kgbooklog

Holly Lisle, Vengeance of Dragons
Warner Aspect (1999) ISBN: 0-446-67396-X
Score: 2

Middle book of the Secret Texts trilogy. Things go poorly for the good guys, but in a manner that I'd like to see more often (it'd be a spoiler to say more).

Next Book: Kristine Smith, Contact Imminent

Kristine Smith, Code of Conduct
Avon (1999) ISBN: 0-380-80783-1
Score: 2

Start of a science fiction series about documents technician Jani Kilian. Jani is a lot like Hodgell's Jamethiel and Kage Baker's Mendoza (very good at her job, very bad at dealing with people, and very destructive when pushed too far). She'd been hiding from the authorities for 18 years (due to her actions during an alien civil war), when an old flame (now Internal Minister) asks her to investigate his wife's death. Lots of lies, politics, and manipulation ensue. At the end I wasn't too sure who knew what when, nor who was working for whom, but it was still an enjoyable read.

Joel Rosenberg, Not Exactly the Three Musketeers
Tor (1999) ISBN: 0-312-85782-9
Score: 1.5

Book 8 of the Guardians of the Flame, this focuses on minor characters since it takes place mainly during the events of The Road Home. The style and tone are different, likely in imitation of Dumas (who I didn't much like). In fact, it seemed to be written by an author less sophisticated and experienced than the one who wrote the earlier books.