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Vicky Peterwald #1
Target
The first installment in the Vicky Peterwald series
BEAUTY AND THE BATTLEFIELD
Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Victoria Maria Teresa Inez Smythe-Peterwald, daughter of wealth and power, was raised to do little except be attractive and marry well. Then everything changed—her brother, her father’s favorite and the heir apparent, was killed in battle by Lieutenant Kris Longknife, daughter of the Peterwald’s longtime enemies. Vicky vowed revenge, but her skill set was more suitable for seduction than assassination, and she failed. Angry and disappointed, her father decided she needed military training and forced her to join the Navy.
Now Ensign Vicky Peterwald is part of a whole new world, where use of her ample charms will not lead to advancement. But her father is the Emperor, and what he wants he gets. What he wants is for Vicky to learn to be efficiently ruthless and deadly.
Though the lessons are hard learned, Vicky masters them—with help from an unexpected Kris Longknife.
BEAUTY AND THE BATTLEFIELD
Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Victoria Maria Teresa Inez Smythe-Peterwald, daughter of wealth and power, was raised to do little except be attractive and marry well. Then everything changed—her brother, her father’s favorite and the heir apparent, was killed in battle by Lieutenant Kris Longknife, daughter of the Peterwald’s longtime enemies. Vicky vowed revenge, but her skill set was more suitable for seduction than assassination, and she failed. Angry and disappointed, her father decided she needed military training and forced her to join the Navy.
Now Ensign Vicky Peterwald is part of a whole new world, where use of her ample charms will not lead to advancement. But her father is the Emperor, and what he wants he gets. What he wants is for Vicky to learn to be efficiently ruthless and deadly.
Though the lessons are hard learned, Vicky masters them—with help from an unexpected Kris Longknife.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
40 people are currently reading
751 people want to read
About the author
Mike Shepherd
78 books563 followersA pseudonym used by Mike Moscoe.
Mike was born in the Philadelphia Navy Yard Hospital -- and left that town at the age of three days for reasons he does not presently recall. But they had to draft him to get him back there. He missed very little of the rest of the country. Growing up Navy, he lived about everywhere you could park an aircraft carrier.
Mike was one of those college students who didn't have to worry about finding a job after graduation. In 1968, his Uncle Sam made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Two days into boot camp, the Army was wondering if they might not have been a bit hasty. Mike ended the day in the Intensive Care Unit of the local Army hospital. Despite most of Mike’s personal war stories being limited to "How I flunked boot camp," he can still write a rollicking good military SF yarns.
Mike didn’t survive all that long as a cab driver (he got lost) or bartender (he made the drinks too strong) but he figured he could at least work for the Navy Department as a budget analyst. Until he spent the whole day trying to balance the barracks accounts for paint. Finally, about quitting time, a grinning senior analyst took him aside and let him in on the secret. They'd hidden the money for refitting a battleship in that little account. Slowly it dawned on Mike that there were a few things about the Navy that even a kid who grew up in it would never understand.
Over the next twenty years, Mike branched out into other genres, including instruction memos, policies, performance standards and even a few labor contracts. All of those, you may notice, lack a certain something. Dialogue ... those things in quotes. In `87, Mike’s big break came. He landed on a two year special project to build a digital map showing where the trees, rivers, roads, Spotted Owls and other critters were in western Oregon. The list went on and on with no end in sight and two years became ten.
Since there was no writing involved in his new day job, Mike had to do something to get the words out. He signed up for a writing class at Clark Community College and proudly turned in a story ... Star Wars shoots down the second coming of Christ.
Two years later, Analog bought "Summer Hopes, Winter Dreams" for the March, 1991 issue. Four years later he sold his first novel. In the ten years since then, Mike’s turned in twelve novels and is researching the next three.
Mike's love for Science Fiction started when he picked up "Rocket Ship Galileo" in the fifth grade, and then proceeded to read every book in the library with a rocket sticker on its spine.
Mike digs for his stories among people and change. Through his interest in history, he has traces the transformations that make us what we are today. Science launches us forward into an ever changing universe. Once upon a time, the only changes in peoples lives came with the turning of the seasons and the growing wrinkles on their brows. Today, science drives most of the changes in our daily lives. Still, we can't avoid the pressure of our own awakening hormones or hardening arteries. Mike is happiest when his stories are speeding across thin ice, balanced on the edge of two sharp blades, one anciently human, the other as new as tomorrow's research.
Trained in International Relations and history, salary administration and bargaining, theology and counseling, Mike is having a ball writing about Kris Longknife ... coming of age while the world her grand parents built threatens to crash down around her ears. These are books I think you’ll love ... and my granddaughter and grandsons too!
Mike lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife Ellen, his mother-in-law and any visiting grandkids. He enjoys reading, writing, watching grand-children for story ideas and upgrading his computer -- all are never ending.
