Marque and Reprisal (Vatta's War, #2)

by Elizabeth Moon, Cynthia Holloway (Narrator)

book data

495 ratings, 3.88 average rating, 31 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		23%
4		45%
3		27%
2		3%
1		0%

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published

November 1st 2008 by Tantor Media (first published 2004)

details

Audio CD

literary awards

Prometheus Hall of Fame Award Nominee (2005)

isbn

1400108284 (isbn13: 9781400108282)

description

"Kylara Vatta, risk-taking, rule-breaking, can-do heroine of Trading in Danger, is back in business - the kind that's anything but usual - in the…more

[close] "Kylara Vatta, risk-taking, rule-breaking, can-do heroine of Trading in Danger, is back in business - the kind that's anything but usual - in the new science fiction adventure by Elizabeth Moon." "The exciting military career she hoped for never got off the ground - but Ky Vatta ended up seeing plenty of combat when she took the helm of one of the commercial transport vessels in her family's fleet . . . and steered it into a full-blown war. Now the lessons she learned in that trial by fire are about to pay off: because this time, the war has come to her. To be exact, someone unknown has launched a full-throttle offensive against Vatta Transport Ltd., Ky's father's interstellar shipping empire. In short order, most of Ky's family is killed, and subsequent attacks sever vital lines of communication, leaving Ky fighting, in every sense, to survive." "Determined to identify the ruthless mystery enemy and avenge her family's name, Ky needs not only firepower but information. And she gets both in spades - from the band of stranded mercenaries she hooks up with, from her black-sheep cousin, Stella, who's been leading a secret life, and from Stella's roguish ex-lover, Rafe. Together they struggle to penetrate the tangled web of political intrigue that's wreaking havoc within InterStellar Communications, whose effective operation their own livelihoods - and perhaps lives - depend on." "But the infighting proves to be infectious, and it isn't long before Ky's hired military muscle are turning their suspicions on the enigmatic Rafe, whose wealth of knowledge about ISC's clashing factions and startling new technologies has begun to make him smell like a rat . . . or a mole. With swift, violent destruction a very real possibility, the last thing Ky needs is a crew divided against itself - and she's prepared to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure that Vatta stays in business, as well as in one piece." What she's not prepared for is the shocking truth behind the te [close]

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Apr 06, 2009

Jim rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

bookshelves: science-fiction

Read in April, 2009

A good (OK?) second book to the series. Major crisis & well fought by our heroine, Kylara. I was a little disappointed by the sudden surge in technology. Without spoiling the story, a crucial resource is suddenly not nearly as scarce as we'd been led to think - or the rest of the universe. It stretched my suspension of belief to the breaking point. It was an almost magical fix, something that marks less than great fiction. It was still a good story, but it lost a lot of points with me for ...more

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Jun 03, 2008

Guy rated it:

(review of isbn 1841491691)

bookshelves: science-fiction-and-fantasy

Read in June, 2008

Moon's weaknesses as a writer are starting to dominate in this series. While I still read this book cover to cover more or less in a single sitting, that is definitely much more a reflection of my love for space opera than the quality of the work.

The palette of "real" characters (as opposed to transparent props) has expanded a little, but the new faces don't have serious pyschological depth. Perhaps even more serious, deus ex machina is reaching ridiculous proportions: i...more

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Feb 05, 2010

Sbuchler rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

bookshelves: read-in-2010, scifi-fantasy

Read in February, 2010

Genre: Military Science Fiction/Space Opera

I continue to thoroughly enjoy this series. I agree with one reviewer that it just misses being AMAZING. I'm not quite sure why it misses that mark. It's a fun ride watching Ky and her crew grapple with the fact that her family and her family's trading empire is under attack and so is the ISC (the sole provider of intergalactic communication). What's being depicted is an international (or rather intergalactic) economic system falling apart, ...more

