Very exciting but must be read after the other 'Agents of Change' books. ( )

My favorite novel of the Liaden series. The majority of the book follows Pat Rin as he is separated from his powerful family and strikes out to achieve "balance" against the Department of the Interior. Fun space-opera story.
Re-read 10/25/2022. ( )

The final story so far in the Liaden series. Hopefully there will be more taking off from this point. I don't count the books about Theo Wately because they tell her childhood up until she shows up in this book (and are not nearly as good in my opinion) This might be my favorite of the series. Kind of depends on the day I guess. Great sci fi space opera and sci fi romance. The romances are light but they are an integral part of the story. I have a very great fondness for Pat Rin who could be considered the hero of this novel. He is a bit of an underdog who has been a bit overlooked and dismissed by his family but he proves himself here. I love Korval the way Korval loves ships. :-) ( )

The crisis that's been building in secret for decades for Clan Korval and for Liaden as a whole foods s come ng to a head. The Department of the Interior is ready to come out into the open and act directly. Agents of Change have been dispatched to Lytaxin to capture or kill Val Con. Ne'er-do-well cousin Pat Rin yos'Phelium, gambler and sharpshooter, has been approached by another Agent with a most interesting offer aimed directly at his ambition and presumed resentment. And a truly evil trap has been devised for Anthora yos'Galan, the only remaining representative of Clan Korval on Liad.

Unexpected allies appear, also, both long-lost friends and agents of the Juntavas.

This is a fast-paced book with a lot going on. We follow Pat Rin, Val Con, Miri, Anthora, and others as the various subplots against the Clan set them all plotting and fighting back, each in keeping with their own personalities and gifts. I found Pat Rin's adventures and growth the most engaging, but it's all fun.

Recommended.

I bought this book. ( )

Very exciting but must be read after the other 'Agents of Change' books. ( )