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RCN #4
The Way to Glory
Violence racks Cinnabar. The fleets of the tyrannical Alliance are on the move, and at home class riots threaten to rip apart not only society but the Republic of Cinnabar Navy. Lt. Daniel Leary has earned promotion, but the needs of the Republic and the RCN require that he serve under an officer whose paranoia has already led him to execute crewmen out of hand. Signals Officer Adele Mundy has repeatedly proved her skills and loyalty as Cinnabar's most accomplished intelligence agent, but now elements within the Republic want to draw her into a conspiracy like the one that led to her parent's massacre. Leary and Mundy battle their way from riot-torn streets to spies in an outlying base and an anarchic planet where violence is the only law, but if they succeed at every stage, one test still remains: a space battle against an overwhelming Alliance force. Even for Daniel Leary it will be a difficult fight to win - and almost impossible to survive.
526 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
69 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
About the author
David Drake
306 books886 followersDavid Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the major authors of the military science fiction genre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 13, 2019
This sure is a rock solid series. It’s not breaking new ground, but as far as pure story telling is concerned it has yet to disappoint. This is the fourth instalment featuring Lieutenant Daniel Leary and Signals Officer Adele Mundy. And, let’s not forget Hogg and the rest of the Sissies, without whom the series would just not be the same. The ‘secondary’ characters in these novels are done very well and some of them are a real treat (Hogg especially). The RCN books are not as pulpy as you might believe and shows that Drake can write with self-restraint. If you’re looking for a good, military themed, SF series to dig into, I recommend this one.
The story starts out in an elaborate, meted pace. The early chapters deal with some political intrigue and set the stage for the rest of the novel. Yet, for all that, it’s never dull. The second half of the book, of course, is when all hell breaks loose. The odds faced by Leary and the Sissies are often ridiculous, and the inventiveness in overcoming these odds is what lends this series its charm. Expect some dazzling twists and turnarounds. Let’s face it; Drake is no slouch when it comes to writing action scenes. Like the other RCN novels, The Way to Glory deals with both space warfare and commando-like ground operations.
I like it when my Science Fiction visits exotic locales. Drake goes to some pains to do just that. If you’re a military science fiction enthusiast, you most certainly should be no stranger to David Drake. It is compulsory reading, especially Redliners and his Hammer’s Slammers books (which are the better known of his works), but I’m really enjoying the whole dynamic of the RCN series (the first book in the series is With the Lightnings). This is a fine example of both space adventure and military science fiction where the emphasis is squarely on story.
The story starts out in an elaborate, meted pace. The early chapters deal with some political intrigue and set the stage for the rest of the novel. Yet, for all that, it’s never dull. The second half of the book, of course, is when all hell breaks loose. The odds faced by Leary and the Sissies are often ridiculous, and the inventiveness in overcoming these odds is what lends this series its charm. Expect some dazzling twists and turnarounds. Let’s face it; Drake is no slouch when it comes to writing action scenes. Like the other RCN novels, The Way to Glory deals with both space warfare and commando-like ground operations.
I like it when my Science Fiction visits exotic locales. Drake goes to some pains to do just that. If you’re a military science fiction enthusiast, you most certainly should be no stranger to David Drake. It is compulsory reading, especially Redliners and his Hammer’s Slammers books (which are the better known of his works), but I’m really enjoying the whole dynamic of the RCN series (the first book in the series is With the Lightnings). This is a fine example of both space adventure and military science fiction where the emphasis is squarely on story.
June 14, 2020
4th? re-read 6/14/17 - Such an enjoyable read.
August 21, 2025
7.5/10
Another fun adventure among the stars. Adele Mundy continues to be my favorite character.
Another fun adventure among the stars. Adele Mundy continues to be my favorite character.
