Kris Longknife is a princess and a lieutenant. She's been given the command of a warship that is tasked with tracking down pirates outside the rim of space. She just has a few things complicating her life. She carries a full contingent of scientists just waiting for the chance to do some exploration. The contingent of Marines on board is looking for a fights. Her personal maid has brought a little girl on board with her and so far, they haven't run across any pirates.

The moment they do, life becomes crazy. Not only do they have to vanquish the pirates, they discover an attempt to take over a world by a former commander of Kris's who will stop at nothing to acheive his goals. He also has an axe to grind with Kris. When she shows up to save the planet, blood will be shed. Kris, her marines and the few inhabitants of the planet will all face death in the struggle to retain what they have created.

To top it off, Kris learns of a plot to kill the leader of a corporation that is an enemy to all of the Longknife family and the goals they hope to achieve. Kris will have to do some fancy footwork to convince his daughter to work with her to save her father's life.

An action packed saga highly reminiscent of some of Elizabeth Moon's best work, the Longknife series is an incredible chronicle. Mr. Shepherd has created a highly complex character in Kris. She has an amazing grasp of military operations with a moral structure that has to be admired. She isn't afraid to do what needs to be done; even if it means that she gets invited to leave yet another planet.

Even while gasping at all the action takes place, the reader will be sympathizing with the decisions Kris is forced to make and the agony she faces over some of them. This is the sixth in the series and I'm already searching for the first five so that I can submerse myself in the world that Mr. Shepherd has created.

The author manages to throw in some dashes of humor to leaven the moral dilemma his characters face. I would highly recommend this series to any science fiction fan.