We Few — David Weber; John Ringo

THE HARD WAY

Roger Ramius Sergei Alexander Chiang McClintock, the playboy prince, has grown up the hard way. He's fought his way across half the hell planet of Marduk against murderous flora, fauna, and natives, and along the way, he's watched ninety percent of his bodyguards -- bodyguards who've become closer to him than his own family -- die to keep him alive. It's turned a spoiled brat into a man who's very dangerous ... perhaps in too many ways.

Now he's coming home, but home isn't what it was when he left. Traitors have murdered his brother and sister, his nieces and nephews. His mother, the Empress, is still alive, but controlled through drugs and torture. Home Fleet, the largest and most powerful of the Empire's fleets is under the traitors' control. And, just to make things perfect, the Empire has been told the real traitor is -- Prince Roger.

With the twelve survivors of Bravo Company of the Empress' Own, a few hundred three-meter tall Mardukans, his one-time tutor and present chief of staff, an elephant-sized flarta pack beast, his faithful pet Dogzard, and the ghost of his greatest ancestor, Prince Roger must somehow save the Empire from the usurpers. It's an impossible task, but Prince Roger knows all about impossible tasks, and the surviving Bronze Barbarians and the Mardukans of the Basik's Own are prepared to storm the gates of Hell itself at his heels to retake the Empire.

But after they do, can they save it from Prince Roger, as well?