May 7, 2022
Class warfare is heating up in Cinnabar exacerbated by the actions of a ship commander who executed some crew for mutiny and who was then exonerated by the court martial held to look into the incident. Now Daniel Leary has been assigned to the man's ship and sent off to deal with pirates. The ship commander doesn't like Daniel at all either because he blames Daniel for actions of Daniel's father which caused the death of the commander's brother.
Meanwhile, factions are trying to recruit Adele Mundy for a conspiracy similar to the conspiracy that caused the deaths of the whole of Adele's family. But Adele's spymaster has a mission for her that can be accomplished by going along on Daniel's new mission.
Pirate hunting should be easy. But spies and the dastardly Alliance's plans to establish a base just where Daniel has been sent, means that Daniel and Adele are in the right location to foil their plans ... if they can get their suspicious commanding officers to pay attention to them.
The story was filled with action, politics, space battles, and other exciting things. I really like both Daniel Leary and Adele Mundy who, with very different personalities, make an amazing team fighting for Cinnabar's future.
The narration was well done. The world building was excellent. Fans of space opera will enjoy this series.
Meanwhile, factions are trying to recruit Adele Mundy for a conspiracy similar to the conspiracy that caused the deaths of the whole of Adele's family. But Adele's spymaster has a mission for her that can be accomplished by going along on Daniel's new mission.
Pirate hunting should be easy. But spies and the dastardly Alliance's plans to establish a base just where Daniel has been sent, means that Daniel and Adele are in the right location to foil their plans ... if they can get their suspicious commanding officers to pay attention to them.
The story was filled with action, politics, space battles, and other exciting things. I really like both Daniel Leary and Adele Mundy who, with very different personalities, make an amazing team fighting for Cinnabar's future.
The narration was well done. The world building was excellent. Fans of space opera will enjoy this series.
July 29, 2016
Drake's RCN series features the military leader Daniel Leary and his friend Adele Mundy, librarian extraordinaire, along with a delightful, ever-expanding cast of support characters such as Daniels' family and his servant, Hogg, Adele's socially-challenged assistant Tovera, his shipmates, the incomparable Sissies, etc. (And there's usually a despicable character named Platt.) The stories are all solidly grounded on some interesting historical situation, which he explains in the books' introductions. They're well-told and exciting adventure stories that always offer some good food for thought and reflection, and the characters have depth and facets that always add a lot to the story as a whole. (For example, Daniel has a deep interest in the biological sciences that he rarely has time to pursue.) The books are a lot of fun and definitely among the very best space-opera style stories that I've encountered.
May 2, 2011
Leary has finally been promoted, but due to political machinations he is not given a new ship command. Instead, he is assigned as the executive officer of a paranoid Captain whose last move was to violently quash a mutiny by massacring the perpetrators, one of whom was a senator’s son. Leary cannot play humble, and ends up squarely in the sights of his superior.
The series certainly isn’t becoming dull, but I find that Drake missed an opportunity here. The main plot complication in the early part of the book is the contrast and conflict between Leary and Captain Slidell. However, Leary quickly manages to get himself assigned to detached duty, robbing the readers of a whole raft of interesting situations. If you can look past that, this is still a strong book in the series, though not quite as good as those preceding it.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=675
The series certainly isn’t becoming dull, but I find that Drake missed an opportunity here. The main plot complication in the early part of the book is the contrast and conflict between Leary and Captain Slidell. However, Leary quickly manages to get himself assigned to detached duty, robbing the readers of a whole raft of interesting situations. If you can look past that, this is still a strong book in the series, though not quite as good as those preceding it.
http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=675
May 27, 2021
Starts well, but meanders away from original setup, which held a lot of promise. Action appears to be Leary’s forte, not so much Mundy. The dynamic here almost works. Yang is a bit of a letdown and the action sequences are not up to Drake’s normal standards. Nonetheless a fast nearly entertaining read.
August 17, 2022
Again, like the previous books, Drake needlessly repeats and reiterates. It feels like he did this to pad the page count. Skip a lot of the pages, you won't miss any details, and you'll be happier.
