disastrouspenguin's review against another edition
3.0
Blegh. Could be alternatively titled: The Book in which Nothing Happens until you're 93% Done.
"Nothing" isn't exactly fair. People live their lives. Do things. Heal, teach, connive, sneak, betray. The People's Republic continues to disintegrate, sometimes in massive and surprising ways. But it doesn't feel as if there's any cohesive plot.
Maybe "nothing happening" in some books is a risk you accept when undertaking a massive space opera like this one. Unfortunately in the last several books, it feels like more of them have this quality than not.
"Nothing" isn't exactly fair. People live their lives. Do things. Heal, teach, connive, sneak, betray. The People's Republic continues to disintegrate, sometimes in massive and surprising ways. But it doesn't feel as if there's any cohesive plot.
Maybe "nothing happening" in some books is a risk you accept when undertaking a massive space opera like this one. Unfortunately in the last several books, it feels like more of them have this quality than not.
scribejack's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book more than the last two. There were more big moments throughout the book (instead of just jammed together at the end) and there was still a big ending. I wish we had gotten to see more of Honor teaching and the treecats, and Honor was amazing, as usual. Yet... It's like the other reviewers have said. These books are getting so much bigger, yet not really delivering bigger stories.
After nine books, this series is not wowing me anymore. I will someday return to the world of Honor, the purist in me knows it, but for now, even though it saddens me to say it, I think it's time to put this one off to the side to make room for another series that I can back burn between new books, something that can still surprise me because the Honorverse is no longer doing it.
After nine books, this series is not wowing me anymore. I will someday return to the world of Honor, the purist in me knows it, but for now, even though it saddens me to say it, I think it's time to put this one off to the side to make room for another series that I can back burn between new books, something that can still surprise me because the Honorverse is no longer doing it.
_meltea_'s review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
readerreborn's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book more than the last two. There were more big moments throughout the book (instead of just jammed together at the end) and there was still a big ending. I wish we had gotten to see more of Honor teaching and the treecats, and Honor was amazing, as usual. Yet... It's like the other reviewers have said. These books are getting so much bigger, yet not really delivering bigger stories.
After nine books, this series is not wowing me anymore. I will someday return to the world of Honor, the purist in me knows it, but for now, even though it saddens me to say it, I think it's time to put this one off to the side to make room for another series that I can back burn between new books, something that can still surprise me because the Honorverse is no longer doing it.
After nine books, this series is not wowing me anymore. I will someday return to the world of Honor, the purist in me knows it, but for now, even though it saddens me to say it, I think it's time to put this one off to the side to make room for another series that I can back burn between new books, something that can still surprise me because the Honorverse is no longer doing it.
katmarhan's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! The landscape of the Honorverse really changed in this book, and much of it surprised me. I'm not sure where the story is headed now, but this was one of the more satisfying books in the series.
voiddragon117's review against another edition
3.0
Honor is back in the Star Kingdom but faces a lengthy recovery due to her ordeal in the Cerberus System. Meanwhile, the rest of the galaxy waits with bated breath as the war between the Star Kingdom and Peoples Republic heats up.
Overall a good book but I wish there were more Honor in it. I felt like we spent too much time with side characters and not enough with Honor. I get that she was recovering and teaching, so I understand why we didn't spend this time with her. This is another good addition in the series but personal exceptions were not met causing me to rate it a bit lower.
Overall a good book but I wish there were more Honor in it. I felt like we spent too much time with side characters and not enough with Honor. I get that she was recovering and teaching, so I understand why we didn't spend this time with her. This is another good addition in the series but personal exceptions were not met causing me to rate it a bit lower.
lizabethstucker's review against another edition
4.0
Honor Harrington 9. Picking up where Echoes of Honor left off, the ecstatic reunion that begins Ashes proves short-lived as Honor once again lives up to her nickname of "The Salamander," always ending up where the fire's hottest. In the longest book of this naval space-opera series, David Weber plunges his beloved heroine (now an admiral!) into a thick tangle of political plots, as she takes on a more mature, behind-the-scenes role than in previous books. But don't fret: there's still some good action as HH prevents an assassination attempt and Manticore and its allies test-drive their new weaponry. And quite a few characters get what's coming to them too, including a few who drop like picked-off Peeps. (synopsis courtesy of Paul Hughes from Amazon.com)
I must admit that I hesitated to buy this book when I saw how large it was. And I also admit that I don't read much "hard science fiction" nowadays. With that out of the way, please let me disagree with the others listed here by stating that I was engulfed in the Harrington universe immediately. I care for more than just Honor, although she first drew me in. I enjoyed the looks at everyone else's lives. Weber is strongest in his characterization and makes you care for the people he writes about. All of them, not just one or two! I look forward to the next episode about the Peeps and the Manties!
I must admit that I hesitated to buy this book when I saw how large it was. And I also admit that I don't read much "hard science fiction" nowadays. With that out of the way, please let me disagree with the others listed here by stating that I was engulfed in the Harrington universe immediately. I care for more than just Honor, although she first drew me in. I enjoyed the looks at everyone else's lives. Weber is strongest in his characterization and makes you care for the people he writes about. All of them, not just one or two! I look forward to the next episode about the Peeps and the Manties!
jeremybost's review against another edition
3.0
While I've always liked the Honor books, this one particularly frustrated me because I would read about what the enemies were planning right under the good guys' noses, it seemed. And then, that government which was installed in place of Cromarty is terrible, and frustrating too. :P