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Vicky Peterwald #2
Survivor
Seeking revenge for her brother’s death, Grand Duchess Vicky Peterwald underwent an unlikely transformation—from pampered heir to naval lieutenant. Now a new challenge looms: Vicky will need to use both her military and political ranks to rebuild war-torn planets, planets ruined both by the Peterwald Empire and by Kris Longknife’s revolutionary quests.
But not everyone shares Vicky’s goals. When the death-before-dishonor code of the Navy meets the anything-goes-to-win motto of the Imperial family, Vicky must confront, outwit, and conquer both revolutionaries and her own family to stifle galactic disorder.
And nothing stops a Grand Duchess, on or off the field.
But not everyone shares Vicky’s goals. When the death-before-dishonor code of the Navy meets the anything-goes-to-win motto of the Imperial family, Vicky must confront, outwit, and conquer both revolutionaries and her own family to stifle galactic disorder.
And nothing stops a Grand Duchess, on or off the field.
Audible Audio
First published May 26, 2015
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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 47 reviews
November 18, 2019
Vicky Peterwald is the Grand Duchess of Greenfield and has the problem of her stepmother wanting to kill her. The Emperor doesn't care and the entirety of their domiciles are falling into ruin. Rather than succumb to despair or seek refuge with their old enemies, she decides to build support for her rebellion via humanitarian efforts as well as rebuilding economies. This is much more akin to the early Kris Longknife books and a big improvement on the previous volume. I definitely would recommend people carry on the series from this point. I like how Vicky is growing into her role as Grand Duchess as well as becoming aware of what a vicious band of evil tyrants her family has been since time memorial.
April 6, 2015
When I first met Vicky she was not very likeable. She has been a side character in the Kris Longknife series and now has a spin off series of her own. She has been going through a change since she got her own series and with Survivor she really becomes a different person. She is concerned with others and has learned to think on her feet. As she works with others to change what is happening in the Peterwald Empire she begins to like how people are reacting to her.
This is a fast paced, action filled story. The actions are what show the changes in Vicky and by the end of the book she is a much more likeable character. After reading the first book I was not that sure about the series but with book two Shepherd has changed Vicky into someone that I want to continue reading about.
Survivor could stand alone. I enjoy it more because I read book one and have read the entire Kris Longknife series. If you start with Survivor you may want to go back to the previous books for more fun reading.
Ace published Survivor by Mike Shepherd in 2014.
I received an ARC of Survivor from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
This is a fast paced, action filled story. The actions are what show the changes in Vicky and by the end of the book she is a much more likeable character. After reading the first book I was not that sure about the series but with book two Shepherd has changed Vicky into someone that I want to continue reading about.
Survivor could stand alone. I enjoy it more because I read book one and have read the entire Kris Longknife series. If you start with Survivor you may want to go back to the previous books for more fun reading.
Ace published Survivor by Mike Shepherd in 2014.
I received an ARC of Survivor from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
March 6, 2015
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2015/03/0...
Publisher: Penguin
Publishing Date: May 2015
ISBN: 9780425266588
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 1.2/5
Publisher Description: Seeking revenge for her brother’s death, Grand Duchess Vicky Peterwald underwent an unlikely transformation—from pampered heir to naval lieutenant. Now a new challenge looms: Vicky will need to use both her military and political ranks to rebuild war-torn planets, planets ruined both by the Peterwald Empire and by Kris Longknife’s revolutionary quests.
Review: The story line was meh. The characters, flat and the plot dumber than a bag of hammers. First is this forced political intrigue which comes off as one dimensional. “Hi I am the Duchess Vicky and you should do this!”. It got pretty tiring reading chapter after chapter of Slut Princess bantering, quipping and generally being annoying. The scenes drag on and on with Space Dummy shrugging shoulders, delivering sexual innuendos and keeping calm while attacked. Riiiiiiight.
Really, skip this unless you like putting on someone else’s castoff underwear.
Publisher: Penguin
Publishing Date: May 2015
ISBN: 9780425266588
Genre: SciFi
Rating: 1.2/5
Publisher Description: Seeking revenge for her brother’s death, Grand Duchess Vicky Peterwald underwent an unlikely transformation—from pampered heir to naval lieutenant. Now a new challenge looms: Vicky will need to use both her military and political ranks to rebuild war-torn planets, planets ruined both by the Peterwald Empire and by Kris Longknife’s revolutionary quests.
Review: The story line was meh. The characters, flat and the plot dumber than a bag of hammers. First is this forced political intrigue which comes off as one dimensional. “Hi I am the Duchess Vicky and you should do this!”. It got pretty tiring reading chapter after chapter of Slut Princess bantering, quipping and generally being annoying. The scenes drag on and on with Space Dummy shrugging shoulders, delivering sexual innuendos and keeping calm while attacked. Riiiiiiight.
Really, skip this unless you like putting on someone else’s castoff underwear.
June 19, 2015
It is important to read this series in order as one book feeds into the next book. At the end of the last book (Target) in the series Vicky had arrived at St. Petersburg and was refused access to the planet. This book opens with Vicky and her pilot/bodyguard on descent to the plant in an old landing craft with the Planet government threatening to shoot her down. From this exciting opening the action never stops. From assassination attempts to political intrigue Vicky weaves her way to put together a fleet of merchant ships from St. Petersburg to go to the two nearby starving plants to start a barter trade to save all three plants and feed the starving people. Vicky’s step mother has put a price on Vicky’s head for her death while she is attempting to take over control of the Greenfeld Empire.
Vicky has grown a great deal in this book from the original spoiled brat that she was portrayed as in the Kris Longknife series. She is now a responsible and caring beautiful young woman. Thank goodness Shepherd has significantly reduced the sex scenes from the last book. Shepherd has such interesting characters in his stories with great bantering dialog. Vicky’s personal computer cannot match Kris’s “Nellie”. Looking forward to finding out what happens to Vicky. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Dina Pearlman narrates the story.
Vicky has grown a great deal in this book from the original spoiled brat that she was portrayed as in the Kris Longknife series. She is now a responsible and caring beautiful young woman. Thank goodness Shepherd has significantly reduced the sex scenes from the last book. Shepherd has such interesting characters in his stories with great bantering dialog. Vicky’s personal computer cannot match Kris’s “Nellie”. Looking forward to finding out what happens to Vicky. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Dina Pearlman narrates the story.
February 21, 2016
Shepherd is very good at "space opera". As a U.S. Navy veteran, he has some military expertise, which helps when writing about a Navy in space. Like regular opera, it's not great art/literature, but it is entertaining, which of course, is why they're both popular. This "Vicky Peterwald" series, is a spin-off of his long-running "Kris Longknife" series. Both are strong female scions of rival space empires, the Longknifes being the "good" guys. In the original series, Vicky tries to personally assassinate Kris, thinking Kris had been directly responsible for Vicky's brother's death. Subsequently, Vicky & Kris have come to know each other better, and their rivalry has simmered down, as Vicky has bigger problems. In this series, Grand Duchess Vicky has become a "Target"(the first book in the series) of her new step-mother, the evil Empress, whose family is steadily destroying Vicky's father's empire, reaping huge riches, while squashing any rebellion. In this book, Vicky not only survives more assassination attempts, she begins to form a rebellion in the outer reaches of the empire. Again, this is not great literature, but it is a fun read.
August 4, 2016
This is the second book in the Vicky Peterwald series by Mike Shepherd. In this one Vicky decides to help the starving people on two planets with the help of her friend Mannie and the planet of St. Petersburg. While trying to supply them with food as well as restart their economies she realizes that it is her Stepmother, the new Empress, that is sabotaging these planets and the entire Greenwald Empire. Her stepmother is also continuing in her efforts to have Vicky killed and has her kidnapped and left to die of thirst tied to a bed in a remote cabin. Vicky manages to escape and decides there and then it is time to take the battle to her Stepmother. Some will call it treason but Vicky will call it saving the Greenwald Empire for her people and even for her Father the Emperor who is being duped by his new wife. This is a great read in the Space Opera category of Science Fiction with some elements of Military Science Fiction also. I recommend it to fans of Mike Shepherd/Mike Moscoe and fans of his Kris Longknife series.
June 5, 2015
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I will have to disagree with Koeur's review, in that I thought this book was not bad. Not GOOD by any degree, but it really wasn't too bad.
My issues:
It FEELS like a retread of existing Kris Longknife stuff. Not word for word, but very much like some bits in the early Kris books.
Vicky goes from bisexual free spirit to hung up over her injured bodyguard, THEN gets into Manny. All written very awkwardly. Honestly I've seen better romance in fanfiction. I'm also annoyed at seeing the 'Fallen woman saved by a good man' trope at play. Ugh.
And honestly I have problems buying the plot. Emperor Peterwald is SO besotted by his new wife that ALL this crap is happening? Seriously? When over in the Kris novels he's shown to be at LEAST moderately competant? It is a tough sell.
So yeah, not strongly recommending this one unless you're a completist.
I will have to disagree with Koeur's review, in that I thought this book was not bad. Not GOOD by any degree, but it really wasn't too bad.
My issues:
It FEELS like a retread of existing Kris Longknife stuff. Not word for word, but very much like some bits in the early Kris books.
Vicky goes from bisexual free spirit to hung up over her injured bodyguard, THEN gets into Manny. All written very awkwardly. Honestly I've seen better romance in fanfiction. I'm also annoyed at seeing the 'Fallen woman saved by a good man' trope at play. Ugh.
And honestly I have problems buying the plot. Emperor Peterwald is SO besotted by his new wife that ALL this crap is happening? Seriously? When over in the Kris novels he's shown to be at LEAST moderately competant? It is a tough sell.
So yeah, not strongly recommending this one unless you're a completist.
May 19, 2015
First, I should point out that it's been a while since I read any of the Kris Longknife books, and that I hadn't realized this was book 2 of the Vicky Peterwald books, so I'll attribute part of the slow start of the first half to those factors. The rest of it is down to some unfortunate plot points and the continuous comparison to Kris Longknife. Seriously, it seems that every other page was a Kris reference or comparison. I get it, they're very different and Vicky can't hold a candle to the ultimate heroine. You can stop now.
The opening scene does set the expectations for tone and character, though I wasn't expecting quite as many casual - and clumsy - sex scenes. They were too awkward, and it seemed quite obvious that this was a man writing a female character. Sometimes I was reminded of Heinlein, though Vicky lacks the depth, intelligence and red hair of his female protagonists. Instead, she's essentially an afterthought, given a basic education and then shipped off into the Navy where she still manages to have a sexual free-for-all.
Don't expect traditional or regular military SF. Think of it a little like the A-Team in space. There's no subtlety in the diplomacy, in Vicky's character, or even the plot, for that matter (I refer you to the Evil Stepmother and her father's midlife crisis). This somewhat irreverent book is really about Vicky growing up, and once you get into the second half it begins to shine. Unfortunately that's too late for me - I wouldn't have gotten even that far had I not felt required to finish, as it's not to my taste - but the stronger second half allowed me to up the rating to 3 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The opening scene does set the expectations for tone and character, though I wasn't expecting quite as many casual - and clumsy - sex scenes. They were too awkward, and it seemed quite obvious that this was a man writing a female character. Sometimes I was reminded of Heinlein, though Vicky lacks the depth, intelligence and red hair of his female protagonists. Instead, she's essentially an afterthought, given a basic education and then shipped off into the Navy where she still manages to have a sexual free-for-all.
Don't expect traditional or regular military SF. Think of it a little like the A-Team in space. There's no subtlety in the diplomacy, in Vicky's character, or even the plot, for that matter (I refer you to the Evil Stepmother and her father's midlife crisis). This somewhat irreverent book is really about Vicky growing up, and once you get into the second half it begins to shine. Unfortunately that's too late for me - I wouldn't have gotten even that far had I not felt required to finish, as it's not to my taste - but the stronger second half allowed me to up the rating to 3 stars.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2016
The biggest issue I have with this series is that the protagonist started out as... well, frankly, a pretty loathsome, spoiled brat. But she was a unique character. And now, she's "evolving" into a clone of that damn Longknife. She's navy, she's navy to the core, she's learning to pilot ships. Her lifestyle is shifting, drastically. It's like the "before" is being erased, warts and all.
I was hoping for a series with a bit more...intrigue. Instead? All her rough edges are being rounded off into a very familiar shape.
I was hoping for a series with a bit more...intrigue. Instead? All her rough edges are being rounded off into a very familiar shape.
June 18, 2015
I am assuming that this is the middle of a trilogy. This story traces the transformation of Princess Victoria Peterwald from spoiled brat to charismatic leader. Aside from a few too many references to "WWKLD", this progresses nicely. Vicky is a bit more of a vixen than staid Kris, but she may have found a heart buried under all the royal intrigue.
