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The Wess'har Wars #4
Matriarch by Karen Traviss
In thirty years, the invincible Eqbas will arrive at Earth to forcibly return the planet to what it once was—as retribution, in part, for the gethes' thoughtless near-extermination of an alien ocean-dwelling species. First, however, another world requires their the crowded, ecologically ravaged planet of the swarming, insect-like isenj. Efforts to drastically reduce the isenj population have sparked a devastating civil war—which may well do the savior/destroyers' work for them. And the human visitors can only watch.
Rendered immortal and ever changeable by a parasite in her blood, ex-cop Shan Frankland isn't content merely to play Matriarch to her two similarly infected mates—one earthborn, one alien wess'har. Her fears for the future of Umeh and the ultimate fate of humankind must be set aside while she tackles an unfulfilled duty that haunts her every waking moment—a mission that must be undertaken for the sake of the future—and pursues a righteous vengeance.
Rendered immortal and ever changeable by a parasite in her blood, ex-cop Shan Frankland isn't content merely to play Matriarch to her two similarly infected mates—one earthborn, one alien wess'har. Her fears for the future of Umeh and the ultimate fate of humankind must be set aside while she tackles an unfulfilled duty that haunts her every waking moment—a mission that must be undertaken for the sake of the future—and pursues a righteous vengeance.
Mass Market Paperback
First published September 26, 2006
35 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Karen Traviss
130 books1,544 followers#1 New York Times best-selling novelist, scriptwriter and comics author Karen Traviss has received critical acclaim for her award-nominated Wess'har series, and her work on Halo, Gears of War, Batman, G.I. Joe, and other major franchises has earned her a broad range of fans. She's best known for military science fiction, but GOING GREY and BLACK RUN, the first books in her new techno-thriller series RINGER, are set in the real world of today. A former defence correspondent and TV and newspaper journalist, she lives in Wiltshire, England. She's currently working on SACRIFICIAL RED, the third book in the Ringer series, and HERE WE STAND, book three in the NOMAD series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
September 25, 2024
I can no longer remember why I stopped reading this series after finishing "The World Before" in 2008, because I had every intention of carrying on. What it mostly boiled down to is that it felt like a very middle kind of novel, and I had a certain sense that Traviss was starting to lose control of her material. Well, more questions are posed in this book, and there is much more gnawing on the impact of being infected with the c'Naatat parasite, some of which are quite frightening; there's a lot of body horror in this installment to liven up the proceedings. Also, Traviss detonates several more informational and emotional bombshells which do accelerate the process. It's not going to be years before I get to book five, which I'm now looking forward to.
Rounding up from 3.5.
Rounding up from 3.5.
June 29, 2024
This entry in the series should be labelled with many trigger warnings! I survived, but it was challenging. I'll need a break after this one. Still excellent writing and fascinating characters. The last page was mind-blowing 😮. Way to hook a reader into grabbing the next one in the series (I already had bought it).
March 29, 2024
Vengeance is useless, as well as being empty and meaningless. It's obviously what many of us want, but is this the desire of an evolved creature or the knee-jerk of the animal nature? The book doesn't posit a perspective either way.
Warning: spoilers ahead!
This third volume of this series illustrates some dilemmas posed from consequences of self-interest at the expense of others, by choices, resulting in suffering or death to few or millions of feeling and sentient beings.
A secondary question is our cultural assumptions of what behaviors are acceptable in regards to our treatment of other life forms and judgment of whether and to what degree that life can be used for our own purposes.
Taking place in the Cavanaugh star system a few hundred years from now, inhabited by four sentient alien species and a small, pilgrim-like contingent of human religious emigres who arrived here quietly from earth a hundred or more years previously that live peacefully in a small enclave supported by the advanced tech from the main alien species the Wess’har in a small area on one of the planets. The Wess’har are thousands of years more evolved and advanced who evolved jointly with another species the Ussissi. Both sentient species came from another planet about 10,000 years back to colonize, leaving their main society light-years away.
