twentythree_sunrise's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A wonderfully told science fiction political commentary and drama. There's enough context provided to read this book on its own, but I would very much advise against skipping the first book.
While Foreigner saw Bren whisked away to the wilderness and entirely out of his element, Invader sees him firmly back in the political sphere. Most of the book involves Bren tackling and agonizing over various maneuverings of human and atevi politics. Though the first book had a much stronger sense of movement and adventure, as Bren moved from urban to rural, from royal estate to untouched wilderness, most of this book takes place in a single hotel suite. That said, it is certainly not without drama, tension, humor, and, even, a bit of romance. The introspective monologues and conversations are excellent.
While the first book, I argue, is a discreet coming-out narrative, Invader is an explicit political commentary. There are one or two chapters in particular that this becomes most evident and Cherryh really holds nothing back. Some readers will surely find these commentaries dazzlingly fierce, inspiring, and, sadly, just as relevant today in 2022 as they were in 1996, when this book was published. Other readers will doubtless find these commentaries both offensive and downright scandalous. I am, full disclosure, amongst the former of these groups, and I don't believe it's much of a mystery as to what might have inspired these commentaries.
Despite the thematic shift, as with any good sequel, many of the best elements from the first book carry over here. There a some fresh new faces, and familiar ones. We still love Jago. We still get breakfast with Ilisidi. Tano gets a bit of attention, and he's a sweetie. Though things get rather tense, the ending is, as with Foreigner, ever so heartwarming.
A very good sequel.
While Foreigner saw Bren whisked away to the wilderness and entirely out of his element, Invader sees him firmly back in the political sphere. Most of the book involves Bren tackling and agonizing over various maneuverings of human and atevi politics. Though the first book had a much stronger sense of movement and adventure, as Bren moved from urban to rural, from royal estate to untouched wilderness, most of this book takes place in a single hotel suite. That said, it is certainly not without drama, tension, humor, and, even, a bit of romance. The introspective monologues and conversations are excellent.
While the first book, I argue, is a discreet coming-out narrative, Invader is an explicit political commentary. There are one or two chapters in particular that this becomes most evident and Cherryh really holds nothing back. Some readers will surely find these commentaries dazzlingly fierce, inspiring, and, sadly, just as relevant today in 2022 as they were in 1996, when this book was published. Other readers will doubtless find these commentaries both offensive and downright scandalous. I am, full disclosure, amongst the former of these groups, and I don't believe it's much of a mystery as to what might have inspired these commentaries.
Despite the thematic shift, as with any good sequel, many of the best elements from the first book carry over here. There a some fresh new faces, and familiar ones. We still love Jago. We still get breakfast with Ilisidi. Tano gets a bit of attention, and he's a sweetie. Though things get rather tense, the ending is, as with Foreigner, ever so heartwarming.
A very good sequel.
Content Warnings
Minor: Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Infidelity
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