The story stops a bit abruptly, leading into the next/final book.
The story stops a bit abruptly, leading into the next/final book.
June 3, 2015
Hurray! Less pointless sex. An actual story instead.
September 18, 2015
I am impressed by Vicky's growth so far. She is quickly becoming Kris Longknife's equal, but not her clone. Different societies call for different methods...
July 31, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
With this second book in the series, we set up the events in coming books as well as set a firm trajectory for Vicky's character development. The two key threads are a) Vicky realizing that helping people is actually rather rewarding (and a key part of building a support base) and b) there's something very rotten at the heart of her father's empire. Yes, the sex scenes in this book are still egregious and overly long/too detailed to be interesting. Fortunately, by book three it is all about the plot and not Vicky's sex life.Story: Her stepmother is flexing her power and Vicky is on the run. Desperate, she and her pilot/bodyguard land on remote St. Petersburg in an attempt to recover and then move on. But local politics and a series of events will open her eyes to the true state of the empire - and how she may be the only one who can save it.
One of the really big drawbacks to an audiobook is that it is harder to skip wholesale through sections that are boring or silly. In this case, it was annoying having to find where the overly long sex scenes ended so I could get back to the plot. I'm not a prude but I am there for the plot and action and not really badly written softcore porn (which is about as exciting as watching paint dry). Having read book 3, I can say that fortunately that tapers off and we don't have the endless pages of horny teenagers. If Vicky loved knitting, I wouldn't have needed 15 detailed pages of that, either.
At least in this series, Vicky doesn't go from petty spoiled lascivious royal to conscientious rebel overnight. With this second book, we can see Vicky's development arc truly gain traction and how she quickly recognizes how advantageous it is to have people love you rather than hate you. Of course, as the Grand Duchess and a purported heir to the throne, she is in a unique position to (reluctantly) lead a rebellion against her father. In truth, she is doing it against a stepmother whose family is destroying the empire from the inside.
This read a lot like a Kris Longknife book plotwise - helping out the downtrodden and getting to the root of social injustice. Vicky isn't too much of a do-gooder, however, and at least is led more by personal motivations than altruistic ones. It isn't until the third book that she will firmly take a stand against her mother and empire - and begin to lead.
I listened to the audio version and it was read by Dina Pearlman, who does the Kris Longknife series. As such, there was nice continuity and Dina does a good job.
June 21, 2017
Better than the last one. At least the main character develops a bit, and becomes more of a servant of the people than an exploiter.
However, as a person living in a country with hereditary royalty and actual duchesses, I utterly fail to understand the way the author puts these complete parasites on a pedestal.What happened to democracy in these societies?
In England we have dozens of them, and I'd guess around 1% do anything to serve the people, and 99% of those only because their spin doctors tell them to, in order to get a good public image.
And does the Empress do nothing without screaming in rage at some point in each encounter. Repetitive much! Talk about irritating! I could scream in rage!
PS. There's a lot about Vicky's moral development that's surprisingly inclined towards conservative values like monogamy. Try CJ Ryan's fabulous Dexta for a less moralistic view of a strong female character.
PPS At least Mr Shepherd thankfully talks less about her big breasts in this book.
However, as a person living in a country with hereditary royalty and actual duchesses, I utterly fail to understand the way the author puts these complete parasites on a pedestal.What happened to democracy in these societies?
In England we have dozens of them, and I'd guess around 1% do anything to serve the people, and 99% of those only because their spin doctors tell them to, in order to get a good public image.
And does the Empress do nothing without screaming in rage at some point in each encounter. Repetitive much! Talk about irritating! I could scream in rage!
PS. There's a lot about Vicky's moral development that's surprisingly inclined towards conservative values like monogamy. Try CJ Ryan's fabulous Dexta for a less moralistic view of a strong female character.
PPS At least Mr Shepherd thankfully talks less about her big breasts in this book.
February 12, 2023
On principle, I dislike books in series that have no definitive conclusion. You know, the ones that finish the book as if it was merely another chapter, leaving you unsatisfied. I do understand that this is a space opera, but I point to the Skolian Empire series as good example of the genre in which the author does treat each book as a stand alone work.
That said, the series is so good that my personal pet peeve is set aside, and I am enjoying the series. What we do see is the main character develop through the books, and I am going to buy the next in the series as much to read the next chapter as to see how she matures, because I am finding her to be developing into an extremely likable lead.
