Firstly - this is not a standalone book. If you read this without reading the predecessors, it won't make any sense.

I liked this more than the last book, but not as much as the first few. Rusch had a way of portraying aliens who really felt alien, not like humans in costume. And when her later books started focusing more on local politics/dynamics, they became less engaging. However the character of Miles does grow more interesting ever book. So while this book has very few aliens, it is more exciting because it brings us in contact with Mile's past in a totally unexpected way. I read it in one day and am curious to see what happens in the next book, so the series feels back on track for me. ( )