"[2] Some years after the events of Diplomatic Immunity, Miles Vorkosigan is sent by Emperor Gregor to the planet Kibou-daini ("New Hope") to investigate White Chrysanthemum Cryonics Corporation.

WhiteChrys, a major "cryocorp", to which sick or dying people go to be frozen in hopes of one day being revived and cured, is opening a subsidiary on Komarr, arousing suspicions.

Roic is caught along with Raven, a cryo-revival specialist from the Durona Group who assisted in reviving Miles after his death on Jackson's Whole (detailed in Mirror Dance).

[7] At the SF Site, Rich Horton described it as "a fun read" with "a satisfying science fictional aspect", but "ultimately pretty minor work," in which "Miles (...) is a curiously muted figure.

"[10] At Strange Horizons, Kelly Jennings was more critical, calling it "a wacky romantic comedy set on a planet, we are told, an inch away from revolution and economic shutdown", which "should have been a lot darker."