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Confederation of Valor #5
The Truth of Valor
The "rousing military adventure"( Locus ) continues with a brand-new Valor novel.
Former Marine Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr is attempting to build a new life with salvage operator Craig Ryder on his ship, the Promise . Turns out civilian life is a lot rougher than she'd imagined-salvage operators are losing both cargo and lives to pirates. And when they attack the Promise , Craig is taken prisoner and Torin is left for dead.
When Torin finds out why the pirates needed Craig, she calls in the Marines to get him back-and to stop the pirates from changing the balance of power in known space.
Former Marine Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr is attempting to build a new life with salvage operator Craig Ryder on his ship, the Promise . Turns out civilian life is a lot rougher than she'd imagined-salvage operators are losing both cargo and lives to pirates. And when they attack the Promise , Craig is taken prisoner and Torin is left for dead.
When Torin finds out why the pirates needed Craig, she calls in the Marines to get him back-and to stop the pirates from changing the balance of power in known space.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 2010
97 people are currently reading
1091 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Huff
151 books2,451 followersTanya Sue Huff is a Canadian fantasy author. Her stories have been published since the late 1980s, including five fantasy series and one science fiction series. One of these, her Blood Books series, featuring detective Vicki Nelson, was adapted for television under the title Blood Ties.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
September 12, 2010
I really had no idea what to expect from this book, since book 4 had seemed to really tie up the story arc. But Ms. Huff did a fantastic job of pulling us back into Torin's world and investing us in what happens next. Let me start by saying that if you're a fan of space opera, kick ass heroines and you're looking for something new to read, I encourage you to pick up book one of this series. You may also want to skip reading my review, because it's impossible to write about this particular book without providing spoilers for the series as a whole.
**Series spoilers past this point but NOT spoilers for this particular book**
The book opens with Torin and Craig visiting Torin's home world. It's been just a few months since the close of book four, when Torin and Craig reveal the existence of the "plastic aliens" and that the war was a sham. Torin has left the military and is traveling with Craig and learning to work as a salvage operator. We get insight into Craig's world while building up to the main conflict.
Ms. Huff has a deft hand with her use of 3rd person POV and uses three POVs: Torin's Craig's and the antagonist, Cho's. It's fascinating to have that third POV, allowing us to see what's coming, to know the danger, and to want to warn the characters, but being unable to.
The issues that Torin and Craig are struggling with, their psychological issues especially, left over from previous events, are woven into the fabric of this story and I'm glad that the author doesn't make things seem too easy for them, as far as learning to live together and, for Torin, learning not to be "Gunny" anymore.
The story itself is a page turner, and well paced. I think, if there were to be any quibble, it might be how competently bad-ass Torin always is, but I think if that's something you're disgruntled with, you wouldn't have read the first four books. If you liked the first four books of this series, you'll enjoy this installment and revisiting.
No spoilers here but I love the resolution and wrap-up in the final pages of the book, of the hints of the next adventure to face this couple, and I especially love the final scene of the book.
**Series spoilers past this point but NOT spoilers for this particular book**
The book opens with Torin and Craig visiting Torin's home world. It's been just a few months since the close of book four, when Torin and Craig reveal the existence of the "plastic aliens" and that the war was a sham. Torin has left the military and is traveling with Craig and learning to work as a salvage operator. We get insight into Craig's world while building up to the main conflict.
Ms. Huff has a deft hand with her use of 3rd person POV and uses three POVs: Torin's Craig's and the antagonist, Cho's. It's fascinating to have that third POV, allowing us to see what's coming, to know the danger, and to want to warn the characters, but being unable to.
The issues that Torin and Craig are struggling with, their psychological issues especially, left over from previous events, are woven into the fabric of this story and I'm glad that the author doesn't make things seem too easy for them, as far as learning to live together and, for Torin, learning not to be "Gunny" anymore.
The story itself is a page turner, and well paced. I think, if there were to be any quibble, it might be how competently bad-ass Torin always is, but I think if that's something you're disgruntled with, you wouldn't have read the first four books. If you liked the first four books of this series, you'll enjoy this installment and revisiting.
No spoilers here but I love the resolution and wrap-up in the final pages of the book, of the hints of the next adventure to face this couple, and I especially love the final scene of the book.
December 13, 2025
Not as gripping as the first four in the series even as it wraps up main story arc. After basically ending the war between the Confederation and the Primacy by discovering the 'organic plastic aliens' started it as a social science experiment, Torin quits the Marines and goes in with Craig to hunt salvage. The salvagers are an independent lot for sure, living in cobbled together space stations and venturing out to prior space battle sites to hunt for stuff to sell.
Well, it seems some salvagers have recently 'gone missing', e.g., killed by space pirates, and when one of them turns out to be a former marine, Torin gets a bee in her bonnet about the pirates. Official help? Not happening. When she and Craig meet some space pirates when working on a claim, the smelly stuff hits the spinning blades: Craig gets abducted and Torin left for dead. In the last installment of the series, we had Craig searching for Torin; now we have Torin searching for Craig. And, just like in the last installment, everyone states missing person is dead. Torin, however, refuses to give up and let the chase begin...
