I've been reading this universe for years and just read this first book in an ancillary series. I figured I'd explain for anyone who might have picked this up as a first book.
Shepherd writes very simple, fast moving, space opera. The plots aren't special, neither is the writing, but for those of us who grew up from E E "Doc" Smith to the present day, an opera is a fun way to spent a couple of hours. However, be prepared to be bored and annoyed by some of his simple quirks, things such as:
- Getting awful tired of reading "those Longknifes"
- His focus on his own Navy career sometimes ending up with Sailor as a proper noun, not just a noun
- His confusion about trademark references so his overuse of the "tm"
- The fact that so many of the characters, from major to minor, have the same snarky voice with very little differentiation. It's almost as if that's the only voice he knows
- Nobody, not even the main character of this book, ever slaps down "those Longknifes", and granny needs it badly
This book is a follow up to Kris Longknife's trip way out across the galaxy to fight the "bug eyed monsters". Sandy Santiago is the admiral sent to take over as Kris heads home, and this is her story. Too much whining about "those Longknifes" and how noble the Santiago claim is, but, as mentioned above, it comes with the territory. The usual, fun, quick, fluff, read.
Again, this is a deserved three-star. That's not bad. Space opera fluff is a fun break from the many other types of writing. Enjoy it for what it is.