Paperback, 292 pages
English language
Published March 8, 2016 by Haikasoru.
“The Golden Brat” Reinhard von Lohengramm, a military prodigy and admiral of the Galactic Empire, has ambitions beyond protecting the borders or even defeating the Empire’s enemies. He seeks to overthrow the old order and become a truly absolute—yet benevolent—dictator. His rival, the humble Yang Wen-li of the Free Planets Alliance, wishes to preserve democracy even if he must sacrifice his political ideals to defeat the Empire. Their political and military battles play out over a galactic chessboard in an epic saga fifteen centuries in the making!
The characters' introspection is timely and realistic, and the exposition circumstantially relevant and world-building, yet digresses into facets of governance and military strategy as interesting as its context.
This book is packed cover to cover with exposition and very little else. I'm sure the space battles were truly epic but telling the number of ships and people involved isn't particularly interesting. Especially when 95% of the few characters we're actually introduced to are either irredeemable or simply die shortly after we learn their names.
Reads like a lighter version of David Weber. It's the same kind of military space opera based on historical tropes, but in a considerably lower word count.
It also features tropes common in military anime since Gundam: younger protagonists and antagonists, morally gray areas between the warring sides, etc.
Overall it was very entertaining, and I plan on following the series as it comes out in translation.