I really dug the first few installments of this series, but The Truth of Valor? Not so much. The novelty of the universe felt rather old hat by this point, as do the Mary Sue exploits by Torin. Hard to make a book about space pirates boring, but Huff managed it. 2.5 pirates, rounding up.
Well, it seems some salvagers have recently 'gone missing', e.g., killed by space pirates, and when one of them turns out to be a former marine, Torin gets a bee in her bonnet about the pirates. Official help? Not happening. When she and Craig meet some space pirates when working on a claim, the smelly stuff hits the spinning blades: Craig gets abducted and Torin left for dead. In the last installment of the series, we had Craig searching for Torin; now we have Torin searching for Craig. And, just like in the last installment, everyone states missing person is dead. Torin, however, refuses to give up and let the chase begin...
I really dug the first few installments of this series, but The Truth of Valor? Not so much. The novelty of the universe felt rather old hat by this point, as do the Mary Sue exploits by Torin. Hard to make a book about space pirates boring, but Huff managed it. 2.5 pirates, rounding up.
December 31, 2015
3.5 stars after a re-read in 2015, enjoyed this.
I'm glad there was a break (mostly) from the series story arc that bugs me so much, but I have to admit that I liked the way Torin and Craig are constantly, automatically, checking any little bit of they come across.
Original 2010 review:
This fifth Valor book is a bit of a departure from the series, since our heroine is now a former marine taking on evil space pirates without the Corps to back her up. She's still aided by a few old friends, though, including the feisty and hilarious reporter, Presit. I love the Valor universe, and this book is as funny and as well-written as the earlier ones, even if the plot is a little weaker.
I waited the entire book for the thing that happened on the very last page. I enjoy Tanya Huff's writing very much.
I'm glad there was a break (mostly) from the series story arc that bugs me so much, but I have to admit that I liked the way Torin and Craig are constantly, automatically, checking any little bit of they come across.
Original 2010 review:
This fifth Valor book is a bit of a departure from the series, since our heroine is now a former marine taking on evil space pirates without the Corps to back her up. She's still aided by a few old friends, though, including the feisty and hilarious reporter, Presit. I love the Valor universe, and this book is as funny and as well-written as the earlier ones, even if the plot is a little weaker.
I waited the entire book for the thing that happened on the very last page. I enjoy Tanya Huff's writing very much.
November 9, 2016
Tanya Huff isn't done with ex-gunnery sergeant Torin Kerr yet even though the last novel wrapped up the on going story arc. Torin is out of the Marines and currently working salvage with her salvage op boyfriend in a tiny ship. Not much plot to this one. You get the feeling Huff wanted to boil the pot a while in the hopes that something would come together. The Peacekeeper series kicks off in the next book so we'll see if the plan worked. Meanwhile Torin has some space pirates, a deadlocked cache of military grade weapons and various space station full of scum and villainy to contend with.
January 31, 2019
Pirates and marginals !
And morons !
And mafia boss !
And love in whole myriad of ways ^^
This is definitely a great story where the damsel in distress is a guy (Craig) actively putting up with a lot of shit because he knows the big hero (Torin, 1.8 meters tall, all muscle and brains in beautiful Marine package) is going to kick ass to save his own.
Torture by pheromone overdose didn't look fun.
If I have doubt on the other book, this one is definitely reread material.
And morons !
And mafia boss !
And love in whole myriad of ways ^^
This is definitely a great story where the damsel in distress is a guy (Craig) actively putting up with a lot of shit because he knows the big hero (Torin, 1.8 meters tall, all muscle and brains in beautiful Marine package) is going to kick ass to save his own.
Torture by pheromone overdose didn't look fun.
If I have doubt on the other book, this one is definitely reread material.
December 1, 2015
Another edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, which sets out the prove the axiom, "there is no such thing as an ex gunnery sergeant." This story pits our heroine against SPACE PIRATES!!!! who unlike the version popularized by Johnny Depp, are legitimately awful and frightening. The book also brings together some favorite characters from the previous books to help Torin in her quest to eradicate the piratical scourge and hopefully set up a future series of crusading ex-marines.
February 5, 2021
Very good last book in this Military SiFi series. With this book the 1st tory arc ends and a new series begins. I look forward to following the adventures of this character as the writer takes her in a new direction. Good fast paced and action packed read. Recommended
August 28, 2014
This one just didn't grip me as much as the other books in this series. Once you get Sergeant Kerr out of uniform you are losing a major part of what makes this series so entertaining.
So, Torin and the few survivors of her company have quit the Marine Corps after discovering in the last book that the war they had been fighting was based on a lie, one perpetuated by a hive mind of intelligent plastic. Shacking up with her salvage contractor lover Craig, she tries to settle in to civilian life. It doesn't last long, because Craig is kidnapped by pirates, and she has to ride to the rescue with her old buddies.
Along the way there are lots of fighting, a bit of gratuitous torture, and lots and lots of bad guy pirates for her to kill, maim or just knock out. Unfortunately, said pirates are just not that tough, so it is not much of a fight. A large chunk of the story is set on a pirate run space station which I felt like I needed a plan of, because I couldn't work out how things were connected with each other. Things were a bit too convoluted at times, and the ending had a deus ex machina that made me groan.
It's not really much of a spoiler to say that she saves the day (yet again), but there is a possibly interesting new direction for the next book to go into (said book is not due out until November in the UK though). I will probably nd up reading it, but by then I will have probably forgotten all about this series.
So, Torin and the few survivors of her company have quit the Marine Corps after discovering in the last book that the war they had been fighting was based on a lie, one perpetuated by a hive mind of intelligent plastic. Shacking up with her salvage contractor lover Craig, she tries to settle in to civilian life. It doesn't last long, because Craig is kidnapped by pirates, and she has to ride to the rescue with her old buddies.
Along the way there are lots of fighting, a bit of gratuitous torture, and lots and lots of bad guy pirates for her to kill, maim or just knock out. Unfortunately, said pirates are just not that tough, so it is not much of a fight. A large chunk of the story is set on a pirate run space station which I felt like I needed a plan of, because I couldn't work out how things were connected with each other. Things were a bit too convoluted at times, and the ending had a deus ex machina that made me groan.
It's not really much of a spoiler to say that she saves the day (yet again), but there is a possibly interesting new direction for the next book to go into (said book is not due out until November in the UK though). I will probably nd up reading it, but by then I will have probably forgotten all about this series.
December 8, 2019
I love Torin. I love Torin. I love Torin. So much.
She's one of my favourite female characters out there and I love her for being one badass Gunnery Sergeant (there are not Ex-Gunnery Sergeants ;)) who takes names and gets done what needs to be done but is also someone who has finally found their someone and lets herself be vulnerable in admitting that and being a bit lost when she looses that someone (while having no doubt that she'll find them again). Oh, I love her.
And, I love Tanya Huff for writing all of the above and having Torin be in love (something I usually don't like because most authors (male and female or neither) suddenly make their BAMF characters (male, female or neither) do stupid things when they are in love. *sighs*) and still be mostly (mostly because people change over the years and with different experiences and when they find their someone platonically and/or romantically) the same Torin we met in the first book. Thank you for that!
The plot - a bit of repetition with one being presumed dead and the other trying to find them but I like the pirates plot and that we get glimpses of how the people in this universe live when they are not military. No, we don't get huge glimpses, but they are there. Also, that we get shown, that when a big thing (in this case - a war) is over, that there is suddenly a power vacuum that gets and needs to be filled. And, it's a race to make sure that the "good" guys fill it. The hints that Torin might be one of these good guys - I like.
I love the characters. I already declared my love for Torin. Craig and especially Presit are growing on me. I love Marines in space so no complains from me on that part for adding some old faces into this story. :) I also love Pedro and his family and all the glimpses we get into the di'Taykan and other cultures re: family.
So, I'm happy with this part and am very curious what the next one will bring. :)
She's one of my favourite female characters out there and I love her for being one badass Gunnery Sergeant (there are not Ex-Gunnery Sergeants ;)) who takes names and gets done what needs to be done but is also someone who has finally found their someone and lets herself be vulnerable in admitting that and being a bit lost when she looses that someone (while having no doubt that she'll find them again). Oh, I love her.
And, I love Tanya Huff for writing all of the above and having Torin be in love (something I usually don't like because most authors (male and female or neither) suddenly make their BAMF characters (male, female or neither) do stupid things when they are in love. *sighs*) and still be mostly (mostly because people change over the years and with different experiences and when they find their someone platonically and/or romantically) the same Torin we met in the first book. Thank you for that!
The plot - a bit of repetition with one being presumed dead and the other trying to find them but I like the pirates plot and that we get glimpses of how the people in this universe live when they are not military. No, we don't get huge glimpses, but they are there. Also, that we get shown, that when a big thing (in this case - a war) is over, that there is suddenly a power vacuum that gets and needs to be filled. And, it's a race to make sure that the "good" guys fill it. The hints that Torin might be one of these good guys - I like.
I love the characters. I already declared my love for Torin. Craig and especially Presit are growing on me. I love Marines in space so no complains from me on that part for adding some old faces into this story. :) I also love Pedro and his family and all the glimpses we get into the di'Taykan and other cultures re: family.
So, I'm happy with this part and am very curious what the next one will bring. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2021
It's not the easiest transition to civilian life, and the mindset of a salvage operator. But Torin's game, and she and Craig get a tip for a possible new salvage and head out there to check it out. They get hit by pirates, and the two are separated, Craig captured and Torin floating in space with a damaged ship.
She makes it eventually to a station, and tries to get the Wardens to go after the pirates -- a big, we'll check it out, maybe, eventually, from them.
What she does get is interest from her old "friend", Presit a Tur durValinstrisy, who agrees to go after the pirates with Torin because she smells a big story.
Torin also ropes in a few of her former squad, Binta Mashona, Werst and Ressk, who'd probably all walk through fire for Torin after the many times she's led them out of extremely dangerous situations.
