From Booklist
Liaden universe fans will be happy to see the latest adventure set there, though it occurs more than two centuries before the adventures of Shan yos'Galan and family, who are more regular series protagonists. Young Jethri Gobelyn, from a family of Terran traders, does a service for a Liaden master trader and is taken on as her apprentice. That honor isn't appreciated by all Liadens or all Terrans, including some members of Jethri's family. Far too many Liadens regard Terrans as louts and barbarians, and in Terran lore Liadens can't be trusted--except to play dirty tricks. Lee and Miller's latest is the well-constructed story of a young man coming of age in the midst of a sometimes deadly clash of cultures. Longtime Liaden fans will relish learning some of the history that produced the worlds they already know. Perhaps this book's only fault is that it is primarily those already well acquainted with Liaden who will most enjoy it. In any event, it shows plenty of Lee and Miller's customary intelligent storytelling. Frieda Murray
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Susan Krinard, author of To Catch a Wolf
"...an admirable addition to a series much beloved by readers of complex, character-driven and lyrical science fiction."

Lisa DuMond, Contributing Editor and Senior Reviewer for SFSite and Black Gate Magazine; Freelance Reviewer for SFReader.com
"It’s another thrill ride for loyal Liaden fans and a great place for the uninitiated to jump on."

Jody Wallace, Science Fiction Romance Book Reviews
"BALANCE OF TRADE was a fulfilling read, and Jethri’s viewpoint allowed an insider look at Liaden society."

Booklist
"...full of action, exotic characters, plenty of plot, and even a touch of romance. The world building is outstanding."

Sherwood Smith
"Action, nifty tech, larger-than-life characters, romance, humor, mind-expanding talents—LIADEN is space opera at its best"

Book Description
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From the Publisher
This stand-alone novel in the Liaden Universe® is a story from the early days of trade between Terrans and Liadens.

About the Author
Sharon Lee and Steve Miller live in the rolling hills of Central Maine. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, they met several times before taking the hint and formalizing the team in 1979. They removed to Maine with cats, books, and music following the completion of Carpe Diem, their third novel. Their short fiction, written both jointly and singly, has appeared or will appear in numerous anthologies and magazines, including Catfantastic, Such a Pretty Face, Murder and Magic, Absolute Magnitude, 3SF, and several incarnations of Amazing. Meisha Merlin Publishing has or will be publishing ten novels cleverly disguised as seven books in Steve and Sharon's Liaden Universe® — Partners in Necessity, Plan B, Pilots Choice, I Dare, Balance of Trade and two as yet untitled —The Tomorrow Log, first of the Gem ser'Edreth adventures, and Low Port, edited by Sharon and Steve. Sharon has also seen a mystery novel, Barnburner, published by Embiid. I Dare has been an and a Locus magazine bestseller. Pilots Choice was a finalist for the Pearl Award; and both Scout's Progress and Local Custom (included in Pilots Choice) won the first and second place (respectively) Prism Award for best SF Romance of 2001. Both Sharon and Steve have seen their non-fiction work and reviews published in a variety of newspapers and magazines. Steve was the founding curator of the University of Maryland's Kuhn Library Science Fiction Research Collection, and former Nebula Award juror. Sharon served three years as the executive director of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. and is the current president of that organization. Sharon's interests include music, pine cone collecting, and seashores. Steve also enjoys music, plays chess, and collects cat whiskers. Both spend way too much time playing on the internet.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Assistant Trader Jethri Gobelyn was an honest, hardworking young man who knew a lot about living onboard his family's space-going trade ship; something about trade, finance, and risk-taking; and a little bit about Liadens.

It was, oddly enough, the little bit he knew about Liadens that seemed like it might be enough to make his family's fortune, and his own, too. In short order, however, Jethri Gobelyn was about to find out a lot more about Liadens...like how far they might go to protect their name and reputation. Like the myriad of things one might say-intentionally or not-with a single bow. Like what it would take to make a Liaden trade-ship crew trash a bar. Like how hard it is to say "I'm sorry!" in Liaden.

Pretty soon it was clear that as little as he knew about Liadens, he knew far less about himself. With his very existence a threat to the balance of trade, Jethri Gobelyn needed to learn fast, or else help destroy all he held dear.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly