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This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.
That said, on to the review!
The starship Phoenix established a colony on the world of the atevi before departing for parts unknown. The humans it left behind struggled to win a place for itself in the atevi world, resulting in the settlement of the island of Mospheira. For nearly two centuries the colony has bartered its advanced techonology for its continued existence. Then the Phoenix returned, adding a new factor into the equations of power among the atevi and the humans.
Bren Cameron, the paidhi betweem the atevi and the Mospheiran humans, is now training a human from the ship to be paidhi between the Phoenix and the atevi. On Mospheira there is another ship-human acting as middleman between the two human factions. However, things are no longer what they were. Bren's protege must necessarily struggle through difficult lessons on atevi society, all the while knowing that a single mistake could destroy everything they've accomplished. The Mospheiran liaison's job is no easier: there are forces behind the politcs that are striving for human supremacy, and they'll stop at nothing to accomplish their goal, including threatening the lives of those that stand in their way...such as Bren and his family.
Matters continue to worsen and quickly come to a head. The conspiracy to strengthen Mospheira begins all manners of illegalities and betrayals. The end result is the Mospheira-Phoenix liaison requesting an immediate withdrawal, an action that will not sit well with those counting on Phoenix support at the right moment. Can Bren, his protege, and their human and atevi allies prevent all-out war among the atevi and among the humans and between the atevi and humans?
Here is the closing novel of the trilogy begun in C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner and continued in Invader. The author does an excellent job of exploring above-board and underhanded politics. Despite the grimness of the storyline, she also imbues her characters with humanizing characteristics and needs, including the need to side with right instead of might.
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