Mike was born in the Philadelphia Navy Yard Hospital -- and left that town at the age of three days for reasons he does not presently recall. But they had to draft him to get him back there. He missed very little of the rest of the country. Growing up Navy, he lived about everywhere you could park an aircraft carrier.
Mike was one of those college students who didn't have to worry about finding a job after graduation. In 1968, his Uncle Sam made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Two days into boot camp, the Army was wondering if they might not have been a bit hasty. Mike ended the day in the Intensive Care Unit of the local Army hospital. Despite most of Mike’s personal war stories being limited to "How I flunked boot camp," he can still write a rollicking good military SF yarns.
Mike didn’t survive all that long as a cab driver (he got lost) or bartender (he made the drinks too strong) but he figured he could at least work for the Navy Department as a budget analyst. Until he spent the whole day trying to balance the barracks accounts for paint. Finally, about quitting time, a grinning senior analyst took him aside and let him in on the secret. They'd hidden the money for refitting a battleship in that little account. Slowly it dawned on Mike that there were a few things about the Navy that even a kid who grew up in it would never understand.
Over the next twenty years, Mike branched out into other genres, including instruction memos, policies, performance standards and even a few labor contracts. All of those, you may notice, lack a certain something. Dialogue ... those things in quotes. In `87, Mike’s big break came. He landed on a two year special project to build a digital map showing where the trees, rivers, roads, Spotted Owls and other critters were in western Oregon. The list went on and on with no end in sight and two years became ten.
Since there was no writing involved in his new day job, Mike had to do something to get the words out. He signed up for a writing class at Clark Community College and proudly turned in a story ... Star Wars shoots down the second coming of Christ.
Two years later, Analog bought "Summer Hopes, Winter Dreams" for the March, 1991 issue. Four years later he sold his first novel. In the ten years since then, Mike’s turned in twelve novels and is researching the next three.
Mike's love for Science Fiction started when he picked up "Rocket Ship Galileo" in the fifth grade, and then proceeded to read every book in the library with a rocket sticker on its spine.
Mike digs for his stories among people and change. Through his interest in history, he has traces the transformations that make us what we are today. Science launches us forward into an ever changing universe. Once upon a time, the only changes in peoples lives came with the turning of the seasons and the growing wrinkles on their brows. Today, science drives most of the changes in our daily lives. Still, we can't avoid the pressure of our own awakening hormones or hardening arteries. Mike is happiest when his stories are speeding across thin ice, balanced on the edge of two sharp blades, one anciently human, the other as new as tomorrow's research.
Trained in International Relations and history, salary administration and bargaining, theology and counseling, Mike is having a ball writing about Kris Longknife ... coming of age while the world her grand parents built threatens to crash down around her ears. These are books I think you’ll love ... and my granddaughter and grandsons too!
Mike lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife Ellen, his mother-in-law and any visiting grandkids. He enjoys reading, writing, watching grand-children for story ideas and upgrading his computer -- all are never ending.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
January 16, 2018
This is one of the dumbest books I've read in quite awhile. If I didn't need it for a reading challenge I would have DNF'd it at page 14 when the female lead was intentionally having a wardrobe malfunction during a tv news interview for...reasons. I'll stick to Kris Longknife. This is going straight to the donate pile.
June 30, 2014
I had high hopes for this book but was disappointed. The entire book felt disjointed. There were some great chapters followed by poorly written ones. The worst offense was the character development of Vicky. It was all over the place and unbelievable. I found myself frustrated and annoyed often. I am not sure whether it's just the awkwardness of a male author trying to write a story from the perspective of a woman, particularly one as sexually active as Vicky. SPOILER: no woman who was raped would have one nightmare and then be completely okay with it after a nights sleep and jump into the sack with another man. If you want her to be the kind of woman who can use sex to further her own gains then you need to own up to that and not hold onto this angelic submissive side. It's inconsistent and destroys the character. Overall I would say it was a good rough draft that needed a thorough editor to go through it but they seemed to have published it a bit too soon.
Also, there is A LOT of sex. The sex scenes are surprisingly good but if that's not what you like to read then turn back now. This is more of a scifi erotica than a scifi book. I was a bit put off as I wasn't expecting it so I thought I'd warn others.
Also, there is A LOT of sex. The sex scenes are surprisingly good but if that's not what you like to read then turn back now. This is more of a scifi erotica than a scifi book. I was a bit put off as I wasn't expecting it so I thought I'd warn others.
May 6, 2016
*Source* Library Loan
*Genre* Futuristic Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
Target, by Mike Shepherd, is the first installment in the Vicky Peterwald series. Target should come with a warning. If you haven't read Shepherd's Kris Longknife series yet, especially the novel where Kris and Vicky come face to face, don't just blindly jump into this story expecting to have a clue where the story picks up or why Vicky has had so many assassination attempts made on her.
