NEW ENTRY IN THE BEST-SELLING LIADEN UNIVERSE® SERIES
On a world where cake is a necessity, it takes the Grid to protect the civilized and the deaf from the dire influences of the ambient and to keep the chaotic Haosa at bay.
Having arrived at recently Dust-bound Colemeno, Trader Padi yos’Galan is essential to Master Trader Shan yos’Galan’s plan to recoup Clan Korval’s fortunes by establishing new routes for the clan’s tradeship. Shan’s inner Healer insists Padi come to terms with her as-yet unplumbed psychic abilities, which might place her in the top tier of dramliz, if she can learn control.
Padi yearns to concentrate on trade, but Colemeno’s fey ambient and deadly long-term politics combine to bring her face-to-face with the Haosa, and in particular with the mysterious and untouchable Tekelia, as Korval’s trade mission’s necessity of a port audit collide with a cruel history of murder, deception, and brutality. Amid the dangers, Padi unexpectedly finds herself eagerly exploring her dramliz side when faced with the unspoken powers of the ambient, the sky-filling energy of the ribbon dance, and Tekelia’s mutable eyes.
Sharon Lee has been married to her first husband for more than half her lifetime; she is a friend to cats, a member of the National Carousel Association, and oversees the dubious investment schemes of an improbable number of stuffed animals.
Despite having been born in a year of the dragon, Sharon is an introvert. She lives in Maine because she likes it there. In fact, she likes it so much that she has written five novels set in Maine; contemporary fantasy trilogy Carousel Tides, Carousel Sun, Carousel Seas, and mysteries Barnburner and Gunshy.
With the aforementioned first husband, Steve Miller, Sharon has written twenty novels of science fiction and fantasy — many of them set in the Liaden Universe® — and numerous short stories. She has occasionally been an advertising copywriter, a reporter, photographer, book reviewer, and secretary. She was for three years Executive Director of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc., and was subsequently elected vice president and then president of that organization.
Brilliant as always - develops the ambient influence remarkably - I enjoyed it immensely until the acknowledgments on the last page where I read the awful sentence “Steve has died “😔.
I enjoyed reading this book. It helped that I recently reread Alliance of Equals and Trader's Leap. The ending was satisfying while leaving some threads still hanging to be dealt with in a future book I’m sure.
Very little of the story takes place on a ship, so if you really need spaceships that are going somewhere you probably want to skip this book. There is action, there is magic, a bit of romance, bad guys working nefariously, and an extremely unusual planet that has resulted in a strange set of cultures. I gave it 4 stars because I’ll need to wait a couple of years before rereading it, but do plan to reread it.
I finished Ribbon Dance a couple of days ago. I took my time to savor the book rather than devouring it all in one go (or close) as I have done with other books in this series. It is immensely enjoyable and eminently satisfying.
The book is densely plotted. Almost all of it takes place on Colemeno, a planet that was until very recently inaccessible to most of the galaxy. There are a few scenes on the Dutiful Passage, the main characters' ship, which is orbiting Colemeno. The plot is largely social, as the traders acclimate to new mores and work to establish equitable trade agreements with the planet. There is some excitement, but this is not a shoot-em-up space opera.
This book has inspired me to start a re-read of the series. There are very few books that I'm willing to read more than once, but Lee & Miller's works are all among them.
This volume won't make much sense to new series readers. Several other books do offer good entry points—Agent of Change and Fledgling come to mind.
I'm an unabashed fangirl of Sharon Lee and (the late) Steve Miller. I was terribly upset when I read that Steve had died, and I teared up again when I read Sharon's afterword to Ribbon Dance. I'm very happy to know that the series will go on.
This is a well-woven story. I loved it. There is intrigue and mystery. Multiple story lines are spun out to create a tapestry to enjoy. Characters are introduced and fully developed. It is the intersections of these characters as they meet and separate that makes the book so enjoyable. I reread this book immediately which I often do with Lee and Miller’s book, partly because I don’t want to let them go and partly so I can find all the “Easter eggs” they drop along the way. For those who are fans of the Liaden Universe, the book is a delightful continuation of Padi yos’Galen’s story. But it is not necessary to have read the previous books in Padi’s story arc to enjoy this one. Be warned: a newcomer may find themselves wishing to go back and read those books or even the entire series.
