Rating: 
Summary: Bravery pays off - a true page turner
Review: "Rules of Engagement" is the bravest book in this series by Elizabeth Moon. And it's also the best put together of all books. The result is a work with character and the grit of real life war; a true page turner.Moon focuses on young heros, Esmay Suiza, spoiled rich brat Brun, and a youngster of the famous Serrano family, Barin. At first, a usual misunderstanding of first love by Esmay and Barin - Esmay is convinced Brun is after her man, which leads to a blow up between the two young women. Unfortunately, the argument wasn't as private as Esmay thought ... the Fleet had a scan on Brun for security reasons. Out of favour with her seniors, Esmay is in disgrace. Brun decides to leave her course with the Fleet as a result -- and unfortunately, is caught by a malicious bunch of religious fanatics who decide she will make a good breeding woman. Brun faces imprisonment, the embarrassment and humiliation of rape, and is forced to live mute among her captors. Barin is harrassed by another young, beautiful officer, and Esmay hardly knows what to do with herself as Brun's father doesn't want her anywhere near the rescue operation. But she happens to understand what Brun's going through and even has a good idea on how to free her ... Brun has her own ideas, of course; and Barin, a Serrano, refuses to be left out of the action. This work is truly compelling. Moon tells an entwined and captivating story of love, hate and the reality of warfare and how heros become heros. The story is complete, the characters are captivating and the scenario believable. Five stars for this book which outshines all the others in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Once A Hero
Review: After finishing Once a Hero and thoroughly enjoying it, I immediately purchased Rules of Engagement. In this novel, the story is split between Esmay Suiza, her potential love interest Barin Serrano and Brun Meager, the beautiful, spoilt, headstrong daughter of a rich and influential political leader. Brun latches onto Esmay at Copper Mountain, a military training facility where both are taking classes. Esmay simply doesn't have time to play friend, tutor and mentor to this very pushy, outgoing yet charming woman because she has switched from technical to command track and has to double up on courses. Esmay does like Brun and tries to be pleasant, but Brun also flirts with Barin, the young man Esmay likes. Esmay doesn't know how to handle liking Barin or Brun flirtations and it strains their relationship to the point of an explosive argument between the 2 women. Esmay is disgraced and Brun storms off and gets kidnapped by a radical group of villains whose beliefs allow them to oppress and mistreat women. The rest of the novel jumps between characters...the reaction of Brun's father to her kidnapping, the rescue effort, Esmay, Barin, Brun, her fellow captors, the villains, the villains wives...I found there were pages I wanted to skip because I just didn't care or find the information relevant. I always enjoy the parts of the story when Esmay is on Altiplano, but that is a small part of this book. I also don't understand why in a book about a completely made up future universe, Moon would decide to pick Texas, a place that exists in America today and make our descendents evolve into crazy extremists in her book. Why offend her readers when she could just as easily have made these villains based on a fictitious culture? I did think the book was readable, but I can't recommend it and I won't continue with the other books in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Not Once A Hero
Review: After finishing Once a Hero and thoroughly enjoying it, I immediately purchased Rules of Engagement. In this novel, the story is split between Esmay Suiza, her potential love interest Barin Serrano and Brun Meager, the beautiful, spoilt, headstrong daughter of a rich and influential political leader. Brun latches onto Esmay at Copper Mountain, a military training facility where both are taking classes. Esmay simply doesn't have time to play friend, tutor and mentor to this very pushy, outgoing yet charming woman because she has switched from technical to command track and has to double up on courses. Esmay does like Brun and tries to be pleasant, but Brun also flirts with Barin, the young man Esmay likes. Esmay doesn't know how to handle liking Barin or Brun flirtations and it strains their relationship to the point of an explosive argument between the 2 women. Esmay is disgraced and Brun storms off and gets kidnapped by a radical group of villains whose beliefs allow them to oppress and mistreat women. The rest of the novel jumps between characters...the reaction of Brun's father to her kidnapping, the rescue effort, Esmay, Barin, Brun, her fellow captors, the villains, the villains wives...I found there were pages I wanted to skip because I just didn't care or find the information relevant. I always enjoy the parts of the story when Esmay is on Altiplano, but that is a small part of this book. I also don't understand why in a book about a completely made up future universe, Moon would decide to pick Texas, a place that exists in America today and make our descendents evolve into crazy extremists in her book. Why offend her readers when she could just as easily have made these villains based on a fictitious culture? I did think the book was readable, but I can't recommend it and I won't continue with the other books in this series.
Rating: 
Summary: Regression and de-evolution mar this sequel!
Review: After Moon's stunning Once A Hero, I was willing to pay hardcover prices to find out what happens to Esmay Suiza. Unfortunately, Suiza and the other characters seem to have regressed somewhat since the previous novel. This might be bearable if the plot could carry the novel alone (without the help of interesting characters), but even the storyline is rather lame. I'll give Suiza another chance if Moon writes another book, but this one was quite a disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: She forgot who the characters were.
Review: Elizabeth Moon seems to have forgotten who her characters were since Once A Hero. Esmay Suiza, after uncovering the secret which has caused her nightmares and repression, and going through therapy, becomes more repressed and diffident on her next assignment. Brun Meager, who after three books was beginning to show her maturity and potential, acts like the spoiled brat she was in Hunting Party. Did Moon just decide to start the characters over or what?
Rating: 
Summary: Introverted female hero helps rescue twit
Review: I am somehow fascinated by the universe Elizabeth Moon has created here, ideal for space operas. For the first time in this series, however, her lead character seems to have gone astray. We pick up Esmay Suiza where she left off in _Once a Hero_. Only by being totally dense does she get in trouble again, even managing to alienate the only lover she's ever had. What saves it (the novel, not the heroine) is Moon's talent for somehow weaving the most inexplicably incongruous topics into science fiction. This time something called "The Texas Rangers" are the bad guys. Good fun but damn if I don't want to knock some sense into the heads of the main characters.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent story of personal growth
Review: I found this story to be a very thoughtful and exciting story about the personal growth of Brun Megan, Esmay Suiza and Barin Serrano. The background is filled in, the story moves along, and it is well written. Mz Moon has once again written a excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books in the series!
Review: I greatly enjoyed Rules of Engagement, even more than the previous book in the series, Once a Hero. This book devotes equal time to Esmay Suiza, Brun Meager, and Barin Serrano. While I felt that almost everyone in the Familias Regnant overreacted to Esmay's blow-up at Brun, the resolution of the book left me feeling satisfied. The bad guys are really bad (despite what other reviewers may say, these sorts of people DO exist today) and the action is exciting. Elizabeth Moon has done a great job creating a universe and characters you can care about.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books in the series!
Review: I greatly enjoyed Rules of Engagement, even more than the previous book in the series, Once a Hero. This book devotes equal time to Esmay Suiza, Brun Meager, and Barin Serrano. While I felt that almost everyone in the Familias Regnant overreacted to Esmay's blow-up at Brun, the resolution of the book left me feeling satisfied. The bad guys are really bad (despite what other reviewers may say, these sorts of people DO exist today) and the action is exciting. Elizabeth Moon has done a great job creating a universe and characters you can care about.
Rating:
Summary: Very nice
Review: I had Once a Hero for over a year before I got around to reading it and then I couldn't wait to get a copy of Rules of Engagement. I have enjoyed many of Elizabeth Moon's works and she continues to please. I recommend this to all who enjoy David Weber's Honor Harrington series and to those who enjoy Jody Lynn Nye and Holly Lisle.
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