The bad guys in Battletech are just always more fascinating than the factions the developers actually encouraged us to empathize with.

Charrette and Thurston are basically the best writers of BT fiction. My only knock on this book that Book 2 and on starts to get really fragmented with a vast array of other Inner Sphere plot threads being touched upon. ( )

Wow! This is everything I love in a Battletech novel! Charrette's second Battletech novel is loads better than Wolves on the Border. It's got interesting characters, political subterfuge and, of course, a good amount of mech battles as well. Where Wolves on the Border left me feeling like the Draconis Combine is ruled by a bunch of dimwits, Heir to the Dragon gave me a real insight into why the Draconis Combine is the powerhouse that it is. I particularly enjoyed learning about the various powers in the Combine (Order of 5 Pillars, nekogami, etc) and it's cool to see how they work with and against each other - all for the glory of the Dragon. If I had reservations about Charrette as a Battletech author, they're gone now.

Like other Battletech novels, it helps if you've read the earlier books first, but it isn't necessary. I think this would be a great read on it's own - a solid introduction to the Battletech universe. ( )