The honor of the Queen - David Weber

It's hard to give peace a chance when the other side regards war as the necessary prelude to conquest. That's why the Kingdom of Manticore needs allies against the so-called Republic of Haven - and the planet Grayson is strategically placed to make a very good ally indeed. But Her Majesty's Foreign Office overlooked one minor cultural difference when they selected Captain Honor Harrington to carry the flag - on Grayson, women are entirely without rank or rights, and Honor's very presence is an intolerable affront to every male on the planet. Then, without warning, Grayson is attacked by its fraticidal sister planet, and Honor is forced to defend it - for its safety, for her own vindication, and above all for the honor of her Queen.