Military space political adventure plus science fiction romance. The detailed world-building and politics, the manoeuvring behind manoeuvres, is typical Bujold, but the story is primarily about the romance between Aral Vorkosigan and Cordelia Naismith.This style of romance is one of my absolute favourites. The two protagonists are balanced in agency, respectful toward each other, attracted to each other for very solid reasons (although Aral claims it was love it first sight, they are basically both drawn by the other's honour and drive), and yet not inclined to throw everything important to them away because of their feelings - content to merely be ripped to shreds by the barriers between them. I liked particularly that Cordelia considers Barrayar an almost insurmountable barrier to Aral, one which she is only able to face when Beta becomes a rather worse prospect, and that neither of them are willing to betray their people for the other.I've been hesitating to re-read the Vorkosigan series in fear that it wouldn't hold up, but I think it's actually better than I remember.