*Full Review Posting @ Gizmos Reviews* Link Below
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published June 24th 2014 by Ace (first published January 1st 2014)
*Genre* Futuristic Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
Target, by Mike Shepherd, is the first installment in the Vicky Peterwald series. Target should come with a warning. If you haven't read Shepherd's Kris Longknife series yet, especially the novel where Kris and Vicky come face to face, don't just blindly jump into this story expecting to have a clue where the story picks up or why Vicky has had so many assassination attempts made on her.
*Full Review Posting @ Gizmos Reviews* Link Below
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published June 24th 2014 by Ace (first published January 1st 2014)
July 3, 2014
First, the worst: There is rape in this book and it's handled badly, with something very close to the "reset to status quo" button. Seriously, someone forced at gunpoint, with events immediately preceding and following being almost as gruesome, doesn't completely break down then return to her bantering, libidinous self after one nightmare and one pep talk session. Almost anything else could've been more believable, and very few things could be even less tasteful.
Then, that "erotica" tag... I'm no puritan, if you want an oversexed protagonist in the oversexed world, that's fine, count me in even, if it's well-written. But I don't like people having their cake and imagining they can eat it too, and that's what the author more or less tried to pull off in this book. If you have a protagonist who does the deed with all but two of her subordinates, tries to seduce a superior officer and shows her nipples on interplanetary TV (to backstab someone who saved her life, no less) in the first five chapters, without anyone so much as raising their eyebrows, that's perfectly OK. You can't, however, "balance it out" by casual sex suddenly becoming a big deal one can be blackmailed over and the selfsame protagonist being shocked, SHOCKED!, that other aristocrats are doing more or less the exact same things for more or less similar reasons. Windmills don't work that way, goodnight. FWIW, actual graphic (anything but four-letter words level of graphic) sex scenes are written rather well, with only one awkward moment I can think of (You have a philosophical conversation in the middle of THAT? All right...)
Otherwise the book is nice, if not particularly deep, space opera with lots of well-paced, well-written action, and entertaining enough (except for that pep talk cure. Sorry. -2 stars for that, -1 for clumsy sexploitation, +1 because I liked everything else. Adds up to 3 stars.
Then, that "erotica" tag... I'm no puritan, if you want an oversexed protagonist in the oversexed world, that's fine, count me in even, if it's well-written. But I don't like people having their cake and imagining they can eat it too, and that's what the author more or less tried to pull off in this book. If you have a protagonist who does the deed with all but two of her subordinates, tries to seduce a superior officer and shows her nipples on interplanetary TV (to backstab someone who saved her life, no less) in the first five chapters, without anyone so much as raising their eyebrows, that's perfectly OK. You can't, however, "balance it out" by casual sex suddenly becoming a big deal one can be blackmailed over and the selfsame protagonist being shocked, SHOCKED!, that other aristocrats are doing more or less the exact same things for more or less similar reasons. Windmills don't work that way, goodnight. FWIW, actual graphic (anything but four-letter words level of graphic) sex scenes are written rather well, with only one awkward moment I can think of (You have a philosophical conversation in the middle of THAT? All right...)
Otherwise the book is nice, if not particularly deep, space opera with lots of well-paced, well-written action, and entertaining enough (except for that pep talk cure. Sorry. -2 stars for that, -1 for clumsy sexploitation, +1 because I liked everything else. Adds up to 3 stars.
November 18, 2019
VICKY PETERWALD: TARGET is not my favorite of the Mike Shepherd Longknife series. A spin-off of fan-favorite Vicky Peterwald, it opens with Vicky lying about the alien invasion by the planet-looters while wearing an outfit that has a number of deliberate wardrobe malfunctions. We're also regularly informed that Vicky was trained in needlepoint and the Karma Sutra for both offense as well as defense. There's numerous sex scenes, Vicky killing someone during sex, repeated exchanging of disposable bodyguards/lovers, and one-dimensional shrewish villains. The series eventually picks up but this one feels like Mike momentarily reverted to being a fourteen-year-old boy when writing this. I continued the series and the sequels are much-much better.
March 16, 2016
DNF p. 26
Usually I'm pretty strict with my 20% rule, but I just can't this time. It's too stupid. It is quite possibly the stupidest thing I've ever read.
It's not just the poor language.
It's not just the juvenile (or extremely chauvinistic - I can't quite tell) attitude.
(On both these points see my update comments)
It's not just the complete lack of any establishment of character, setting or plot.
It's the combination of these things that make the whole so much less than the parts. I wish it was so bad it's good (or at least funny), and at times it almost was. Some of the sexism (toward both sexes mind you, not that that makes it any better) and the blunt frivolity could have maybe been meant tongue in cheek, but I don't think it was intended and in any case it didn't work.
As far as I read the line on page 14 "Vicky had their attention. Not with her words. Her boobs." takes the cake when it comes to stupid writing, but what actually pissed me off a little bit wasn't some awkward one-liner.
