Solid characters, clever puzzle solving, and political schemes make up this really good story. This was the first of Lois McMaster Bujold's novels purchased by Baen, though Shards of Honor was the first written and published. On the strength of this book, a career was launched.

This book introduces the character of Miles Vorkosigan, who appears in a total of 15 books and short story collections. I can see why he is a fan favorite - his combination of witty and wise reminds me of Horatio Hornblower. The setting is introduced in the previous book but explored in depth here, with an emphasis on the Barryaran politics towards the end of the tale. Elena Bothari is a strong female character who grows stronger as a result of her trials; I expect we will see more of her in future novels.

I couldn't summarize further without spoiling some of the surprises, so suffice it to say that this is worthwhile reading. Looking forward to the rest of the saga.