This one's for Basilard! So third novel, and wow, if I had any disappointments with the last novel, this one brought up my love for the series again. The conflict here involves not just external issues, but I really liked the way Basilard's history and beliefs made internal strife. There were some very good questions, given the way Sicarius is and my love for him, that even though I never forget, I still do forget that he's an assassin. And if I'm to seriously consider this novel, outside of all the fun it is, than it is a very good question.
Spoiler
If you found out the man you were working with was responsible for destroying a huge part of your pacifist country's government, what would you do? How does one continue being a pacifist when the whole world is killing and attacking each other? At least for me, I don't know the answer to these. But this novel does a good job in showing possible answers. Basilard and Sicarius' relationship had turning point in the novel, which I loved because Basilard was able to to come to terms with his feelings, and even though he didn't make a definite decision, we also got to see another side of Sicarius. There's a lot Basilard has to be saddened, disappointed and angry about against the world. Yet he still was doing his best to be a good guy, to stay true to the values he's was raised with and be logical about his decisions. Out of the entire group, though he's never able to say a whole lot, he's someone who really is one of the most mature ones. Amaranthe trusts him for many good reasons.