Divergence
by C. J. Cherryh
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Pub Date Sep 08 2020 | Archive Date Oct 08 2020
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Description
The overthrow of the atevi head of state, Tabini-aiji, and the several moves of enemies even since his restoration, have prompted major changes in the Assassins' Guild, which has since worked to root out its seditious elements—a clandestine group they call the Shadow Guild. With the Assassins now rid of internal corruption, with the birth of Tabini's second child, and with the appointment of an heir, stability seems to have returned to the atevi world. Humans and atevi share the space station in peaceful cooperation, humans and atevi share the planet as they have for centuries, and the humans' island enclave is preparing to welcome 5000 human refugees from a remote station now dismantled, and to do that in unprecedented cooperation with the atevi mainland.
In general Bren Cameron, Tabini-aiji's personal representative, returning home to the atevi capital after securing that critical agreement, was ready to take a well-earned rest—until Tabini's grandmother claimed his services on a train trip to the smallest, most remote and least significant of the provinces, snowy Hasjuran—a move concerning which Tabini-aiji gave Bren a private instruction: protect her. Advise her.
Advise her—perhaps. As for protection, she has a trainload of high-level Guild. But since the aiji-dowager has also invited a dangerously independent young warlord, Machigi, and a young man who may be the heir to Ajuri, a key northern province—the natural question is why the dowager is taking this ill-assorted pair to Hasjuran and what on this earth she may be up to.
With a Shadow Guild attack on the train station, it has become clear that others have questions, too. Hasjuran, on its mountain height, overlooks the Marid, a district that is part of the atevi nation only in name—a district in which Machigi is one major player, and where the Shadow Guild retains a major stronghold.
Protect her? Ilisidi is hellbent on settling scores with the Shadow Guild, and her reasons for this trip and this company now become clear. One human diplomat and his own bodyguard suddenly seem a very small force to defend her from what she is setting in motion.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780756414306 |
| PRICE | $26.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 352 |
Featured Reviews
Heather B, Reviewer
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.)
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