The religious colony of humans share an important quality: an environmentalist ethos overwhelmingly important to their hosts, the Wess’har who respect all life forms and live with little impact on their environments.
A main character, Aras, is a uniquely immortal Wess’har who was accidentally contaminated by a parasitic life form centuries ago, and who has helped the human pilgrims survive and set up their settlement using Wess’har advanced technologies described believably, who otherwise wouldn’t have survived and flourish to the present day.
The arrival and introduction of a second batch of humans is when the story begins. They came to this star system on a voyage of discovery led by the last-minute addition of security chief Shan Frankland (an EnHaz police officer suspected of collaborating with environmentalists against Big Ag) and large crew of human explorers looking for new products for research and corporations, including a newsman and a security team from the EU —that have all cryo-slept almost a century to arrive at this star system.
Shan Frankland commands her security team of EU’s 2376 version of Royal police to assist the corporate scientists, set up communications with the aliens, and ensure that they and the rest of the crew don’t damage the diplomatic relationship between humans and aliens.
None of this crew knows that the alien Wess’har character Aras carries a parasite that conferred immortality inadvertently upon him and is carried in his blood, and it’s kept secret because the first group of humans that landed here long ago warned the Wess’har that the society of humans from their homeworld Earth would exploit it: neither they nor any of the species living here have any desire for immortality (strange!) That early group of humans have no desire for it since they believe in an afterlife.
Shan Frankland attempts in ignorance to protect immortal Aras from an Isenj weapon (another sentient alien race —who resent having their population controlled by the environmentally focused Wess’har who wont allow them to ruinously expand beyond their homeworld) weapon strike which removes much of her brain, and in empathy he drips his blood into her head wound to save her life and heal her quickly and thoroughly.
After a chapter where Shan becomes eventually conscious of this unwanted gift (kind of hard to believe all these people not wanting it! But characterizations are so skillful that it completely makes sense for the story).
Now linked together these two will eventually shack up together (a natural if strange progression) attempt to keep the secret of the immortality parasite from the rest of the crew, and the secret eventually gets out.
Shan refuses to use her blood to save the life of an unborn fetus from a second commander who unknowingly became pregnant before the ship left Earth. Vengeance is taken by the heartbroken mother that accidentally destroys over 99.9% of the fourth sentient race the Bezeri in her attempt to kill Shan the immortal human with cobalt- salted atomics. She does this thinking to wipe out the parasite so no one can have it.
It doesn’t kill the parasite.
The bias is to desire vengeance, for what we believe are sins against us. Innocents suffer, and in this case genocide has occurred due to one bereaved mother who with the unwitting help of the Royals and a man from the religious “god-botherer” human group detonates the cobalt device. A pharmacologist with the new explorers with links to industry and a covert bureau of the EU takes major manipulative control and Bezeri are almost completely wiped out in an attempt to eradicate the immortality parasites which survive in the soil on this one planet.
Shan becomes a Wess’har matriarch through her own risking of her life (fragmentation by grenade knowing it will kill an immortal who carries the parasite) when the other Matriarchs threaten Aras with death for sharing the parasite with her. Though human in form she has acquired alien characteristics by sharing the traumatic memories of Aras who was a tortured POW from his killing of thousands of Isenj. The transfusion of the parasite-contaminated blood transfers memories as well as extremely fast healing. Even before the transfusion she had developed a personality that the Wesshar society cherishes among leaders: taking charge when things are needing to be done, along with her background as a mostly-secret enforcer for eco-warrior groups back on Earth. She is supremely on the side of the Wess’har society, who are ruled by Matriarchs: females with similar take-charge attitudes that use consensus to be elected and to lead.
The Isenj are spidery creatures that have a society similar to humans on earth with a excessive reproductive rate that overran the resources of their world and tried to overrun Bezeri world whose inhabitants are large intelligent squid- like creatures living aquatic lives without any defense.
