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katyanaish's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed it, and on some level, it was great to see Torin and the gang adjusting to life outside the military.
But something was missing. I can't quite put my finger on what. Maybe it was the way that Torin still gave unwavering respect to people with higher ranks, even though the ranks have done nothing but let her down or use her like a pawn for years. Maybe it was seeing the way the other races treat the "Younger Races"... And just letting them get away with that. It's not acceptable. Someone needs to ask them to justify how such "evolved" races are perfectly content to send the very youngest out to die for them. Particularly when these supposed enlightened assholes have zero gratitude for all the death on their behalf. How is this the sign of a more evolved race? Seems like the only thing that is evolved to a higher level is their sense of selfish entitlement. And that needs to be shut down immediately. From what we saw of the Core, they are treating the Younger Races like serfs. They do the dirty work, and we'll give them our castoffs - old tech, they aren't welcome to visit our planets - sure sounds like the Younger Races are slaves to the Elder and Mid Races.
I hope this gets handled.
But something was missing. I can't quite put my finger on what. Maybe it was the way that Torin still gave unwavering respect to people with higher ranks, even though the ranks have done nothing but let her down or use her like a pawn for years. Maybe it was seeing the way the other races treat the "Younger Races"... And just letting them get away with that. It's not acceptable. Someone needs to ask them to justify how such "evolved" races are perfectly content to send the very youngest out to die for them. Particularly when these supposed enlightened assholes have zero gratitude for all the death on their behalf. How is this the sign of a more evolved race? Seems like the only thing that is evolved to a higher level is their sense of selfish entitlement. And that needs to be shut down immediately. From what we saw of the Core, they are treating the Younger Races like serfs. They do the dirty work, and we'll give them our castoffs - old tech, they aren't welcome to visit our planets - sure sounds like the Younger Races are slaves to the Elder and Mid Races.
I hope this gets handled.
tessisreading2's review against another edition
4.0
Basically a reset of the series: this Torin Kerr is working, vaguely, for the Justice Department with her ragtag crew of mostly-ex-Marine misfits, cleaning up messes and fixing things the department can't be seen to deal with openly, while Torin deals with her leftover stress from the war. We learn more about the actual cultures and interactions of various races, and . It's essentially a space archaeology adventure, complete with mildly sympathetic (or at least ) villain and .
Spoiler
Huff is a lot kinder to the supporting characters in this oneSpoiler
understandably crazySpoiler
superpowered zombiesblodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
So yes this is the start of a new series, but be warned, it's also book 6 of her adventures. But new series and all. In that way, yes it could work as a standalone. But you would miss how she fought in their wars, had her adventures, found a conspiracy, and ended up with Craig. But, it works like it is.
Torin is ex-marine. She is tough nails and she was so very military. But the previous series threw some punches and now she is out. But when you are out, they pull you back in! She has her crew, they get a job and they take it.
The world may be at peace, but those others are still out there. Some humans are making noise about humans first. Other alien races not touched by the war is all murderers, idiots! When you have Elder races, telling younger races to fight their wars, while middle races sit it out, oh will this confederation really last? And now someone is trying to steal big bad weapons. Peace in space, not an easy thing to have.
This is military scifi. There will be fights, tech, weapons and lots and lots of danger. Those H'San sure knew how to invent stuff. But it's not non stop action all the way. Torin still has time to worry about a teammate, who really needs someone of his own kind (long story, but they really really need others). She is a good woman.
I do wonder where this new business will take them. Lots of space still to explore.
Torin is ex-marine. She is tough nails and she was so very military. But the previous series threw some punches and now she is out. But when you are out, they pull you back in! She has her crew, they get a job and they take it.
The world may be at peace, but those others are still out there. Some humans are making noise about humans first. Other alien races not touched by the war is all murderers, idiots! When you have Elder races, telling younger races to fight their wars, while middle races sit it out, oh will this confederation really last? And now someone is trying to steal big bad weapons. Peace in space, not an easy thing to have.
This is military scifi. There will be fights, tech, weapons and lots and lots of danger. Those H'San sure knew how to invent stuff. But it's not non stop action all the way. Torin still has time to worry about a teammate, who really needs someone of his own kind (long story, but they really really need others). She is a good woman.
I do wonder where this new business will take them. Lots of space still to explore.
kerstincullen's review against another edition
5.0
Part space cozy, part detective novel, part dungeon crawl with zombies- way to much fun.
seeinghowitgoes's review against another edition
4.0
Her belief in the war shattered by the discovery of the grey plastic aliens, it's only when Torin starts to venture out with her crew on a covert mission given to them by Justice that she realises just how little the Elder Races have been sharing with the Confederation.