July 18, 2025
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David Drake’s The Way to Glory is an exceptional entry in the Republic of Cinnabar Navy (RCN) series—a gripping blend of military science fiction, political drama, and personal loyalty set across a vivid interstellar stage. This fourth volume continues to develop the rich world and beloved characters of the RCN saga, delivering both thrilling action and deeper emotional resonance.
At the centre of The Way to Glory is Lieutenant Daniel Leary, an up-and-coming officer in the Republic’s navy. Born into Cinnabar’s political elite, Daniel might be privileged by birth, but it’s his intelligence, courage, and tactical brilliance that win him respect from crew and enemies alike. In The Way to Glory, Daniel finds himself forced to serve under Commander Slidell aboard the RCS Milton—a commander infamous for paranoia and harsh discipline, even to the point of executing his own men for suspected mutiny. The conflict between Daniel’s natural leadership and Slidell’s authoritarian rigidity becomes one of the central tensions in the novel.
Daniel is accompanied, as always, by Signals Officer Adele Mundy, one of the most fascinating figures in modern space opera. Adele is cool, methodical, and fiercely competent. Her aristocratic family was wiped out in a political purge during her youth, and her work as a covert intelligence asset for Cinnabar’s navy is both her profession and her form of justice. In this book, her past is more relevant than ever: she uncovers signs of a conspiracy on Cinnabar itself—connected to her family’s murder—that stretches into their current mission and threatens both her peace of mind and the safety of the crew.
Together they command the RCS Milton, a converted transport ship that lacks glamour but, under Daniel’s command, becomes a capable vessel. The crew is made up of familiar and colourful characters: Hogg, Daniel’s uncouth but fiercely loyal servant, who brings muscle, street smarts, and earthy wisdom; Tovera, Adele’s bodyguard and terrifyingly efficient killer, whose unshakable calm masks a deadly predator; Cory, a junior officer eager to learn; and Vesey, the capable yet cautious sailing master who provides steady guidance. The camaraderie and friction among this tight-knit crew give the novel heart and humor.
The novel takes readers to a variety of vivid planetary settings. Chief among them is the planet Strymon, a politically unstable and economically vital world teetering on the edge of revolt and regime change. Strymon is a linchpin in regional stability, and Daniel and Adele’s mission there—under the guise of a diplomatic visit—quickly turns into a dangerous game of counter-intelligence, infiltration, and eventually, combat. The atmosphere is tense and the stakes high, as pirates, corrupt officials, and enemy sympathizers converge.
The action also moves through orbitals and systems such as Cinnabar (the capital of the Republic), where Adele traces the origins of the conspiracy threatening her and the broader stability of the government. Other locales like Karst and Kostroma are referenced, creating the sense of a galaxy-spanning web of intrigue and consequence.
What sets The Way to Glory apart isn’t just its plot—though the twists and tension are superbly executed—but the way Drake builds upon the emotional and thematic core of the series. Daniel struggles with the shadow of his late father, Speaker Leary, a dominant political figure whose reputation still affects Daniel’s career. Meanwhile, Adele must choose between uncovering the truth and protecting those few people she now considers family. The burden of command, the legacy of violence, and the strength found in unlikely friendships are explored with surprising depth giving the book a real edge right from the start of the book.
David Drake’s prose is crisp and efficient, with a tone that captures the professionalism and discipline of naval life without ever losing sight of character. His background in classical history and military service gives the book an authentic sense of tactical realism. The space battles—particularly the final engagement near Strymon—are vivid, strategic, and satisfying.
While each book in the series can be read as a standalone, The Way to Glory is especially rewarding for readers who have followed the growth of Daniel, Adele, and the Sissies. It balances intelligence gathering, diplomacy, rebellion, and battle into a cohesive and propulsive narrative.