They land on a station off the beaten path, so to speak, well hidden by the canny and greedy stationmaster, and a popular haunt of pirates, including the team that snagged Craig.
Are we thinking Torin does not succeed? Ha! Don't bet against this woman, ever.
I liked how this 5-book series wrapped up, with Torin definitively saying goodbye to being a marine (though obviously not to all the many skills she gained when one), and finding a new direction for herself, and for the three members of her squad that had her back during Craig's rescue. In fact, it's a new start for all five of them.
She makes it eventually to a station, and tries to get the Wardens to go after the pirates -- a big, we'll check it out, maybe, eventually, from them.
What she does get is interest from her old "friend", Presit a Tur durValinstrisy, who agrees to go after the pirates with Torin because she smells a big story.
Torin also ropes in a few of her former squad, Binta Mashona, Werst and Ressk, who'd probably all walk through fire for Torin after the many times she's led them out of extremely dangerous situations.
They land on a station off the beaten path, so to speak, well hidden by the canny and greedy stationmaster, and a popular haunt of pirates, including the team that snagged Craig.
Are we thinking Torin does not succeed? Ha! Don't bet against this woman, ever.
I liked how this 5-book series wrapped up, with Torin definitively saying goodbye to being a marine (though obviously not to all the many skills she gained when one), and finding a new direction for herself, and for the three members of her squad that had her back during Craig's rescue. In fact, it's a new start for all five of them.
March 26, 2017
Torin Kerr is no longer in the marines. She is now a Civilian Salvage Operator, with Craig Ryder, her main squeeze. What kind of trouble could she possibly get into now? PIRATES! Pirates attack and kidnap Craig. And now Torin will pull out all the stops to get him back.
Change of pace from the first 4 Confederation books. She opens this book up to all new directions that I am incredibly excited about! I really hope she writes more.
Change of pace from the first 4 Confederation books. She opens this book up to all new directions that I am incredibly excited about! I really hope she writes more.
September 14, 2015
Arhhhh what joy to get back into the lives of Gunnery Sargent Kerr and Craig Ryder
I have missed them. I thought this would be the last book in this series but Tanya Huff has twisted this story to allow for more and not in at half hearted manner either. The possible new stories have a great story line going for them and now I am going to be on tender hoooks
for the next one.
well done Tanya
rereading and I had forgotten the ending of this one.
What a doosy! I'm ready for the next.
12Sep15
I have missed them. I thought this would be the last book in this series but Tanya Huff has twisted this story to allow for more and not in at half hearted manner either. The possible new stories have a great story line going for them and now I am going to be on tender hoooks
for the next one.
well done Tanya
rereading and I had forgotten the ending of this one.
What a doosy! I'm ready for the next.
12Sep15
August 18, 2017
3.5 stars.
After retiring from the Marines, Torin joined Ryder in his salvage business. But when Ryder was kidnapped by pirates and Torin and their ship left for dead in space, Torin contacted some of her ex-Marines to mount a rescue mission.
It's interesting to see Torin without the support of the military and having to make all her own decisions. I actually liked that it's no longer purely a military series and the author can expand into different scenarios. Also, I'm hoping that the team Torin pulled together will stay together for more future adventures and we won't see more unnecessary deaths.
After retiring from the Marines, Torin joined Ryder in his salvage business. But when Ryder was kidnapped by pirates and Torin and their ship left for dead in space, Torin contacted some of her ex-Marines to mount a rescue mission.
It's interesting to see Torin without the support of the military and having to make all her own decisions. I actually liked that it's no longer purely a military series and the author can expand into different scenarios. Also, I'm hoping that the team Torin pulled together will stay together for more future adventures and we won't see more unnecessary deaths.
December 31, 2024
3.5 stars
This took me awhile to read but not because I didn't enjoy it, I just didn't have the proper time to curl up with it.
Torin is adjusting to her new life with Craig after leaving the marines. Being a salvage operator and living in confined quarters is a change for both of them. But once a marine, always a marine at least her thinking is. So when they find a fellow salvage operator tortured to death Torin is adamant it needs to be brought to the authorities attention. They of course do nothing but hem and haw and say the will start an investigation but things take so much time with all that red tape.
I didn't love the POV of the antagonist, it was important to the story but I always wanted it to be over so I could get back with Torin or Craig. I didn't enjoy the time spent with him.
The best part was after the fellow marines joined Torin on her rescue mission. I loved having part of the crew back together again. I'm excited where the next book will take us but sadly it is the one I don't own.
Still an enjoyable military space opera style series with many types of aliens. Great series, on to the Peacekeeper spin off when I can.
This took me awhile to read but not because I didn't enjoy it, I just didn't have the proper time to curl up with it.
Torin is adjusting to her new life with Craig after leaving the marines. Being a salvage operator and living in confined quarters is a change for both of them. But once a marine, always a marine at least her thinking is. So when they find a fellow salvage operator tortured to death Torin is adamant it needs to be brought to the authorities attention. They of course do nothing but hem and haw and say the will start an investigation but things take so much time with all that red tape.
I didn't love the POV of the antagonist, it was important to the story but I always wanted it to be over so I could get back with Torin or Craig. I didn't enjoy the time spent with him.