An intensely interesting society, both the Wess’har and the Ussissi (a third alien society who co-evolved with them on their original homeworld who resemble six- legged meerkats) offer us a look at how an ideal society might work, with enough like-minded ethically evolved rational beings.
Ideal in that it works for at least two of the species resident on this trio of planets/moons.
Of interest is that both Ussissi and Wesshar societies use morality precepts formulated by a respected thinker Targassat who millennia-past formulated a philosophy. She was what we would name an Accountant today but much more. The two species follow T’s precepts rather than a religion. There’s no need for the presence of the supernatural or gods yet they have no crime in either society.
Over 10,000 years ago these Wess’har had, like the religious colonist pilgrims from earth, separated from their indigenous planet Tasir Var to travel by starships to the Cavanagh’s star system. Although the Wess’har society light years away also follows Targassat principles they are more interested in taking actions while those who came here are less interested in doing so. But now due to the newly arrived humans they call for help from their native planet they call the World Before —next book.
Both species are advanced philosophically and ethically, but now are faced with this huge group of newly arrived humans who came to the planet in the name of Earth’s irresponsibly greedy conglomerates, attempting to take by force what they want and to return home to Earth with riches including the unlicensed seeds brought and preserved by the religious pilgrims for safe-keeping. Farmers on earth are hostage to Big Ag’s monopoly on seeds of all types.
The ussissi play support roles in both wess'har cultures as well as providing neutral, impartial assistance to the Isenj (even while both Isenj and Wesshar are enemies and both groups know the Ussisi are impartially assisting both). Ussissi travel between the original Wesshar world and Umeh also (the world of the Isenj) are able to work for all without desire to interfere, spy or act for or against: completely neutral however they finally refuse to assist when one of their own species are threatened by the Isenj. When one is threatened they are all threatened and desert their posts en mass.
In the Cavanagh's Star system the ussissi pilot spacecraft between the inhabited worlds, and also between Umeh's continents and homeworld Tasir Var. Ussissi and both Wess’har groups have been civilized for over 100,000 years past that of the humans.
This story allows a reader to envision competing perspectives of the newly arrived humans in their survey ships, and the alien sentient beings living on the three planets that encircle their small star system light years away from Earth with their major world-changing interactions between dueling world views.
Crossing The Line book 2 was saturated with competing world views asking what line is one you will or will not cross. That was the book launching me on this series that led me to read all of them starting with book 1 City of Pearl.
I thought about how our animal origins bias us to want what is irrational – vengeance, whatever the cost. My appreciation and esteem is for the creativity of the author and her skill presenting the various contexts: in how an individual would act in a situation which won’t happen during our lifetimes but there are modern paradigms by extrapolation.
The story asks us also about what may or will happen in humanity’s future, the future of our children’s children’s children however far in future. The situations arising in this series of six books contains so many interesting parallels and perspectives and each book contains memorable scenes and for me, things to think about! The second book, indeed all the books, contain many more perspectives about crossing the line, challenging thinking in so many dimensions, that I’ve read this series several times.
The multiple perspectives presented: it’s a framework allowing you to think about things you’ve likely never thought about before. Unique situations leading to consideration of older ideals and newer ideas, and maybe some conclusions, of which the author may or may not have purposefully asked you to see. But to think and consider: you do!
The characters come to life in my imagination, and have taken up residence there. What will be our values in regard to extra-terrestrial life, and will we know sentience when we see it? How will we communicate with each other when there is so little physiologically in common, much less a shared language? How many ways are there of communicating when there are no vocal cords or hands? Each alien brings along with it a different perspective, and various philosophies emerge and are discarded or changed.
Obviously, I love all the books in the series. Thank you Ms. Traviss!
Warning: spoilers ahead!
This third volume of this series illustrates some dilemmas posed from consequences of self-interest at the expense of others, by choices, resulting in suffering or death to few or millions of feeling and sentient beings.
