Shadow of Freedom

2013

In this novel, the looming Manticoran war against the Solarian League is in the background as Michelle Henke tries to do the impossible; hold the Talbott Quadrant with a wholey inadiquate force, especially as she and her commanders learn of the mysterious attacks on the Mantocoran and Grayson home systems by 'Persons Unknown'.

Like the other books set in the Quadrant, this tale rather overlaps the main tale as seen from Honor Harrington's point of view and rather more unusually for the series, this book takes us on a tour of the Solarian League's Verge worlds where the fires of rebellion are growing, stoked by an eminently forgettable gentleman going by the name of 'Firebrand' claiming to be working for Manticore. Of course, we've met Firebrand before, only he wasn't working for Manticore then, and he's not now - the deep laid plans of the Mesan Alliance are becoming more overt and in an attempt to blacken Manticore's name, Mesa is offering support for the independance movement that Manticore is unable to provide. But Mesa hasn't yet learnt the depths of Manticore's support for those acting in its name...

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