Engaging the Enemy

January 16, 2006
Nebula Award–winner Moon's third Kylara Vatta novel is sadly more reminiscent of the uninspiring Trading in Danger
(2003) than the inspired Marque and Reprisal
(2004). Ky has more or less patched up her relationship with her cousin Stella—a good thing, since they're all that remains of the Vatta shipping empire—and finished off the most immediate danger, the renegade Osman Vatta. Ky now faces the much more nebulous threat of an interstellar piracy gang. As she travels from station to station seeking fellow pirate fighters, annoying local officials and repeatedly leaving Stella in the lurch, it's hard to stay interested. It doesn't help that the one genuinely stunning twist-of-fate climax is followed by six plodding chapters on an entirely different topic. Moon's strength is clearly in flash-bang-gee-whiz battles and skulking intrigue, both planetside and in space. It's too bad she so frequently drowns them in mundane details that provide realism at the expense of entertainment.

March 15, 2006
After an attack leaves her parents dead and her family home destroyed, Kylara Vatta, black sheep of one of the galaxy's most influential merchant houses, decides to track down the perpetrators of the crime. As a privateer carrying letters of marque, Kylara treads a fine line in the public eye between piracy and heroism, and her checkered past makes it difficult for her to act within prescribed channels. As her investigations proceed, Kylara discovers a galaxywide conspiracy and faces a challenge she may not survive. Moon's third novel featuring the irrepressible Kylara Vatta excels in character development as well as in its fast-paced action sequences and intricate plotting. A solid purchase, along with its predecessors (Trading in Danger; Marque and Reprisal) for most sf or YA collections.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2006
Adult/High School -Just a year after being expelled from space academy, Kylara Vatta, the daughter of an interstellar shipping tycoon, is well on her way to making her fortune and is the veteran of two successful campaigns of space warfare. In "Trading in Danger" (2003) and "Marque and Reprisal" (2004, both Del Rey), she proved her mettle as a trader and won a ship of her own, only to lose most of her clan when unknown enemies attacked the Vatta corporation -s headquarters. Now, Ky lays the groundwork for an interstellar military force as a first step toward destroying a large army of pirates, reestablishing safe trading and cargo transport for the law-abiding citizens of her galaxy, and ultimately rebuilding the Vatta empire. She continues to mature as she struggles with inner demons and learns to make the most of her emerging gifts for strategy and leadership. This volume has a transitional feel, telling how the new space navy gets off to a small and rocky start, but leaving the rest of Ky -s quest to future books. While the battle strategies and dogfights are thrilling, the series is also a family dynasty saga, complete with eccentric but brilliant cousins and elders and quirky humor. It should appeal to fans of Anne McCaffrey -s -Rowan - family SF saga (Ace) as well as to those of David Weber -s -Honor Harrington - military SF series (Baen). Moon has created a richly imagined universe of different cultures, replete with intriguing characters and the sense of unlimited possibility that characterizes the most appealing science fiction." -Christine C. Menefee, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2006
The third volume of Kylara Vatta's adventures while trying to avenge and reestablish her family turns into a desperate struggle for survival. Although not a wholly sympathetic character, Kylara is fanatically loyal to surviving members of the family and also to the crew that has stood by her thus far, so much so that some of her fellow Vatta Transport Ltd. merchant captains and mercenaries prefer her to the opposition. That opposition is meanwhile growing steadily and now not only has major clout among interstellar corporations and planetary governments, some of which regard Kylara as another near pirate, but also is hiring mercenaries of their own and trying to subvert people close to Kylara. Which means that she and her allies have to carefully watch the network of financial interests they are trying to build, as well as menaces close to home, such as the risk of being poisoned in their own mess or stabbed in their own showers. No surprise to anyone familiar with Moon's work, the suspense is pretty lethal, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)