Again, in the beginning a bit too much repetition for those who have faithfully read all the previous novels as well as a certain lack of excitement if one knows the outcome of "Accepting the Lance". However, this book does project the storyline into new and interesting dimensions once it gets going. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased to see both the Carresen-Denobli syndicate & Clan Ixen reappear. ( )

All the action on this book focus on the flagship of the Korval clan, Dutiful Passage. Shan is still healing from the psychic wounds he received fighting the Department. Padi is now trying to learn to use her new powers that she has denied for years as well as trying to obtain her trader’s ring. Shan is also trying to forge a new trade route since so many ports are closed to them due to the banishment off Korval. But luck rides with the clan as he works on a new route to recently opened space that has been controlled by the Department. A good story that follows only one thread of the clan after the recent events in previous books. There are spoilers to previous books but this can stand as a good start in the universe if you don’t mind knowing what happens in books you haven’t read yet.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
( )

Much better than the last book in the series. It didn't have so many random characters. It was great to see a focus on a younger of member of the Korval clan. There was only one scene (between Shan and the human master trader) that was written so fancily that it was infuriatingly unclear.

The story was nice and I liked the characters and it ended well.

I wonder why the authors decided to hide the gender of the person who Padi met in the ambient. I expected some kind of answer when they actually met.

I hope for many more books in the series. ( )

Shan yos'Galen, Clan Korval's Master Trader, is working to build profitable new trade routes to make up for its lost routes and its expensive move from Liad to Surebleak. Unfortunately, Korval's enemies and rivals are still at work, and it's not proving easy to find ports that are profitable, respectable, and willing to welcome the ships of the Tree & Dragon.

It's a task not made easier by Shan's near-fatal clash with an agent of the Department of the Interior, or by his daughter and heir, Padi's, newly emerged dramliz powers and her reluctance to embrace them. There is, nevertheless, a potentially promising contact with Terran Trader Janifer Carresens-Denobli, and an unexpected encounter on Pommierport, with down-at-heels Luck and his unlikely companion.

Dutiful Passage and her crew are in for some exciting, scary adventures they'd have preferred to skip, but Shan also finds a new trade prospect, that only requires overturning all the standard ideas of how trade routes should work. Established structures just aren't going to do it for Korval, in their dangerous new circumstances.

We spend time with some familiar old friends, including norbears, and some interesting new ones, too. Korval isn't alone in not being well served by tradition, right now. Overall, this is a fast-paced, exciting story with new and old characters who have depth and a feeling of reality. And since this is the Liaden universe, the universe itself undergoes some development and change.

It's a lot of fun, completely enjoyable, and I strongly recommend it.

I bought this book. ( )

This twenty-third book in the Liaden Universe focuses on Shan, Priscilla, Padi and the Dutiful Passage though it doesn't begin with them.

We begin on a planet we haven't seen before which is divided into two main cultures - Civilization and the Haosa - and which has recently had an attack by Reavers who wanted to kidnap and steal the power from some of the people. There is a lot of psychic talent on the planet and the Oracle is telling them that Great Ones are coming.

Back on the Passage we find Shan trying to recover from the depletion of his psychic talent after he healed and was healed by Tarona Rusk - a dramliza in the service of the Department of the Interior. We also find Padi who is learning about her new and unwanted dramliza powers which are getting in the way of her desire to become a Master Trader.

Shan's mission is to find new and profitable trade routes to benefit his clan but he is having trouble because of the continuing interference of agents of the Department of the Interior. He does have some hope when he connects with a representative of the Carresens-Denobli family who are another non-Liaden trade family which a long history. He also has more luck when he determines to explore a new region of space which has recently come out from behind Rostov's Dust.

We also get to see Tarona Rusk on her new quest to destroy the Department - get revenge on the Department - the co-opted and used her for their gain. And we see one of the other results of Shan's healing of Tarona in that the talents that survived the severing of Rusk's control have their own plans for the dissolution of the Department of the Interior.

And finally, we see the results of the final defeat of the ancient enemy that forced the escape from the old universe and how that effects Moonhawk and Lute and their current vessel Priscilla and descendant Shan.

This was an engaging and entertaining story that I just gulped down and which will stand up to any number of rereads. Of course, there are threads left dangling and questions left unanswered for long-time fans of the series. But this story also brings to an end some of the long-running plot threads. Hopefully, we have seen the last of the Department of the Interior. And there are so many new possibilities for Korval... ( )