Haven at this time is ruled by a Hereditary President, supported by the Legislaturist families. Most of the senior commanders in the Haven navy are Legislaturists. But a popular leader named Robert S. Pierre is planning a revolution which will change all of the rules. This cover is particularly awful. Nevertheless, the book is quite good.
Honor returns home from the Hancock system to a political crisis.
One of Honor's fellow officers is courtmartialed for cowardice after the Battle of Hancock, and he blames Honor for his downfall. This is a bleak but solid book, and makes a good centerpiece for the series. After the Battle of Yeltsin, the grateful Graysons bestowed the title of Steadholder on Honor Harrington, the first woman ever so titled. Steadholder is a serious title on Grayson, with real duties and responsibilities, and real powers. In this volume, Honor takes leave from the RMN to attend to her people on Grayson.