Lee and Miller's Liaden Universe now spans twenty-nine books, and each book expands the universe and the characters we meet. I would highly recommend you read the previous books first. The universe is complex, the Korval clan unique and with a long history you would do well to understand to appreciate this latest installement.
Shan yos'Galan and Priscilla were the first characters I ever met when I read Partners in Necessity, which was my first introduction to this amazing world, so they have always been my favourite couple. So you can imagine my joy when we finally revisted the Master Trader and his daughter Padi in Trader's Leap and continued their tale, and the development of Padi's emerging talent here in Ribbon Dance.
Clan Korval, having been banished from their homeland, is now regrouping. It is down to Shan to redeem their fortunes by building out a profitable trade route. But being banished means they have to visit far flung places where civilization differs and local customs prevail.
Lee and Miller write such complex stories, with so many nuances and inflexion points, that keeping track of all the characters and their individual melanti, their sense sense of honour and duty, can be quite challenging. Each turn of phrase has to be inspected for underlying meanings as you will get as much enjoyment from what isn't said, as from what is.
Nevertheless, once you get the hang of it, it is a wondrous universe full of engaging characters and an ongoing persecution against one clan who are being punished for saving their home world.
This is, in essence, Padi's story as she embraces her gift and the ambience that surrounds her. We learn more about Tekelia and the ribbon dancers, and although there is time for gentle reflection and joy, there is also plenty of conflict to overcome. I am pleased to see there is much more story to tell and there will be more to come!
This was very excellent. I started the hardcover in the early evening of Jun 29th and read straight through until 4am of Jun 30th!
I adored this new story of Master Trader Shan, his lifemate Captain Priscilla Mendoza, his daughter Padi yos’Galan. We had several friends from before along for company, Trader Dyoli ven’Deelin, her partner Mar Tyn pai’Fortuna, Security Grad, Karna, and Tima, Speaker for the Haosa Tekelia, Warden Bentamin, Oracle Aunt Astra, and norbear Lady Selph. And we meet for the first time, Councilor Majel ziaGorn, Selyn, and Bell erVinton amongst others.
As always, a new Liaden book is a delight to have in hand. The extra fun for me is that this is the first hardcover book I’ve read in probably 3 or 4 years 🎉 After I got used to not seeing the time 😉 and remembering that I have to actually turn the page instead of tapping the edge 😂, I fell easily into this wonderful Trader story.
I won’t give any spoilers because Liaden stories should be enjoyed fresh and let to unfold and enfold the reader. And this one succeeds at all things ❤️
The enduring sadness of knowing that Steve Miller’s genius no longer lives among us is lightened by knowing that his lifemate, Sharon Lee, has pledged to continue writing Liaden stories for as long as she is able. Ribbon Dance, the 26th Liaden story, is a delight and I eagerly await Book 27.
"Ribbon Dance" is, I think, the twenty-sixth novel set in the Liaden Universe, a set of books that have given me great joy over many years. It continues the adventures of Shan, Padi, Priscilla, Tekelia, and a number of other characters from earlier books, introducing new characters along the way. There are dangers and villains, but mostly the book -- as is the way with the Liaden Universe stories -- made me feel better about the world. Characters help one another. Norbears delight. [This reader is very partial to norbears.] The authors have the happy trick of making me care about their characters, needing only a few sentences to achieve an attachment others never reach.
I note that the story felt a little incomplete, but this just lets me look forward to further adventures.
Four and a half out of five beribboned stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Quite enjoyable. I was hooked. It’s set in the Redlands, a system emerging from Rostov’s Dust, on planet Colemeno, particularly Colemenoport and the Haosa’s Ribbon Dance Village. Padi yos'Galan plays the primary character here, along with Tekelia, but we also get to watch MarTyn pai’Fortuna and Dyoli in action, and get plenty of good scenes with Shan and Priscilla. There’s also several norbears, some scared but valiant children, wicked witches, and an admirable councilor, magically Deaf. Plus we meet the estimable Jes dea'Tolin, a qe’andra in the style of dea’Gauss.