Decisive and relentless from the very outset of the book, The Way to Glory delivers everything that makes the RCN series great: clever heroes, thrilling space combat, political intrigue, deep friendships, and a richly imagined universe. It is a novel of courage, loyalty, and leadership under pressure—and it’s one of the most rewarding installments in the series so far.
David Drake’s The Way to Glory is an exceptional entry in the Republic of Cinnabar Navy (RCN) series—a gripping blend of military science fiction, political drama, and personal loyalty set across a vivid interstellar stage. This fourth volume continues to develop the rich world and beloved characters of the RCN saga, delivering both thrilling action and deeper emotional resonance.
At the centre of The Way to Glory is Lieutenant Daniel Leary, an up-and-coming officer in the Republic’s navy. Born into Cinnabar’s political elite, Daniel might be privileged by birth, but it’s his intelligence, courage, and tactical brilliance that win him respect from crew and enemies alike. In The Way to Glory, Daniel finds himself forced to serve under Commander Slidell aboard the RCS Milton—a commander infamous for paranoia and harsh discipline, even to the point of executing his own men for suspected mutiny. The conflict between Daniel’s natural leadership and Slidell’s authoritarian rigidity becomes one of the central tensions in the novel.
Daniel is accompanied, as always, by Signals Officer Adele Mundy, one of the most fascinating figures in modern space opera. Adele is cool, methodical, and fiercely competent. Her aristocratic family was wiped out in a political purge during her youth, and her work as a covert intelligence asset for Cinnabar’s navy is both her profession and her form of justice. In this book, her past is more relevant than ever: she uncovers signs of a conspiracy on Cinnabar itself—connected to her family’s murder—that stretches into their current mission and threatens both her peace of mind and the safety of the crew.
Together they command the RCS Milton, a converted transport ship that lacks glamour but, under Daniel’s command, becomes a capable vessel. The crew is made up of familiar and colourful characters: Hogg, Daniel’s uncouth but fiercely loyal servant, who brings muscle, street smarts, and earthy wisdom; Tovera, Adele’s bodyguard and terrifyingly efficient killer, whose unshakable calm masks a deadly predator; Cory, a junior officer eager to learn; and Vesey, the capable yet cautious sailing master who provides steady guidance. The camaraderie and friction among this tight-knit crew give the novel heart and humor.
The novel takes readers to a variety of vivid planetary settings. Chief among them is the planet Strymon, a politically unstable and economically vital world teetering on the edge of revolt and regime change. Strymon is a linchpin in regional stability, and Daniel and Adele’s mission there—under the guise of a diplomatic visit—quickly turns into a dangerous game of counter-intelligence, infiltration, and eventually, combat. The atmosphere is tense and the stakes high, as pirates, corrupt officials, and enemy sympathizers converge.
The action also moves through orbitals and systems such as Cinnabar (the capital of the Republic), where Adele traces the origins of the conspiracy threatening her and the broader stability of the government. Other locales like Karst and Kostroma are referenced, creating the sense of a galaxy-spanning web of intrigue and consequence.
What sets The Way to Glory apart isn’t just its plot—though the twists and tension are superbly executed—but the way Drake builds upon the emotional and thematic core of the series. Daniel struggles with the shadow of his late father, Speaker Leary, a dominant political figure whose reputation still affects Daniel’s career. Meanwhile, Adele must choose between uncovering the truth and protecting those few people she now considers family. The burden of command, the legacy of violence, and the strength found in unlikely friendships are explored with surprising depth giving the book a real edge right from the start of the book.
David Drake’s prose is crisp and efficient, with a tone that captures the professionalism and discipline of naval life without ever losing sight of character. His background in classical history and military service gives the book an authentic sense of tactical realism. The space battles—particularly the final engagement near Strymon—are vivid, strategic, and satisfying.
While each book in the series can be read as a standalone, The Way to Glory is especially rewarding for readers who have followed the growth of Daniel, Adele, and the Sissies. It balances intelligence gathering, diplomacy, rebellion, and battle into a cohesive and propulsive narrative.
