universe media, which had since been de-canonized), they were heading to a happy-ever-after? And the idea that their love story could end in anything else was unfathomable, which led many (including me) to say “What the ever-loving crap are you DOING??”
When I started reading this, I kind of felt that way about Aral and Cordelia. I ADORED their relationship clear back in “Cordelia’s Honor” and I’ve loved seeing glimpses of their life and romance together through all the Miles stories. And, yes, I knew that Aral had passed away at the end of “Cryoburn,” and I’d felt a little cheated that we never got to revisit them as a couple. At the start here, I’d look at Admiral Jole and wonder “Who the hell is this guy? Since when did he become so important?”
But as the story progressed, I got a better feel for both Oliver and Cordelia in their post-Aral life. True, it still feels like it came out of left-field and I’m still sort of scratching my head at this ret-con. But I just kind of went along with the story and enjoyed myself.
My favorite parts were definitely after Miles and Ekaterin showed up unannounced with their squadron of young Vorkosigans. The scene of Cordelia showing Alex his grandfather’s drawings was sweet and beautiful and something I would have loved to have seen more of - Cordelia interacting with her grandkids. The conversations between Cordelia and Miles were great too, nice to let them have this time to process where they go from here as a family.
I can definitely see where this book would be a base-breaker (of sorts) between longtime fans of the story, and there was some of that for me as well. But I enjoyed what I enjoyed and left the rest to be picked over by someone else. If this really is the end of this series, it makes a decent enough coda.
When I started reading this, I kind of felt that way about Aral and Cordelia. I ADORED their relationship clear back in “Cordelia’s Honor” and I’ve loved seeing glimpses of their life and romance together through all the Miles stories. And, yes, I knew that Aral had passed away at the end of “Cryoburn,” and I’d felt a little cheated that we never got to revisit them as a couple. At the start here, I’d look at Admiral Jole and wonder “Who the hell is this guy? Since when did he become so important?”
But as the story progressed, I got a better feel for both Oliver and Cordelia in their post-Aral life. True, it still feels like it came out of left-field and I’m still sort of scratching my head at this ret-con. But I just kind of went along with the story and enjoyed myself.
My favorite parts were definitely after Miles and Ekaterin showed up unannounced with their squadron of young Vorkosigans. The scene of Cordelia showing Alex his grandfather’s drawings was sweet and beautiful and something I would have loved to have seen more of - Cordelia interacting with her grandkids. The conversations between Cordelia and Miles were great too, nice to let them have this time to process where they go from here as a family.
I can definitely see where this book would be a base-breaker (of sorts) between longtime fans of the story, and there was some of that for me as well. But I enjoyed what I enjoyed and left the rest to be picked over by someone else. If this really is the end of this series, it makes a decent enough coda.
This was probably the least eventful book of the series. While I liked the introduction of some new characters, and I naturally relate to a lot of the "dad stuff", there just wasn't much to invest me in the story.
I didn't mind the revision(?)/update on Aral and Cordelia's marriage, although I know many found it something of a retcon. I can believe Cordelia gave Aral general permission in that respect and that she also was willing to enter into a poly relationship. I wouldn't, but then I'm not Betan. I also found it plausible that they would keep it a secret given that it started when Oliver Jole was Aral's aide. The political fallout from going public would not have been pretty. I can also believe Miles never noticed. He can be obtuse as Ivan at times.
I also didn't mind that not much happens in terms of action. This book is about middle age and deciding where to go from here. As I've just turned 50 this focus was fine with me.
What I was less pleased about was that the outcome was obvious from the start. There was no way Oliver was going to take the job back on Barrayar and give up having his sons.
Plus I just don't much like Cordelia - heresy though that might be. Miles is also brilliant but he makes mistakes and life makes him rethink his some of his assumptions. Cordelia is always Right and never has to adjust her world view.
I also didn't mind that not much happens in terms of action. This book is about middle age and deciding where to go from here. As I've just turned 50 this focus was fine with me.
What I was less pleased about was that the outcome was obvious from the start. There was no way Oliver was going to take the job back on Barrayar and give up having his sons.
Plus I just don't much like Cordelia - heresy though that might be. Miles is also brilliant but he makes mistakes and life makes him rethink his some of his assumptions. Cordelia is always Right and never has to adjust her world view.
I purchased the eARC and am thoroughly satisfied with the book.
It will not go into the 'favourites' list, but it is quite a mature book, with all of LMB quirks and lovely writing style. It's a book that needed to be written to tie in the loose ends and to show that life goes on both despite and because what happened in other Vorkosiverse books. I guess it is for 'older' readers that can appreciate coming to terms with one's past rather than those who are looking or a more action packed novel, and I really like it
It will not go into the 'favourites' list, but it is quite a mature book, with all of LMB quirks and lovely writing style. It's a book that needed to be written to tie in the loose ends and to show that life goes on both despite and because what happened in other Vorkosiverse books. I guess it is for 'older' readers that can appreciate coming to terms with one's past rather than those who are looking or a more action packed novel, and I really like it