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phobis837's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
noranne's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this installment of the Foreigner series very much. The turn of events was completely unexpected (I don't even usually read blurbs, so I had honestly no idea), and it was a good change of pace to get back to the atevi world and politics after the space adventure of the last one. Bren is a bit whiny in this, but well, that's Bren!
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
5.0
This is book seven in a long-running science fiction series that began with Foreigner (1994) and currently numbers twenty-one books. I've greatly enjoyed the first seven books and will begin with general remarks that apply to them collectively, before progressing to comments on book seven in particular.
The series, at least thus far, centers on Bren Cameron, a human translator and mediator living among aliens. Bren's thoughts are shown in a depth that I found fascinating and highly immersive. This careful meticulous detail reminds me of reading L. E. Modesitt, Jr., though Cherryh's themes are not Modesitt's. I note that some readers find the level of detail an annoyance and the pace slow. I do not.
Spoilers ahead.
In as much as I have a general gripe, it's that the books' openings are comparatively weak. In the case of the first book, there are two introductory sections that I found less compelling than Bren's storyline. In the case of book two onward, the beginnings mix in new material with an extensive recap of what's happened so far in the series.
As for book seven in particular: I'm far from certain it's better than the preceding (excellent) books. But I'm falling deeper and deeper into the series, the characters, the interplay of humans, aliens, technology, politics. There are times, increasingly often, when I want nothing more than to read the next paragraph. I admire how Cherryh balances the epic with the personal. I admire how she moves the action back planetside without losing impetus. I admire how the bursts of action are well-earned and well-executed. I admire how even the battle scenes include a great deal of waiting and small discomforts. I have fallen for this series and it is a fierce joy to me that, at the end of book seven, I am only one third of the way through.
4.5 out of 5 most capable stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
The series, at least thus far, centers on Bren Cameron, a human translator and mediator living among aliens. Bren's thoughts are shown in a depth that I found fascinating and highly immersive. This careful meticulous detail reminds me of reading L. E. Modesitt, Jr., though Cherryh's themes are not Modesitt's. I note that some readers find the level of detail an annoyance and the pace slow. I do not.
Spoilers ahead.
Spoiler
Through Bren, the books conjure an intricate alien civilization, one in which words such as "friend" and "love" have no close equivalent, and in which there is an official, highly-respected Assassins Guild. Bren is a very sympathetic character, who finds himself in difficult situations where the stakes are high. I'm also very fond of several of the supporting characters, especially the assassins Banichi and Jago, and the elderly grande dame, Ilisidi. The plot builds from book to book, with developments from the small and personal to those of sweeping impact.In as much as I have a general gripe, it's that the books' openings are comparatively weak. In the case of the first book, there are two introductory sections that I found less compelling than Bren's storyline. In the case of book two onward, the beginnings mix in new material with an extensive recap of what's happened so far in the series.
As for book seven in particular: I'm far from certain it's better than the preceding (excellent) books. But I'm falling deeper and deeper into the series, the characters, the interplay of humans, aliens, technology, politics. There are times, increasingly often, when I want nothing more than to read the next paragraph. I admire how Cherryh balances the epic with the personal. I admire how she moves the action back planetside without losing impetus. I admire how the bursts of action are well-earned and well-executed. I admire how even the battle scenes include a great deal of waiting and small discomforts.
4.5 out of 5 most capable stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
lissajean7's review against another edition
5.0
So they fix the things at Reunion, and they come home to disaster. Does the poor guy ever get a break? Nope. They need to hurry down to the planet to get the mainland stable again. This one is so good.
eleven_hummingbird's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A faster paced Foreigner installment with nostalgic callbacks to earlier novels in the series. Returning home to a mysterious disaster, Bren and his allies rush across the mainland in search of answers and allies. The narrative is in constant movement from beginning to end, with only a few respites spaced between. Cherryh fits as much intrigue and banter as she's able into this story, despite the forced pacing.
Alongside several familiar characters, and a few new characters as well, Cajeiri, the atevi prince, is given a delightful importance in this novel. Two years have passed since the events of the previous novel, and Cajeiri has grown up so fast. The young boy watching films and racing toy cars now seems every bit a young adult acting to save his family in crisis. Cajeiri earns two companions in this story who are rather endearing, despite their very limited appearance.
Destroyer is a strong opening for a new sequence in the Foreigner series, promising both familiarity and new opportunity. While established tropes and characters from the series remain, the world has very much changed, and events from Explorer loom over all.
Alongside several familiar characters, and a few new characters as well, Cajeiri, the atevi prince, is given a delightful importance in this novel. Two years have passed since the events of the previous novel, and Cajeiri has grown up so fast. The young boy watching films and racing toy cars now seems every bit a young adult acting to save his family in crisis. Cajeiri earns two companions in this story who are rather endearing, despite their very limited appearance.