Decisive and relentless from the very outset of the book, The Way to Glory delivers everything that makes the RCN series great: clever heroes, thrilling space combat, political intrigue, deep friendships, and a richly imagined universe. It is a novel of courage, loyalty, and leadership under pressure—and it’s one of the most rewarding installments in the series so far.
August 3, 2024
Same issue in this book as that in the prior.
Leary all of a sudden acts addled/clueless or what I consider intellectually out of character, an extreme example of this is found in the latter part of the book in a three way conversation between 1stLT Leary, Captain Slidell and the 2ndLT in which they discuss certain naval maneuvers. I wont add any spoilers but I will say that the MC's social interaction IQ points seems to me to take the equivalent of a high-dive plummet into a drained pool for purposes of certain plot progression. Leary otherwise a fair hand at social interaction politics, while professing a dislike for the ability, normally handles such with great aplomb.
Again just awkwardly written in my opinion.
This leads to other story aspects, wrapping up this book, the build up to which has resulted in my personal dislike for Leary as a character over the prior two books along with this one. The issue is in the authors own words conveyed, mostly, through those of the character Hog, bleeding heart soft-headedness. Or something like that,.. which sadly leads to other people paying his dues with their lives. As I see things the author has been building up to this from book two at least.
Sadly having all this happen based on what I perceive as contrived obtuse out of character behaviour torpedoes the whole thing and just leave me with a main character that I now dislike.
I also think I caught a few plot/logic holes as to activity, chronology, travel times and the like. But like a few other niggling issues I tried hard to ignore them, sadly more so in this book though.
Leary all of a sudden acts addled/clueless or what I consider intellectually out of character, an extreme example of this is found in the latter part of the book in a three way conversation between 1stLT Leary, Captain Slidell and the 2ndLT in which they discuss certain naval maneuvers. I wont add any spoilers but I will say that the MC's social interaction IQ points seems to me to take the equivalent of a high-dive plummet into a drained pool for purposes of certain plot progression. Leary otherwise a fair hand at social interaction politics, while professing a dislike for the ability, normally handles such with great aplomb.
Again just awkwardly written in my opinion.
This leads to other story aspects, wrapping up this book, the build up to which has resulted in my personal dislike for Leary as a character over the prior two books along with this one. The issue is in the authors own words conveyed, mostly, through those of the character Hog, bleeding heart soft-headedness. Or something like that,.. which sadly leads to other people paying his dues with their lives. As I see things the author has been building up to this from book two at least.
Sadly having all this happen based on what I perceive as contrived obtuse out of character behaviour torpedoes the whole thing and just leave me with a main character that I now dislike.
I also think I caught a few plot/logic holes as to activity, chronology, travel times and the like. But like a few other niggling issues I tried hard to ignore them, sadly more so in this book though.
August 6, 2021
Captain Slidell of the Royal Cinnabar Navy (RCN) executes three sailors for mutiny while on a shake down cruise. When a court martial clears him of wrongdoing, Cinnabar breaks out in violence. The navy board must send him off planet, but decides to send Daniel Leary as his first Lieutenant. Leary is a popular hero, and the naval board feels that perhaps, if the world sees that Daniel will serve under Slidell, Cinnabar will relax. So Leary is assigned to the Hermes, along with Adele Mundy, who is also given a covert mission to investigate spy activity in Gold Dust Cluster, where the Hermes is being sent to deal with pirates.
But Slidell doesn't like Leary from the start. He feels Leary is there to spy on him, is only in it for money and glory, and is a plant of his (Leary's) father (far from the truth, since Leary despises his father). But soon we have the usual Leary/Mundy adventure, where they, along with their crew, are off and several near impossible missions, ranging from convincing a primitive ruler to free three hundred prisoners he wants to execute to breaking up a major Alliance incursion into the Gold Dust Cluster.
