Rating: 
Summary: A Clan of Her Own
Review: Blade Dancer is a novel set in the same universe as the Stardoc series, but with a different set of characters. Jory Rask is a championship caliber shockball runback whose mother is Jorenian and father is Terran. After receiving an urgent message from her mother, Jory returns home to find her mother dead of chicken pox. Since they are both on Terra illegally, Jory buries her mother in the desert, but is caught by Planetary Residental Commission agents and deported.After departing Terra, Jory bribes the Captain of the liner to take her as close as possible to Jorenian territory. She meets an Alliance Major on the liner who has the tools and skills to repair her damaged knee prothesis. She leaves the liner at a Rilken outpost and takes passage on a system trade ship, where she meets Black and Blurry, a blade dancer, and gets an invitation to visit Reytalon for blade dancer training, but she first must go to Joren. Jory has a mission to fulfill on Joren. She has promised her mother to tell her story to the other six ClanChildren of Honor. Then she will be free to find her father and kill him. This novel is written in the same style as the Stardoc tales, but covers a different aspect of Jorenian culture. It is action oriented, depends too much on coincidence, and is fairly predictable, but the story gains and retains the reader's interest throughout the book. Recommended for Viehl fans and anyone else who enjoys action and adventure in a SF setting.
Rating: 
Summary: Tangents and Authors
Review: First of all I would like to say that I own the first five StarDoc novels by SL Viehl and have nothing but admiration for her fine literary skills. However, no mater how skilled an author is I do not believe that their talent gives them license to arbitrarily make a arguably new series by gutting out the characters and perspective of the StarDoc line and slapping in new ones upon the original "world". In short I gave this book three stars because of SL Viehl's unique talents, not because with a almost immortal character it would become hard to continue a series.
Rating:
Summary: Stardoc with a twist
Review: I didn't mind the tangent universe. I liked the story. The characters were strong and convincing. The plot was well-strung, with tension and resolution in the proper places. What I didn't like, however, was that this was just Stardoc, with names changed to protect the innocent. Rebel daughter with genetic anomolies, secret about her birth, controlling father with exact-duplicate-of-my-perfection complex, mother who talks to her after death, issues about reproduction, betrayal by some stranger she trusted the instant she met him, issues with the Jorenian "Choosing," boyfriend with that strong Jorenian morality code, what about this is sounding one bit different from the first Stardoc book? Um, well, she didn't wisecrack quite as much as Cherijo, but other than that, it was all too similar for my taste. I bought this one, I'd probably get the next one from the library or borrow from a friend. Not one I'd recommend to anyone who had already rad the Stardoc books and was expecting something new and different from SL Viehl
Rating:
Summary: Stardoc with a twist
Review: I didn't mind the tangent universe. I liked the story. The characters were strong and convincing. The plot was well-strung, with tension and resolution in the proper places. What I didn't like, however, was that this was just Stardoc, with names changed to protect the innocent. Rebel daughter with genetic anomolies, secret about her birth, controlling father with exact-duplicate-of-my-perfection complex, mother who talks to her after death, issues about reproduction, betrayal by some stranger she trusted the instant she met him, issues with the Jorenian "Choosing," boyfriend with that strong Jorenian morality code, what about this is sounding one bit different from the first Stardoc book? Um, well, she didn't wisecrack quite as much as Cherijo, but other than that, it was all too similar for my taste. I bought this one, I'd probably get the next one from the library or borrow from a friend. Not one I'd recommend to anyone who had already rad the Stardoc books and was expecting something new and different from SL Viehl
Rating: 
Summary: Surprise
Review: I have on my keeper shelves all of Viehls other books. Although I not generally a big sci fi fan, her books captured my attention and held it. her characters are wonderful, her stories great, sometimes a little violent, but I always look forward to her new one. When I read about this one being published, first thought was disappointment, after cherryjo wasn't part of it.
After reading the book, got to admit outstanding. I learned to care about these new characters too, and to be honest half expected all the characters to meet, since it was same time frame and places. The books does mention the clone that caused all the trouble, but that's all. Still it left the reader with a sense of connection.If you like Viehls books, buy, read and keep. Hope she has another coming out soon.
Rating:
Summary: Great reading for established fans and a hook for new ones
Review: I love science fiction as an ideal- I generally hate it in practice. Too often, characters are surface, plots are ridiculously predictable, and the action is campy.
S.L. Viehl is none of these things. A friend intoduced me to the first Stardoc book and I had read them all within a week and a half.
Blade Dancer is beautifully woven - slightly predicatable in some arenas, but not enough to be irritating. The interaction between all the ClanChildren of Honor and especially the tension/attraction between Kol and Jory was wonderful. Jory's anger came out great in all her one-liners. I would have liked to see a little more depth from some of the others, but perhaps that will come with a sequel. The action sequences were well done.
Rating:
Summary: Great book, Excellent Series, A New Keeper
Review: I ran across my first S.L. Viehl book when I had a couple of hours lag between meetings and I've been a collector ever since. The characters are fascinating, the plot is active and very interesting and the universe created by S.L. Viehl is thoroughly engaging. I highly recommend both the book and the writer.
Rating:
Summary: fun
Review: I stayed up way too late last night reading it. Very exciting -- and the fight scenes were really well done. I have no experience with fighting, but I could see the scenes. I really liked the character of Jory.
However, I didn't like some things. My feelings for Kol - her partner...well I didn't have any. Parts of the book felt like a text adventure game. Also, I had to fight the urge to say "Luke, I am your father".
It was a fun romp. I hadn't read anything by Viehl before. I won't run right out and get another, but when I'm looking for another quick book to read, I'll try another.
Rating:
Summary: fun
Review: I stayed up way too late last night reading it. Very exciting -- and the fight scenes were really well done. I have no experience with fighting, but I could see the scenes. I really liked the character of Jory.
However, I didn't like some things. My feelings for Kol - her partner...well I didn't have any. Parts of the book felt like a text adventure game. Also, I had to fight the urge to say "Luke, I am your father".
It was a fun romp. I hadn't read anything by Viehl before. I won't run right out and get another, but when I'm looking for another quick book to read, I'll try another.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I was so surprised at this book. It is great. I reminds me of the Miles Vorkosigan books. With the same pace, action, and wonderful characters. Jory is half-human, but Earth is so xenophobic all alien,and part aliens are deported, and not considered human. Discovered as she buries her mother, she is despised and battered before being forced to leave earth. Her mother has given her a quest, and Jory sets out to find her mother's home planet. There she finds predjudice and hatred for half-breeds like herself. Gathering 6 others who have been shunned and separated, she leads them off planet to find a way to get revenge on the slavers who raped their mothers. They end up on Reytalon, learning to be Blade Dancers, the most feared assassins in the galaxy. They also learn to be a family. There are many trials and secrets to be overcome before we reach the end of our adventure. This is an exciting, adventure. A wonderful read.
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