Destroyer is a strong opening for a new sequence in the Foreigner series, promising both familiarity and new opportunity. While established tropes and characters from the series remain, the world has very much changed, and events from Explorer loom over all.
essinink's review against another edition
5.0
Welcome home, Bren Cameron. Welcome home, on the day all the mistakes suddenly made a difference...
To my immense relief, we are back planetside! In the two years since Phoenix left--carrying not only Bren, but the aiji-dowager and Tabini's son--things on the mainland have collapsed. Everything is going wrong and it is glorious.
If Bren Cameron has one glaring weakness, it's his hubris. His belief that he personally is instrumental to and responsible for the peace, and that if things go wrong, it's his fault. In fairness, his job description says it's his fault if things go wrong, but the reader knows there's plenty of other moving parts at play. Still, he's an easy target. Outsider. Very public. Very foreign (though not so foreign as the ship).
This is very fast-paced for Cherryh. There's plenty of introspection to be had, of course. Bren finally gets some clear resolution in his personal affairs, for instance, even as he's working through guilt over the rest of it. Cajeiri is growing up very quickly as well, giving the readers their first clear insights into atevi youth among other atevi. But mostly it's a lot of traveling and subterfuge and high-stakes maneuvering. After the frankly stagnant space-and-ship environment of the last three books, I'm thrilled.
5 stars, and looking forward to the next book.
cathepsut's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The first book of the third sub-trilogy. Bren and his posse return home after two years in space. Things are not as they were. To their shock they find out that the Western Association has been overthrown and Tabini is missing and may be dead. I was quite apprehensive, when I took a peek at the book blurb.
I liked the plot, but there was way too much internal monologue and humming and hawing for my taste. Bren just went on and on and on... I zoned out of the audiobook narration quite a few times. By the time we got around to the frenetic grand finale, I barely cared anymore. This felt like a „middle book“.
Nonetheless, I will definitely continue. Because I really, really want to know where Cherryh takes it all in the end. Only 15 more books to go at current count.
I liked the plot, but there was way too much internal monologue and humming and hawing for my taste. Bren just went on and on and on... I zoned out of the audiobook narration quite a few times. By the time we got around to the frenetic grand finale, I barely cared anymore. This felt like a „middle book“.
Nonetheless, I will definitely continue. Because I really, really want to know where Cherryh takes it all in the end. Only 15 more books to go at current count.
soulfulsin's review against another edition
3.0
While certainly not as action packed as the previous books (mostly notably its immediate predecessor), Destroyer packs a punch nonetheless. Finally, we have a longer interaction with Barb and Toby and Cajeiri takes precedence. As always with the Foreigner series, there are long sections of stream of consciousness, interspersed with dialog and summary designed to keep the reader on their toes- this is not a book to read while you're tired. Much of the action takes place "behind the curtain" and it's up to the reader to follow what's going on through the complicated atevi machinations and the plot within a plot.
My one quibble with this book is that it seemed Bren spent an inordinate amount of time drifting off into thought and giving us more background on the atevi home world than seemed necessary at this point. It's enough to keep track of without Bren giving us *too* much information and also dragging out the plot.
Cherryh has obviously chosen a slightly different formula in this trilogy within a series- rather than conclude the plot and bring up something else related, she stretched it into three books, so there is no real immediate resolution. Speaking for myself, I would much rather have a longer book than have it stretched out over three, but whatever works, I suppose.
It's hard not to grow obsessed with this series and the intricacies within it. There are layers upon layers and although it's hard to get into (especially with the first book), the experience can be very rewarding.
I recommend this book to anyone who has been reading the series all along. If you haven't, start with Foreigner. This is not a series where you can jump in at any point. There is very little summation of other books and it grows shorter and shorter the further you delve into the series.
My one quibble with this book is that it seemed Bren spent an inordinate amount of time drifting off into thought and giving us more background on the atevi home world than seemed necessary at this point. It's enough to keep track of without Bren giving us *too* much information and also dragging out the plot.
Cherryh has obviously chosen a slightly different formula in this trilogy within a series- rather than conclude the plot and bring up something else related, she stretched it into three books, so there is no real immediate resolution. Speaking for myself, I would much rather have a longer book than have it stretched out over three, but whatever works, I suppose.
It's hard not to grow obsessed with this series and the intricacies within it. There are layers upon layers and although it's hard to get into (especially with the first book), the experience can be very rewarding.
I recommend this book to anyone who has been reading the series all along. If you haven't, start with Foreigner. This is not a series where you can jump in at any point. There is very little summation of other books and it grows shorter and shorter the further you delve into the series.
pineapplesurvivor's review against another edition
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
2.5