Book Review: Kris Longknife: Stalwart by Mike Shepherd

Kris Longknife: Stalwart
Author: Mike Shepherd
Series: Kris Longknife (Book 19)
Publication: KL & MM Books (December 5, 2019)

Description: The foolish Iteeche clans that hauled Grand Admiral Kris Longknife back to the Iteeche Capital and interrupted her campaign against the rebels, are dead. Very dead. Their clans are disgraced and their palaces in ruin.

However, while Kris was handling that noise, the rebels took back one of the planets she had recently captured, Arteccia, and are planning to take more.

Now it's time once more again for Kris to kick butts and take names.

However, life is never easy for a Human in the Iteeche Empire.

The Clan Chiefs expect Kris to retake what the rebels took from the loyalists because that is the Iteeche Way. That is a tune she will not dance to. So, the Clan Chiefs play their ace: Do what we want, or we won't give you command of our ships.

To their consternation, Kris does not give in. She gives them a literal middle digit salute and invites every minor clan to join the fun and games of capturing planets and gaining plunder.

Unfortunately, the rebels have used their time well and they have their own plans for Kris, plans that should leave her fleet in ruins and the young Iteeche on the throne dead. Unfortunately for them, their plans can't really hold back Grand Admiral, the Stalwart Kris Longknife.

My Thoughts: Having settled business on the Iteeche capital planet, at least for a while, Kris needs to get back out into space to continue the battle against the rebels who are threatening the empire and the life of the teenager on the Imperial throne. 

She'd like to add to her fleet and the clans do owe her and their emperor their support. But when she gets nothing but excuses from the major clans, she bypasses them in favor of offering the minor clans a chance at gold and glory or, actually, land and plunder. 

But the rebels have not been standing still while Kris was dealing with problems on the capital planet. They have taken back one of the systems Kris had won. Kris plans to continue capturing the rebel planets that are the most able to support the rebel cause. She plans to do it her way. If the planet surrenders to Kris, she'll let the local overlords keep their places which irritates the young lordlings from the capital planet who have been promised land and jobs and opportunities for plunder of their own. 

A large part of this story, told both from Kris's point of view and from the Iteeche Admiral leading the rebel fleet, is concerned with a space battle for control of one of the rebel planetary systems. It was filled with action and warfare.

This was another excellent adventure in the Kris Longknife series. 

Favorite Quote:

"I always assume we win. If I ever face defeat, I prefer it to come as a surprise," Kris muttered as she studied her board. 

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