This is the best book in the series. Since the hero is now an admiral and a duchess, she may now be beyond both direct combat and direct recrimination by the 'Opposition'. Enter the world of politics, and the entire kingdom may fall subject to its greatest enemy, the crown's political opposition. This book sets up a new game, with different rules and different players; a game Honor has played before and lost. 'Ashes of Victory' has set up a dark age that will indefinately settle upon her first home world for the next two,... three books. As one of the few members of the House of Lords in the Queens corner this may be a battle even Honor Harrington can't win.