Book Review: Kris Longknife: Defender by Mike Shepherd

Kris Longknife: Defender
Author: Mike Shepherd
Series: Kris Longknife (Book 11)
Publication: Ace (October 29, 2013)

Description: Kris Longknife is back in the good graces of the brass—and to demonstrate that, they've promoted her to Admiral.  Now her mission is to find the home base of the space pirates who are plaguing the fringes of the galaxy.

But no mission is ever simple when your name is Longknife. And this time the complications range from the military to the personal, as Kris finds herself—reluctantly—having to make some command decisions about her future...

My Thoughts: Kris managed to save the people of Alwa from attack from an alien force that refuses to communicate and rediscover her own great-grandmother at the same time. 

Her great-grampa King Ray comes to try to rescue his long-lost wife who is determined to stick at her new home. He also puts Kris in charge of the Alwa Defense, makes her CEO of Nuu Enterprises, and Viceroy to the human colonists. He's dropped off a number of ships, personnel and supplies. He wants Kris to take on the aliens at least long enough for the rest of humanity to prepare to fight a war against them. 

Kris is busy as she can be because Alwa doesn't have an infrastructure. The colonists are on the near course to starvation and not ready to take care of an additional 20,000 personnel who have come to prepare for that battle. 

Between building ships, building infrastructure, and dealing with aliens who have no concept of organized warfare, Kris is finding it hard to find time to spend with her new husband Jack. 

There were lots of great characters in this one from Kris's core people to those sent to help prepare for war and build a planet. There was also a lot of preparing for and fighting a great battle to defeat the overwhelming number of aliens who have their eyes set on Alwa.

Favorite Quote:

"Well, Your Royal Highness, have you got any more ideas? I'm plumb out."

Kris sighed. She'd been about to ask Captain Drago the same question.

But she was the Longknife. Admitting she'd scraped the bottom of the barrel of ideas for how to keep alive while killing what was after you was just not part of the legend.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.