You would think that after 21 books, this series would get stale. It doesn’t. it somehow gets even more exciting with time. I cannot fathom how Cherryh manages to make this series continuously interesting through 21 books, but I’m so thankful because this series is always a sure thing.

I don’t recommend this to be your introduction to the series. In fact, even if you had read this series and looking to see if this is a good pick up point, I would caution against it. Divergence takes up immediately after the end of Resurgence without barely a pause. One thing Cherryh has been better (or worse?) about is making it harder to find an ending point as a reader. Every book ends with just more questions, with more things to find out in the next book. And Divergence isn’t an exception. I was definitely just left wanting more at the end of the book. Though, that isn’t a surprise to me.

I just loved where Divergence took the story. This is very much a series of journey not destination. Much to the contradiction to the ending of every single book where Bren has to hop on train/plane/macheita and get somewhere else very very quickly to save the day. If this were a series about journey I doubt it would have gone on for 21 books.

In a lot of ways Divergence felt like a book of setups. Ilisidi is fucking planning something. I want in on her plans because I know they’re going to be amazing. Unfortunately for Bren, this also means he is left in the dark to her full plans, too. So in a lot of ways this book feels like it is just killing time. But when reading it doesn’t feel that way. You’re just hooked in and desperate for answers.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this series to no end.

ARC received from DAW on Netgalley. This did not affect my review.

Bren Cameron and the Aiji-dowager, Ilisidi --in the thick of Atevi politics!

In this, the 21st in the Foreigner series, I find myself still as fascinated with the Atevi and their world, their culture and politics as ever! Including the space station inhabitants. (Given the new space race we seem to be in, the space station seems all too real.) There are three distinct groups the Atevi, the humans from the Mospheiran enclave, and the Space Station humans--all the humans being foreigners (indeed the humans are distinct foreign groups to each other) to this Atevi world.
The aiji-dowager, Ilisidi , in her own inimitable way, has decided the time is ripe to settle once and for all the fermentation in the South supported by Lord Tiajo in the Dojisigin Marid—and the outlawed Assassins Guild splinter group, the Ghost Guild. She has taken the Red Train south along with some key players she sees as important to that outcome.
Bren Cameron, paidhi-aiji, the ambassador interpreter and the chief negotiator for Tabini-aiji accompanies her with the Aiji's words ringing in his ears, "Keep her safe. Tabini’s final order to him, hours before he boarded the train."
As always the feisty Atevi Dowager is five moves ahead and six sideways of everyone else. She is one of my favorite characters.
Bren does reminiscence about his first meeting and testing with the dowager. I do think that was one of my favorite tales.
The entourage move towards the troubled areas with important relevant lords, Lord Bregani, his wife and daughter; Lord Machigi of the Taisigin. A new treaty has been proposed. Felicitous Three for the agreement including nand’ Bren. (Numbers have a religious imprimatur for the Atavi)
Lord Geigi on the space station, friend and ally to the Duchess manages to surprise even her.
On board the Red Train is "Nomari, a railway worker, favored candidate to take on the lordship of Ajuri. This brings the important personnel to felicitous seven. The aiji-dowager has decided to test Nomari's mettle.
Meanwhile Cajeiri, Tabini-Aiji's son has turned fortunate nine and finds himself a keeper of knowledge and given greater understandings about his parents relationship and reasons for their actions. He gives us a brief outline of much that has occurred up to now.
A lot of political jockeying is at the forefront. Man’chi (commitment and loyalty) is tested.
Nomari reveals more of himself. Bren manages to bring some plans to fruition but not without his Atevi priectors becoming somewhat disturbed.
As the aiji-dowager and the Assasins Guild look to root out the renegade and entrenched Shadow Guild, Bren finds himself facing a direction that will take nerve and strength.
I am constantly amazed by Cherryh. It continually dazzles me as to how she's able to maintain this world so cleverly and how the series continues to engage my interest right from the very first novel to the latest. I'm never disappointed!