The ugly topic of Reavers rears up again, and we meet the calculating kezlBlythe Syndicate.
Lots of vivid political maneuvering among the so-called “Council of the Civilized” 😜
I read the eARC, now available from Baen books at https://www.baen.com/ribbon-dance.html. Numerous chapters are available online now, free, to whet one’s appetite. But the entire book will cost you, and they’ll even throw in the formatting glitches grata. (confusing — dialogue breaks are missing, interchanges are often mashed into one paragraph)
The Liaden books have always tread fine line between sci-fi and fantasy and this one definitely leans into fantasy. My biggest quibble is not really having a clear sense of what "The Ambient" is supposed to be and as in many of the recent books there's a little bit more about trade than I really care for. That said Miller and Lee have presented us with a great new world in Rostov, the relationship between those who can use toned down versions of the Ambient, vs the wilder ones, vs the ones who are deaf to magic altogether allows all sorts of power plays. Korval's presence and "luck" is clearly going to throw a monkey wrench into the works, and high time too! My biggest quibble is that we seem to see Padi at a slight distance, she sometimes seems a little muted. Earlier books were more character driven.
I recommend rereading Trader's Leap if it's been a while.
Sharon Lee and the late Steve Miller latest Liaden Universe tale sends a master trader and his trader daughter to Colemeno where the dust that had blocked the system access has dissipated.Colemeno is unusual with a Ribbon Dance (hard from Baen) of lights in the night sky because of the increased magical ambience. This results in a society split between those deaf to the ambience, those that need a grid to weaken the effect, and those that can live with full access to their abilities. Trader Padi yos’Galan who has been holding her abilities back, is most affected and finds help on the planet. There’s a nasty family that has to be found and stopped. There are orphan twins in need of help. Everyone is very polite as befits Liaden space, and, because using the ambient requires lots of energy, there is lots of cake. This tale may be the 26th in the series, but it is relatively independent and can be used as an introduction to this excellent 40-year-old series.
I read the eARC. There are a lot of formatting issues or idiosyncrasies (lines breaking in the middle, dialog where the second person's comment is not set as a separate paragraph) which I hope will be resolved in the final version.
This is a direct sequel of Trader's Leap but I enjoyed it more. Although there is still a lot of non-Korval characters I found it easier to keep track and follow the plot as it addressed issues of who has Talents and how that fit in the society on Colomeno, a planet emerging from the Dust, where Shan and Padi as Traders are trying to develop contacts for Korval.
2024 bk 70. Everything and I mean everything about this book was Sharon Lee and Steve Miller writing to perfection. The title my interest immediately and being able to follow Padi's story even more so. Now a master trader, Padi is learning to step into her role, learning that it is okay to make decisions and moves without her father leaning over her and critiquing each move she makes. More importantly she has found a soul sister on this new planet. The Tree-and-Dragon has hopes of a new trade route to improve their fortunes and learning how to deal with a new culture is even more important to the family. Wonderful entry into the Liaden Universe.
Never disappointed by a Liaden book. I've been reading since the 1980s when the books first came out and the series has never paled. How amazing when each book reminds one anew of why they fell in love with the series in the first place. True to form, there's adventure, danger, love, manners—and in this instance, lots of cake. Norbears play a big part, too. One of the overarching themes of the series is the interplay between privilege, patronage, prejudice, and power and that may be why it's so fascinating. Characters come alive, deeds dashing and dastardly ensue; a true pleasure. Thank you Sharon and Steve.
The worldbuilding continues to be brilliant, the story is thrilling and heartwarming, and the relationships are fascinating. The authors have a singular talent for creating supporting characters that become as important to a reader as the primary characters. Dance has romance, joy, danger, discrimination, norbears, humor (Shan is hopeless), and a lot of cake. The Liaden books are brilliant science fiction and are best enjoyed when the reader understands the relationships and circumstances of the characters; thus, I recommend starting at the series beginning. I read a library book but will add Ribbon Dance to my ebooks as soon as possible.
