A Peace Divided

Peacekeeper, Book 2

By: Tanya Huff

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

The second book in the action-packed Peacekeeper series, a continuation of Tanya Huff's military sci-fi Confederation series following Torin Kerr.

Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr had been the very model of a Confederation Marine. No one who'd ever served with her could imagine any circumstance that would see her walking away from the Corps. But that was before Torin 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...before she'd learned about the "plastic" beings who were really behind the war between the Confederation and the Others. That was when Torin left the military for good.

Yet she couldn't walk away from preserving and protecting everything the Confederation represented. Instead, ex-gunnery sergeant Torin Kerr drew together an elite corps of friends and allies - some ex-Marines, some civilians with unique skills - and together they prepared to take on covert missions that the Justice Department and the Corps could not - or would not - officially touch. But after their first major mission, it became obvious that covert operations were not going to be enough.

Although the war is over, the fight goes on, and the Justice Department finds its regular Wardens unable to deal with violence and the people trained to use it. Ex-gunnery sergeant Torin Kerr has a solution: Strike Teams made up of ex-military personnel, small enough to maneuver quickly, able to work together if necessary. Justice has no choice but to implement her idea, and Torin puts her team of independent contractors back into uniform. It isn't war, it is policing, but it often looks much the same.

When the scientists doing a preliminary archaeological dig on a Class Two planet are taken hostage, Torin's team is sent to free them. The problem of innocents in the line of fire is further complicated by the fact that the mercenaries holding them are a mix of Confederation and Primacy forces and are looking for a weapon able to destroy the plastic aliens who'd started and maintained the war.

If Torin weren't already torn by wanting that weapon in play, she also has to contend with the politics of peace that have added members of the Primacy - former enemies - to her team. Before they confront the mercenaries, Torin will have to sift through shifting loyalties as she discovers that the line between "us" and "them" is anything but straight.

©2017 Tanya Huff (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Great story

This is the best so far in the story arc. The theme reminds me of the “Aliens” movie to a degree. Spoiler ... team going on rescue mission... with added layers of ptsd and issues around race-relations .... great dynamic for our team to navigate. Finally getting used to the new accent for Ryder - it’s taken a while . Looking forward to the final book.

Absolutely Love This Series

Huff's Valor/Peacekeeper series continues to be one of my all time favorite reads. Ironic, considering I was lukewarm on the first book. But as the series has progressed, she has really caught her stride and I absolutely love all the rich and diverse characters in this world. The dialogue is snappy, believable, and fun. Our heroine is strong but can still have a love interest. And the plot is always fun and diverse.

Story: When a group of archaeologists are kidnapped on a distant, restricted planet, Kerr's peacekeepers are called in to rescue the academics. The problem is that the planet is not cataloged, the kidnappers are killing the hostages fast, and Kerr is going to be saddled with her former enemy soldiers. Things are about to get very complicated fast.

Now that the war has ended, what keeps the story going? Well, we still have the plastic alien manipulators but we also have a lot of complications with two sides coming together and not killing each other over past grievances. In the middle of the divide is the person who ended the war - Kerr and her small group. Many of the characters from the first book are gone but I love that we still have Mishona and Resk as well as the newer characters introduced and kept as the series has evolved. Of course, any time Prezzit is in the picture, it's going to be a fun (and funny) ride.

I listen to the Audible version of this story and love the narrator's work here. At first, I thought her acting was rather stilted. But by this book, she's really given the characters life and it is much easier to tell them apart when narrated - especially with so many species. I can tell immediately who is talking before I even hear the confirmation simply from the voice acting. Especially Mishona and Prezzit - it's beautifully done.

I eagerly look forward to each new book in the series. For once, we have a female protagonist who isn't 'emasculated' by having a romance (nor does she need marriage). It's a very modern and great way to tell the story without watering it down or pandering.

I rated this four stars, though honestly it is always a five star read for me. Like others noted, this did get a bit confusing with so many different races/characters. And I wasn't convinced about the reason for the kidnapping either. But I also suspect we are being set up for a sweet multi-arc series that goes beyond the plastic aliens and instead focuses on the humans as being a problem. I only hope the next book doesn't take too long!

Gotta love Torin Kerr!

Oh how I love Torin Kerr and her team. I love how they interact with each other and their banter. I love their sense of humor and their attitudes. I love how the low-key humor extends to other characters in this book. All of this is what made this book so enjoyable for me. Honestly, not a lot happened in it, especially not when you compare it to the action in the original books in the series, and yet I still found this book thoroughly enjoyable. (And definitely more so than the first one in this off-shoot series.) There is some action and excitement but it's spaced out in this book. The storyline is also a build up for more to come. This may be a slower to build series but there are definitely hints of much more to come both with Humans First and even possibly with the plastic aliens.

If you haven't read the original Confederation series, I would not recommend starting with this book (or even this off-shoot series). The Confederation series is excellent and very worth reading (and listening to). Start there and then move on to this series if you like that one.

It's been a while since I listened to the previous series and even the first in this series and so I decided to give the audiobook a try again, even though my review of the audio on the last one was less than stellar. I am so glad I did because I adored the audio this time (as much as I had with the original series). Yes, I still hate Ms. Gavin's voice for Ryder but I could deal with that since all of her other voices are outstanding. I particularly liked her voices for Presit a Tur durValintrisy and Harveer Arniz. To anyone new listening to this narrator, Ms. Gavin may sound a little melodramatic but it works for this series (and the previous one). Normally, this style would annoy me (and I think it has with other books she has narrated), but for some reason I cannot explain, it is a perfect compliment to Torin and these books. If you have just finished listening to the original series, you may have an issue with the changes in voices and pronunciation between that series and this new one (I know I did when listening to the previous book back to back with the original series), but if you've had enough time between them, you should hopefully be good with it. The year or so between listening to them certainly helped me and made me enjoy the narration all the more. Big thumbs up on performance. Well worth my Audible credit.

More Torin Kerr is good

I love these stories, but it is feeling a little like it is dragging on. The voice acting is great, but she kept forgetting the accents for the characters.
Enjoyed the book, but hope the next is better.

Very very good

This is a thoroughly enjoyable sci-fi series. I've really enjoyed the development of now Warden Torrin Kerr and I think the Confederate Universe could use more development as well. Secondary characters are fun, consistent and have well integrated plots in the story. I highly recommend this book and the entire series so far to any sci-fi thriller fan looking for an entertaining read.

I love the torin Kerr series, both of em!

I’ve read and listened to these series several times. Two to three times a year for the last few years. Margarite Gavin is one of my favorite narrators making this listening experience of these series very enjoyable. I heartily recommend these series by Tanya Huff!

Good if you're a fan

I really enjoyed the Confederation series by Tanya Huff. I'm a huge fan of the characters that the author has created, but she seems to be struggling to find them a meaningful home in the Peacekeeper series. I've listened to both the 1st and 2nd books. I liked the 2nd better, but not by much. If you're not familiar with either the author or the story, you might want to wait for the 3rd book to be released.

Broken Suspension of Disbelief

Throughout the first two chapters the experienced military members of the violent lesser races are baffled by the existence of a pistol. They just can't wrap their heads around why it would be wanted, useful or such. Apparently their militaries gave them up, as did their criminals and the idea of a small backup or personal defense weapon has been lost to memory...and not reinvented. Just all the violent criminal folks in the universe who can repair starships but not manufacture small arms...

It's right up there with The Primacy wandering off never to be violent again.