That said, the series is so good that my personal pet peeve is set aside, and I am enjoying the series. What we do see is the main character develop through the books, and I am going to buy the next in the series as much to read the next chapter as to see how she matures, because I am finding her to be developing into an extremely likable lead.
January 12, 2018
Reads like another Kris Longknife novel, only with a different, red haired heroine instead of a blonde space admiral. Some of the story is interesting. A lot of it is boring and a repetition of the the first book in this new series. I'm not going to read any more, however.
Though the court politics were interesting. There was too much of it and not enough action sequences. My two cents...
Though the court politics were interesting. There was too much of it and not enough action sequences. My two cents...
November 20, 2017
Who'd have thought Vicky had such a head for business? She's also becoming a proper Navy officer and a proper noble. She uses all that for good as well. Too bad that makes her a target for assassination. She's not spending all her time in boring meetings, oh, no. She's got some battles to fight also.
What is it with chaining Vicky up to a bed naked (again)?!?
What is it with chaining Vicky up to a bed naked (again)?!?
January 1, 2024
3 stars.
Sorry but I'm not convinced on Vicky's turnabout to be a Kris Longknife clone because of Mannie and the people of St Petersburg. But the narrator is certainly convinced enough as even Vicky's voice now sounds so much like Kris. However, I'm invested now to know what happens to Stepmummy Dearest.
Sorry but I'm not convinced on Vicky's turnabout to be a Kris Longknife clone because of Mannie and the people of St Petersburg. But the narrator is certainly convinced enough as even Vicky's voice now sounds so much like Kris. However, I'm invested now to know what happens to Stepmummy Dearest.
November 4, 2017
I am liking the evolution of the Vicky character.
November 11, 2017
Published 2013. Pretty disappointed in this Shepard outing. I've followed the Kris Longknife series for some time and maybe that would be a better venue and protagonist for the author.
July 11, 2024
Good 2nd book in the series. Nice development of the protagonist (as I recall...it's been a while)
February 13, 2018
Mike Shepherd's "Kris Longknife" series is about a heroic young woman who is gutsy and brave enough to do the right thing even in the middle of much trouble, and whose willingness to do the right thing is frequently the source of some if not much of the trouble.
Along the way, Her Highness Princess Kristine Longknife of the United Sentients has crossed paths with Grand Duchess Victoria Peterwald of the Greenfeld star empire on a couple of occasions, most notably when Vicky tried to kill her in revenge for her brother's death. Their last encounter, though, helped Vicky to learn that Kris wasn't responsible for that death, and she might have to take matters into her own hands to bring down the culprit. But she's a Peterwald female, trained to be a good lure for her father to dangle as marriage material in the interests of his own political ambitions. She's got a lot to learn about how to handle things on her own and little time to do it.
Shepherd began the Vicky Peterwald series with Target, which set up the situation our Grand Duchess finds herself in, and continues with Survivor. Her opponents move openly against her now, and their aims both where she is concerned and on a larger scale become clear. So does their cost, as Vicky finds herself first saddened and then enraged by the disregard shown for innocent bystanders. She uses both, as well as the lessons in responsibility taught her in the Greenfeld navy, to begin to live up to the responsibility her powerful position implies.
Survivor is immensely better than Target, in which Shepherd seemed to indulge just about every adolescently snickering sexual single-entendre he could dream up while describing Vicky's initial run for safety, It also wastes much less narrative on dead ends, and begins solidifying her character arc as she tries to shed the humiliating expectations of her palace upbringing in order to find what kind of human being she wants to be.
Shepherd's not exactly a deft enough writer to distinguish Vicky from Kris within the narrative; he usually has to make an explicit comparison in some character's words or Vicky's own internal dialogue (part of his reason for all of the bedroom romping in Target may have been a clumsy and very icky attempt to draw that distinction). But he does so fairly well within that limitation, not stopping the flow and he makes Survivor enjoyable enough that a space-opera fans could put the next Vicky Peterwald book on their buy lists. Which was nothing like a sure thing after her initial voyage.
Original available here.
