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mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second volume in Elizabeth Moon's Vatta's War series. It picks up where the first book ended and (mild spoiler ahead)
"Marque and Reprisal" is not high literature, nor is it groundbreaking science fiction, but it was highly diverting. If I had read it in a critical frame of mind, I might have awarded it 3 out of 5 stars. But, as it happens, I was looking for a book to entertain, a book in which I cared about the characters in an uncomplicated way, and Moon is a gifted storyteller who combined her sympathetic characters with a well-crafted plot. In addition to Ky--the book's excellent heroine--I particularly enjoyed the characters of Toby, Martin, Rafe, and Stella. Even though there are an embarrassingly large number of books piled up waiting for me to read them, I'm going to ignore the others and proceed directly to book three in this series. Recommended.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Spoiler
ends, while not exactly on a cliffhanger, with a great deal unresolved. The series is science fiction with a military flavor, which is a genre to which I am partial. The heroine, to whom I am also partial, isn't a soldier, but she was trained to be a military officer and ends up (larger spoiler ahead) engaged in a de facto war."Marque and Reprisal" is not high literature, nor is it groundbreaking science fiction, but it was highly diverting. If I had read it in a critical frame of mind, I might have awarded it 3 out of 5 stars. But, as it happens, I was looking for a book to entertain, a book in which I cared about the characters in an uncomplicated way, and Moon is a gifted storyteller who combined her sympathetic characters with a well-crafted plot. In addition to Ky--the book's excellent heroine--I particularly enjoyed the characters of Toby, Martin, Rafe, and Stella. Even though there are an embarrassingly large number of books piled up waiting for me to read them, I'm going to ignore the others and proceed directly to book three in this series. Recommended.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
ohtarelenion's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
spookyjane's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
baffi's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
jmkemp's review
4.0
This is the second in the series, and I think it is better than the first. The universe has been expanded, amid the destruction of the Vatta family there is a whole load more political stuff going on that is revealed. Or more accurately it is strongly hinted at and clues dispensed, there isn't a big reveal, other than that there is a wider and more twisty world than the one that Ky Vatta had been living in before.
kortirion's review against another edition
4.0
While I thought the first book was a lot like [b:The Warrior's Apprentice|61906|The Warrior's Apprentice (Vorkosigan)|Lois McMaster Bujold|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170597854s/61906.jpg|2792] , this second installment of the Vatta's War series is darker. I liked it and I'm intrigued to see where the story ends up.
fantastiskfiktion's review against another edition
4.0
https://fantastiskfiktion.wordpress.com/2017/01/22/vattas-war/
malus23's review against another edition
5.0
This is shaping up to be a great series. I'm really liking both Ky and Stella, and I like that both books so far start with one plan, and turn about to go a different direction by the end. If every book does that it may set up a sort of reverse-predictability, where it becomes too obvious they won't be doing certain things right from the start, but for now I'm very happy with them.
jasonabbott's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75