A secondary question is our cultural assumptions of what behaviors are acceptable in regards to our treatment of other life forms and judgment of whether and to what degree that life can be used for our own purposes.
Taking place in the Cavanaugh star system a few hundred years from now, inhabited by four sentient alien species and a small, pilgrim-like contingent of human religious emigres who arrived here quietly from earth a hundred or more years previously that live peacefully in a small enclave supported by the advanced tech from the main alien species the Wess’har in a small area on one of the planets. The Wess’har are thousands of years more evolved and advanced who evolved jointly with another species the Ussissi. Both sentient species came from another planet about 10,000 years back to colonize, leaving their main society light-years away.
The religious colony of humans share an important quality: an environmentalist ethos overwhelmingly important to their hosts, the Wess’har who respect all life forms and live with little impact on their environments.
A main character, Aras, is a uniquely immortal Wess’har who was accidentally contaminated by a parasitic life form centuries ago, and who has helped the human pilgrims survive and set up their settlement using Wess’har advanced technologies described believably, who otherwise wouldn’t have survived and flourish to the present day.
The arrival and introduction of a second batch of humans is when the story begins. They came to this star system on a voyage of discovery led by the last-minute addition of security chief Shan Frankland (an EnHaz police officer suspected of collaborating with environmentalists against Big Ag) and large crew of human explorers looking for new products for research and corporations, including a newsman and a security team from the EU —that have all cryo-slept almost a century to arrive at this star system.
Shan Frankland commands her security team of EU’s 2376 version of Royal police to assist the corporate scientists, set up communications with the aliens, and ensure that they and the rest of the crew don’t damage the diplomatic relationship between humans and aliens.
None of this crew knows that the alien Wess’har character Aras carries a parasite that conferred immortality inadvertently upon him and is carried in his blood, and it’s kept secret because the first group of humans that landed here long ago warned the Wess’har that the society of humans from their homeworld Earth would exploit it: neither they nor any of the species living here have any desire for immortality (strange!) That early group of humans have no desire for it since they believe in an afterlife.
Shan Frankland attempts in ignorance to protect immortal Aras from an Isenj weapon (another sentient alien race —who resent having their population controlled by the environmentally focused Wess’har who wont allow them to ruinously expand beyond their homeworld) weapon strike which removes much of her brain, and in empathy he drips his blood into her head wound to save her life and heal her quickly and thoroughly.
After a chapter where Shan becomes eventually conscious of this unwanted gift (kind of hard to believe all these people not wanting it! But characterizations are so skillful that it completely makes sense for the story).
Now linked together these two will eventually shack up together (a natural if strange progression) attempt to keep the secret of the immortality parasite from the rest of the crew, and the secret eventually gets out.
Shan refuses to use her blood to save the life of an unborn fetus from a second commander who unknowingly became pregnant before the ship left Earth. Vengeance is taken by the heartbroken mother that accidentally destroys over 99.9% of the fourth sentient race the Bezeri in her attempt to kill Shan the immortal human with cobalt- salted atomics. She does this thinking to wipe out the parasite so no one can have it.
It doesn’t kill the parasite.
The bias is to desire vengeance, for what we believe are sins against us. Innocents suffer, and in this case genocide has occurred due to one bereaved mother who with the unwitting help of the Royals and a man from the religious “god-botherer” human group detonates the cobalt device. A pharmacologist with the new explorers with links to industry and a covert bureau of the EU takes major manipulative control and Bezeri are almost completely wiped out in an attempt to eradicate the immortality parasites which survive in the soil on this one planet.