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Jun 02, 2008

Jason rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

Read in November, 2007

recommends it for: Sci-fi fans

I saw “Trading in Danger” and “Marque and Reprisal” at bookstores a few years ago and was very curious about them. Were they good science fiction, or examples of published books that I was better than? The first book had been good, though not great, and I gave the second one a whirl.
“Marque and Reprisal” has the same pace as the first book. You get halfway through it and realize that nothing seems to have really happened. Moon spends a lot of time in the “setup”, establis...more I saw “Trading in Danger” and “Marque and Reprisal” at bookstores a few years ago and was very curious about them. Were they good science fiction, or examples of published books that I was better than? The first book had been good, though not great, and I gave the second one a whirl.
“Marque and Reprisal” has the same pace as the first book. You get halfway through it and realize that nothing seems to have really happened. Moon spends a lot of time in the “setup”, establishing characters, relationships, and situations. I suppose that makes it realistic, but I was expecting faster paced, space opera action.
Things definitely pick towards the end (much as the first book did, but more so). There is fighting, explosions, and death. While the setting has established such things as faster-than-light travel and communications, and artificial gravity, the action is presented in a realistic way, and the weaponry feels closer to our own day and age.
Moon’s characters are satisfactory. This book introduces some new crew members that feel a bit clichéd (Rafe), or simply hollow (Stella). As with the first book, most of the character development is based on Ky Vatta, and she comes across as a real person that I root for.
Although I’d call the story average in many respects, there is something in these stories that keeps drawing me back for more. I am sure that eventually I will get the third book in the series and give it a shot.

3 Characters
The characters are satisfactory. The only real development is around Ky Vatta. Everyone else does their job and fills their place, but is not especially memorable. All background characters feel like modern, everyday working stiffs. There is nothing exotic, fantastic, or interesting in them to remind the reader that this is a piece of science fiction.

3 Pace
Moon adopts a plodding pace that tells the story without the reader knowing that the story is happening. You feel like nothing has happened, then realize you are halfway through the book.

4 Story
Although I don’t care for her technique too much, Moon is engaged in telling an exciting story. The book has rewards if a reader can get through the slow setup.

3 Dialogue
The dialogue is generally realistic, although it often lacks emotional attachment. Moon is a “by the numbers” dialogist.

3 Style/Technical
Moon does not use many tricks and her style is to-the-point. Occasionally it can be difficult to tell what is happening or what has just happened.

3.2 Overall
“Marque and Reprisal” is an average novel of above-average length, much of the time spent on a lengthy setup. There is no quick action here, but Moon keeps the reader entertained with interesting (if somewhat two-dimensional) characters and the promise of what might be coming. There is a lot of lost potential in this story though, as the locales are not exotic and every background character feels like a working-class stiff from downtown.(less)

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Jul 08, 2009

Dev Null rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

bookshelves: science-fiction, space-opera

Most of the book is obviously setting up the politics of the series as a whole; that bit was actually pretty good. The action sequence, while well-written, is a fairly contrived situation.

The contagious interstellar telepathy thing seemed totally irrelevant to the actual story, and totally out-of-place in it. I can only imagine that its necessary for the sequels in some way, but I hope it rates a better explanation at that point.

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Oct 06, 2009

Jeffrey rated it:

(review of isbn 0345447581)

bookshelves: read-in-2009, science-fiction, series--vatta-s-war

Read in October, 2009

A fluffy, summer reading quality, space opera novel that improves on the first volume, but is still predictable and continues Elizabeth Moon's tendency to make space feel small.

While it does bring more personality and character with the addition of several new supporting cast members, the overall result remains shallow. Entertaining, but shallow.

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Sep 28, 2009

Maria rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

Read in September, 2008

This sequel to "Trading in Danger" was excellent. Alot of action takes place and the development of the main character, Ky Vatta, continued in steady pace. Setbacks happened to the character and she dealt with them as best she could. Other family members were introduced and a possible romantic interest was also introduced. Can't wait to read the next book in the series

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Dec 05, 2008

sean rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

Read in December, 2008

OK for a guilty space-opera fix, if you're waiting for the next book in the Vorkosigan Saga or the Liaden Universe. But don't expect deep, believable characters. Furthermore, you'll have to swallow some pretty ridiculous plotting coincidences and some pretty mediocre secret agent stuff.

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Dec 29, 2009

Pilars Scott rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

Read in December, 2009

Decent comfort read. Suffered a bit for space opera cliche overload. Didn't enjoy it as much as the first but I'm not too put out since I bought it second hand. I'll probably read the rest of the series if I can find them at friends of the library.

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Jun 04, 2009

Sandy rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

bookshelves: other-adult-books, sci-fi

Sequel to Trading in Danger, this picks up immediately after. Kylara has just returned the cargo she picked up to Belinta when things go horribly wrong again. She proceeds to Lastway where she starts to work things out. Her family is being attacked, as is the ISC. This book ends on a cliffhanger in the middle of war still. Communication across the galaxy is down and people are still out to kill her.

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Feb 16, 2010

February Four rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

Read in February, 2010

Three stars because it felt like a too-short build-up to another book. I knew this was a series, but the climax from this book was not quite as fulfilling or as satisfying as I felt it should have been somehow.

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Dec 22, 2008

Bagfish rated it:

(review of isbn 1841491691)

bookshelves: sci-fi

Read in November, 2008

Much better than "Trading in Danger" Moving Target start with a bang and continues in this vein throughout. Excellent characterisation along with great action makes this some pretty good space opera

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Oct 10, 2008

Martina rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

Read in October, 2009

This is the 2nd book in the Vatta's War series. For series overview and list of recommended similar series, please see my review on Trading in Danger, Vatta's War, Book 1.

Marque and Reprisal picks up immediately where Trading in Danger left off. We know that an unknown adversary has launched a full-throttle offensive against Vatta Transport killing most of Ky's family and nearly ruining the business. Ky and her cousin, Stella, team up with a band of stranded mercenaries while they...more

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Sep 10, 2009

Saleris added it (review of isbn 034544759X)

Read in March, 2009

I read this book with the title "Moving Target" in the UK.
Vatta's war is a very good series. Couldn't wait to go from one volume to the other, and I'm hoping that there's more to come.

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Feb 20, 2008

Nick rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

bookshelves: military-science-fiction

Read in February, 2008

recommends it for: people who enjoy the Honor Harrington novels by Weber

This book, the second in a series, is a well-written blend of military science fiction and social commentary. As the series progresses, different cultures are highlighted, many of which feature mildly exaggerated versions of contemporary cultures.
Marque and Reprisal is about a large scale terrorist-style attack on the main character's family and their business, and her response to those actions. As the title implies, the concept of the privateer is not dead in this version of the future of...more

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Mar 06, 2009

Punk marked it as find-and-read (review of isbn 034544759X)

bookshelves: find-and-read, sff

In case I feel like reading about space shipping.

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Feb 18, 2009

Chuck rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

Read in February, 2009

See comments under Engaging the Enemy.

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Jun 12, 2008

James rated it:

(review of isbn 034544759X)

bookshelves: action, character-studies, culture-and-politics, military, science-fiction, suspense-and-mystery

Read in July, 2008

recommends it for: Fans of science fiction, especially military SF

Volume 2 in the saga of Kylara Vatta, the Vatta family shipping empire, and their travails in a universe that in some ways resembles the wild and chaotic 17th century maritime world of Europe and America complete with wars, business empires, pirates, and privateers. The development of the protagonist and some other key characters continues to unfold as they learn and develop under the demands of new challenges, and the plotting continues to be credible without being predictable or cliched. Loo...more

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Jan 08, 2010

Lynn Calvin added it (review of isbn 0345447581)

ereader ebook

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Sep 25, 2007

Celia rated it:

(review of isbn 1841491691)

bookshelves: sci-fi

Ky Vatta's "oh my god! I get thrills from killing people" is beginning to irritate me a bit. Accept yourself already woman! But I suppose a mildly tormented lead character is more exciting than a self-accepting one. This was fun, and I actually enjoyed it more than the first in the series, because Ky is more accepting of her competence, and more sure of herself. The battles were cool - overall, a fun and energetic read.

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