The best part was after the fellow marines joined Torin on her rescue mission. I loved having part of the crew back together again. I'm excited where the next book will take us but sadly it is the one I don't own.
Still an enjoyable military space opera style series with many types of aliens. Great series, on to the Peacekeeper spin off when I can.
January 6, 2021
This is a fantastic series.
Sci-fi space war/military action. Strategy, tactics, almost impossible situations.
Lots of different species with unique characteristics.
Badass Heroine.
And I listened to the whole series on audiobook and Marguerite Gavin nails the delivery. Nails it.
Sci-fi space war/military action. Strategy, tactics, almost impossible situations.
Lots of different species with unique characteristics.
Badass Heroine.
And I listened to the whole series on audiobook and Marguerite Gavin nails the delivery. Nails it.
October 1, 2024
Review of the series. Lots of tired space sci-fi tropes: marines vs bugs, gray goo, pirates. Marines are mostly shallow in character, to the point of being caricatures representing the classical 3 Fs of phycology: fighting, feasting, and .. the other one.
All in all, mediocre at best.
All in all, mediocre at best.
February 13, 2017
This is my least favourite of the series I think. Probably not even a full 4 stars but series continuity gives leeway. Plus it's claerly a transition novel - those who don't want to read The Peacekeeper series will be able to leave it here happy while those who do can view it as a sort of long prequel, especially as An Ancient Peace has first book syndrome all over it!
So, Torin Kerr has left the military for a romantic ever after with claustrophobic Craig in his teeny spaceship collecting scrap. She's got some hang-ups. So's Craig. They both freak in the presence of plastic; I actually appreciated the way they both touched it constantly - realistic in the wake of previous events. Torin has ghosts - so many left behind will take a toll. Craig wants Torin to enjoy it all yet seems occasionally defensive. Torin wants civilian life to work like military life - structured and defined. But then things happen. Rescue is needed - cue ex-Gunnery Sergeant skills, old army friends and old frenemies and some entertaining action. In fact, if I hadn't just read the entire series back to back I probably wouldn't be quite so harsh on this ratings wise, but in close proximity it does suffer by comparison. Purely plot-wise; the writing and set-up are all as ever wonderful, the additional world-building background brought about by civilian life is seamless, but after such eventful novels this entry falls a little flat.
So, Torin Kerr has left the military for a romantic ever after with claustrophobic Craig in his teeny spaceship collecting scrap. She's got some hang-ups. So's Craig. They both freak in the presence of plastic; I actually appreciated the way they both touched it constantly - realistic in the wake of previous events. Torin has ghosts - so many left behind will take a toll. Craig wants Torin to enjoy it all yet seems occasionally defensive. Torin wants civilian life to work like military life - structured and defined. But then things happen. Rescue is needed - cue ex-Gunnery Sergeant skills, old army friends and old frenemies and some entertaining action. In fact, if I hadn't just read the entire series back to back I probably wouldn't be quite so harsh on this ratings wise, but in close proximity it does suffer by comparison. Purely plot-wise; the writing and set-up are all as ever wonderful, the additional world-building background brought about by civilian life is seamless, but after such eventful novels this entry falls a little flat.
January 11, 2013
It took me a long time to finish this book off, because, after getting about a third of the way thru, I gave up on it because it just didn't have what I liked about the first three books: The interplay between Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr and her fellow marines. I liked Torin Kerr as an ass-kicking marine. Now she was doing salvage work with boyfriend Craig. Yippee.
Now, I knew that when pirates grabbed boyfriend Craig and left her for dead, that eventually she was going to be kicking some pirate ass. That was a no brainer, but it just wasn't happening quick enough for me as she bounced around begging (not really...begging, that is) salvagers for help in saving boyfriend Craig. So the book got buried in the bedside table drawer, and I went on to other things great and small. So, when recently I was cleaning out the drawer and found the long forgotten book, I decided to hunker down and finish up. I was hoping for boyfriend Craig to experience a violent death by pirates that would lead to violent marine style ass-kicking revenge. Not quite what I got, but I'm glad I finished the book, because good old Torin Kerr finally showed back up, only in a new, darker and meaner model. Old comrades also showed up just in time to bring back some of the interplay and banter that the first half of the book was sorely missing. There were more than a few pirate asses kicked as Torin let out some of the pent up anger over being stuck in my bedside table for half a year, so all was well that ended well, and the ending left the door wide open for more adventure and the promise of the kicking of more asses by Torin to come.
"The Truth of Valor" was my least favorite of the series so far, but it was still worth picking back up, and I'm glad I didn't completely give up on the book after our trial separation.
