Scan barcode
A review by ladymacbeth_1985
Cuckoo's Egg by C.J. Cherryh
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was unputdownable. It was fascinating and poignant and kind of sad, the story carrying a melancholy and ponderous tone, as well as deep sympathy for the human character who undergoes severe manipulation his entire life.
The most fascinating thing about this novel is that Thorn - the human - grows up isolated from the Shounin society and Duun deliberately withholds information from him about the world and culture. The story jumps between Duun and Thron in terms of third-person POV, so we learn somewhat of why Duun is doing this but we also identify with Thorn because of his confusion, desire to fit in, and desperation to please his adopted father and live up to his legacy.
The most fascinating thing about this novel is that Thorn - the human - grows up isolated from the Shounin society and Duun deliberately withholds information from him about the world and culture. The story jumps between Duun and Thron in terms of third-person POV, so we learn somewhat of why Duun is doing this but we also identify with Thorn because of his confusion, desire to fit in, and desperation to please his adopted father and live up to his legacy.
Duun starts training Thron in his “hatani” warrior culture as a child, a rigorous, somewhat emotionally abusive process that further leads to his confusion, as everything about Thorn’s life seems to be a test by Duun. As such, the entire book has a bit of a mystery quality to it, as we’re never sure what Thorn is or where he’s from (though he’s obviously Terran). This withholding aspect makes perfect sense at the end of the book though, with a satisfying reveal.
In terms of alien culture, while there was some difference in the way society was set up, at times Duun felt like a human with fur. I suppose some of this is because it’s an intimate novel, focusing mainly on the dynamic and relationship between Thorn and Duun, so we don’t see a lot of the aliens at large and the fact that we are afforded such a close purview into Duun's head serves to lessen his alienness. There also wasn’t space in the novel for too much complexity, as the relationship aspect was intricate enough. Still, I loved how Thorn was the displaced one and how we learn about the aliens as he does.
Overall, it’s an addictive read that I highly recommend.