My reading recommendation this week is Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold.
Book Description
Captain Ivan Vorpatril is happy with his relatively uneventful bachelor’s life of a staff officer to a Barrayaran admiral. Ivan, cousin to Imperial troubleshooter Miles Vorkosigan, is not far down the hereditary list for the emperorship. Thankfully, new heirs have directed that headache elsewhere, leaving Ivan to enjoy his life on Komarr, far from the Byzantine court politics of his home system. But when an old friend in Barrayaran intelligence asks Ivan to protect an attractive young woman who may be on the hit list of a criminal syndicate, Ivan’s chivalrous nature takes over. It seems danger and adventures have once more found Captain Vorpatril.
Tej Arqua and her half-sister and servant Rish are fleeing the violent overthrow of their clan on free-for-all planet Jackson’s Whole. Now it seems Tej may possess a hidden secret of which even she may not be aware. It’s a secret that could corrupt the heart of a highly regarded Barayarran family and provide the final advantage for the thugs who seek to overthrow Tej’s homeworld.
But none of Tej’s formidable adversaries have counted on Ivan Vorpatril. For behind Ivan’s façade of wry and self effacing humor lies a true and cunning protector who will never leave a distressed lady in the lurch—up to and including making the ultimate sacrifice to keep her from harm: the treasured and hardwon freedom from his own fate as a scion of Barrayar.
T.R.E.O. Today Quick Review
This was a fun, lightweight read. It’s got action, a caper and a sweet love story. However, it’s not something that you can pick up and really enjoy if you’ve never read the series.
What you’ll be missing is a whole cast of characters and their background history, which has been told over 27 years and 15 books (+ short stories).
For fans of the Vorkosigan Saga, it’s like putting on a favorite sweater and finding new aspects of it. All the old gang (even Miles Vorkosigan) are here, even though they don’t take centre stage.
I’d recommend starting from the beginning and work your way up from there.
Your Checklist
- Check out the Vorkosigan Saga
- Read the first book in the series, Shards of Honor.
Amazon Kindle link: Shards of Honor (Vorkosigan Saga)
