Science Fiction

The stakes get higher, and Vicky learns a lot about herself and her allies. Odd place to stop. ( )

Shepherd, Mike. Rebel. Vicky Peterwald No. 3. Ace, 2016.
Mike Shepherd seems to be one of those Indy authors who has found himself a publisher to provide good cover art and some promotion. In this third number of the Vicky Peterwald series, which is a spinoff of the Kris Longknife series, and which Shepherd would now like us to think of as the combined Society of Humanity series, Vicky must decide whether to become the leader of a revolutionary movement aimed at unseating her stepmother and her family. She is whipsawed between the democratic forces on the planet of St. Petersburg and her loyalty to the empire of which the is the Grand Duchess. Her military skills continue to develop, a la Honor Harrington, and she has found the love of her life in a prominent mayor on St. Petersburg. The fictional world is not as well imagined as David Weber’s Honorverse, but the series continues to amuse. 3.5 stars. ( )

The Grand Duchess takes charge!

I am in two minds about this spinoff from the Kris Longknife series. More a Gilbert and Sullivan space operetta than a grand space opera. In the end, I did like it.
I did find the dialogue straying perilously close to wooden, if not verging on something from a B grade detective novel. Sometimes I felt like I was reading the cartoon balloons from a Superhero graphic novel.
Her Imperial Grace, The Grand Duchess, Lieutenant Comander Victoria of Greenfield, otherwise known as Vicky could be a carbon copy of Samantha B. (Sex in the City) in 'space.' (That is, intelligent, sexy, and marches to the beat of her own outrageous drum). That's ok 'cause our girl is growing up and coming through the spoilt princess brat stage, albeit with her own particular twists.
So there's planets to save, Admirals to jolly along, aliens threatening and bad old step-mom thinking up new and devious ways to take out Vicky. Along the way losing it spectacularly over the air waves, all as Vicky holds her course à la Kris Longknife's tried and true tricks and examples.
And of course, we're left hanging about what comes next.
A fun read!

A NetGalley ARC ( )