Now, I knew that when pirates grabbed boyfriend Craig and left her for dead, that eventually she was going to be kicking some pirate ass. That was a no brainer, but it just wasn't happening quick enough for me as she bounced around begging (not really...begging, that is) salvagers for help in saving boyfriend Craig. So the book got buried in the bedside table drawer, and I went on to other things great and small. So, when recently I was cleaning out the drawer and found the long forgotten book, I decided to hunker down and finish up. I was hoping for boyfriend Craig to experience a violent death by pirates that would lead to violent marine style ass-kicking revenge. Not quite what I got, but I'm glad I finished the book, because good old Torin Kerr finally showed back up, only in a new, darker and meaner model. Old comrades also showed up just in time to bring back some of the interplay and banter that the first half of the book was sorely missing. There were more than a few pirate asses kicked as Torin let out some of the pent up anger over being stuck in my bedside table for half a year, so all was well that ended well, and the ending left the door wide open for more adventure and the promise of the kicking of more asses by Torin to come.
"The Truth of Valor" was my least favorite of the series so far, but it was still worth picking back up, and I'm glad I didn't completely give up on the book after our trial separation.
September 1, 2014
Possible spoilers to earlier books in the series, though I'll try not to.
When you've got a great universe, a great character, and a great premise, you can write an infinite number of books that are just variations on the same theme, and people will gobble them up. Or, you can decide that character development is more important than sticking to the successful formula and take your character in an entirely new direction. Jim Butcher did it with Harry Dresden (took him 12 books to get there; but he was developing other character arcs, too), and now in Book 5 Tanya Huff takes Torin Kerr out of the Marines.
What??? But that's who she was! Well, yes. So this is going to be a difficult transition for her. And isn't that what we like to see in books? Characters undergoing difficult changes?
You'll dislike this book if what you liked about the other ones was all the soldiering, the command structure, Torin Kerr being a Marine. You'll also dislike it if you are in any way annoyed by romance.
I thought it was great. Torin doesn't have any more Marines to Get Out Alive, but she sure as hell can get Craig Ryder out of the hands of space pirates. (And if you just rolled your eyes, I have to say that these were believable and nasty space pirates: think of the Somalis in that great Tom Hanks movie whose title escapes me. Captain Phillips. We get some pirate POVs, and Huff develops them enough that we start almost empathizing with some of them.)
Huff is still really funny, too. If she decided to continue the adventures of Torin and Craig, I'll be there.
When you've got a great universe, a great character, and a great premise, you can write an infinite number of books that are just variations on the same theme, and people will gobble them up. Or, you can decide that character development is more important than sticking to the successful formula and take your character in an entirely new direction. Jim Butcher did it with Harry Dresden (took him 12 books to get there; but he was developing other character arcs, too), and now in Book 5 Tanya Huff takes Torin Kerr out of the Marines.
What??? But that's who she was! Well, yes. So this is going to be a difficult transition for her. And isn't that what we like to see in books? Characters undergoing difficult changes?
You'll dislike this book if what you liked about the other ones was all the soldiering, the command structure, Torin Kerr being a Marine. You'll also dislike it if you are in any way annoyed by romance.
I thought it was great. Torin doesn't have any more Marines to Get Out Alive, but she sure as hell can get Craig Ryder out of the hands of space pirates. (And if you just rolled your eyes, I have to say that these were believable and nasty space pirates: think of the Somalis in that great Tom Hanks movie whose title escapes me. Captain Phillips. We get some pirate POVs, and Huff develops them enough that we start almost empathizing with some of them.)
Huff is still really funny, too. If she decided to continue the adventures of Torin and Craig, I'll be there.
January 5, 2015
I read this book by listening to the audible version, and in the beginning, I was wondering just who it was doing the editing for this version. Bad chapter endings (words cut off) repeated sentences, and some background noises made this one of the worse audible books I've ever had the misfortune of listening to. Fortunately, the second half of the book was considerably better, so that's something at least. Otherwise, this was an excellent book. It seemed a bit childish at first, (foul language used for no reason, sexual references running rampant), but as the book continued, it became such a part of the story, they eventually became unnoticed, and finally petered out near the very end, though they were still there. If we disgard that nonsense, this was an excellent story, and I'm very happy to have read it. This is exactly the kind of thing I read scifi to find, and this story had it all, aliens, space travel, problem solving (in new and unique ways), and a general all arond sound thrashing by the good guys (eventually). I don't recall the rest of the books in this series being quite like this one, but it has been a while since I read them, so perhaps I'm just not remembering properly, but I do have to sa, except for the issues mentioned above, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would suggest it for anyone looking for some good old fashioned space adventuring. :-).
August 25, 2016
The Truth of Valor is the fifth novel in the Confederation series. It's militaristic, driving, tense, and dark. There’s plenty of action and danger, as well as a plethora of fight scenes that never feel repetitive or dull. Huff’s sense of pacing is deft and skilled, winding up the tension repeatedly, delivering on promised climaxes, and lightening the mood here and there as appropriate.
The characterization is one of my favorite aspects of the writing. Torin’s intensity and her spiral into dark places as she searches for Craig come across beautifully. There are enough members of each alien race that while each race has a sort of archetype or stereotype associated with it, individuals vary nicely.
I loved The Truth of Valor enough that I purchased the first four books in the series just hours after I’d finished this one. It’s hard to give a stronger recommendation than that.
[NOTE: review book provided by publisher]
For a longer review including premise, you can visit my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2014/05/r...
