Catherine Asaro - [Skolian Empire 04] The Last Hawk

Kelwin, heir to the throne of the Skolian empire, crash-lands his fighter on the off-limits planet of Coba, a world ruled by women. He figures it will be only a short time before he makes his way home. But he fails to account for the powerful matriarchy of Coba, the mistresses of the great estates who do not want the Empire to know about their recent cultural advances. They detain him, to prevent their world being absorbed by the empire. He will escape eventually, but the consequences of Kelwin's stay will have altered the galactic empire forever.