Vicky leaves the safety of Kris' ship to supposedly tell her side of the story (of a war with aliens that is mentioned in passing, but we know nothing about) to the media and deliberately "unintentionally" flashes her boobs to the camera to make the interviewer giver her enough camera time. (The media has been flooding their communications with requests for statements ever since they arrived, so why this ploy for extra time is necessary, I have no idea.) She blames everything on Kris Longknife and paints her as the most vile, heartless, sex-crazed femme fatale in the universe. I know they're supposed to be enemies from before, but she shows no animosity towards Kris in this book and even spends quite some time telling us how they're all getting along so well. So the motivation behind this, why she needs to go to such drastic measures to voice her version of the truth, is not explained whatsoever. We have no idea why she is doing this, she just says I need to do this and then she does this. The impression is that she leaves the ship because she's bored and seems to have a ton of fun making all the men she meets brains explode with her nipple-slip.
Fine... well not really fine, but I'm thinking: this is building up to something. There is some information we're not getting yet, but there must be a really good reason for her to create this media shit storm, putting her reputation and safety at risk. Right?
Then at page 26:
<< When Admiral Gort turned on her, he was livid. "How could you make such a spectacle of yourself?" he demanded. [...]
"I might have acted differently if I'd known that you were coming, sir."
"Have you heard of communications, Lieutenant? You could have sent a simple message."
Vicky felt the blood drain from her face. She had never thought of something so simple as sending out a message. Besides, she had no idea who to address it to. Her dad? The Navy? She hadn't the foggiest notion who, in this situation, she was supposed to report to."
What the f***! Really? I mean.. this is a joke right? *skimming ahead to see if this complete failure of common sense and human action is addressed at all.... no? "mature lover...Opportunities?...The alien ship was the size of the moon, sir...That big, huh?" What the hell am I reading? why is nobody in this book acting like real human beings!?*
Is she is supposed to be some idiot savant? Or maybe just a stupid princess who is the readers portal into a world of danger and aristocratic intrigue that happens around her because she's always where the important people are, but never actually does anything herself (except mistakes that might end up being fortunate mistakes after all)? Actually that might not be a half bad idea, well it's not that strong of an idea, but it's still better than this, because she's supposed to be a Lieutenant and.... argh! I... so don't care anymore.
I can't bring myself to keep reading, it's just not going to be worth it.
P. S. Two words: Annah Bowlingame
Usually I'm pretty strict with my 20% rule, but I just can't this time. It's too stupid. It is quite possibly the stupidest thing I've ever read.
It's not just the poor language.
It's not just the juvenile (or extremely chauvinistic - I can't quite tell) attitude.
(On both these points see my update comments)
It's not just the complete lack of any establishment of character, setting or plot.
It's the combination of these things that make the whole so much less than the parts. I wish it was so bad it's good (or at least funny), and at times it almost was. Some of the sexism (toward both sexes mind you, not that that makes it any better) and the blunt frivolity could have maybe been meant tongue in cheek, but I don't think it was intended and in any case it didn't work.
As far as I read the line on page 14 "Vicky had their attention. Not with her words. Her boobs." takes the cake when it comes to stupid writing, but what actually pissed me off a little bit wasn't some awkward one-liner.
Vicky leaves the safety of Kris' ship to supposedly tell her side of the story (of a war with aliens that is mentioned in passing, but we know nothing about) to the media and deliberately "unintentionally" flashes her boobs to the camera to make the interviewer giver her enough camera time. (The media has been flooding their communications with requests for statements ever since they arrived, so why this ploy for extra time is necessary, I have no idea.) She blames everything on Kris Longknife and paints her as the most vile, heartless, sex-crazed femme fatale in the universe. I know they're supposed to be enemies from before, but she shows no animosity towards Kris in this book and even spends quite some time telling us how they're all getting along so well. So the motivation behind this, why she needs to go to such drastic measures to voice her version of the truth, is not explained whatsoever. We have no idea why she is doing this, she just says I need to do this and then she does this. The impression is that she leaves the ship because she's bored and seems to have a ton of fun making all the men she meets brains explode with her nipple-slip.
Fine... well not really fine, but I'm thinking: this is building up to something. There is some information we're not getting yet, but there must be a really good reason for her to create this media shit storm, putting her reputation and safety at risk. Right?
Then at page 26:
<< When Admiral Gort turned on her, he was livid. "How could you make such a spectacle of yourself?" he demanded. [...]
"I might have acted differently if I'd known that you were coming, sir."
"Have you heard of communications, Lieutenant? You could have sent a simple message."
Vicky felt the blood drain from her face. She had never thought of something so simple as sending out a message. Besides, she had no idea who to address it to. Her dad? The Navy? She hadn't the foggiest notion who, in this situation, she was supposed to report to."
What the f***! Really? I mean.. this is a joke right? *skimming ahead to see if this complete failure of common sense and human action is addressed at all.... no? "mature lover...Opportunities?...The alien ship was the size of the moon, sir...That big, huh?" What the hell am I reading? why is nobody in this book acting like real human beings!?*
Is she is supposed to be some idiot savant? Or maybe just a stupid princess who is the readers portal into a world of danger and aristocratic intrigue that happens around her because she's always where the important people are, but never actually does anything herself (except mistakes that might end up being fortunate mistakes after all)? Actually that might not be a half bad idea, well it's not that strong of an idea, but it's still better than this, because she's supposed to be a Lieutenant and.... argh! I... so don't care anymore.
