Barrayar

I read this as part of the Hugo/Nebula Goodreads group Vorkosigan Saga challenge. Having read all 23 pieces now, I can say that this is one of the best of the series. It complements Shards of Honor, the first book, but Shards was her first book and is immature, while Barrayar was a fill-in, written a decade later, when she was a highly developed master. Top ranking, well worth the time and its honors.