Kris Longknife: Deserter

Rating:
Summary: A bit of a letdown
Review: I like Mike Shepherd/Moscoe and have enjoyed the books set in this universe, with the exception of "They Also Serve"; I was really looking forward to this after Mutineer, which I thought did a good job framing the series. I came away a bit disappointed. I still like Kris Longknife's character, and find her less wooden and more realistic than Weber's Honor Harrington. But does she need to be a prime minister's daughter and billionaire and now a Princess too? The whole United Sentients overlay and royalty structure seems ill-thought out and cumbersome. The book also suffers from some long dry spells that could use editing - the whole intelligence mission in the Arab quarter could have been dispensed with. For a space opera, there's very little space. I hope the 3rd book, in which Kris commands a ship, gets the series back on track and more like "First Casualty" and "Price of Peace".

Rating:
Summary: Roaring Space Adventure
Review: Less military than "Mutineer", the latest novel about the adventures of Kris Longknife is pretty much that: an adventure novel. Mike Shepherd fills his stories with fully-realized characters, and if Kris is a bit more competent than one might expect for her age, she's so much fun that I didn't spare it a second thought and just went along for the ride. I look forward to the next novel.

Rating:
Summary: Another exciting Longknife adventure!
Review: The book is a definate must read, especially if you've read the 1st book. This book was exactly what a 2nd book should be. It built on the characters and situations introduced in the 1st book and brought in new exciting characters as well. I really liked how Nelly evolved from an expensive tool into a very interesting character. Kris's relationships with her friends and her bodyguards were really cool as well. I can't wait to see more of her and her crew. I still want to know who Abby really is and what's going on with Nelly? Hurry up Shepherd and gimme more!

Rating:
Summary: Another good sci-fi
Review: This one was a bit planet-bound and slow in some parts but there was still not a sword or wizard in it. The closest thing to magic being Kris's personal computer which I thought pushed the edge of likelihood at times. I can't see any point in her being a princess, either. Seems to push a point. But it's still a good read and I'm eagerly awaiting the next one!