The thrilling final installment in Tanya Huff's military sci-fi adventure Confederation series

Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr was the very model of a Confederation Marine. She’d survived more deadly encounters than anyone in the Corps. No one who’d ever served with her could imagine her walking away from the Corps. But that was before Torin had learned the truth about the war the Confederation was fighting…before she’d been declared dead and had spent time in a prison that shouldn’t exist....

It was Salvage Operator Craig Ryder who had refused to believe Torin was dead. Craig who found and rescued Torin. And so, when her mission was complete, Torin resigned from the Marines to start a new life with Craig aboard his tiny salvage ship, the Promise.

But civilian life was a lot rougher than Torin had imagined. The salvage operators were losing cargo and lives to pirates. Because salvagers were an independent lot unwilling to turn to the OutSector Wardens for help, no one in authority seemed to take their ever-increasing threat seriously.

Then, on their first real run together, pirates attacked the Promise, kidnapping Craig and leaving Torin to die. But leaving Torin behind to die was never a good strategy. Against all odds, she survived, and certain—despite no evidence to prove her correct—that Craig was still alive, she decided to mount a rescue mission. When Craig’s salvager friends refused to join her, Torin had no choice but to call in the Marines—some very special Marines.

Then she discovered why the pirates had been trying to kidnap salvagers. And suddenly Torin’s mission expanded from saving Craig to stopping the pirates from changing the balance of power in known space....

Tanya Huff may have left Nova Scotia at three, and has lived most of her life since in Ontario, but she still considers herself a Maritimer. On the way to the idyllic rural existence she shares with her partner Fiona Patton, six cats, and a chihuahua, she acquired a degree in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson Polytechnic—an education she was happy to finally use while writing her recent Smoke novels. Of her previous twenty-three books, the five—Blood Price, Blood Trail, Blood Lines, Blood Pact, Blood Debt—featuring Henry Fitzroy, bastard son of Henry VIII, romance writer, and vampire are among the most popular.

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Praise for the Confederation series:

“The action is solid, and the marines are an entertaining mix of oddballs led by the highly competent and eminently likeable Staff Sergeant Kerr.... A rousing military adventure.” —Locus

“An intriguing alien race, a likeable protagonist, a fast moving plot, and a rousing ending. What more could you ask for?” —S.F. Chronicle

“The notable Tanya Huff proves herself equally adept at military science fiction as contemporary fantasy. A writer of great versatility, Ms. Huff captures the ambiance of an elite military group and adds a rare depth to skillful characterization to make each personality stand up and be counted.” —RT Reviews

“This book is Rendezvous with Rama for the rest of us: exciting, mysterious and full of action and puzzles to solve. Torin is everything you want in an action heroine.” —Kliatt

“Readers who enjoy military SF will love Tanya Huff’s Valor’s Choice. The level of detail is intricate…the blow-by-blow of combat is delivered with a focus on character as well as with lots of empathy and humor. Howlingly funny and very suspenseful.” —Science Fiction Weekly

“Fans of military science fiction will want to read The Better Part of Valor, a thriller that is every bit as exciting as Star Wars. Torin is a great heroine, while the realistic species provide an authentic spin to this vigorous fantastic futuristic tale.” —Midwest Book Review

“Sergeant Torin Kerr is a great character – gutsy, capable, and kick-ass. Everything a reader could hope for.... The series maintains its quality and addictiveness…there’s a great balance of humour, story, and action.” —Civilian Reader