Along the way, Her Highness Princess Kristine Longknife of the United Sentients has crossed paths with Grand Duchess Victoria Peterwald of the Greenfeld star empire on a couple of occasions, most notably when Vicky tried to kill her in revenge for her brother's death. Their last encounter, though, helped Vicky to learn that Kris wasn't responsible for that death, and she might have to take matters into her own hands to bring down the culprit. But she's a Peterwald female, trained to be a good lure for her father to dangle as marriage material in the interests of his own political ambitions. She's got a lot to learn about how to handle things on her own and little time to do it.
Shepherd began the Vicky Peterwald series with Target, which set up the situation our Grand Duchess finds herself in, and continues with Survivor. Her opponents move openly against her now, and their aims both where she is concerned and on a larger scale become clear. So does their cost, as Vicky finds herself first saddened and then enraged by the disregard shown for innocent bystanders. She uses both, as well as the lessons in responsibility taught her in the Greenfeld navy, to begin to live up to the responsibility her powerful position implies.
Survivor is immensely better than Target, in which Shepherd seemed to indulge just about every adolescently snickering sexual single-entendre he could dream up while describing Vicky's initial run for safety, It also wastes much less narrative on dead ends, and begins solidifying her character arc as she tries to shed the humiliating expectations of her palace upbringing in order to find what kind of human being she wants to be.
Shepherd's not exactly a deft enough writer to distinguish Vicky from Kris within the narrative; he usually has to make an explicit comparison in some character's words or Vicky's own internal dialogue (part of his reason for all of the bedroom romping in Target may have been a clumsy and very icky attempt to draw that distinction). But he does so fairly well within that limitation, not stopping the flow and he makes Survivor enjoyable enough that a space-opera fans could put the next Vicky Peterwald book on their buy lists. Which was nothing like a sure thing after her initial voyage.
Original available here.
October 22, 2015
I bought the first and second books at the same time. I am glad I did because the first one alone I may not have continued to read the series. The first book had too much graphic sex for my tastes, and our heroine was a spoiled willful adult brat. However, that first book makes the changes Vicky goes through and her responses to them more believable. In this second book she starts to realize she is part of a bigger world and not the center of the universe. She discovers that she actually has absorbed more useful information into her brain and not just boobs and butt for sale by her father or to use to manipulate others. She can actually make a difference in the survival of individual worlds, saving some, and creating interdependence between several worlds. She sees that individuals treat her differently when she behaves differently. Rather than the military lesson we had from Weber in the Honor series, in Peterwald we are getting lessons on economics. During that process, stepmom continues in her attempts to have Vicky assassinated and in the process of surviving these attempts Vicky develops the will and desire to put the needs of saving the empire ahead of her own self-interest and the world-view in which her family reigned.
I am concerned that the author is now presenting Vicky's former sexuality as being negative and I hope he finds a balance there, because I am just as upset by how negatively sexual freedom comes across in this book as I was about the sexual gratuitousness being so acceptable in the first book.
I am concerned that the author is now presenting Vicky's former sexuality as being negative and I hope he finds a balance there, because I am just as upset by how negatively sexual freedom comes across in this book as I was about the sexual gratuitousness being so acceptable in the first book.
May 28, 2015
Mike Shepherd’s of Kris Longknife take place in a future where two human empires are in conflict. Vicky Peterwald is the daughter of one of the Emperors and has become Kris’s friend/enemy. In Vicky Peterwald: Survivor (paper from Ace) she has run from the palace after her step-mother tried to kill her. Her stepmother’s family has destroying the empire’s economy while Vicky’s new mother keeps her father occupied. So it’s up to Vicky with the help of the Navy and a developed planet working with her. Crystal is at the heart of the future economy. The executives on the mining world have choked off production leaving starving miners. Other planets have had complete collapse of civilization as the loss of tools to repair the base structures have disappeared. Vicky, as Grand Duchess might have to avoid being kidnaped an risk her life many times, but it is possible to bring the economy back in at least a small section of the Empire. Fun.Review printed by Philadelphia Weekly Press
April 21, 2017
In this second volume of the Vicky Peterwald series, the Grand Duchess of Greenfeld focuses on the goal of helping her people. Vicky has led a spoiled life. But now the palace holds nothing for her but intrigue and death. Tired of assassination attempts and abductions, she escapes with the Navy fleet where she serves as an officer. But as her leadership skills surface, she finds herself pulling on her title more often for clout. She uses her elevated status to help the people starving in the wake of her stepmother’s play for power. As she comes closer to outright rebellion, Vicky builds her supporters, including a diplomat named Mannie of whom she grows fond. I’m hoping we see more of their relationship in the sequel, and that Vicky halts her promiscuous ways to settle on one guy. I’d like her more in a straight, monogamous relationship with a clear focus to free her people from the yoke of her evil stepmother’s family.