I can't bring myself to keep reading, it's just not going to be worth it.
P. S. Two words: Annah Bowlingame
August 14, 2014
How do you make a a story set in the Longknife universe with another strong female character, and not have her seem like Kirs' twin? Make her completely different. Kris knows guns and strategies, Vicky know sex and politics. She uses her sexual talents as if she were Modesty Blaise, and works the back channels of the palace with a sniper's skill. Vicky slowly awakens to the fact that her empire and family are rotting away from the inside. Kris may not always get along with her wacky Longknife family, but at least they never tried to kill her directly. Vicky deals with multiple assassination attempts before lunch, every day.
This story arc is appealing to me; this could turn into a pincer attack that ends with a new and better grand universe. Vicky is exploring a unique solution to a very big problem, and I like where she is headed.
I did find that the banter became a bit predictable, but seeing the tech and tactics from a non-military perspective was refreshing.
This story arc is appealing to me; this could turn into a pincer attack that ends with a new and better grand universe. Vicky is exploring a unique solution to a very big problem, and I like where she is headed.
I did find that the banter became a bit predictable, but seeing the tech and tactics from a non-military perspective was refreshing.
October 13, 2014
My biggest issue with this book is that Vicky, bluntly, is written pretty much as a complete slut. Which is not at all consistent with the appearances over in the Kris LOngknife series.
So while I'm glad to see a bisexual heroine in a SF novel, this is less than thrilling....
So while I'm glad to see a bisexual heroine in a SF novel, this is less than thrilling....
September 23, 2015
Vicky is not Kris, but they do have similar problems. Now they're both trying their best to save their societies. Each just has her own skill set to use effectively.
June 10, 2015
This is a spin-off from the Kris Longknife series. It follows a similar theme as the protagonist is Her Imperial Grace the Grand Duchess Victoria Marie Teresa Inez Smythe-Peterwald, daughter of the Emperor. She is also a Lt. Commander in the Greenfeld Navy.
To add some additional spice to the story Shepherd has her new step mother Annah out to assassinate Vicky. Annah is also consolidating her own power and building her own Army for a secret bid to take over the Empire. Shepherd has Vicky as a spoiled and demanding young lady who after her encounters with Kris Longknife is becoming aware of the danger she is in and that there is a conspiracy to take over the Empire. Vicky may have been raised to use sex as a tool and her training in ethics questionable but that is starting to change. The Vicky character is starting to develop into a responsible adult and grow into her role of power.
I am disappointed with Mike Shepherd. He developed an interesting plot and characters but then chose to make the second half of the book into a trashy romance novel. The trip on the small space craft could have been made exciting by playing hide and seek with Vicky’s step mother’s thugs but instead Shepherd decided to make into one long sex scene. Ugh! I hope things improve in future books. Dena Pearlman narrated the story.
To add some additional spice to the story Shepherd has her new step mother Annah out to assassinate Vicky. Annah is also consolidating her own power and building her own Army for a secret bid to take over the Empire. Shepherd has Vicky as a spoiled and demanding young lady who after her encounters with Kris Longknife is becoming aware of the danger she is in and that there is a conspiracy to take over the Empire. Vicky may have been raised to use sex as a tool and her training in ethics questionable but that is starting to change. The Vicky character is starting to develop into a responsible adult and grow into her role of power.
I am disappointed with Mike Shepherd. He developed an interesting plot and characters but then chose to make the second half of the book into a trashy romance novel. The trip on the small space craft could have been made exciting by playing hide and seek with Vicky’s step mother’s thugs but instead Shepherd decided to make into one long sex scene. Ugh! I hope things improve in future books. Dena Pearlman narrated the story.
April 19, 2015
High space opera; don't look for hard sci-fi here. Main character has sex scenes that edge into erotica; would not recommend this book for the under-18 crowd. In fact a little annoyed; if this was a romance book instead of sci-fi Amazon would be slapping it with the "adult" category and locking it out from the general search engine.
As other reviewers have mentioned the "rape" does not have the appropriate fall out; but psychologically I have trouble calling it rape (I am female) - the character knew she was going to be raped, but took control of the situation before they could get her truly powerless. Still the scene is rawer than I would have expected from the Kris Longknife world.
Well-paced story and does expand the Kris Longknife world. But overall a take or leave it kind-of book. One of dozens of high space opera out there with nothing unique for its own, other than better-than-average writing. As the first book of the new series, time may be needed to shake out the series voice. For Mike Shepherd, I am willing to give him the time.
