45/2023 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
More interesting than I’d expected it to be, given that neither military nor romance are among my generally preferred SF genres. Bujold’s characters are interesting, making even the “captive falls for noble captor” scenario more workable than it might have been, though there were definitely still moments that didn’t really work for me. And there was an unexpected coda, unconnected from the main plotline and characters, that was a neat way to end the book.
The story broadens and deepens over the course of almost 20 books and 50 years (story line). Something for everyone whether you like military SF, detective story, espionage, and yes, romance. But over arching all is a story about family, honor, and personal growth.