The characterization is one of my favorite aspects of the writing. Torin’s intensity and her spiral into dark places as she searches for Craig come across beautifully. There are enough members of each alien race that while each race has a sort of archetype or stereotype associated with it, individuals vary nicely.
I loved The Truth of Valor enough that I purchased the first four books in the series just hours after I’d finished this one. It’s hard to give a stronger recommendation than that.
[NOTE: review book provided by publisher]
For a longer review including premise, you can visit my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2014/05/r...
June 16, 2014
Right so in the last book we learned that plastic aliens are behind everything, and I mean everything. There is no real war in a sense, just a bunch of plastic aliens watching and monitoring. So no wonder that Torin quits her job and becomes a civilian.
Most of this is a space book or a space station book, and I must confess that I do prefer when she is on land to to say. More things seem to happen then, like the prison planet and the escape from it. Anyway Torin and Craig is a team, salvaging stuff in space. But like she could keep away from trouble, as if. She seeks trouble and enemies like it's her destiny in life, but then she is a soldier.
Pirates are attacking salvaging operators. And soon they will be in the middle of it. She can take down anything and everything. The hunt for wicked pirates begin.
And the end, ha, yes, I guess we will see more of...that. I can't spoil it.
The war is not over and what will she do next? I do wonder how this series will end
Most of this is a space book or a space station book, and I must confess that I do prefer when she is on land to to say. More things seem to happen then, like the prison planet and the escape from it. Anyway Torin and Craig is a team, salvaging stuff in space. But like she could keep away from trouble, as if. She seeks trouble and enemies like it's her destiny in life, but then she is a soldier.
Pirates are attacking salvaging operators. And soon they will be in the middle of it. She can take down anything and everything. The hunt for wicked pirates begin.
And the end, ha, yes, I guess we will see more of...that. I can't spoil it.
The war is not over and what will she do next? I do wonder how this series will end
December 29, 2011
I really liked the earlier books in this series, but this one was a bit of a let down. The previous book seemed to conclude the whole story quite well, and I wasn't sure what more could be done to add much. The previous books were all military sf (excellent military sf!), but the main character, Torin Kerr, left the service at the conclusion of VALOR'S TRIAL. In this volume she seems ill-at-ease in a civilian role, and the pace doesn't really pick up until she gets back into a military situation, which takes far too long to develop. It's an entertaining read, especially the last half, but below Huff's usual high standards.
July 30, 2012
Ex-Marine Sergeant Tobin Kerr has to go against a nest of space pirates in this 5th in the "Valor" series (tagged "Confereration"). In this universe, three spacefaring species are allowed by the etherial "Elder Races" to make a confederation and serve as proxies or study subjects for territorial wars. This novel has a lot of interesting intrigue and slants on competitive and cooperative relations among the species (even interspecies sex and cannibalism), all with doses of good humor. However, for military space opera, there is strikingly little combat or heavy-duty action. The heroine constantly has to put down her violent impulses in favor of craftiness and deception.
October 8, 2015
I like this series and I don't know if there will ever be more in it so I had held off reading this one. The books can stand on their own but it does help to have read the previous ones in the series. Torin is now a retired space marine and is now making a go of it as a miner with her boyfriend. Pirates attack and take her boyfriend and leave her for dead. Of course that doesn't last and she calls her retired marine friends to help get him back. Good solid story line and a fun read.
January 8, 2014
Damn you, Tanya Huff
There hasn't been a single book written by TH that I would be able to put away halfway through. The Valor series were slightly different from the wild magic stuff I have read before, but not any worse for it. Ending on a kind of cliffhanger note as usual, I'm curious to see if anything else will be added, and I'm sure I'll get it and read it in one sitting and feel oddly connected to the heroes, as usual. Damn you, Tanya Huff.
There hasn't been a single book written by TH that I would be able to put away halfway through. The Valor series were slightly different from the wild magic stuff I have read before, but not any worse for it. Ending on a kind of cliffhanger note as usual, I'm curious to see if anything else will be added, and I'm sure I'll get it and read it in one sitting and feel oddly connected to the heroes, as usual. Damn you, Tanya Huff.
July 26, 2018
Perfection
So, even though I now know there's a sequel series, can we all collectively appreciate that closing line? That was a thing of sheer beauty. I'm definitely going to remember it and giggle for the rest of my life, and the best part will be that only people who read these magnificent books will have any idea why plastic cracks me up so bad.
So, even though I now know there's a sequel series, can we all collectively appreciate that closing line? That was a thing of sheer beauty. I'm definitely going to remember it and giggle for the rest of my life, and the best part will be that only people who read these magnificent books will have any idea why plastic cracks me up so bad.
November 2, 2016
If you liked the rest of the series there's just more to like here. Not perfect, but way better than average on the story telling and the characters.
If you're looking for a good transition from one type of story into another, you've got one here. The later books are a separate series for a good reason.
If you're looking for a good transition from one type of story into another, you've got one here. The later books are a separate series for a good reason.
July 11, 2017
An OK yarn about a strong female character; ex-military sergeant, whose boyfriend is kidnapped by space pirates. She sets off to rescue him, and being "invincible" predictably defeats everybody and every obstacle put in her way.