I truly love this series, and its creators, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. I'm grateful for their years of collaboration, and saddened that Steve passed on prior to this book dropping. The Liaden Universe Is so complex and layered and wonderful to dive in and lose yourself within the stories and characters. Every time I read one of the books or stories, or re-read, I learn something new. Space Opera, and top notch world building and storytelling. Thank you for all that you do!
after 27 books remarkably this series remains fresh and wonderful as when I read the first three episodes
For me this is comfort food—a mix of fantasy adventure and paranormal romance that they pioneered and at which that they are still the best. One coauthor is dead and I am sad but the series will continue based on written plot outlines and that is something very much to celebrate!
I have had the pleasure of reading all the books of this series. They have been a great joy for me. This book is one of the best. I enjoy seeing the characters evolve and to catch up with the others. And Pady is one of my favorites. I regret hearing that Steve has passed, but I look forward to reading the books he and Sharon have collaborated on. I have no doubt they will be as great as the others are.
First, this book is a definite sequel to Trader’s Leap. That said, among many other twists and turns, this is a tale of relationships, family, lovers, friends, professional, political and more. Norbears are part of the more. Sometimes it takes a Tree and Dragon to shake up and wake local custom. I read this book as slowly as possible and now I have to wait, wait, wait to follow these relationships.
It is such a good thing that this series is set in space, because that means that there are golden opportunities to look at many ways in which two cultures can run into each other and work out how to deal with each other. In this delightful story, Padi from Clan Korval meets and falls for a woman from the Hoasa clan on a far off planet. their connection being different from any that Korval has experienced. The plot as always is meticulously developed and deeply related to other Liaden books.
Lee and Miller are among my favorite authors so of course I bought the newest book. I enjoyed the book but not as much as others they have written. In recent books, I see a formula of a slow burn with an ending with lots of action and this seems the case with Ribbon Dance as well. I enjoy the world building and new, interesting characters but if I were to describe this book, it is a series of meetings with lots of tea and cakes.
A wonderful story full of intrigue, learning about new cultures and their strengths and weaknesses, familial love and care as well as its opposite. It is the continuation of the Liaden universe story. A Master Trader has made a risky leap to a place recently newly available for trade and business. The Master trader and his daughter, who is a trader in her own right, are seeking to establish a new hub for trade routes that will benefit their clan and the world on which they have landed.
I’m still enjoying the adventures of Clan Korval. It’s been interesting to spend time with Padi (Shan’s daughter and heir) who’s really only been mentioned in passing in previous installments.
The only quibble I have is there was maybe too much set up and not enough action and resolution. It ends with quite a bit unresolved so hopefully there will be another book to better resolve this particular story.
I have every faith that Sharon Lee will carry on without, sadly, Steve Miller, RIP.
The trade team from Dutiful Passage are on Colemeno to assess opening a Korval trade office there. But the ambient psi there makes life more difficult--for everyone, including the residents. Things get tangled, as always with Clan Korval in the mix.
A worthy addition to the series.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While the story contains lots of Easter eggs for long-time readers, it is accessible for new readers. I really liked the exploration of "how are non psychic people treated in a society of psychics" and the assortment of healthy relationships in a variety of flavors. (Clean/fade to black)
Excellent use of Lost Colony tropes, as we see Shan and Padi exercising their professional talents. Pacing was off, ymmv, with a long slow setup and too fast of a conclusion. Another chapter or two would have been welcome to windup action and loose ends. Clearly the middle book of a longer arc of action... can't wait to read the next one.
I was not pleased with the most previous book because I’m not a fan of magic stuff. But this tale clarifies for me that the Ambience is the root of all this interacting with various gifts and I like that . As always the authors develop the characters and it’s wonderful to see them develop. I need to reread the previous book but recommend this highly.
Lee and Miller stories are always satisfying at the end. The characters may be threatened by significant excitement or violence, but at the end one can still say, "God's in His Heaven; all's right with the world."
The Liaden Universe novels have been mostly science fiction themes. But magic is well established as present in the genome of Korvel, and that magic takes center stage in the heroes and villains here. A very satisfying tale.
Lee and Miller are nothing but the best writers I have read. Their characters are so very well embodied one can easily see them in minds eye, and feel them to be people you know.
Ribbon Dance is nothing less than a delightful experience and a really great addition to to the Liaden chronicles. Though we will sorely miss Steve, we will continue to enjoy and read Sharon and Steve's work with great appreciation.