As other reviewers have mentioned the "rape" does not have the appropriate fall out; but psychologically I have trouble calling it rape (I am female) - the character knew she was going to be raped, but took control of the situation before they could get her truly powerless. Still the scene is rawer than I would have expected from the Kris Longknife world.
Well-paced story and does expand the Kris Longknife world. But overall a take or leave it kind-of book. One of dozens of high space opera out there with nothing unique for its own, other than better-than-average writing. As the first book of the new series, time may be needed to shake out the series voice. For Mike Shepherd, I am willing to give him the time.
July 23, 2016
This is the 1st book in The Vicky Peterwald series by Mike Shepherd. This series is a spinoff of the Kris Longknife series. Vicky Peterwald's family have long been enemy's of the Longknife family. Vicky and her father blame Kris Longknife for the death of Vicky's brother. In the Kris Longknife series Vicky tries to kill Kris in revenge but fails miserably. After failing to kill Kris her father forces her to join the Greenwald Space Navy. Here she learns discipline and duty. Later on a joint space adventure with Kris Longknife she learns that Kris did not kill her brother and learns to respect Kris if not actually like her. In this book she has been summoned back to Greenwald where her evil step-mother and her family try to kill her so her soon to be born son will inherit the throne of Greenwald instead of Vicky. Vicky is forced to flee with the help of her friends and several men from the Navy and Marines, some who sacrifice their lives to save Vicky. This book is a great read and I recommend it to fans of the Kris Longknife series and fans of Mike Shepherd/Mike Moscoe.
June 20, 2017
The author is can write a good story. But there are a few flaws in this one!
I have no problem with the female character using her sexuality to her advantage, but the sexual scenes were frankly risible, clumsy and hindered the flow of the plot. And what was the obsession with the character's breasts all about? Or should I quote the author, "them puppies" and how they fit into various changes of clothing. For goodness sake, give the character a sports bra and stop going on about it! Shades of Heinlein and his weird obsession with feminine hygiene products.
I agree with other reviewers that the character doesn't seem to suffer the emotional fallout from the bad things that happen to her, unless she proves in later books to be a sociopath and is incapable of it?
I have no problem with the female character using her sexuality to her advantage, but the sexual scenes were frankly risible, clumsy and hindered the flow of the plot. And what was the obsession with the character's breasts all about? Or should I quote the author, "them puppies" and how they fit into various changes of clothing. For goodness sake, give the character a sports bra and stop going on about it! Shades of Heinlein and his weird obsession with feminine hygiene products.
I agree with other reviewers that the character doesn't seem to suffer the emotional fallout from the bad things that happen to her, unless she proves in later books to be a sociopath and is incapable of it?
November 19, 2017
Space Opera starring a sexpot. But not all that good space opera. And not a very believable sexpot. But definitely has sex in it - which is a plus for some people. And if the rest of the book was fine, I'm sure that could have been a plus. But I really didn't care much for this one. Or for really any of the characters. Or the world. Not badly written and perhaps for the right person, but certainly that wasn't me.
June 28, 2014
Good start on the new series. I cant't wait on the next book.
March 9, 2019
Good work.
Vicky is a very different person than Kris.
Greenfield is very different than Wardhaven.
Good people in Greenfield.
The Marines rock.
Read this..
re-read
Vicky is a very different person than Kris.
Greenfield is very different than Wardhaven.
Good people in Greenfield.
The Marines rock.
Read this..
re-read
August 17, 2025
The previous series was about right in balance for various dramatic elements. This first in new series reads more like a different author wrote it. Scenes AR e mostly about sex (implied sex that is... At least to begin with. And the drama? Stupid! As far as I would say, the main character blew the plot less than 10% in, but that's debatable if she's going to turn out as bat shite crazy as her brother in the previous series.
IDK because I'm blowing this into DNF, possibly for retry someday
IDK because I'm blowing this into DNF, possibly for retry someday
October 22, 2015
This is my first Mike Shepherd read. He is known for the Kris Longknife series, which I plan to read eventually. Vicky Peterwald is a character from that universe. An heir to the throne, until stepmom becomes pregnant, neither space, starship, nor home is safe for her. Everyone wants to use her. As a spoiled female, a navy officer, and a royal, it's time for her to grow up. This is the first book in the series. It sets up our characters, the background on how they got here, the politics, the worlds and space, the technology. I think the characters were predictable, but I think they are supposed to be representative of the stereotypes in a space opera such as this.
I expected more from the author based on how successful the Longknife series is. I hope he grows along with the Vicky character. I bought the 2nd book at the same time and will read it, before deciding if the series is worth continuing. To me, this is a fun read but doesn't require deep thought. It's not an Honor Harrington level. It doesn't have the military strategy and description of tactics that Honor has, which I am relieved to escape for a while, but it also doesn't have the level of writing. As an intro to the series, never having read his other stuff, I am ok with seeing how it goes.