April 30, 2016
Another outing from the ever reliable Shepherd. Yes, the trade negotiations and interplanetary economics are thoroughly simplistic, the sex is just embarrassing, the writing occasionally gets repetitious (he uses "spat" in the sense of "said" 15 times), and all the planets seem no bigger than small counties at most. But the pace never lets up, the action is decently choreographed, and the banter is first rate. I'm looking forward to reading more of these.
Characteristic lines:
"Before the mayor of Sevastopol could have his go at killing them,they had to get away from the station. That proved interesting."
"It didn't take him long to see which side his turkey was buttered on."
(Italics) "Handcuffed sopread-eagle to a bed, naked! Again! Can't these people come up with some new ideas! What am I, trapped in a lousy movie!"
Characteristic lines:
"Before the mayor of Sevastopol could have his go at killing them,they had to get away from the station. That proved interesting."
"It didn't take him long to see which side his turkey was buttered on."
(Italics) "Handcuffed sopread-eagle to a bed, naked! Again! Can't these people come up with some new ideas! What am I, trapped in a lousy movie!"
May 27, 2015
Vicki Peterwald: Survivor is better all around than she was in "Target," edging up from 3 to 3.5 stars. Shepherd hits the right notes in this second entry in the series. Kris Longknife's example lurks in the background, but Vicki is coming into her own. Lots of action (mostly outside the bedroom, this time, yay.) Vicki gains valuable experience, compassion and gumption--and the support of the real Navy. This Peterwald is saving people from hunger, economies from collapse, and working hard for good, for once. Well done! Recommended for Kris fans, and anyone else who enjoys a light space opera.
I received an EARC from Ace and Netgalley for review.
I received an EARC from Ace and Netgalley for review.
August 21, 2015
Overall a good book, I think in general it was better then target in the character development and you can tell its a bigger build for the end of the trilogy then target and slowly moving in the direction hinted at. The one part of this book that I really didn't like was the constant comparison between Vicky and Kris, while I get it in context for some parts I almost feel its just to remind us that there is another book series. I do really like the reintroduction of Mannie as a bigger character and how it changed Vicky. Good book and would recommend it to anyone that likes any of Mike Shepherds other books.
May 26, 2015
Better than the first
Vicky has found her purpose. My problem with the first novel was a lack of direction. While there was conflict, it lacked focus and the resolution was weak. This book has much of the same scramble, but the Grand Duchess seems to be more refined or reforged by the chaos. There is no big catharsis at the end, but the series has direction and motion now.
The only danger is that Vicky will become too much like Kris.
I look forward to the next in the series.
Vicky has found her purpose. My problem with the first novel was a lack of direction. While there was conflict, it lacked focus and the resolution was weak. This book has much of the same scramble, but the Grand Duchess seems to be more refined or reforged by the chaos. There is no big catharsis at the end, but the series has direction and motion now.
The only danger is that Vicky will become too much like Kris.
I look forward to the next in the series.
October 31, 2023
Shepherd, Mike. Survivor. Vicky Peterwald No. 2. Ace, 2015.
Vicky Peterwald is the Grand Duchess of the Greenfeld stellar empire. Her weak-kneed father is thoroughly under the thumb of his second wife. Vicky is also a Lieutenant in the Greenfeld space navy. She must balance her political goals, naval duties, and manage to stay alive in a world full of assassins. Fortunately, she has faithful bodyguards and military advisors to help keep her safe. Her character is modeled on Honor Harrington with a more active libido. She has learned to use the Kama Sutra as a martial art. 3 stars.
Vicky Peterwald is the Grand Duchess of the Greenfeld stellar empire. Her weak-kneed father is thoroughly under the thumb of his second wife. Vicky is also a Lieutenant in the Greenfeld space navy. She must balance her political goals, naval duties, and manage to stay alive in a world full of assassins. Fortunately, she has faithful bodyguards and military advisors to help keep her safe. Her character is modeled on Honor Harrington with a more active libido. She has learned to use the Kama Sutra as a martial art. 3 stars.
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