A review by wynnz
The Better Part of Valor by Tanya Huff

inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

 

This was very disappointing and frustrating. The premise sounded interesting and intriguing but failed to deliver. An unknown spaceship was found, with no one on board. It had a configuration that the Confederation had no knowledge of, making it a mystery to unravel. Who built it? Where and what happened to the crew? Where did the ship come from? There was no sense of curiosity or exploration. I would have expected them to search for the ship's bridge to gather as much information as possible, but that didn't happen. These are valid questions that were left unanswered. I felt like I was led down the garden path only to find out there was no garden. Instead the story focused on the camaraderie between the marines and the staff sergeant and her duty to finish the “job” no matter what. The banter was mildly amusing, as gallows humour can be, but it felt like a missed opportunity for an exciting story, wasted on just banter!

The concept of the ship being able to self-configure its internal structure was also interesting but left largely unexplored. So, in a nutshell, they boarded the ship with some scientists and marines, encountered bugs, and hastily tried to escape. The End. However the last 10% of the book was exciting and exhilarating, just a shame the other 90% was uninspiring and flat.