Shan becomes a Wess’har matriarch through her own risking of her life (fragmentation by grenade knowing it will kill an immortal who carries the parasite) when the other Matriarchs threaten Aras with death for sharing the parasite with her. Though human in form she has acquired alien characteristics by sharing the traumatic memories of Aras who was a tortured POW from his killing of thousands of Isenj. The transfusion of the parasite-contaminated blood transfers memories as well as extremely fast healing. Even before the transfusion she had developed a personality that the Wesshar society cherishes among leaders: taking charge when things are needing to be done, along with her background as a mostly-secret enforcer for eco-warrior groups back on Earth. She is supremely on the side of the Wess’har society, who are ruled by Matriarchs: females with similar take-charge attitudes that use consensus to be elected and to lead.
The Isenj are spidery creatures that have a society similar to humans on earth with a excessive reproductive rate that overran the resources of their world and tried to overrun Bezeri world whose inhabitants are large intelligent squid- like creatures living aquatic lives without any defense.
An intensely interesting society, both the Wess’har and the Ussissi (a third alien society who co-evolved with them on their original homeworld who resemble six- legged meerkats) offer us a look at how an ideal society might work, with enough like-minded ethically evolved rational beings.
Ideal in that it works for at least two of the species resident on this trio of planets/moons.
Of interest is that both Ussissi and Wesshar societies use morality precepts formulated by a respected thinker Targassat who millennia-past formulated a philosophy. She was what we would name an Accountant today but much more. The two species follow T’s precepts rather than a religion. There’s no need for the presence of the supernatural or gods yet they have no crime in either society.
Over 10,000 years ago these Wess’har had, like the religious colonist pilgrims from earth, separated from their indigenous planet Tasir Var to travel by starships to the Cavanagh’s star system. Although the Wess’har society light years away also follows Targassat principles they are more interested in taking actions while those who came here are less interested in doing so. But now due to the newly arrived humans they call for help from their native planet they call the World Before —next book.
Both species are advanced philosophically and ethically, but now are faced with this huge group of newly arrived humans who came to the planet in the name of Earth’s irresponsibly greedy conglomerates, attempting to take by force what they want and to return home to Earth with riches including the unlicensed seeds brought and preserved by the religious pilgrims for safe-keeping. Farmers on earth are hostage to Big Ag’s monopoly on seeds of all types.
The ussissi play support roles in both wess'har cultures as well as providing neutral, impartial assistance to the Isenj (even while both Isenj and Wesshar are enemies and both groups know the Ussisi are impartially assisting both). Ussissi travel between the original Wesshar world and Umeh also (the world of the Isenj) are able to work for all without desire to interfere, spy or act for or against: completely neutral however they finally refuse to assist when one of their own species are threatened by the Isenj. When one is threatened they are all threatened and desert their posts en mass.
In the Cavanagh's Star system the ussissi pilot spacecraft between the inhabited worlds, and also between Umeh's continents and homeworld Tasir Var. Ussissi and both Wess’har groups have been civilized for over 100,000 years past that of the humans.
This story allows a reader to envision competing perspectives of the newly arrived humans in their survey ships, and the alien sentient beings living on the three planets that encircle their small star system light years away from Earth with their major world-changing interactions between dueling world views.
Crossing The Line book 2 was saturated with competing world views asking what line is one you will or will not cross. That was the book launching me on this series that led me to read all of them starting with book 1 City of Pearl.
I thought about how our animal origins bias us to want what is irrational – vengeance, whatever the cost. My appreciation and esteem is for the creativity of the author and her skill presenting the various contexts: in how an individual would act in a situation which won’t happen during our lifetimes but there are modern paradigms by extrapolation.
The story asks us also about what may or will happen in humanity’s future, the future of our children’s children’s children however far in future. The situations arising in this series of six books contains so many interesting parallels and perspectives and each book contains memorable scenes and for me, things to think about! The second book, indeed all the books, contain many more perspectives about crossing the line, challenging thinking in so many dimensions, that I’ve read this series several times.
The multiple perspectives presented: it’s a framework allowing you to think about things you’ve likely never thought about before. Unique situations leading to consideration of older ideals and newer ideas, and maybe some conclusions, of which the author may or may not have purposefully asked you to see. But to think and consider: you do!