Warning - there are a lot of descriptions of sexual behavior. To some extent I find them unnecessary; on the other side of the coin, they are enjoyable to read. I wouldn't give it to my teenage daughter to read. Having a female character that is acknowledging sexuality is good; but the border between erotic and porn is a very thin line. Having read the 2nd book now, I can see the purpose in showing the changes Vicky goes through but if the author had been a little less graphic in his sexual descriptions, it could have been a series I would recommend to teens as the progression in the story teaches a lot of basic economy lessons.
I expected more from the author based on how successful the Longknife series is. I hope he grows along with the Vicky character. I bought the 2nd book at the same time and will read it, before deciding if the series is worth continuing. To me, this is a fun read but doesn't require deep thought. It's not an Honor Harrington level. It doesn't have the military strategy and description of tactics that Honor has, which I am relieved to escape for a while, but it also doesn't have the level of writing. As an intro to the series, never having read his other stuff, I am ok with seeing how it goes.
Warning - there are a lot of descriptions of sexual behavior. To some extent I find them unnecessary; on the other side of the coin, they are enjoyable to read. I wouldn't give it to my teenage daughter to read. Having a female character that is acknowledging sexuality is good; but the border between erotic and porn is a very thin line. Having read the 2nd book now, I can see the purpose in showing the changes Vicky goes through but if the author had been a little less graphic in his sexual descriptions, it could have been a series I would recommend to teens as the progression in the story teaches a lot of basic economy lessons.
January 17, 2016
Similar to what Jack Campbell did, writing books about the enemy of his series hero, Black Jack Geary, Shepherd attempts to give us some insight into Kris Longknife's enemy/rival, Vicky Peterwald. Shepherd's attempt isn't quite as good. Vicky, the spoiled daughter of Emperor Peterwald of the evil Greenfeld Empire(chief rival to the Longknife's United Systems), has just returned from battling aliens with Kris, and each has earned the respect, if not friendship, of the other. Vicky is already aware that her father had recently re-married, to a much younger woman. Now, she discovers that since her new stepmother has become pregnant, with a son, that the step-mother, and her family, has put out a contract on Vicky. This is a good premise, and Shepherd weaves his way through it very well. My problem with it, is the speech patterns, and characters, were very similar to those in the Longknife system, despite the fact that they live in different parts of the universe. The prime difference between Kris, and Vicky, is that Kris was not sex kitten that Vicky was raised to be, so that Shepherd added some sex scenes, rather awkwardly, that he has pretty much avoided, in the Longknife novels. It's still a decent story, if not as well done as Campbell. I suspect the series to continue, as he left the ending wide open for a sequel.
June 11, 2017
3.5 read. I haven't read the Kris Longknife series. I both liked and loathed the central character Vicky. She was strong but also aimless. And if the author said it once, he said it a multitude of times - she was trained in needlepoint and the Karma Sutra. Except... when was she trained in the Karma Sutra? all her memories as a child in court were sad ones. There was no mention of sex. Who trained her?
I liked Vicky's use of her sexuality when she needed it - but there were pages upon pages of sexual innuendo and crude banter that I'm assuming were supposed to be foreplay but read as boring and repetitive. And the rape scene - by itself was crucial to Vicky stepping over a line into taking control of her escape/destiny - but to have her bounce back so casually, felt wrong and a misstep by the author.
I enjoyed the political intrigue. But it was funny, the author is setting the step-mother up as the big bad and then Vicky barely shares four lines with her - even though she is back in the palace for a lengthy period - seemed wasted.
With luck - being attributed to Vicky's survival so far - I can only hope that she steps up in the next few books and gains the skills/experience to no longer need that 'luck'
I liked Vicky's use of her sexuality when she needed it - but there were pages upon pages of sexual innuendo and crude banter that I'm assuming were supposed to be foreplay but read as boring and repetitive. And the rape scene - by itself was crucial to Vicky stepping over a line into taking control of her escape/destiny - but to have her bounce back so casually, felt wrong and a misstep by the author.
I enjoyed the political intrigue. But it was funny, the author is setting the step-mother up as the big bad and then Vicky barely shares four lines with her - even though she is back in the palace for a lengthy period - seemed wasted.
With luck - being attributed to Vicky's survival so far - I can only hope that she steps up in the next few books and gains the skills/experience to no longer need that 'luck'
August 18, 2014
Too much sex, not enough plot.
Ironically, it's the sex scenes that are by far the best writing in this lightweight spinoff from Shepherd's normally excellent Kris Longknife series. Take them out and all you're left with is an overpriced, underdeveloped, unsatisfying novella (unlike Vicky's "assets", a fact that we're reminded about over and over and over and over and...). The character are one dimensional and flat (unlike Vicky's "assets", a fact that...) and inconsistent - this is not the Vicky we met before and wanted to know more about.
So Vicky is a slut. Fair enough, I have no problem with that. Lord knows I've complained enough about the prevailing attitude that it's perfectly fine to leave a trail of red sauce and guts behind you, and no one will bat an eyelid, but show a bit of skin below the prudishly high neckline, or indulge in a bit of what comes naturally, and half the world is up in arms.
