Reviews

Pretender, by C.J. Cherryh

buuboobaby's review against another edition

5.0

4.75 Stars

This is my favorite installment to date. Packed with action and suspense as Bren tries to desperately keep the Western alliance from fracturing, there's a real sense of dread because Bren knows that the planet will soon have visitors from another world. If they believe that the leadership on the planet is has degenerated and the is no strong leader, there might soon be the threat of a war both on and off planet.

I am really enjoying the character development, all of the supporting cast, and who stressed poor Bren is. This guy is solely responsible for keeping peace on the planet, among both the atevi and the humans, and soon, another species from the heavens. Poor guy needs a vacation, but he's not going to get it in Pretender. Maybe he'll get to catch his breath in Destroyer?

I love this series, and I'm amazed that after 8 books, I'm still invested in the story and the characters.

applequinn's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

malmer's review

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

kalanadi's review

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

nanaofnaia's review

4.0

Lots of action in this book and shifting loyalties at all levels--the personal ones particularly moving for me.

I love these books! Thank you, C.J. Cherryh for this wonderful series!!

robinwalter's review

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

suzjustsuz's review

4.0

3.5 stars

This one didn't hold me quite as well as the previous one, although a lot happened in the book arc.

nilchance's review

4.0

Bren getting more and more entangled in atevi intrigues while struggling to maintain what makes him human (which sometimes only gets him deeper into trouble) is just my jam. I love it.

ishmael's review

5.0

After shenanigans in space, it's back to the ground level where chaos has erupted and political hijinks have risen to new heights. It's probably the most action-packed book so far, all the more fascinating since the lead is a diplomat who does far more ducking, running, and hiding than shooting.

This series never fails to impress me. Every book has new layers of meaning, new character facets, new political machinations, new alien-human interaction insights. I want to shove this series at everyone so I have somebody to talk to about it.

tannat's review

4.0

3.5 stars

(Btw, I'm not sure whether this series could count as steampunk?)