Despite 5 years between this and the last Valor novel it reads almost as though there's been no break at all in the writing. The series is definitely giving off an Ocean's Eleven/FastFurious type of vibe now, for the first time in the series our team has remained the same and it works, Torin is interesting enough but it's the belief of her team behind her that really brings her character to life.
Despite 5 years between this and the last Valor novel it reads almost as though there's been no break at all in the writing. The series is definitely giving off an Ocean's Eleven/FastFurious type of vibe now, for the first time in the series our team has remained the same and it works, Torin is interesting enough but it's the belief of her team behind her that really brings her character to life.
shaekin's review against another edition
4.0
This isn't really a new series as there hasn't been a significant amount of time between this book and book 5 of the Confederation books. If you're hoping to pick this up without reading the Confederation novels first, I wouldn't recommend. There are a lot of things referenced from the Confederation novels that would be really confusing and hard to catch up on with the few references that are given throughout this book. If you have read those and liked them, then you'll like this one too. Some hints were given of motives that I hope are expounded on in the future novels, and the ending definitely indicates there's more to come.
squids_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr and her crew are adjusting to life outside the Corps... sort of. Their mission is to stop some graverobbers whose larceny may tear apart the Confederation, if only they can track them down before it's too late.
It's been quite a while since I read any SF/F with so many different species, and I don't recall any having the incredible variety of cultures, biology, linguistic interpretation and politics I found here. This is the first in [a:Tanya Huff|1967|Tanya Huff|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1207242126p2/1967.jpg]'s new Peacekeepers series, but part of a series already-established (which I now need to start reading), so there's a steep curve for those new to this universe. It's worth it though!
There's a stark contrast between leadership styles the different teams. One leader will take risks to protect her people, and the other won't even touch a member of her team who needs it, deliberately maintaining physical and emotional distance between everyone and treating them all as disposable assets: a risky business in that line of work, and it shows.
I loved the humor and casual affection Torin's team share: they aren't just a team bonded by shared experience and general camaraderie, but are more like a close family. (Expect the normal Marine vs Navy jokes, along with running innuendoes.) Don't be thrown by some grammatical incorrectness in the beginning: it's deliberate, and I started to love Torin when I realized she was twitching as much as I. Some of the later inconsistency is also intentional, so just force yourself past it if that bothers you.
This is military science fiction at its best. There aren't any quick Kirk-style fixes here, or universal translators. Winning is painful, success is rewarded by paperwork (at least failure gets you a pass, even though you're dead), alien species aren't always bipedal, and you can't always make alien tech work.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr and her crew are adjusting to life outside the Corps... sort of. Their mission is to stop some graverobbers whose larceny may tear apart the Confederation, if only they can track them down before it's too late.
It's been quite a while since I read any SF/F with so many different species, and I don't recall any having the incredible variety of cultures, biology, linguistic interpretation and politics I found here. This is the first in [a:Tanya Huff|1967|Tanya Huff|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1207242126p2/1967.jpg]'s new Peacekeepers series, but part of a series already-established (which I now need to start reading), so there's a steep curve for those new to this universe. It's worth it though!
Spoiler
(And for Doctor Who afficionados new to this universe, there's a whole species who reminded me very much of Captain Jack Harkness...)There's a stark contrast between leadership styles the different teams. One leader will take risks to protect her people, and the other won't even touch a member of her team who needs it, deliberately maintaining physical and emotional distance between everyone and treating them all as disposable assets: a risky business in that line of work, and it shows.
I loved the humor and casual affection Torin's team share: they aren't just a team bonded by shared experience and general camaraderie, but are more like a close family. (Expect the normal Marine vs Navy jokes, along with running innuendoes.) Don't be thrown by some grammatical incorrectness in the beginning: it's deliberate, and I started to love Torin when I realized she was twitching as much as I. Some of the later inconsistency is also intentional, so just force yourself past it if that bothers you.
This is military science fiction at its best. There aren't any quick Kirk-style fixes here, or universal translators. Winning is painful, success is rewarded by paperwork (at least failure gets you a pass, even though you're dead), alien species aren't always bipedal, and you can't always make alien tech work.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
iffer's review against another edition
3.0
It was probably just that I wasn't in the mood for this, even though I started it because space opera is usually one of my happy reading places. Alternating between Torrin's group and the mercenaries was somewhat jarring to me. I had trouble empathizing with the mercenary former-major, which is probably why this volume didn't hit me as hard as some of the others. I do find the shift from this series from mostly action-based to action plus big-idea political based, to be appealing. I'm also looking forward to seeing how Torrin and what she wants out of her life evolves as time passes.