But not at the expense of the plot. And that's the problem here. Less is more, Mike. Less is more. Because at the end of the day, the story just kinda fizzles out, turns over and goes to sleep in its own damp patch while Vicky and her latest studmuffin go at it. Again.
Ironically, it's the sex scenes that are by far the best writing in this lightweight spinoff from Shepherd's normally excellent Kris Longknife series. Take them out and all you're left with is an overpriced, underdeveloped, unsatisfying novella (unlike Vicky's "assets", a fact that we're reminded about over and over and over and over and...). The character are one dimensional and flat (unlike Vicky's "assets", a fact that...) and inconsistent - this is not the Vicky we met before and wanted to know more about.
So Vicky is a slut. Fair enough, I have no problem with that. Lord knows I've complained enough about the prevailing attitude that it's perfectly fine to leave a trail of red sauce and guts behind you, and no one will bat an eyelid, but show a bit of skin below the prudishly high neckline, or indulge in a bit of what comes naturally, and half the world is up in arms.
But not at the expense of the plot. And that's the problem here. Less is more, Mike. Less is more. Because at the end of the day, the story just kinda fizzles out, turns over and goes to sleep in its own damp patch while Vicky and her latest studmuffin go at it. Again.
May 20, 2016
From having read the Longknife series up to this point I'll say that it was a surprise, the difference in the story's feeling. Vicky Peterwald was very much more of a romance novel with a science fiction setting then a sci-fi novel with a long developed romantic interest as in the Longknife series. It does give insight into the Peterwald side of the galaxy, which is uniquely off putting in and of itself. So would I read the book again possibly with a filter of sorts, I don't have a personal taste for the amount of sex involved with the story of Vicky Peterwald. But, that seems to by a necessary point to understand the decadence and corruption of that side of the galaxy. Final advice is to read the Primary series first and then this offshoot at a older age due to mature content as well as using references to fill in back story.
April 24, 2015
I'm okay with sex scenes, but this felt like it was written by a 12 year old boy who thought it was provocative to talk about sex every chance they got. I found myself saying 'what?' out loud in disbelief while listening to this book - even while running outside. That's probably what the other people on the street thought after hearing me... The treatment of rape, mixed in with the rest of this sex, felt inappropriate and did a disservice to the character - and certainly to real life survivors.
I also felt that the world development was lacking. Maybe that's because I started with this novel instead of the Kris series, but a tad more background might have helped it feel more three-dimensional.
I also felt that the world development was lacking. Maybe that's because I started with this novel instead of the Kris series, but a tad more background might have helped it feel more three-dimensional.
August 18, 2016
Her Imperial Grace, the Grand Duchess, Lieutenant Commander Victoria Peterwald, Vicky to her friends. She is a spoiled brat raised to needlepoint and the Kama Sutra, both for pleasure and business. She isn't shy of her Kama Sutra either. Throughout the book she wields it. I found her to be more of a slut though as she dodges assassination attempt after assassination attempt by her step-mommy dearest.
I know this is the first book in a new series. I love the Longknife series and will give this one a try as well. I have hopes that Vicky will end up turning around the corrupted Greenfeld empire.
I know this is the first book in a new series. I love the Longknife series and will give this one a try as well. I have hopes that Vicky will end up turning around the corrupted Greenfeld empire.
August 19, 2017
Hmmm...
Though Target introduces a new story line with mostly new characters, I felt woefully confused and unprepared for Mr. Shepherd's universe. Reading the Kris Longknife books first would have helped, I think. Exceedingly detailed, the story is cohesive. While the characters are interesting, Ms. Peterswald left me a bit cold. I'm sure that is purposeful on the author's part as she is a calloused, selfish royal. Unfortunately, for me, the character's sexual independence felt more pornographic for titillation's sake than any true emotion.
Though Target introduces a new story line with mostly new characters, I felt woefully confused and unprepared for Mr. Shepherd's universe. Reading the Kris Longknife books first would have helped, I think. Exceedingly detailed, the story is cohesive. While the characters are interesting, Ms. Peterswald left me a bit cold. I'm sure that is purposeful on the author's part as she is a calloused, selfish royal. Unfortunately, for me, the character's sexual independence felt more pornographic for titillation's sake than any true emotion.
November 15, 2017
The name says it pretty well. There's plenty of action. The Empress is a bitch and the Palace is a tasteless, gilded snake pit. Vicky is becoming quite the action girl, more like Kris Longknife every day, and she definitely has mixed feelings about that.
November 3, 2017
I like the first book of this series. It is a great opportunity to see things from the other side of Longknife - Peterwald conflict.
December 12, 2017
After 30 pages I was bored and I stopped the book. First Mike Shepherd book I've tried. Probably the last.
November 11, 2019
Love the Longknife series but think the author was going for a different genre here. Way, way too much emphasis on sex. Not his best effort!
April 19, 2019
it was ok.
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