From the Bookshelf of Space Opera Fans …

Trading in Danger (Vatta's War, #1)

Elizabeth Moon

Start date: November 1, 2023

Finish date: December 1, 2023

Discussion: BOTM READER

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 72 topics — 1,067 comments total

BOTM READER

April 2024 Alliance of Equals by Lee and Miller
By Teresa , Plan B is in Effect · 33 posts · 37 views

last updated Jul 13, 2024 02:41AM

July 2024 READER Ribbon Dance by Lee and Miller
By Teresa , Plan B is in Effect · 13 posts · 23 views

last updated Jun 20, 2024 05:35PM

showing 10 of 22 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jul 23, 2015 Oni rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, space-opera

At last, a new space opera to end my reading hiatus, after the disastrous Lost Fleet, and a not-so-exiting-in-the-beginning Vorkosigan Saga.

This series started decently, without delving too much on the unnecessary information for the readers. A cadet, Kylara Vatta, recently disgraced by an act that is not her fault. If it is indeed her fault, it is a totally acceptable mistake of a green cadet. That mistake propelled her out of the military college. Having lost her military career, she started a At last, a new space opera to end my reading hiatus, after the disastrous Lost Fleet, and a not-so-exiting-in-the-beginning Vorkosigan Saga.

This series started decently, without delving too much on the unnecessary information for the readers. A cadet, Kylara Vatta, recently disgraced by an act that is not her fault. If it is indeed her fault, it is a totally acceptable mistake of a green cadet. That mistake propelled her out of the military college. Having lost her military career, she started a new one as the captain of her family's ship, of Vatta Transport Ltd.. It is going to be an easy run, until she accidentally (again) get into some body's way. Being a good ex-cadet, she used her entire knowledge and experience to save her crew and her ship. That act exactly bring her deeper into the eye of the storm.

As the first novel of the series, it is an introduction to the main characters. The world building is not fully expanded yet, it is unraveled bit by bit as the story progresses.

What I love most is the main character design. She is intelligent, but inexperienced, and she has to pay for the mistakes she made. A hefty pay! She is almost too young in the middle of the chaos, which makes the story interesting. She does not always make the right decision, but she tries do her best all the time.

The relation between organizations within the world is interesting. You have a weak government, mercenaries, and lots of private companies. It looks like a post capitalist world with weakened national state. What happen next will have to wait, but I have a hunch that it is going to be REALLY BIG!

The plot is also carefully designed. What seems to an unimportant clue is actually a key. I only succeeded to guess one of them, and it is really joyful to see something to change into something else that you will never have guessed. (view spoiler).

Overall, a decent 4 star novel. I hesitated to give it a 5 star only because that I believe it still has something up the sleeve. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

May 10, 2021 Kate H rated it really liked it

Shelves: goodreads-fiction

I am a big fan of fantasy and science fiction novels especially if they are long and have several books in the series. I really enjoy a series of books that I can immerse myself in and I first picked up an Elizabeth Moon novel because it was long and part of a multi-novel series. I continue to read her books because I find them engrossing and highly enjoyable.

Like · see review

Oct 18, 2018 Cynthia Armistead Newman rated it liked it · review of another edition

I wanted to like Vatta's War as much as I did The Serrano Legacy, but this one nearly lost me at some points. Maybe it's intended for a young adult audience? Considering the age of the main character, that may be the case. Still, I always enjoy Moon's writing style, and she creates great universes. Definitely worth a read. ...more

Like · see review