Ashes of Victory by David Weber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ashes of Victory is an excellent follow up to Echoes of Honor. I loved it. So much happens in this book that your head just swims. There are some real shockers too. This book is probably a turning point in the series. At least that’s what I’m guessing.
So, Honor is back on Grayson from her stay on the Haven prison planet of Hades and she’s a massive hero there and on Manticore as well. Hell, all over the entire Alliance. Everyone’s spirits are lifted. And Haven recognizes they have a PR disaster on their hands after they had announced — and shown — her execution. Manticore’s Queen Elizabeth calls Honor to Manticore to meet with her and, since Honor’s title had shifted to her cousin since she had been assumed dead, to give her the title of Duchess and a new and huge estate. Additionally, the Navy asks her to teach tactics at the Academy and finally does the right thing by jumping her three slots from Commodore to full Admiral. She’s stunned and honored. She also has the nerve damage in her face repaired, her lost eye replaced, and her lost arm replaced by a prosthetic arm she clumsily has to learn to use from scratch. But she’s well on her way to being back to full health. Nimitz, too, has surgery and is physically repaired, although they’re still trying to figure out a way for him to regain his empath abilities. And Honor has a specialist teach the tree cats, and the humans, sign language so they can all talk, and boy do they talk.
Meanwhile, Haven’s Admiral McQueen remains on the offensive, if somewhat cautiously. However, Saint-Just decides to move on his perception of McQueen’s ambition and many Navy personnel wind up dead as a result. This, after Haven top man Pierre is assassinated. Saint-Just is the only Committee member left and takes over as dictator. At the same time, Manticore finally decides to go back on the offensive with its new and mighty secret weapons they’ve been developing for the past few years and their offensive is completely destructive. Haven has no chance. However, as I said, there are some shockers in the book and both systems experience massive system changes that will change everything in the military and political dynamics for both. It’s somewhat mind blowing and totally unexpected. The ending of the book, like virtually all Honor Harrington books, is tension filled, fast paced, and action packed. It’s very exciting to read and experience. Now I’m looking forward to the next book. Again. I seem to say that with every Honor book I review. From what I understand, however, things change in the series from battles and naval engagements to politics and I’m not entirely thrilled with that, but I’m still going to read. I’m really into the series. I think it’s quite good and I think the Honor character is a very good character. If reading the series in order like one must, this book is highly recommended.
hankrules2011 