Another in Asaro's series of space-family-soap/romance/sagas
involving the Skolian Empire (The Radiant Seas, 1998, etc.) and their rivals, the feudal Traders with their sadistic Aristo bosses. Here, Kelric, the half-brother of Skolian head honcho Kurj, returns home incognito after an 18-year absence. And, would you believe it, the horrid Aristos capture him. As usual, the complications are just about independently intelligible. Sexy tortures,
strictly for series devotees.