SKU
9781476780719
Rating:
84 % of 100
$6.99

#18 in the popular and exciting science fiction Liaden Universe®. Clan Korval rebuilds its fortunes on the gritty, semi-anarchic planet of Surebleak. Over a quarter million Liaden Universe® books are in print with an audience that keeps growing!

Star-trading Clan Korval—known to Terrans as the Tree-and-Dragon Family and to the locals simply as "the Dragon"—has been convicted of crimes against the homeworld. No matter that one of the "crimes" consisted of saving the elitist planet of Liad from very real internal threats, the Council of Clans wanted Korval heads to roll. Unfortunately for the Council, the Dragon's allies conspired to impose a milder punishment for saving the world: banishment, rather than execution.

Now relocated to the free-for-all world of Surebleak, the Dragon is under contract to keep the Port Road open to all traffic, and to back the New Bosses in imposing law and order on a society originally based on larceny and assassination. This modest rustication is going surprisingly well, until Korval discovers that the enemy they'd sought to destroy. . .wasn't quite destroyed, and is more determined than ever to eradicate Korval.

While the banishment killed no one initially, many of Korval's trading allies are spooked, and some are reneging on ancient agreements, leaving the Dragon to make its own way. The clan's efforts to stealthily recruit new allies is going haywire, and a secret death toll is rising even as the clan's adherents endure increasing exposure to danger and deceit off-world.

To make matters worse, an active portion of Surebleak's native population liked the Old Ways just fine, and are conspiring to take the New Bosses—and the Dragon—down, and are sure they have the firepower and people to do it.

The exiled Dragon has to make an urgent choice—accept an alliance with criminals or face down each and every enemy in person, one by one.


Listen to the author discuss the book here on the Baen Free Radio Hour.

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  1. Quality
    60%
    Someone said this book comes after Plan B. No, after Plan B comes I Dare, then Ghost Ship, Dragon Ship, Necessity's Child, Dragon in Exile (this book) and the upcoming new release Alliance of Equals.

    This book is set entirely on Planet Surebleak, which should be called Port Surebleak, because we know almost nothing else about this cold planet. Wild animals? Continents?

    I liked the book, but much of it felt like filler, in that it does little to directly advance the over-arching plot against the Dept of the Interior. However, it does position 5 chess players to bring down the Department in future. Hopefully.

    There are a lot of fun family scenes here. Good Tree scenes. Lovely scenes with Yulie Shaper. Diglon and Nelirikk play key roles, as does Hazenthull. Much of the plot deals with insurance syndicate thugs. (Been there, done that.)

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    Just started reading this series this month and I am so mad at myself for putting it off so long! Great space opera combined with a little romance between stellar characters. If you enjoy good writing read this series.

    This follows after Plan B, but if you haven't read Necessity's Child, I recommend that read that one first. I didn't and was able to pick up the plot threads in Dragon in Exile, but I'll go back now and reread the series in chronological order.

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    I don't know, I don't know. Nothing really happened. It felt like two chess players getting their pieces set up and ready for the real battle. An interlude before the confrontation with the Department of the Interior. Oh, there were good parts. Nice twist with the carpet. The problem with insurance selling was relevant and perhaps even necessary. Hoping for #19.

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    Wow. Great story. Well worth the wait. Note: If you have not read the previous entries, you will be lost from the get go. You need to go back and pick up from the beginning, but that just means you have ten great books to read before you read this great book!

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