Cold Welcome   by Elizabeth Moon

A ship carrying a distinguished soldier is sabotaged and goes down on a continent considered to be uninhabitable. Story drags out survival at sea, then on land, then they discover a secret desserted military base and manage to hole up there until help comes. But they have to endure the arrival of a military unit which they know is dispatched to kill them in order to maintain the secret of the base--the hero’s partner has a magic link which nobody else knows about, allowing the hero to know what is happening. Meanwhile the influential family of the hero goes hither and thither and eventually sends a rescue party.

Poor storytelling: linear, all things explained. When a traitor in the camp is suspected, narrative turns to his thoughts and gives it all away. One of the main characters loses her aide at critical time, matter is dismissed in a page. Ending very abrupt and lacks any tangible action or jeopardy.

The characterizations and back-story are quite good however, although everything is a little convenient and cozy, and has no innovation. It is a straight-forward family dynasty, really.

On the whole, not much more than a young adult read.