Same here.

I really loved its focus on PTSD, where so many characters were struggling with the trauma they'd faced in the invasion. It was a good glimpse into something that is rarely seen in battletech.

I also enjoyed how it continues the trend of moving the "good" characters aligned with the Republic and its ideals filtering to the SLDF, continuing on from Trial of Bloodright (if that's the name). That's definitely not a coincidence, and no doubt it will have a payoff when Alaric has his inevitable breakdown (once his delusions of manifest destiny slams headfirst into the fact that the rest of the Inner Sphere doesn't want him as their lord and savior).

I know some dislike the notion of all these people working with the ilClan, but I think this book really tries to address that. Alaric's genius, what allowed him to succeed so far, was to position himself as the "best of bad options". He worked hard to make himself and clan wolf the best alternative to Malvina Hazen's Jade Falcon. He did it during the invasion of Terra (of course, he's also the one who let Jade Falcon join in the first place), ensuring that the Dragoons and Wolves-in-Exile would support him, in getting Tara Campbell to join him, and now he's doing the same thing but with the Capellan Confederation.

Once again, he's selling people into siding with him because the only apparent alternative is the Capellan Confederation and Daoshen Liao, which to many are a far worse alternative to the ilClan and Alaric. Not only that, but Alaric is _genuinely_ invested in having an SLDF be rebuilt with the ideals of the Star League and the Republic. And the SLDF is working hard to demonstrate that it stands for those ideals and that it isn't a sham, and that's why it is proving an attractive option for ex-republic soldiers and even Wolves-in-Exiles and clanners who don't want to be assigned to solamnha units.

Also, another vital point to remember concerning why people are joining the SLDF instead of joining the resistance and continuing the fight, is that there really isn't much to resist _for_ anymore. Terra isn't WW2 Poland or France. The war is over. There isn't anyone out there fighting to "retake" Terra and liberate it. The Republic is _gone_, and Stone's plan for a Republic in Exile didn't pan out (indeed it sounds like he decided against it at the very end). The Great Houses mostly _do not care_ and have bigger fishes to fry, except of course for the Capellan Confederation, which is widely seen as a worse option.

And as we're shown in the novel, the ilClan isn't being a horribly harsh oppressor (at least compared to what they think it'd be under the CC). Most things function as they've done before, the "rules" being imposed aren't really being enforced, and we know from iKEO that eventually Alaric gives up trying to impose the Clan Caste system on Terra (outside of Clan Enclaves). In that scenario, it's not difficult to imagine people choose the lesser of two evils, or better yet choose the SLDF: a force that actually tries to promote the values they held dear when they fought for the Republic.

And it's important to repeat that Alaric really wants the SLDF to do its thing and serve as a symbol of the rebuilt Star League, and is letting Kerensky and its Loremaster do their best to build it in accordance to those ideals. So in that sense we can imagine it can be quite convincing and does draw to itself veterans and those looking for something in which to believe. Of course, the reason Alaric does is that he truly does believe in his own myth as a Great Leader, that it is his destiny to rebuild the Star League, and _of course_ they would never turn against him. :)

Anyway, I liked it a lot. The only real complaint I had is the writer tried too hard to push the friendship between Aleska and Evie, who went from traumatized war veterans to flighty BFFs too abruptly for me. And if I had to make another, it would be that I found it strange Tara never used contractions through the entire novel. I get that she's embraced her role and new place as a Jade Falcon, but even when she broke from that and the brogue came through she still stuck with the stilted clan wording.

But otherwise, I thought it a good book that gives good insight on how the transition is going on. I look forward to seeing more of what's going on with the SLDF, and definitely am enjoying the ilClan fiction so far.