4 & 1/2 STARS
This story was quite a delightful find, not only because it features Vlora, but because it goes some way toward filling the empty narrative space between the events in Promise of Blood (where we learn of her dalliance with another officer and the breakup with Taniel) and her welcome return as Lady Flint in Sins of Empire.

Return to Honor begins shortly after the end of Promise of Blood, when Vlora is still very much a pariah because of her indiscretion, and also mourning the death of Sabon, one of Tamas’ closest friends and Vlora’s mentor. A still-very-angry Tamas orders her to seek and capture a traitor who intends to defect to the enemy carrying important intelligence with him: what remains unspoken is that success might work a long way toward restoring, at least in part, the Field Marshal’s respect. As encouraging as this might sound, the prospect of failure still hangs over Vlora, and what’s more she must do it alone, because Tamas does not intend to spare anyone to help her.

It’s impossible not to feel deeply for Vlora here: she’s conscious of her mistake and bitterly regrets it, but the worse part of the situation comes from the attitude of her fellow soldiers since they – either for personal inclination or to curry favor with Tamas – treat her like the worst kind of trash, even those that used to be her friends. That’s when unexpected help comes in the person of the Field Marshal’s bodyguard, Captain Olem…

My knowledge of the shared history between Vlora and Olem in Gods of Blood and Powder enhanced my appreciation of this first encounter between them, where I could witness the ease with which they manage to work well together despite barely knowing each other, and more importantly where Olem’s laid back attitude acts like a balm on Vlora’s damaged soul, taking her out of her misery and bringing the sunnier side of her character to the fore.

One of the best Powder Mage short stories to date, indeed….


Originally posted at SPACE and SORCERY BLOG
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Immediately following the event from the first book in the Powder Mage series, Promise of Blood, one of the surprisingly good series I've started this year, this was a very nice, albeit short return to the Powder Mage universe.

If you enjoyed Promise of Blood you will most likely like this story, since it had the same vibe to it. I was really glad that I read it and it made me want to continue the series even more. I was already planning on reading the second book some time soon, but now I want to read it even sooner.

Vlora is an interesting character and I hope we get to see more of her later in the series.

Return to Honor is a short story in the Powder Mage trilogy, consisting of Promise of Blood, The Crimson Campaign and The Autumn Republic. ( )

Vlora, die ehemalige Verlobte von Taniel hat Wiedergutmachung zu betreiben: in Return to Honor. Eine Kurzgeschichte aus der Powder Mage Welt, angesiedelt zwischen Teil 1 und 2. Sehr schlüssig, erklärt ein paar Geschehnisse im zweiten Teil und ist kurzweilig genug. ( )