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shalini_rasamdaa's review
2.0
Urgh, wish I hadn't read it. I had to really slog through this one. I'm going to just discount this and pretend that it's bad fanfiction.
sarahholland's review
5.0
I was so surprised by some of the character actions on my first reading, that I didn't fully appreciate the book. I knew I'd like this book better on the second reading (which isn't to say that I didn't like it on the first reading, it was just it was more difficult to process).
aeberley's review
3.0
This should definitely be the last one in the series you read. You are able to skip around the Vorkosigan saga a bit as long as you read a few of them in order, but half the references and motivations in this book will go over your head if you aren’t familiar with all the rest. It’s not an action packed adventure like the rest of the series, but a finale to Cordelia’s story. She is grappling with how to move on with her life after the changes in Cryoburn, and with the reaction from the backwards Barrayar society. It’s not the best book in the series by a long shot but it wasn’t my least favorite either. It’s definitely in the bottom three though.
eve_prime's review
4.5
In this book, we come full circle with Cordelia, whom we first met when she and her team discovered the planet now named Sergyar. She's been its vicereine for years and is now planning her retirement on this very planet, but as a Betan human she expects a great many more years of life (she's 75 or 76, I think, but only middle-aged). Meanwhile, a character previously only mentioned in passing, Oliver Jole, comes to the forefront. He's a truly lovely man whose story has been hidden and therefore eclipsed by our main characters in the Vorkosigan family. He is also at midlife (turning 50) and deciding what to do next. I don't want to give spoilers, so I'll just say that it's a quiet book, full of conversations, but satisfying, and I wish there were more books to come.
mebius's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I think title a bit misleading. It should be called something like Aral-stories or Flashbacks. I guess I was expecting exploring more Cordelia and Joel characters not constantly every few pages reminiscence Aral said this, Aral did that. Understandably after killing him off-screen in previous book, author could just forget about him, but constant mentioning was too much.
mshusky's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
The second time reading this novel, it has improved upon its second read, but it is still an incredibly weak, ending to rather good series. If you are new to the Vorkodigan series. I would strongly recommend you skip this one.
craftycarolynrose's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
whiskyrob's review against another edition
5.0
Fairly short, probably could have finished in a day if I hadn't stopped myself. A very nice end piece to the series (I'm assuming this is the last, unless Bujold starts anew with the offspring). More of a lengthy epilogue than anything else, very little conflict and subplots as in the other novels. Overall enjoyable and a must read for anyone who has enjoyed the series and needs closure.
meshuggeknitter's review
3.0
I'm a big fan of the Vorkosigan books, and have read nearly all of them, but I have to say this one was a big disappointment. Not much of a plot, just a lot of rambling about frozen embryos and re-kindling a relationship. (I have to say that I was really excited to see at long last a viable older woman/younger man relationship which was not at all cougar-like!)
If it wasn't for Grover Gardner's excellent as usual narration, I would have stopped listening after the first hour.
If it wasn't for Grover Gardner's excellent as usual narration, I would have stopped listening after the first hour.