These books continue to be a lot of fun. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
But Slidell doesn't like Leary from the start. He feels Leary is there to spy on him, is only in it for money and glory, and is a plant of his (Leary's) father (far from the truth, since Leary despises his father). But soon we have the usual Leary/Mundy adventure, where they, along with their crew, are off and several near impossible missions, ranging from convincing a primitive ruler to free three hundred prisoners he wants to execute to breaking up a major Alliance incursion into the Gold Dust Cluster.
These books continue to be a lot of fun. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
May 25, 2017
Another great book in this series. Daniel Leary and Adele Mundy are two characters that leave you wanting to know more of their adventures. After Capt. Slidell puts down a mutiny on his vessel, the RCN Navy decides that a hero like Daniel can help the reputation of the Navy by shipping as Slidell's new First Lieutenant. Sending the RCN Hermes to a sector filled with pirates, Daniel stumbles upon a plan by the Alliance to take over the sector and establish a base. Realising that Slidell will override any plan he comes up with, to take the glory for himself, Daniel suggests a suicidal attack on the enemy convoy. Slidell takes the bait, putting Daniel in command of the Hermes, while he takes a cutter to attack. Daniel then plans a proper attack on the convoy with Adele's help, and succeeds beyond his wildest dreams. The story ends with him being promoted to Commander.
January 1, 2022
Reading for Pleasure.
Reading a book for pleasure should be the reason why anyone reads a book, thing is, you only really get to form an honest opinion at least towards the end of the book. I'm taking break from normal reading to re-read this RCN series because it was a joy to read. The last two books in his series changed direction, a bit, but this, book four, still follows the original story type. I love it!
Reading a book for pleasure should be the reason why anyone reads a book, thing is, you only really get to form an honest opinion at least towards the end of the book. I'm taking break from normal reading to re-read this RCN series because it was a joy to read. The last two books in his series changed direction, a bit, but this, book four, still follows the original story type. I love it!
July 4, 2024
Are the atractive features of the book are missing or my patience. The beginning was so slow, some people in charge are stubborn and stupid as usual, some biologically nonsense and the action is rushed with less explanations. The space bits, the humour, Adelle M and some other smaller characters were the best part. I still listen to it as an audiobook and sometimes I loose interest/ attention. Can’t find the written form without buying it.
February 9, 2019
Great read!!! Great series!!!
Easy read (for myself) and great characters!
Lady Mundy is soooo enjoyable , and not over done.
Lt. Leary and crew are a blast as well.
I feel that you can enjoy the series if you do not get too serious about what happens and where they end up!!!
Just try and enjoy it!!!
(IMVHO... )
Easy read (for myself) and great characters!
Lady Mundy is soooo enjoyable , and not over done.
Lt. Leary and crew are a blast as well.
I feel that you can enjoy the series if you do not get too serious about what happens and where they end up!!!
Just try and enjoy it!!!
(IMVHO... )
May 22, 2017
Danger is found not only on the space lanes, but also on the ground. Riots and conspiracies try to entangle Leary and Mundy on Cinnabar and in space. But they manage to steer their way to glory anyway.
June 7, 2018
Lt. Leary's moving up in the universe.
June 18, 2018
Each book is a solid start/stop.
So there isn't a drive to read the next aside from wondering what trouble they were sent into this time...
So there isn't a drive to read the next aside from wondering what trouble they were sent into this time...
June 9, 2019
it was good. not quite as good as the first three, a little bit too glib in places, but still enjoyable.
August 29, 2023
I just wasn't as invested as in previous installments. The overall plot wasn't as engaging not came to as satisfying of a close.
Age rating: 13+ (language, violence)
Age rating: 13+ (language, violence)
October 29, 2023
Reread
It's been several years since I first read this book. But I'm glad I read it again it really is a great story
It's been several years since I first read this book. But I'm glad I read it again it really is a great story
October 2, 2025
Good novel. Space opera theme, centred around neo-Roman society and 18th century sailing techniques.
