A review by mebius
Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

It was fantastic book, funny and dark and emotional in ideal proportions. But then we got palace chapter and only because of it I lowering my rating to 4 stars.

So, our heroes successfully infiltrated palace controlled by enemy leader. Got into his bedroom, where he was sleeping at that moment and what do they do? They simple leaving him to go long way around to their goal. Why didn't they captured him at that moment having upper hand and having him as a hostage simply get what they want? It's baffling, considering that before that Cordelia was very logical person. 

I reading this series in chronological order and as I understand author needed to kill Kareen since in previously published books she probably mentioned as dead. But it wasn't the way to do so. Basically  Cordelia completely at fault in her death (first not capturing usurper when she had the chance, then pushing Kareen to the end), but in the remaining chapters we don't see any remorse.