Marque and Reprisal, the second excellent novel in Vatta's War, finds Captain Kylara Vatta docked in port with the very goods she fought so hard to keep and deliver from Profit in Danger (book 1), but the danger is far from over, and after surviving an assassination attempt, she learns that Vatta Enterprises has been dealt several devastating blows, including the destruction of her home and several ships with all hands onboard. The banks have stopped all Vatta lines of credit and the communication ansibles are down in several places, very reminiscent of the troubles in Sabine she just came through.

Kylara's resourcefulness, her crew's loyalty and the profits from her contract with the Mercenaries and the cargo are her only resources' other than her great Aunt Gracie's fruit cake. With those items and her internal radar warning her that all is not right she sets out to try and figure out what has happened and who is responsible. When 3 new people join the crew, things begin to take on a new perspective, but leave Kylara with greater responsibilities as well as greater options.

With trouble dogging her crew (literally), it's her very willingness to do what has to be done that will serve her best in the upcoming events but will it be enough to save her crew and will she be able to figure out what is really happening and do anything about it. With life and death decisions to be made, Kylara makes some very interesting discoveries about herself and her future goals and the lengths she will go to achieve them.

This second novel is an absolute gem and once you start don't expect to be able to put the book down any time soon. It's filled with adventure, danger, wonderful characters both good and bad, all set in a universe far, far away. A truly excellent book that will appeal to anyone who likes strong female characters in a command capacity and book three, Engaging the Enemy, promises to be another winner in this captivating series.