Read
October 26, 2025Why you might like it: RCN series: Aubrey/Maturin in space, with logistics. Rubric match: not yet scored. Uses your engineering/rigor/first-contact/world-building rubric. Tags: military-sf, ops
December 31, 2016
The Way To Glory by David Drake
Daniel Leary is still a Lieutenant in this book. His beloved Sissies are still with him as is Adele Mundy, Tovera and Hogg . A munity and subsequent execution of the mutineers puts Daniel and his crew in an uncomfortable position. Daniel's normal creative interpretation of orders provides the excitement to the story.
The Horatio Hornblower series was one of my favorites series as a boy. Drake uses that story type beautifully. The camaraderie, loyalty and idolatry shown in Drake's characters is a hallmark of this series.
Once again into the breach is the overriding theme.
I enjoyed the book and have enjoyed the series.
Web site: http://david-drake.com/
Daniel Leary is still a Lieutenant in this book. His beloved Sissies are still with him as is Adele Mundy, Tovera and Hogg . A munity and subsequent execution of the mutineers puts Daniel and his crew in an uncomfortable position. Daniel's normal creative interpretation of orders provides the excitement to the story.
The Horatio Hornblower series was one of my favorites series as a boy. Drake uses that story type beautifully. The camaraderie, loyalty and idolatry shown in Drake's characters is a hallmark of this series.
Once again into the breach is the overriding theme.
I enjoyed the book and have enjoyed the series.
Web site: http://david-drake.com/
September 8, 2009
Best book so far. Not everything goes Leary's way in this book. It was a tense book throughout, and the best written thus far in the series. I finally like Leary and Adele, and I didn't in the first two books, but this book made them more human. I attribute that to Drake's writing improving. If you don't like the first book of the series persevere through, this book alone is worth reading the other three first just to get to this one (and the first three books range from pretty good to good).
July 24, 2008
I think the author has really defined the two main characters well. After the third book, I think the author is hitting his stride. (either that or I am getting use to his style of writing.)
The plot was good. It moved in a good pace. Some things are kind of too "lucky", but the book reflects on it. And it brings a warm fuzzy feeling after reading the book. Too much stuff is too real these days... or too dark.
Definitely not this book.
Will continue to read more in this series.
The plot was good. It moved in a good pace. Some things are kind of too "lucky", but the book reflects on it. And it brings a warm fuzzy feeling after reading the book. Too much stuff is too real these days... or too dark.
Definitely not this book.
Will continue to read more in this series.
May 30, 2014
As the series goes on, it feels like it becomes more and more about Mundy, which is great, since she's my favorite character in this series. She's got the most depth and complexity. Daniel is fairly well fleshed out, but he's simple (Mundy calls him at times innocent and naive, which I think fits great). The other characters are all pretty one dimensional, which doesn't detract from the series.
January 1, 2011
Better than the last book but Drake has got to stop using the phrase "Adele smiled coldly" because I am sick of it. The adventures are fun but there is zero character growth and development, and it's a little boring. Though I think I spot the hint of an overall plot arc for the series, which I thought had also been lacking.
December 12, 2012
In this installment, Daniel Leary must ship under a paranoid captain -- but unlike the situations in CS Forester's Mr. Midshipman Hornblower or Herman Wouk's The Caine Mutiny, it's complicated by Daniel being the son of the Speaker of the Senate, and the captain being a member of a rival political family.
June 14, 2013
If I could rate this 3.5, I would, but I do nothing in half measures. David Drake continues to write compelling, believable officers, but in this fourth installment they are a bit cardboard.
Not so their circumstances, and the protagonists Mundy and Leary shine in a series of impossible situations. There are better books in this series, but if you've come this far, you're as hooked as I am.
Not so their circumstances, and the protagonists Mundy and Leary shine in a series of impossible situations. There are better books in this series, but if you've come this far, you're as hooked as I am.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews