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Vatta's War #5
Victory Conditions
A vast and hostile force is attacking prosperous trade centres, destroying their space fleets then moving on, leaving death and chaos in their wake. Admiral Ky Vatta’s family was decimated by one such attack and Turek, the pirate force’s leader, will not escape her vengeance.
Ky has a loyal taskforce, but the enemy have three times the ships and the firepower to match. She must offset these advantages with her knowledge of military strategy and her ace: superior ansible technology, facilitating fast and accurate in-space intelligence.
The alternative to victory is unthinkable - devastation of interplanetary trading networks on a galaxy-wide scale - and the end of a way of life.
Ky has a loyal taskforce, but the enemy have three times the ships and the firepower to match. She must offset these advantages with her knowledge of military strategy and her ace: superior ansible technology, facilitating fast and accurate in-space intelligence.
The alternative to victory is unthinkable - devastation of interplanetary trading networks on a galaxy-wide scale - and the end of a way of life.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
204 people are currently reading
1284 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Moon
140 books2,612 followersElizabeth Moon was born March 7, 1945, and grew up in McAllen, Texas, graduating from McAllen High School in 1963. She has a B.A. in History from Rice University (1968) and another in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin (1975) with graduate work in Biology at the University of Texas, San Antonio.
She served in the USMC from 1968 to 1971, first at MCB Quantico and then at HQMC. She married Richard Moon, a Rice classmate and Army officer, in 1969; they moved to the small central Texas town where they still live in 1979. They have one son, born in 1983.
She started writing stories and poems as a small child; attempted first book (an illustrated biography of the family dog) at age six. Started writing science fiction in high school, but considered writing merely a sideline. First got serious about writing (as in, submitting things and actually getting money...) in the 1980s. Made first fiction sale at age forty--"Bargains" to Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword & Sorceress III and "ABCs in Zero G" to Analog. Her first novel, Sheepfarmer's Daughter, sold in 1987 and came out in 1988; it won the Compton Crook Award in 1989. Remnant Population was a Hugo nominee in 1997, and The Speed of Dark was a finalist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and won the Nebula in 2004.
She served in the USMC from 1968 to 1971, first at MCB Quantico and then at HQMC. She married Richard Moon, a Rice classmate and Army officer, in 1969; they moved to the small central Texas town where they still live in 1979. They have one son, born in 1983.
She started writing stories and poems as a small child; attempted first book (an illustrated biography of the family dog) at age six. Started writing science fiction in high school, but considered writing merely a sideline. First got serious about writing (as in, submitting things and actually getting money...) in the 1980s. Made first fiction sale at age forty--"Bargains" to Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword & Sorceress III and "ABCs in Zero G" to Analog. Her first novel, Sheepfarmer's Daughter, sold in 1987 and came out in 1988; it won the Compton Crook Award in 1989. Remnant Population was a Hugo nominee in 1997, and The Speed of Dark was a finalist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and won the Nebula in 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 375 reviews
April 22, 2010
Genre: Space Opera/Military Sci Fi
This is probably the weakest book of the Vatta’s War series, it wrapped everything up all neat and tidy but it took too many short-cuts. Despite the relationship between Gammis Turek (pirate leader) and Lew Parmina (former head of ISC, biggest company in the known universe) being critical to the success of the pirates in earlier books, it’s never explained WHY they were working together, or even that they WERE directly working together. It’s hinted at a lot, but not elucidated. The only motivation we’re given for either’s power grabs (both using extremely despicable means) is a lust for power. I feel cheated.
The sub-plots were also somewhat weak. The sub-plot of Toby falling for the teenaged daughter of a pirate was interesting, but the resolution was a cop out – instead of slowly discovering that the dad was a traitor over the course of the book and having that interact with the larger story, everyone simultaneously intuits the fact that he’s a pirate. (Oh, and everyone – political authorities included – condemn this as vehemently as the Vatta’s who have personal cause for a vendetta.) To make matters even more black-and-white, he’s got to be suddenly revealed as an abusive spouse as well. Totally unnecessary vilification, in my opinion. It would have been much more interesting if he was a likeable fellow. The result of this sub-plot is equally incredulous - it doesn’t even cause a stutter in Toby’s romance!
Speaking of romance, I found the romance between Rafe and Ky completely unbelievable. Yes, it’s been foreshadowed ever since we met Rafe, however, they both independently decide they’re in love with each other without ever talking after he leaves her 2 books ago! Not believable. Especially when there is a lot of pressure against a relationship, and they’re both deeply busy with other things. Partiality for each other I have no trouble believing. Deciding the other person is the love of your life without any communication what-so-ever is too much for me to swallow. Especially when Moon set up a perfectly reasonable way for them to keep in secret contact; she could’ve developed that plot/relationship over the course of the book in a much more believable and less melodramatic way.
It was still a fun book, full of action and adventure and amusement. However it could’ve been so much MORE then it was.
This is probably the weakest book of the Vatta’s War series, it wrapped everything up all neat and tidy but it took too many short-cuts. Despite the relationship between Gammis Turek (pirate leader) and Lew Parmina (former head of ISC, biggest company in the known universe) being critical to the success of the pirates in earlier books, it’s never explained WHY they were working together, or even that they WERE directly working together. It’s hinted at a lot, but not elucidated. The only motivation we’re given for either’s power grabs (both using extremely despicable means) is a lust for power. I feel cheated.
The sub-plots were also somewhat weak. The sub-plot of Toby falling for the teenaged daughter of a pirate was interesting, but the resolution was a cop out – instead of slowly discovering that the dad was a traitor over the course of the book and having that interact with the larger story, everyone simultaneously intuits the fact that he’s a pirate. (Oh, and everyone – political authorities included – condemn this as vehemently as the Vatta’s who have personal cause for a vendetta.) To make matters even more black-and-white, he’s got to be suddenly revealed as an abusive spouse as well. Totally unnecessary vilification, in my opinion. It would have been much more interesting if he was a likeable fellow. The result of this sub-plot is equally incredulous - it doesn’t even cause a stutter in Toby’s romance!
Speaking of romance, I found the romance between Rafe and Ky completely unbelievable. Yes, it’s been foreshadowed ever since we met Rafe, however, they both independently decide they’re in love with each other without ever talking after he leaves her 2 books ago! Not believable. Especially when there is a lot of pressure against a relationship, and they’re both deeply busy with other things. Partiality for each other I have no trouble believing. Deciding the other person is the love of your life without any communication what-so-ever is too much for me to swallow. Especially when Moon set up a perfectly reasonable way for them to keep in secret contact; she could’ve developed that plot/relationship over the course of the book in a much more believable and less melodramatic way.
It was still a fun book, full of action and adventure and amusement. However it could’ve been so much MORE then it was.
February 12, 2022
A great end to a good Space Opera.
It’s true, though, that all five of these books make up a single long novel. No doubt about it. From the abuse in the first to the returned humiliation in the last, from starting with almost nothing to being the top of the game, the whole sequence satisfies.
If you like Bujold’s Space Opera, want it distilled down to the economic, spycraft, and warcraft elements, then this will be your speed. Or if you like MilSF at all, this will be a fun read.
No complaints. Except, perhaps, for the cover. But we are used to these older books ignoring actual skin color, aren’t we? *groan*
It’s true, though, that all five of these books make up a single long novel. No doubt about it. From the abuse in the first to the returned humiliation in the last, from starting with almost nothing to being the top of the game, the whole sequence satisfies.
If you like Bujold’s Space Opera, want it distilled down to the economic, spycraft, and warcraft elements, then this will be your speed. Or if you like MilSF at all, this will be a fun read.
No complaints. Except, perhaps, for the cover. But we are used to these older books ignoring actual skin color, aren’t we? *groan*
April 6, 2018
“Victory Conditions (Vatta’s War #5)” concludes the epic military scifi adventure story of Ky Vatta as she builds a unified space force to stand against pirates, and as her friends and family try to rebuild the economic empires of Vatta and InterStellar Communications Corporation (ISC) .
Politics, personalities, space battles, abductions, killings, deceptions, betrayals, declarations of love and fade to black (hetero) sex….this book covers lots of ground!
Raf still annoys me for some reason, but I’ve grown to like his sister Penny. Ky really comes into her own, and is an admirable admiral. Nearly everything is wrapped up with this book, and various secondary characters generally get what we hoped for…mostly good…and one bad.
There is a very interesting teaser at the end between Master Sergeant Pitt and a character. I wouldn’t call it a cliffhanger, exactly, but I wonder if that teaser plays into what became the next book in the extended series - “Cold Welcome (Vatta’s Peace #1)”, published in April 2017, eight years after “Victory Conditions”. Happily, the audiobook is already out, so after I catch my breath from Vatta’s war, I won’t have to wait for Ky’s next adventure!
“Victory Conditions” is an entertaining and satisfying end to a terrific series, and the narration is excellent. Highly recommended with a 5* rating.
BTW, part of the reason for author Elizabeth Moon’s ability to write convincing details of the tedium, the adventure, the politics and the personalities of military life undoubtedly is that she served in the United States Marine Corps from 1968-1971!
Politics, personalities, space battles, abductions, killings, deceptions, betrayals, declarations of love and fade to black (hetero) sex….this book covers lots of ground!
Raf still annoys me for some reason, but I’ve grown to like his sister Penny. Ky really comes into her own, and is an admirable admiral. Nearly everything is wrapped up with this book, and various secondary characters generally get what we hoped for…mostly good…and one bad.
There is a very interesting teaser at the end between Master Sergeant Pitt and a character. I wouldn’t call it a cliffhanger, exactly, but I wonder if that teaser plays into what became the next book in the extended series - “Cold Welcome (Vatta’s Peace #1)”, published in April 2017, eight years after “Victory Conditions”. Happily, the audiobook is already out, so after I catch my breath from Vatta’s war, I won’t have to wait for Ky’s next adventure!
“Victory Conditions” is an entertaining and satisfying end to a terrific series, and the narration is excellent. Highly recommended with a 5* rating.
BTW, part of the reason for author Elizabeth Moon’s ability to write convincing details of the tedium, the adventure, the politics and the personalities of military life undoubtedly is that she served in the United States Marine Corps from 1968-1971!
December 27, 2023
I was in the mood to reread these and so I binged the series. I love it so. I wish all military SF was so fun. Kylara "Ky" Vatta is an excellent character to root for. Part of what I love about the series is that she starts out being rather naïve but grows and changes into a lovely powerhouse. But just because she is powerful, doesn't mean that she doesn't care about the greater good. I also love Ky's cousin Stella and their goofy Aunt Grace, neither who end up being as originally expected. The highlight of this series for me is always the characters, their interactions, and the way the author twists the plot with unexpected, but rational, consequences. I have not reread the sequel series vatta's peace but now I want to. Arrr!
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Ahoy there me mateys! This here be a combined review of the fourth and fifth books of the Vatta’s War series. While I try to post no spoilers, if ye haven’t read books one through three and ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .
Well book four started out in an odd fashion. Book three ended suggesting a certain direction and then that didn’t happen. I really wanted to visit a specific planet. Alas. I also know I said that book three felt like a placeholder but this one did too. That said I actually enjoyed this one better. This book follows primarily Rafe and Ky. But the other favourites still make appearances. I continue to adore Aunt Grace. I love the flamboyant ship captain. He makes me so happy. Those who have read prior books will know exactly which one. Ky of course remains the highlight even though she doesn’t get all the page time. This book certainly picked up the pace!
As for the final book, I adored it and thought it be an excellent conclusion to the series. Ky truly is a fantastic leader and I loved watching all of her experience and hardships come together and led to success. Part of the fun of this installment was watching the author’s surprise resolutions for many of me favourite characters. Three in particular made me incredibly happy. Which three ye ask? Spoilers matey, spoilers.
I did want to point out a specific aspect of these novels which is how post-traumatic stress gets dealt with. First of all people actually have realistic issues after experiencing horrible things. Secondly, suffering people are supported and get help to deal with their problems. Characters actually take time to process their situations and talk about feelings and emotions. The emotional toll doesn’t just disappear magically. Now granted it is an advanced society where there is medical treatment that current science cannot provide. But there are also meds, therapy sessions, and taking time to heal, reflect, and rest. It was a refreshing viewpoint for military sci-fi.
I am so very glad to have read this series and highly recommend it to me crew. I have already made plans to get the companion series, vatta’s peace, in me mitts. Arrr!!!
Side note: Much thanks to me matey, Sarah @ brainfluff, for pointing me in the right direction in terms of the recommended readin’ sequence for these books!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
************************
Ahoy there me mateys! This here be a combined review of the fourth and fifth books of the Vatta’s War series. While I try to post no spoilers, if ye haven’t read books one through three and ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .
Well book four started out in an odd fashion. Book three ended suggesting a certain direction and then that didn’t happen. I really wanted to visit a specific planet. Alas. I also know I said that book three felt like a placeholder but this one did too. That said I actually enjoyed this one better. This book follows primarily Rafe and Ky. But the other favourites still make appearances. I continue to adore Aunt Grace. I love the flamboyant ship captain. He makes me so happy. Those who have read prior books will know exactly which one. Ky of course remains the highlight even though she doesn’t get all the page time. This book certainly picked up the pace!
As for the final book, I adored it and thought it be an excellent conclusion to the series. Ky truly is a fantastic leader and I loved watching all of her experience and hardships come together and led to success. Part of the fun of this installment was watching the author’s surprise resolutions for many of me favourite characters. Three in particular made me incredibly happy. Which three ye ask? Spoilers matey, spoilers.
I did want to point out a specific aspect of these novels which is how post-traumatic stress gets dealt with. First of all people actually have realistic issues after experiencing horrible things. Secondly, suffering people are supported and get help to deal with their problems. Characters actually take time to process their situations and talk about feelings and emotions. The emotional toll doesn’t just disappear magically. Now granted it is an advanced society where there is medical treatment that current science cannot provide. But there are also meds, therapy sessions, and taking time to heal, reflect, and rest. It was a refreshing viewpoint for military sci-fi.
I am so very glad to have read this series and highly recommend it to me crew. I have already made plans to get the companion series, vatta’s peace, in me mitts. Arrr!!!
Side note: Much thanks to me matey, Sarah @ brainfluff, for pointing me in the right direction in terms of the recommended readin’ sequence for these books!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
March 17, 2017
No, this isn't a blog entry about my Swedish campaign game in Empire Total War. Rather "Victory Conditions" is the name of the 5th and final book in Elizabeth Moon's "Vatta's War" series. This is a science fiction series that I started unexpectedly last year. You see, I was on a business trip and had run out of reading material. Now that's not a bad thing in my brain because it means I get to go to the bookstore and buy something that looks good to me right then and there. Since I have such a back load of unread books in my house, I sometimes feel like I "have" to read such and such because I've had it for so long. Many times I'll open a book that I have long anticipated only to feel like this is "old" stuff. So, there I was at the book store in...San Diego I think, and I had the chance to buy something "fresh". I spent a lot of time browsing trying to narrow down my choices. I really wanted to try a new author. I finally settled on the first book of this series, "Trading in Danger". It appealed to me because I really wasn't looking for hard science fiction but I figured a nice space opera would be fine. And it wasn't a straight military science fiction story either, more about traders and merchants.
So I read that book and loved it, forcing me to buy the rest of the series. Although I do like to mix up my reading with different genres all the time, I still like to read an entire series during the course of the year. It makes my cataloging easier when I write my "Year in Review." But to my chagrin, the final book of the series wasn't yet published! I had to wait until this year, at least for the paperback version and so there has been a bit of a gap from my reading of the first four to this one.
But you know what? That gap didn't matter. These books are so well written that I easily slipped back into the story line. Ms Moon writes with an easy, familiar style, that makes complicated situations much easier to comprehend. And the plot of this series is a wonderful progression of adventure. The characters interact delightfully and drive the action of the novels. I really enjoyed the way the protagonist, Ky Vatta, was thrust into very difficult circumstances and was able to bring a different way of thinking to the situation and resolve it. I also liked the behind-the-scenes action. In other words, take a different space opera universe like Star Trek. You get lots of info on the main plot, action, etc. but in Ms Moon's books we get to see how "normal" people deal with everyday situations. It ain't easy trying to get basic supplies from a trade depot when you don't have security identification.
This last volume of the series wrapped it all up in fine style. My only complaint is that the ending seemed a little rushed, as if the author was trying to wrap up too many loose ends. There was, however, a definite resolution to the main conflicts and an overall satisfying ending. I definitely plan to check out Elizabeth Moon's other books.
So I read that book and loved it, forcing me to buy the rest of the series. Although I do like to mix up my reading with different genres all the time, I still like to read an entire series during the course of the year. It makes my cataloging easier when I write my "Year in Review." But to my chagrin, the final book of the series wasn't yet published! I had to wait until this year, at least for the paperback version and so there has been a bit of a gap from my reading of the first four to this one.
But you know what? That gap didn't matter. These books are so well written that I easily slipped back into the story line. Ms Moon writes with an easy, familiar style, that makes complicated situations much easier to comprehend. And the plot of this series is a wonderful progression of adventure. The characters interact delightfully and drive the action of the novels. I really enjoyed the way the protagonist, Ky Vatta, was thrust into very difficult circumstances and was able to bring a different way of thinking to the situation and resolve it. I also liked the behind-the-scenes action. In other words, take a different space opera universe like Star Trek. You get lots of info on the main plot, action, etc. but in Ms Moon's books we get to see how "normal" people deal with everyday situations. It ain't easy trying to get basic supplies from a trade depot when you don't have security identification.
This last volume of the series wrapped it all up in fine style. My only complaint is that the ending seemed a little rushed, as if the author was trying to wrap up too many loose ends. There was, however, a definite resolution to the main conflicts and an overall satisfying ending. I definitely plan to check out Elizabeth Moon's other books.
January 17, 2016
Somewhere - belatedly - around the halfway mark of Victory Conditions, I started wondering what exactly I was trying to prove by slogging through this series. I'd already given it a second and third chance to redeem itself, and each book seemed worse than the one before: characters behaved erratically, the plot made no sense whatsoever, Chekhov's whole freaking armory lay forgotten and gathering dust...
I'm sorry to report this one isn't any better. I don't know that I'd say it's the weakest installment of the series - mostly because that would mean actually remembering what happened in the other books for comparison, and my brain has apparently taken the last few weeks to reclaim those neurons for more useful things - but it's certainly not something I'd care to reread, either.
Under different circumstances, I think the glaring flaws of this series... would still have been glaring. It's generally never a good sign when you start wondering whether the characters would make any more sense if you could just assume they were all robots who are very bad at pretending to pass as humans. ()
Part of it was probably just a "wrong book, wrong time" issue too, to be fair: I was hoping for a "merchant's disgraced heir reluctantly learns the family business and at last finds she's pretty good at it after all" story, but instead I got a "military golden child stuns everyone with implausibly advanced knowledge of tactics at a young age, and is also always right and is beautiful enough to get all the men, effortlessly"... which may, in fact, be the polar opposite kind of story. And the "oo-rah, military is always right, and also awesome, and everyone else is disposable scum"... was, for various reasons, a message that managed to hit a remarkable amount of my personal red-alert buttons at once.
In any case - I'm glad this one's over with. Here's to happier ventures ahead... and better choices of reading material. I think it's going to be quite some time before I try anything military-SF-related again.
I'm sorry to report this one isn't any better. I don't know that I'd say it's the weakest installment of the series - mostly because that would mean actually remembering what happened in the other books for comparison, and my brain has apparently taken the last few weeks to reclaim those neurons for more useful things - but it's certainly not something I'd care to reread, either.
Under different circumstances, I think the glaring flaws of this series... would still have been glaring. It's generally never a good sign when you start wondering whether the characters would make any more sense if you could just assume they were all robots who are very bad at pretending to pass as humans. ()
Part of it was probably just a "wrong book, wrong time" issue too, to be fair: I was hoping for a "merchant's disgraced heir reluctantly learns the family business and at last finds she's pretty good at it after all" story, but instead I got a "military golden child stuns everyone with implausibly advanced knowledge of tactics at a young age, and is also always right and is beautiful enough to get all the men, effortlessly"... which may, in fact, be the polar opposite kind of story. And the "oo-rah, military is always right, and also awesome, and everyone else is disposable scum"... was, for various reasons, a message that managed to hit a remarkable amount of my personal red-alert buttons at once.
In any case - I'm glad this one's over with. Here's to happier ventures ahead... and better choices of reading material. I think it's going to be quite some time before I try anything military-SF-related again.
January 27, 2022
I read this entire series over the past week, and, until the final volume, it was acceptably mediocre. Victory Conditions, however, is just terrible.
Space Opera inevitably descends into munchkin power gaming, and this is a prime example of how not to do it. Dei ex machina, painfully predictable plot coupons, and, when a whole bunch of minor characters who had spanned much of the series die violently, a three page gesture towards sorrow in an attempt to give the lead character some depth. Feh.
Space Opera inevitably descends into munchkin power gaming, and this is a prime example of how not to do it. Dei ex machina, painfully predictable plot coupons, and, when a whole bunch of minor characters who had spanned much of the series die violently, a three page gesture towards sorrow in an attempt to give the lead character some depth. Feh.
September 2, 2016
"If there's been a completely honest government in the history of humankind, no history book's ever mentioned it."
Excellent. Moon drew all the essential threads into a satisfying climax, and left enough to remind the reader that life goes on. Moon's forte is interpersonal relationships over interstellar distances. It's easy to get out of sync, and she explores many of the ways complex, if-bigger-than-life people get cross ways with each other and the world(s).
A good read of the space opera variety.
Excellent. Moon drew all the essential threads into a satisfying climax, and left enough to remind the reader that life goes on. Moon's forte is interpersonal relationships over interstellar distances. It's easy to get out of sync, and she explores many of the ways complex, if-bigger-than-life people get cross ways with each other and the world(s).
A good read of the space opera variety.
January 14, 2016
Reread..
July 20, 2013
Well I am finally done with Vatta's War and it's time to say what I think about it.
I would not recommend the serie, it's not bad but it's not an earth shattering read that absolutely needs to be done. The whole set of books gets a 3 stars rating for me, maybe I should qualify this. This is not really a set of 5 disconnected books but more a story told over 5 relatively short books. Character development is not really great and action is sometime sparse. All in all an average read, it will keep you busy if you need something to read on a plane but there are a lot of better books out there...
I would not recommend the serie, it's not bad but it's not an earth shattering read that absolutely needs to be done. The whole set of books gets a 3 stars rating for me, maybe I should qualify this. This is not really a set of 5 disconnected books but more a story told over 5 relatively short books. Character development is not really great and action is sometime sparse. All in all an average read, it will keep you busy if you need something to read on a plane but there are a lot of better books out there...
December 7, 2017
I rather dislike Rafe.
December 5 2017
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I rarely reread - much more so recently, but still I rarely reread. So the number of series I've reread, completely, can be counted on one hand. There's this series here - the Vatta War one (yes, it continues in Vatta Peace, but I've never read that one). Then, hmms, Jae's Hollywood series. Oh, heh, that's it. Those two. I came really close to rereading Jae's Shape-shifter series, I've read all but the last book and last two short stories, but . . . my energy ran out I guess. So - I reread every book in this series here and Jae's Hollywood series.
'Vatta's War' had never been my favorite series by Elizabeth Moon, that'd probably be either the Deed of Parksenarrion or Paladin's Legacy series. Both fantasy, and, chronologically, Deed is second and Paladin's is third in the same fantasy universe. I've never read the first series in that universe, The Legacy of Gird - not exactly sure why though Parksenarrion isn't in the first series, and does pop up on occasion in the third series (plus, the story of Gird is basically told over the course of the other two series). So it is easy for me to say that I've always liked Moon more as a Fantasy writer than a Science Fiction writer, though I also did like The Serrano Legacy series.
One of the things I had forgotten before the reread was the part where the series does not actually follow Ky Vatta. Though I probably should have realized/remembered that, since that’s something Moon likes doing in her series – follow a bunch of characters, not just one. Still, I forgot. Most of the books in the series do include significant sections devoted to Ky’s point of view, but there are books, and sections of books, that are almost exclusively devoted to other characters – like, if I recall correctly, both book 4 and 5 have significant time spent with Rafe and his family/business issues, with book 5 having a large chunk also devoted to Toby and his ‘stuff’. There’s still significant Ky action in book 5, but, by the end of the series, I kind of forgotten the character amongst all the others. Though I did see and recognize the character growth curve.
So, what did happen in book five? Plotline 1: Toby, the youngster (13? 15?) from prior books, does stuff on the space station he lives on, like go to school, invent stuff, date a girl his own age, have to deal with the parents of that girl, be kidnapped, etc.
Plotline 2: Rafe continues reluctantly guiding his family and business affairs. Though in terms of family, mostly just his sister (who he is kind of condescending to until he realizes she’s not ‘just’ his young sister but an actual individual who also happens to be an adult). The business part involves him dealing with being ‘temp’/’acting’ CEO for his ill father’s company. Oh, and he is also still lusting after Ky.
Plotline 3: Ky continues work on creating a fleet to defeat the ‘pirates’. Reminds me – there’s a ton of talk about ‘traitor’s’ that seemed very misplaced. How exactly were all these people traitors? Sure, some of them are, but just because someone is your enemy doesn’t magically make them into ‘traitors’. Sorry, that came up a lot, that word, though more in other people’s sections than Ky’s. Where was I? Oh, right, Ky continues creating fleet, gets into battles, matures, continues being condescended to because of her age and gender (‘of course she’s going to be distracted by pretty pretty boys!!!’ bah).
Plotline 4: Aunt Grace & her boy toy McRoberts (or was that MacRoberts?) doing stuff important related to the defense of Ky’s home system (what was that again, Slotter Key or something like that?).
Right, so, that’s the series. Relatively interesting and well written. Certain melodramatic parts (like the villain literally poses as a kind of soap opera villain, though there are no sections devoted to him and it is explained why he is acting that way – purposefully, so, okay).
I liked the books well enough. Though my purpose was to set myself up to read book 1 of the follow-up series before book 2 appears shortly. But I somewhat failed since I’m kind of burned out now on Vatta issues. *shrugs* Happens.
Rating: something around 3.75, since that’s the shelf I put it on on the 5th of December.
December 7 2017
December 5 2017
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I rarely reread - much more so recently, but still I rarely reread. So the number of series I've reread, completely, can be counted on one hand. There's this series here - the Vatta War one (yes, it continues in Vatta Peace, but I've never read that one). Then, hmms, Jae's Hollywood series. Oh, heh, that's it. Those two. I came really close to rereading Jae's Shape-shifter series, I've read all but the last book and last two short stories, but . . . my energy ran out I guess. So - I reread every book in this series here and Jae's Hollywood series.
'Vatta's War' had never been my favorite series by Elizabeth Moon, that'd probably be either the Deed of Parksenarrion or Paladin's Legacy series. Both fantasy, and, chronologically, Deed is second and Paladin's is third in the same fantasy universe. I've never read the first series in that universe, The Legacy of Gird - not exactly sure why though Parksenarrion isn't in the first series, and does pop up on occasion in the third series (plus, the story of Gird is basically told over the course of the other two series). So it is easy for me to say that I've always liked Moon more as a Fantasy writer than a Science Fiction writer, though I also did like The Serrano Legacy series.
One of the things I had forgotten before the reread was the part where the series does not actually follow Ky Vatta. Though I probably should have realized/remembered that, since that’s something Moon likes doing in her series – follow a bunch of characters, not just one. Still, I forgot. Most of the books in the series do include significant sections devoted to Ky’s point of view, but there are books, and sections of books, that are almost exclusively devoted to other characters – like, if I recall correctly, both book 4 and 5 have significant time spent with Rafe and his family/business issues, with book 5 having a large chunk also devoted to Toby and his ‘stuff’. There’s still significant Ky action in book 5, but, by the end of the series, I kind of forgotten the character amongst all the others. Though I did see and recognize the character growth curve.
So, what did happen in book five? Plotline 1: Toby, the youngster (13? 15?) from prior books, does stuff on the space station he lives on, like go to school, invent stuff, date a girl his own age, have to deal with the parents of that girl, be kidnapped, etc.
Plotline 2: Rafe continues reluctantly guiding his family and business affairs. Though in terms of family, mostly just his sister (who he is kind of condescending to until he realizes she’s not ‘just’ his young sister but an actual individual who also happens to be an adult). The business part involves him dealing with being ‘temp’/’acting’ CEO for his ill father’s company. Oh, and he is also still lusting after Ky.
Plotline 3: Ky continues work on creating a fleet to defeat the ‘pirates’. Reminds me – there’s a ton of talk about ‘traitor’s’ that seemed very misplaced. How exactly were all these people traitors? Sure, some of them are, but just because someone is your enemy doesn’t magically make them into ‘traitors’. Sorry, that came up a lot, that word, though more in other people’s sections than Ky’s. Where was I? Oh, right, Ky continues creating fleet, gets into battles, matures, continues being condescended to because of her age and gender (‘of course she’s going to be distracted by pretty pretty boys!!!’ bah).
Plotline 4: Aunt Grace & her boy toy McRoberts (or was that MacRoberts?) doing stuff important related to the defense of Ky’s home system (what was that again, Slotter Key or something like that?).
Right, so, that’s the series. Relatively interesting and well written. Certain melodramatic parts (like the villain literally poses as a kind of soap opera villain, though there are no sections devoted to him and it is explained why he is acting that way – purposefully, so, okay).
I liked the books well enough. Though my purpose was to set myself up to read book 1 of the follow-up series before book 2 appears shortly. But I somewhat failed since I’m kind of burned out now on Vatta issues. *shrugs* Happens.
Rating: something around 3.75, since that’s the shelf I put it on on the 5th of December.
December 7 2017
December 11, 2020
A great end to a fun series. All the threads are drawn together into a fairly predictable, but nonetheless satisfying conclusion. The characterization remained good. Overall, it's pretty much more of the same of the previous 4 books which really should be read in order to appreciate fully. They do stand well enough alone that if you happened to pick up any one, you'd still have a fun read, though.
May 17, 2017
short review of the series (huge novel split into 5) under Trading in danger
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
December 17, 2019
Nice wrap up book to the series. Overall a nice SiFi story. Good characters and plots. Enjoyable read. Recommended
December 2, 2024
I was impressed with how Moon wrapped up this 5-book series in such a satisfying way. The first book, Trading in Danger is basically back story for the real intrigue that is set in Marque and Reprisal with the slaughter of Kylara's family by persons unknown, where we spend Engaging the Enemy and Command Decision following leads and uncovering the conspiracy with Ky, her beautiful cousin Sophie, and the dashing Rafe as well as crafty and gritty Aunt Grace, This concluding volume brings all the best elements of this series to bear as the crisis reaches its climax and this storyline comes to a close. It doesn't quite have the humor of the Vorkosigan universe of Bujold or the cool AI and accelerated action of the Imperial Radch of Ann Leckie, but it is a happy middle ground that is easy to read and very entertaining.
January 7, 2025
I blitzed through this, staying up way too late last night because I couldn't put it down - a really thrilling conclusion to the series. I'll have to check out more from this author!
June 17, 2020
Two major things really "elevated" this book to a failure over the rest of the series (there were many other annoyances, but these two stand out)"
1. The entire series is chock full of deus ex machina moments to help Ky out in ways only lazy writers could find acceptable, one of which is when Ky magically gets a person-to-person ansible embedded in her implant, through which she and Rafe can chat in secret directly with each other, superluminally.
But when that would be really damn great to confirm that Ky has died when her ship blew up, does it even occur to Rafe to call her up? Nope. He doesn't give it a single thought. Not even a hint that maybe he's just too damn scared to confirm it, and as long as he ignores it, it's not real (like why some people don't go to the doctor if they fear they have cancer); no, he just doesn't think to do it, he ends up accepting the horrible news as factual.
2. Everybody else on Ky's ship dies. Martin, Hugh, Lee, Mahar; everyone who has been with Ky forever (those who're not with Stella, that is) and who one might assume mean something to her, beyond her family. Now, Ky didn't ever really mourn her dead family members either, which never sat right with me, but Ky doesn't even bother to recall the names of the dead at their memorial service. She spends more time musing about the shipyard workers at another service, people whom she didn't even know. Oh sure, later Moon tells us Ky can't sleep because the dead won't let her rest, but it's all so much tell-don't-show I didn't even believe it. And hey, a few days of intensive psych treatment and it's all over. Somebody should have told Rafe's sister Penelope about that; she mourns for nearly a year for her dead husband and baby; what a waste of time, eh!
It's just overall a garbage book. Nothing except for Rafe's stuff is at all exciting; I skipped through the battle scenes because oh, who cares, we all know Admiral Vatta is gonna win and it doesn't really matter how she gets there.
The Big Bads are incredibly one-dimensional too, both of them.
And the romance sucks. Oh, Grace and MacRobert are fine, and even Toby and his teenage love are not disgustingly besotted. But the Ky x Rafe thing? Would have been nice if Ky had ever shown some adult emotion instead of pure denial. Heck, even Rafe managed that, before he turned into a tarnished white knight acting like a bellend, that is.
1. The entire series is chock full of deus ex machina moments to help Ky out in ways only lazy writers could find acceptable, one of which is when Ky magically gets a person-to-person ansible embedded in her implant, through which she and Rafe can chat in secret directly with each other, superluminally.
But when that would be really damn great to confirm that Ky has died when her ship blew up, does it even occur to Rafe to call her up? Nope. He doesn't give it a single thought. Not even a hint that maybe he's just too damn scared to confirm it, and as long as he ignores it, it's not real (like why some people don't go to the doctor if they fear they have cancer); no, he just doesn't think to do it, he ends up accepting the horrible news as factual.
2. Everybody else on Ky's ship dies. Martin, Hugh, Lee, Mahar; everyone who has been with Ky forever (those who're not with Stella, that is) and who one might assume mean something to her, beyond her family. Now, Ky didn't ever really mourn her dead family members either, which never sat right with me, but Ky doesn't even bother to recall the names of the dead at their memorial service. She spends more time musing about the shipyard workers at another service, people whom she didn't even know. Oh sure, later Moon tells us Ky can't sleep because the dead won't let her rest, but it's all so much tell-don't-show I didn't even believe it. And hey, a few days of intensive psych treatment and it's all over. Somebody should have told Rafe's sister Penelope about that; she mourns for nearly a year for her dead husband and baby; what a waste of time, eh!
It's just overall a garbage book. Nothing except for Rafe's stuff is at all exciting; I skipped through the battle scenes because oh, who cares, we all know Admiral Vatta is gonna win and it doesn't really matter how she gets there.
The Big Bads are incredibly one-dimensional too, both of them.
And the romance sucks. Oh, Grace and MacRobert are fine, and even Toby and his teenage love are not disgustingly besotted. But the Ky x Rafe thing? Would have been nice if Ky had ever shown some adult emotion instead of pure denial. Heck, even Rafe managed that, before he turned into a tarnished white knight acting like a bellend, that is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2022
Ky needs to meld privateers, mercenaries, and the Slotter Quay navy ships together, while continually encountering resistance to her command because of her age and supposed inexperience, her expulsion from Slotter Quay Academy, as well as the perception that she’s infatuated with Rafe Dunbarger, and consequently can’t be trusted.
Stella has a hormonal Toby infatuated with the daughter of a wealthy businessman located at Cascadia station. The girl’s parents are reluctant about the relationship, being concerned about possible cultural or religious differences between them and the Vattas. Also, Stella must continue to produce the high quality shipboard ansibles in preparation for Ky’s martial push against the pirates.
Grace is continuing to work her contacts to ensure she keeps things moving in Slotter Quay in preparation for Ky’s dealing with the pirates, while we also see Grace finally having some fun with Mac Roberts.
Rafe is trying to convince his obdurate Board that they need to move away from some of his father’s policies, as there are too many ongoing problems to be conservative and anti-Vatta. His younger sister Penny meanwhile is going through ISC’s accounts and discovering how wide Prima’s treachery was.
Interestingly, Ky, Stella and Rafe keep being underestimated and seen negatively for things they did earlier. As if people cannot change. And it’s the persistent resistance they run into that that is the stumbling block in their interactions with the pirates or financial partners. It’s frustrating, but each keeps showing their detractors up nicely.
Elizabeth Moon ends the Vatta’s War series with a tense, fast-moving and entertaining narrative that finishes up numerous story threads, deals with the Big Bad, and leaves Ky, Stella and Grace in good places. That doesn’t mean everything is wrapped up and there’s a return to trade dominance and immense wealth for the Vatta’s, but between Stella’s extremely capable running of the business from her office on Cascadia, Ky kicking pirate butt with her hard-won command of a fighting fleet, and Grace pulling strings and threatening people when needed on Slotter Quay, the three women get their lives into more positive places, and now it’s on the the next Vatta series.
Stella has a hormonal Toby infatuated with the daughter of a wealthy businessman located at Cascadia station. The girl’s parents are reluctant about the relationship, being concerned about possible cultural or religious differences between them and the Vattas. Also, Stella must continue to produce the high quality shipboard ansibles in preparation for Ky’s martial push against the pirates.
Grace is continuing to work her contacts to ensure she keeps things moving in Slotter Quay in preparation for Ky’s dealing with the pirates, while we also see Grace finally having some fun with Mac Roberts.
Rafe is trying to convince his obdurate Board that they need to move away from some of his father’s policies, as there are too many ongoing problems to be conservative and anti-Vatta. His younger sister Penny meanwhile is going through ISC’s accounts and discovering how wide Prima’s treachery was.
Interestingly, Ky, Stella and Rafe keep being underestimated and seen negatively for things they did earlier. As if people cannot change. And it’s the persistent resistance they run into that that is the stumbling block in their interactions with the pirates or financial partners. It’s frustrating, but each keeps showing their detractors up nicely.
Elizabeth Moon ends the Vatta’s War series with a tense, fast-moving and entertaining narrative that finishes up numerous story threads, deals with the Big Bad, and leaves Ky, Stella and Grace in good places. That doesn’t mean everything is wrapped up and there’s a return to trade dominance and immense wealth for the Vatta’s, but between Stella’s extremely capable running of the business from her office on Cascadia, Ky kicking pirate butt with her hard-won command of a fighting fleet, and Grace pulling strings and threatening people when needed on Slotter Quay, the three women get their lives into more positive places, and now it’s on the the next Vatta series.
February 12, 2016
Bottom line: I really enjoyed this series. Not ground-breaking, but everything about this series is solid.
The character development, plot, action, and military/political setup are solid, and this consistently better-than-adequate "quality," combined with how fun the series is, and fantastic (and discernibly different an believable) female characters, makes this a great read. I binged these suckers like I would marathon sci-fi television.
Vatta's War doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's not trying to be DEEP, though it does have both poignant moments and interesting space opera politics sometimes. The series has a pretty standard trajectory, more commonly seen with female protagonists in fantasy series (which makes sense, since Elizabeth Moon killed the fat fantasy genre before writing this space opera series), of a young girl with a lot of potential maturing as she's thrown into circumstances bigger than herself. There's a love interest thrown in, but it's not a huge element, and everyone likes a rogue-ish space spy.
The character development, plot, action, and military/political setup are solid, and this consistently better-than-adequate "quality," combined with how fun the series is, and fantastic (and discernibly different an believable) female characters, makes this a great read. I binged these suckers like I would marathon sci-fi television.
Vatta's War doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's not trying to be DEEP, though it does have both poignant moments and interesting space opera politics sometimes. The series has a pretty standard trajectory, more commonly seen with female protagonists in fantasy series (which makes sense, since Elizabeth Moon killed the fat fantasy genre before writing this space opera series), of a young girl with a lot of potential maturing as she's thrown into circumstances bigger than herself. There's a love interest thrown in, but it's not a huge element, and everyone likes a rogue-ish space spy.
September 25, 2015
I know I am going high with the 5 stars, but it is for the all-together feel of the series. I know it is light, I know it is a bit corny, and I even know it is no where close to perfect, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am sad it is finished... I hope Ms. Moon gives us some sequels, for which the structure of the story is perfectly set up.
August 21, 2019
MOAR SPACE BATTLE PLZ. What's this Vatta's Peace I have to deal with next?? I hope she means peace like Peacekeeping missiles.
April 11, 2013
Originally posted at FanLit. http://www.fantasyliterature.com/
Victory Conditions is the fifth and final book in Elizabeth Moon’s VATTA’S WAR saga. This has been a solidly entertaining story with appealing characters and an unpredictable plot but it never quite pulls itself past its classification of “space opera.” If space opera is what you’re looking for, VATTA’S WAR delivers and this last installment, Victory Conditions, brings the Vatta story to a satisfying end. If you haven’t read the first four books, go find the first book, Trading in Danger. If you’ve read Trading in Danger, Marque and Reprisal, Engaging the Enemy and Command Decision, there’s no reason to stop now.
The pirate responsible for knocking out the ansibles and targeting the Vatta family has been identified — Kylara Vatta finally knows who her enemy is. Working with her competent crew, beautiful cousin Stella, formidable Aunt Grace, and a couple of unexpected allies, Ky sets out to take down Gammis Turek, freeing the universe from his tyranny and getting revenge for what he did to the Vatta family.
Meanwhile Rafe is still on his home planet, trying to run ISC and helping his family through their ordeal. Rafe’s sister Penny, a grieving widow and mother, turns out to be another of Elizabeth Moon’s competent women. When the pirates target their planet, Rafe and Penny get involved with the government’s response.
We all know that our heroes will be successful, but at what price? Despite the book’s name, there’s lots of loss in Victory Conditions. Our heroes will have to make hard decisions and deal with the consequences and the guilt that follows. All of this is piled atop the trouble and grief that’s been stacking up since the first book. Elizabeth Moon successfully shows us that war is a necessary evil and an ugly business — the thrill of victory is more bitter than sweet.
The “flaws” in Victory Conditions are mostly the same ones I’ve noted in the previous books: a few dodgy plot elements, too many meetings with too much dialogue, and way too many plot rehashings (often in the guise of Ky once again explaining her leadership credentials). I also had trouble believing in Ky and Rafe’s romance. It’s been clear for a while that Moon was setting this up, but she never shows us enough evidence of their feelings for each other. Most disappointing, though, is that Moon’s universe never feels substantial. It seems small (it’s easy to find your friends and enemies even when communication has been shut down) and the cultural differences between planets seem silly rather than significant. I am fairly certain that Moon wants them to seem silly (it’s social satire a la Jack Vance) but it doesn’t quite fit the tone of the story.
On the bright side, Victory Conditions includes exciting space battles, a kidnapping, espionage, political and corporate intrigue, assassination attempts, and even a budding romance for teenager Toby Vatta. Some of these subplots — especially the kidnapping and espionage — are resolved way too quickly and I found myself wishing that Moon had stretched them out for more tension. But it all works out okay if you don’t take it too seriously. As “space opera” it works quite well, in fact. If you’ve enjoyed VATTA’S WAR up to this point, I think you’ll be satisfied with its conclusion.
I listened to VATTA’S WAR in audio format. Tantor Audio produced these a few years ago. The narrator, Cynthia Holloway, has a pleasant voice and excellent pacing. She brings Elizabeth Moon’s characters to life. I recommend this version.
Victory Conditions is the fifth and final book in Elizabeth Moon’s VATTA’S WAR saga. This has been a solidly entertaining story with appealing characters and an unpredictable plot but it never quite pulls itself past its classification of “space opera.” If space opera is what you’re looking for, VATTA’S WAR delivers and this last installment, Victory Conditions, brings the Vatta story to a satisfying end. If you haven’t read the first four books, go find the first book, Trading in Danger. If you’ve read Trading in Danger, Marque and Reprisal, Engaging the Enemy and Command Decision, there’s no reason to stop now.
The pirate responsible for knocking out the ansibles and targeting the Vatta family has been identified — Kylara Vatta finally knows who her enemy is. Working with her competent crew, beautiful cousin Stella, formidable Aunt Grace, and a couple of unexpected allies, Ky sets out to take down Gammis Turek, freeing the universe from his tyranny and getting revenge for what he did to the Vatta family.
Meanwhile Rafe is still on his home planet, trying to run ISC and helping his family through their ordeal. Rafe’s sister Penny, a grieving widow and mother, turns out to be another of Elizabeth Moon’s competent women. When the pirates target their planet, Rafe and Penny get involved with the government’s response.
We all know that our heroes will be successful, but at what price? Despite the book’s name, there’s lots of loss in Victory Conditions. Our heroes will have to make hard decisions and deal with the consequences and the guilt that follows. All of this is piled atop the trouble and grief that’s been stacking up since the first book. Elizabeth Moon successfully shows us that war is a necessary evil and an ugly business — the thrill of victory is more bitter than sweet.
The “flaws” in Victory Conditions are mostly the same ones I’ve noted in the previous books: a few dodgy plot elements, too many meetings with too much dialogue, and way too many plot rehashings (often in the guise of Ky once again explaining her leadership credentials). I also had trouble believing in Ky and Rafe’s romance. It’s been clear for a while that Moon was setting this up, but she never shows us enough evidence of their feelings for each other. Most disappointing, though, is that Moon’s universe never feels substantial. It seems small (it’s easy to find your friends and enemies even when communication has been shut down) and the cultural differences between planets seem silly rather than significant. I am fairly certain that Moon wants them to seem silly (it’s social satire a la Jack Vance) but it doesn’t quite fit the tone of the story.
On the bright side, Victory Conditions includes exciting space battles, a kidnapping, espionage, political and corporate intrigue, assassination attempts, and even a budding romance for teenager Toby Vatta. Some of these subplots — especially the kidnapping and espionage — are resolved way too quickly and I found myself wishing that Moon had stretched them out for more tension. But it all works out okay if you don’t take it too seriously. As “space opera” it works quite well, in fact. If you’ve enjoyed VATTA’S WAR up to this point, I think you’ll be satisfied with its conclusion.
I listened to VATTA’S WAR in audio format. Tantor Audio produced these a few years ago. The narrator, Cynthia Holloway, has a pleasant voice and excellent pacing. She brings Elizabeth Moon’s characters to life. I recommend this version.
June 9, 2013
Vatta's War series
1 Trading in Danger
2 Marque and Reprisal
3 Engaging the Enemy
4 Command Decision
5 Victory Conditions
These 5 books are not so much a series as one long novel - there's one story arc, and you really need to read all five to get to the (satisfying) conclusion. (I somehow had the misapprehension that there were only 4 in the series - luckily the public library came through and got me #5 expediently!)
Due to a misjudgement, Kylara Vatta, scion of an interstellar shipping business, gets kicked out of military academy shortly before graduation. She's pretty crushed by the end of her hopes for a military career, but there's always the family business to fall back on... or is there? Someone's apparently got it out for her family, and before Ky knows it, she's catapulted into the midst of a space war, seeking justice and vengeance against an unsavory alliance of pirates.
These are first and foremost action-adventure books, with plenty of shoot-em-up scenes and an uncomplicated moral compass - you know who the 'bad guys' are, and although Ky is normally affected by the trauma of war (even seeking therapy at one point), she's always clearly on the side of right. The one thing I wished the story had was more exploration of the bad guys' motivations - OK, we know they're racist, and bigoted against 'modified' humans (people who've had either genetic or physical/technological augmentation), and of course they want power - but what's the story behind it all?
However, the characters of the 'good guys' are well-drawn, and the story's definitely recommended for those who like strong female characters: there's Ky, with her military and strategic brilliance, her cousin Stella, who has the financial and business acumen to bring Vatta Enterprises back from the brink - and there's their grandmother, Grace, who is far from being the harmless old lady people might assume. (Grace might be my favorite character - it's wonderful to see an older woman portrayed with such verve.)
As many have mentioned, there are some definite parallells here with Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan saga. I'm not sure these are *quite* as good, but if you like one, I'd guess you'll like the other.
1 Trading in Danger
2 Marque and Reprisal
3 Engaging the Enemy
4 Command Decision
5 Victory Conditions
These 5 books are not so much a series as one long novel - there's one story arc, and you really need to read all five to get to the (satisfying) conclusion. (I somehow had the misapprehension that there were only 4 in the series - luckily the public library came through and got me #5 expediently!)
Due to a misjudgement, Kylara Vatta, scion of an interstellar shipping business, gets kicked out of military academy shortly before graduation. She's pretty crushed by the end of her hopes for a military career, but there's always the family business to fall back on... or is there? Someone's apparently got it out for her family, and before Ky knows it, she's catapulted into the midst of a space war, seeking justice and vengeance against an unsavory alliance of pirates.
These are first and foremost action-adventure books, with plenty of shoot-em-up scenes and an uncomplicated moral compass - you know who the 'bad guys' are, and although Ky is normally affected by the trauma of war (even seeking therapy at one point), she's always clearly on the side of right. The one thing I wished the story had was more exploration of the bad guys' motivations - OK, we know they're racist, and bigoted against 'modified' humans (people who've had either genetic or physical/technological augmentation), and of course they want power - but what's the story behind it all?
However, the characters of the 'good guys' are well-drawn, and the story's definitely recommended for those who like strong female characters: there's Ky, with her military and strategic brilliance, her cousin Stella, who has the financial and business acumen to bring Vatta Enterprises back from the brink - and there's their grandmother, Grace, who is far from being the harmless old lady people might assume. (Grace might be my favorite character - it's wonderful to see an older woman portrayed with such verve.)
As many have mentioned, there are some definite parallells here with Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan saga. I'm not sure these are *quite* as good, but if you like one, I'd guess you'll like the other.
December 28, 2015
An excellent book & a good way to wind up the previous 4. I love that. The plot works itself out & the characters are just where they should be. There are some loose ends, but they're not bad ones. We know the survivors have a future. I was very impressed. As good as the Honor Harrington series & similar in many ways.
June 28, 2025
3 1/2 and just slightly better than the 3rd but because it wraps up the series and not for itself.
I had to give a lot of passes for not well done plot lines like Toby and his girlfriend who happens to be, 1. The next smartest girl in the school/class that he is in, and 2. coincidentally , which then goes to not amount to much other than one more gotch-ya, I guess they had to have the business end of Vatta have some excitement instead of saving it all for Vatta and Raff. Raff is back home and in charge yet... doesn't seem to have much sway with the board... again. His dad is also stubborn and I say let it all die and take his sister and possibly mom off the planet as a big FU but alas, I didn't write it and instead we get the corruption and then the climactic ending of the battle that puts Ky Vatta as the obvious "fighting for the just cause"... well **sigh**. All that went well though getting there was 1/2 a slog like book 3.
I really like the wrap up and could have given it 5 stars, except for above issues aaaaand... wow, Ky and Raff have no chemistry, all they have is thoughts over 2 books and we are told how they feel while they have to deny it to everyone, even occasionally to themselves. So being that much of this has this emphasis on this relationship, it was tepid at best. And then, Ky gets her implant and brain all So I did enjoy it but thought it was a little unbelievable in how it goes down without much conversation between many of the many players. It ended up working for them in the end but there were so many points that things could have gone way worse. Things had to fall into place as they did, a bit coincidental. Still, a good read to very good read altogether but not a reread for me.
I had to give a lot of passes for not well done plot lines like Toby and his girlfriend who happens to be, 1. The next smartest girl in the school/class that he is in, and 2. coincidentally , which then goes to not amount to much other than one more gotch-ya, I guess they had to have the business end of Vatta have some excitement instead of saving it all for Vatta and Raff. Raff is back home and in charge yet... doesn't seem to have much sway with the board... again. His dad is also stubborn and I say let it all die and take his sister and possibly mom off the planet as a big FU but alas, I didn't write it and instead we get the corruption and then the climactic ending of the battle that puts Ky Vatta as the obvious "fighting for the just cause"... well **sigh**. All that went well though getting there was 1/2 a slog like book 3.
I really like the wrap up and could have given it 5 stars, except for above issues aaaaand... wow, Ky and Raff have no chemistry, all they have is thoughts over 2 books and we are told how they feel while they have to deny it to everyone, even occasionally to themselves. So being that much of this has this emphasis on this relationship, it was tepid at best. And then, Ky gets her implant and brain all So I did enjoy it but thought it was a little unbelievable in how it goes down without much conversation between many of the many players. It ended up working for them in the end but there were so many points that things could have gone way worse. Things had to fall into place as they did, a bit coincidental. Still, a good read to very good read altogether but not a reread for me.
January 5, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
This fifth book concludes the first series, Vatta's War. Those who enjoyed the previous books will likely do the same with this one as well - it's much of the same.Story: All the pieces are in place now: Vatta has her navy of ragtag ships, the support of the ISC, and her cousin's and Aunt's clever behind-the-scenes machinations. Unfortunately, she is also greatly outnumbered and with only the on-ship ancible real-time communication giving her an advantage. But it is time to face Turek and prevent the pirate from destroying peace and order among the populated worlds.
The ending is what you would expect - again, this isn't high science fiction and there is not a lot of depth to the characters. But we do get resolution between the Kylara-Vatta issues and some space battles.
In all, fun bubble gum sci fi you don't take too seriously and just enjoy the ride. Of note, I listened to the audio version and the narration is very hard to listen to - the characterizations are simplistic and odd and have an impact on the enjoyment of the story. I suggest listening to a sample first.
May 23, 2022
Overall I feel like this was a satisfying, if a little predictable, conclusion to the series. I found the end of the book to be a bit abrupt but it does leave lots of room to imagine the future of the characters we've been on the journey with for so long. I will definitely miss seeing the adventures of Ky and her allies but I mean I guess that's what fanfic is for lol.
December 26, 2020
Utmärkt avslutning på en utmärkt serie. Lika delar politik, relationsdrama och krigsföring; den senare biten nedtonad jämfört med de förra. Jag rekommenderar den varmt för de som tagit sig genom serien hit, men den kommer inte stå på egna ben, för nästan alla intriger är avslut på tidigare d:o.
September 30, 2018
Happy ending for Ky.
Having read the series, I guess it's a good way to pass the time - but it didn't feel amazing.
Having read the series, I guess it's a good way to pass the time - but it didn't feel amazing.
June 2, 2020
Our copy of #4 of this series has gone awol, so I'll have to re-read that when it turns up again.
Naturally, given my mood, I've started on one of Moon's other space opera series now.
Naturally, given my mood, I've started on one of Moon's other space opera series now.
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