By Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.
This is the long-awaited direct sequel to Scout's Progress, and finally explains how Aelliana and Daav's relationship went on after that point.
I'll admit: it doesn't have a whole lot of plot. It's mostly Aelliana and Daav getting together, Aelliana telling her mother that she doesn't feel safe at home and she's going under Clan Korval's protection, Aelliana getting used to the lavish lifestyles of Clan Korval and enjoying life some more, quitting her job for becoming a courier with Daav. The actual plot moments kind of drift in and out. Aelliana's mother eventually tries to force Aelliana to go back home and turn over her ship and its profits to the family. (and this being Liad, there's very few options to not have to do it), and considering that Clan Mizel is kind of flushing down the toilet, she's got reasons. I thought her mom seemed kind of nice but vague and out to lunch in the previous book-- I take it back, since they make it clear that her mother will never let the whole thing with her jerkass brother go. There's also a little bit of plot involving the Juntavas and someone who "disappears" pilots, and there's the requisite "Daav's pain in the ass snobby sister gives Aelliana shit" plot. And eventually we get the story behind the Terran Party wanting Daav dead and finding out exactly what happened to him and why he left Liad. To which I am all "well, finally," because that really needed some clearing up.
This isn't a book to read if you haven't read the earlier books (this one and Local Custom), and as a story by itself it's more filling in the holes and letting the audience enjoy the relationship, something that you don't really get to go do in Scout's Progress. I think it could have used some more story in between the fun, but I like the characters so much that I didn't mind that a lot of the time I was reading about them having meals and just hanging out chatting and the like. Go figure.
Three stars overall.
Comments