The events in this third entry into the Manticore Ascendant series follow closely on the events of book 2. The Royal Manticoran Navy is trying to pick up the pieces remaining after the battle with pirates was won and the politicians, especially Lord Breakwater, are trying to further reduce the power and influence of the Navy. When a second wave of attack comes just weeks after the first, it is up to the RMN to defend Manticore with a very damaged Navy. Luckily, a bluff suggested by Travis Long manages to send them running for safety.

We, the readers, know why this unknown force wants Manticore, but no one on Manticore does. Since one of the viewpoint characters is Mr. Llyn who is the puppetmaster pulling all these strings to get Manticore for his employers.

Travis is recruited into a new intelligence force that is led by a former cabinet member and is working without the oversight of the Office of Naval Intelligence. His mission is to track down the pirates who attempted to invade Manticore. To do this he is assigned as an officer on the most up-to-date ship in the RMN which has the mission of doing a tour to try to drum up business for a new Manticore shipbuilding operation. One of the first stop connects them with an Andermani "freighter" where they learn that they aren't the only ones on the trail of the pirate. Apparently the Andermani Emperor wants him found and destroyed.

Meanwhile, Travis's girlfriend and fellow RMN officer Lisa Donnelly is part of another mission to Haven to try to track down some parts found in the wreckage after the battle also in hopes of locating the pirate. There Lisa reconnects with a woman who was RMN bur moved to Haven and is now a shining light in their military. Together they are also trying to destroy piracy that affects Haven.

Meanwhile, Mr. Llyn has decided that his hired pirates have outlived their usefulness and know to much about his secret employer and need to be taken off the board. I started to almost feel sorry for Admiral Cutler Gensonne and his mercenary band given that Manticore, Haven, the Andermani and his own employer Llyn were all, individually, working to defeat him.

Back on Manticore, the monarchy changes hands when King Edward and Crown Princess Sophie die in a boating accident and Edward's widowed sister Elizabeth becomes the new queen. Lord Breakwater looks on this as an opportunity to increase his power and prestige as he tries to find a way to influence or control her. The death of the long-standing Prime Minister also helps destabilize things. But Elizabeth isn't a pushover. She is very able to deal with the political maneuvering fomented by Breakwater.

This was another intriguing science fiction space opera about the early days of the Star Kingdom of Manticore. I hope that there are more books planned for this prequel series to the Honor Harrington books. It feels like there are so many stories still to be told. Which service claims Travis? What is Mr. Llyn's next plan? ( )

The events in this third entry into the Manticore Ascendant series follow closely on the events of book 2. The Royal Manticoran Navy is trying to pick up the pieces remaining after the battle with pirates was won and the politicians, especially Lord Breakwater, are trying to further reduce the power and influence of the Navy. When a second wave of attack comes just weeks after the first, it is up to the RMN to defend Manticore with a very damaged Navy. Luckily, a bluff suggested by Travis Long manages to send them running for safety.

We, the readers, know why this unknown force wants Manticore, but no one on Manticore does. Since one of the viewpoint characters is Mr. Llyn who is the puppetmaster pulling all these strings to get Manticore for his employers.

Travis is recruited into a new intelligence force that is led by a former cabinet member and is working without the oversight of the Office of Naval Intelligence. His mission is to track down the pirates who attempted to invade Manticore. To do this he is assigned as an officer on the most up-to-date ship in the RMN which has the mission of doing a tour to try to drum up business for a new Manticore shipbuilding operation. One of the first stop connects them with an Andermani "freighter" where they learn that they aren't the only ones on the trail of the pirate. Apparently the Andermani Emperor wants him found and destroyed.

Meanwhile, Travis's girlfriend and fellow RMN officer Lisa Donnelly is part of another mission to Haven to try to track down some parts found in the wreckage after the battle also in hopes of locating the pirate. There Lisa reconnects with a woman who was RMN bur moved to Haven and is now a shining light in their military. Together they are also trying to destroy piracy that affects Haven.

Meanwhile, Mr. Llyn has decided that his hired pirates have outlived their usefulness and know to much about his secret employer and need to be taken off the board. I started to almost feel sorry for Admiral Cutler Gensonne and his mercenary band given that Manticore, Haven, the Andermani and his own employer Llyn were all, individually, working to defeat him.

Back on Manticore, the monarchy changes hands when King Edward and Crown Princess Sophie die in a boating accident and Edward's widowed sister Elizabeth becomes the new queen. Lord Breakwater looks on this as an opportunity to increase his power and prestige as he tries to find a way to influence or control her. The death of the long-standing Prime Minister also helps destabilize things. But Elizabeth isn't a pushover. She is very able to deal with the political maneuvering fomented by Breakwater.

This was another intriguing science fiction space opera about the early days of the Star Kingdom of Manticore. I hope that there are more books planned for this prequel series to the Honor Harrington books. It feels like there are so many stories still to be told. Which service claims Travis? What is Mr. Llyn's next plan? ( )

Nice! Very rich, and complicated - two entirely separate angles hitting at around the same time. Temporary but important alliances, some interesting changes in people - Winterfall finally sees the light! - and overall, a huge expansion of what Manticore thinks she is. Well, it will take a while for the new thoughts to seep out and become the general attitude - but like the first two books, it's very clear to see how Honor's Manticore, and the Navy in that time, is being created in this one. I did have to reread the previous book before I could get my bearings in this one - got halfway through the first chapter, put it down and reread A Call to Arms. Rereading A Call to Duty might have helped, too, but I remembered stuff well enough that I wasn't vastly confused. I had thought that this was going to be a trilogy, and was expecting rounding-off - nope, the series remains open-ended and while a good many of the threads get tied off, there are still plenty wandering around. Including the wormhole - still a secret. I really want to read the one where they figure that out... Someday. ( )

Started to read this, then decided to go back and reread the others. Decidedly not a standalone book by that test, though it probably works all right as a standalone if you just read it and ignore the context.

This is a decidedly complex book, with several related-but-separate tales going on separately. There's a political thread (perhaps two), and we travel with four (count 'em) fleets for much of the book. Some of those threads are resolved; others are left hanging. Spoiler: There's even an unresolved marriage proposal.

This book mostly documents the beginnings of the Royal Manticoran Navy as we long-time readers know it, with a heavy dose of the kingdom's political roots as a side dish. It covers a lot of ground, rather densely.

Through most of the book you can see two naval battles developing. They apparently occur simultaneously in the book's last few chapters. Those are fairly interesting--but they're pretty much typical Weber with throw-rates and clever tactics and technical details and zero-zero calculations. Fun, but I've see it before.

An important book because it moves the (back)story along. But I'm not sure I really liked it. ( )

Lots of moving parts in this continuing prequel to the Honor Harrington series. Great characters, good and bad as Manticore strives to provide a stable government following a fatal accident that confounds the ruling succession. Early days for the Manticorean Navy; picture the US after Pearl Harbor. Few and aged ships commanded by staid old-time leaders and a legislature that does not support building a strong defense needs to be overcome, and in a hurry, as invaders are acoming. Bring on the next episode. ( )