Newly minted Imperial Auditor Miles is sent to the conquered planet Komarr, the Barrayaran gateway to the galaxy, to investigate a catastrophe. One of the planetary terraforming mirrors has been destroyed by an out of control freighter. Accident, sabotage, or terrorism, Miles has to get to the bottom of the issue on a planet where his father earned the moniker 'the Butcher', while figuring out the limits of his power as an Imperial Auditor.

The A plot, mirrors, embezzlement, engineering investigations and high-stakes negotiations, is well done, although it lacks the dazzling footwork of previous outings in the series. Where this book shines in the character of Ekaterina, a Vor woman trapped in one of the most compelling and fleshed out emotionally abusive relationships I've seen. She's the real protagonist of the book, and Bujold does an incredible job making her, and her suffering real and compelling. Bujold doesn't pull her punches, or give Ekaterina and Miles the easy romantic escape from all their troubles, but it's yet another fascinating window on how Vor society works, and its high human costs.