A DAW ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Divergence by C.J. Cherryh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Twenty-one books! Of course, I think that's a real feat, considering that we're following the SAME sets of characters over many years and situations on an alien world and this has NONE of the feel of a Urban Fantasy OR a long crime series.

Indeed, it's ALL about alien politics. And it REMAINS GOOD after twenty-one books! Are you amazed? I'm amazed. :) Just ask anyone. Do you think a book about translation errors and alien assassinations as a basis for good government could carry your interest for twenty-one books?

Well, it does! :) And if you're reading this review, you're probably already a fan or you're wondering if you should pick up the series again and I'm here to say: It's STILL GOOD. :)

I just can't say anything because of spoilers. And damn, there's a big spoiler coming up. The great-grandson of our wonderful Dowager is growing up. Bren is almost like an elder statesman now. It's fascinating to see the dynamics and politics. :)

The 21st entry into the Foreigner series. I have some friends who have lost interest over the last few books. I have told them that the books are getting even more interesting and Divergence makes my case very well. For those number counters out there who worried that 21 was a felicitous point to end the series... don't worry. While I don't think of the end of Divergence as a cliff hanger it is clearly not the end of the series.

The story picks up where Resurgence left off. As with all the most recent books in the series the POV changes character and location between Bren and Cajeiri the difference here being that Bren has significantly more chapters and Cajeiri's but some of Cajeiri's really stand out. How does Ms. Cherryh make a family dinner so exciting?

If you have not read the series don't start here. The first is called Foreigner. If you have got behind on the series know that it has only gotten more interesting and start on it again.

Divergence is the 21st Book in C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner Series, so I recommend not reading this book first.

This is a "series" arranged in trilogies with short plot arcs and one long, over-reaching plot arc for the entire story of Bren Cameron, a human translator sent among non-humans.

Divergence is all about power-politics, and how the Atevi (the Aliens) avoid the sort of all-out War humans tend to use to settle matters.

All of these novels are tightly focused on Bren Cameron's point of view, but with occasional accompaniments of a young (ruler to be) Atevi child who has learned to understand humans (somewhat).

Divergence emphasizes how Bren Cameron has come to understand, on a deep level, just how much he will never, ever, understand about Atevi. He now lives among Atevi, is honored by (some) of them, and his human friends and family find him truly odd because he's become so very Atevi in behavior. In fact, Bren finds himself a little odd.

So in Divergence, Bren takes action only once, and perfectly properly, then sits out action-situations that he formerly would have plunged into and derailed by his human reactions. He uses mature good sense instead of human impulse, and tweaks the Atevi politics just a bit, here and there, helping to bring peace to a troubled region of the Atevi civilization.

The novel ends off with a springboard into the next novel, as Bren and a train load of Atevi head for the estate Bren now calls home, anticipating a little time to breathe before the next emergency. I don't think they'll have much time.

Much of Divergence is simply Bren thinking over the salient moves by Atevi in previous novels, understanding now (as never before) how these moves have led to the current opportunity to make peace. It is a long reprise of previous events, reminding the reader of which events are the most significant for understanding what must come in the next novel. This makes the book almost one, lone, expository lump. But Cherryh's writing is so deft, so cogent, so tightly pointed, that it is an absorbing good read. The previous novels are so well written, the characters so vividly portrayed, that the reader remembers each of these movers sand shakers of the Atevi world as they are mentioned -- full context.

That is why I recommend this series so highly, but start with the first novel, Foreigner.

If you're a writer, and have been reading the Foreigner Series, study Divergence closely for exposition techniques. Long-long passages summarizing and reminding of previous novels in the series, but re-interpreting events you thought you understood but now know ever so much more about.

The real hero of Divergence is The Dowager. In fact, she's the real hero of the whole series, according to this new interpretation of events.

And now she's feeling her mortality.

The twenty-first book in the Foreigner saga continues the adventures of diplomat Bren Cameron. Once again Bren is In the middle of the action. The problem - there is little action and a lot of in the head thinking and remembering. This was just a slow read - I think I said the same thing about book twenty. I waded through the story and will continue to read the series but I do hope it get more interesting.