June 21, 2019
I was sad that I didn't enjoy this more than I did. It sounded like it would have all the things that I liked: Torin unchained and unleashing hell on some bad guys, seeing what folks were up to after the Corps, and I'm a huge fan of both heist stories and "getting the ass-kicking band back together" stories. Unfortunately, I didn't really feel like this delivered on many fronts.
The book started off well: Torin learning a new trade, with her customary single-minded focus. Torin meeting some of Craig's friends/family, and introducing the reader to some more worldbuilding. All that was fine and dandy, and the first action piece, with her having to save herself when they're attacked was great and as expected. I even liked that since that made a lot of sense, human nature being what it is.
It was after that that things kind of fell apart in the plot department for me. So, that left me shaking my head. Especially since I can think of several ways to still make the plotting work, with just a little bit more tweaking. Disappointing.
Other plotting just was minor annoyances, comparatively. The clock for the story was a bit of hacking that needed to be done, and the plot hinged on a CSO being better at doing this particular bit of hacking than even a dedicated hacker. It was the old "I know how these people think, so I should be able to do it faster." I just didn't buy it. If it's supposed to lock down something, then why would it be designed so another CSO can waltz in and have an easier time of unlocking it?
It just didn't make sense, and that's aside from the fact that I don't think that encryption really works like that. Thus, I didn't quite buy why . It seemed out of character.
For the heist part, I also never got a good sense of the station map, or of the defenses that they needed to get through. The author never really spent enough time on them to explain why certain things would be a concern but not others, so it felt rushed and very "this is a problem because we say it is, just go with it". The same feeling came in for what should have been one of the most tense scenes in the book: It just seemed too much of a jump. Likewise, the ending battle: I admit, I completely lost track of my mental map of where they were and what they were doing.
There were other parts I really liked: the psychological toll on Torin actually being shown and finally being something she needs to deal with was refreshing. Her crew being worried about her (briefly) and trying to help her ease back from the edge was nice. I'm a huge krai fan, so seeing tiny bits of lore about their race was neat, and I will ship until the day I die, so seeing and learning a bit more about them was welcome. But, the secondary Corps characters were also another big disappointment: all POV was Torin and Craig or Cho, and that left everyone else out of the loop. I would have liked some bits in the Corps folks' heads, maybe some info on what they'd done after they left the Corps - did they get jobs? Hobo around the galaxy? Have problems reintegrating? We're never told details, which left them feeling flat. Literally two or three extra scenes fleshing them out would have probably upped my rating another star. :P
Overall, the book was definitely worth reading, and it hit some very interesting points and developed Torin's character A LOT, but the plotting and secondary character arcs kind of fell by the wayside, which was where the disappointment and two lost stars came from.
The book started off well: Torin learning a new trade, with her customary single-minded focus. Torin meeting some of Craig's friends/family, and introducing the reader to some more worldbuilding. All that was fine and dandy, and the first action piece, with her having to save herself when they're attacked was great and as expected. I even liked that since that made a lot of sense, human nature being what it is.
It was after that that things kind of fell apart in the plot department for me. So, that left me shaking my head. Especially since I can think of several ways to still make the plotting work, with just a little bit more tweaking. Disappointing.
Other plotting just was minor annoyances, comparatively. The clock for the story was a bit of hacking that needed to be done, and the plot hinged on a CSO being better at doing this particular bit of hacking than even a dedicated hacker. It was the old "I know how these people think, so I should be able to do it faster." I just didn't buy it. If it's supposed to lock down something, then why would it be designed so another CSO can waltz in and have an easier time of unlocking it?
It just didn't make sense, and that's aside from the fact that I don't think that encryption really works like that. Thus, I didn't quite buy why . It seemed out of character.
For the heist part, I also never got a good sense of the station map, or of the defenses that they needed to get through. The author never really spent enough time on them to explain why certain things would be a concern but not others, so it felt rushed and very "this is a problem because we say it is, just go with it". The same feeling came in for what should have been one of the most tense scenes in the book: It just seemed too much of a jump. Likewise, the ending battle: I admit, I completely lost track of my mental map of where they were and what they were doing.
There were other parts I really liked: the psychological toll on Torin actually being shown and finally being something she needs to deal with was refreshing. Her crew being worried about her (briefly) and trying to help her ease back from the edge was nice. I'm a huge krai fan, so seeing tiny bits of lore about their race was neat, and I will ship until the day I die, so seeing and learning a bit more about them was welcome. But, the secondary Corps characters were also another big disappointment: all POV was Torin and Craig or Cho, and that left everyone else out of the loop. I would have liked some bits in the Corps folks' heads, maybe some info on what they'd done after they left the Corps - did they get jobs? Hobo around the galaxy? Have problems reintegrating? We're never told details, which left them feeling flat. Literally two or three extra scenes fleshing them out would have probably upped my rating another star. :P
Overall, the book was definitely worth reading, and it hit some very interesting points and developed Torin's character A LOT, but the plotting and secondary character arcs kind of fell by the wayside, which was where the disappointment and two lost stars came from.
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