This alliance is being negotiated in secret, as the other Great Houses would find it a dire threat to the balance of power in the Inner Sphere. And webs of intrigue surround the battles on Solaris, as the Great Houses seek to gain advantage through the victories, or sometimes the defeats, of their champions. The plot and setting are rich and complex. But the characters, charmingly, are not. They wear their hearts on their sleeve.
Warriors fight for honour, or sometimes just glory.
Villains skulk in the shadows, conspirators glare pointedly across rooms, princes wrestle with the destiny of others using moral codes that are practically medieval. The overall effect is one of grand space opera, an exciting adventure that keeps the reader turning pages. The plot is involved but accessible. The point of view jumps around among several characters, but it usually stays with one for about two chapters at a time. But this doesn't detract from the story.