The characters come to life in my imagination, and have taken up residence there. What will be our values in regard to extra-terrestrial life, and will we know sentience when we see it? How will we communicate with each other when there is so little physiologically in common, much less a shared language? How many ways are there of communicating when there are no vocal cords or hands? Each alien brings along with it a different perspective, and various philosophies emerge and are discarded or changed.
Obviously, I love all the books in the series. Thank you Ms. Traviss!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2008
This series continues to dissapoint. There are two more books in this series and now that I am four books into the series I will probably finish it (being that I bought all the books before I got to this point in the series). I am tired of the false moral dilemas that the characters are forced into. The problem is that the characters do not have a moral compass. They do not believe in an objective reality. They do not acknowledge a natrual or moral law. They do not acknowledge the difference between persons and non-persons... they have no concept of soul vs spirit. I do not know if the author is intentionally showing how stupid it is to not believe in an objective reality as all it leads to is subjectivity and a resulting relativism that justifies the actions of the individual. If this is not the author's intent then I feel for the lack of developed spirituality and morality that must make the contradictions of life difficult for her to deal with.
August 25, 2022
I have not read the previous books in the series (I thought this was the second one, but Goodreads is telling me it's the 4th), but I was reading books with blue covers for an instagram challenge and was on the fence about whether I was going to read or keep this book, so I decided to give it a go, since it would fit in my sweater pocket when I took my flight back to the East Coast. IT TURNS OUT this was a great book to bring with me, because I knew so little about the world-building I had to pay attention to the plot, which really helped distract me from my Incredible Intense Agoraphobia Panic.
Conceptually very intriguing. I loved the Wess-har. Really vivid characters. It had a strong environmental ethos driving the plot, and some fun philosophical ethics questions moving the characters forward. I really enjoyed that there was a 'v' shaped throuple, but found it a little *eye roll* how Modern Day American two of the character's were about it. Like. This shouldn't be that odd at this point in the future. HOWEVER, that being said, Traviss does a really good job of showing the characters reach points of compersion, so that was nice. And matriarchal societies are always fun, in my opinion. So there was a lot to like about the story, even without having full context of the world.
There is a little bit of copaganda going on, which was... Unexpected. But not surprising, due to the militaristic complex of their world (and our own).
I enjoyed it well enough, and I'd read more of the series if I happened upon them, but I don't think I would go out of my way to find the rest of the series.
Conceptually very intriguing. I loved the Wess-har. Really vivid characters. It had a strong environmental ethos driving the plot, and some fun philosophical ethics questions moving the characters forward. I really enjoyed that there was a 'v' shaped throuple, but found it a little *eye roll* how Modern Day American two of the character's were about it. Like. This shouldn't be that odd at this point in the future. HOWEVER, that being said, Traviss does a really good job of showing the characters reach points of compersion, so that was nice. And matriarchal societies are always fun, in my opinion. So there was a lot to like about the story, even without having full context of the world.
There is a little bit of copaganda going on, which was... Unexpected. But not surprising, due to the militaristic complex of their world (and our own).
I enjoyed it well enough, and I'd read more of the series if I happened upon them, but I don't think I would go out of my way to find the rest of the series.
January 19, 2018
This 4th book in the series is just as good as any of the others. The story continues of an alien society that takes world environmentalism to an extreme - or does it? The world-building is amazing, the characters are very well-developed and getting better with each book. The author is an expert at giving us an alien point of view and challenging us to understand and - even harder - accept those ways of thinking. In this installation, the Earth is coming closer to having much of its population 'culled' and the world 'corrected' in order to have balance for all species. But it's not that simple, as we learn that the aliens who take on this responsibility of issues of their own. Excellent read, gives a person much to think about, along with characters to love and hate.
April 25, 2019
Continuing the story of the doomed Thetis mission to Cavanagh's Star system, Shan Frankland continues to learn what being a carrier of the c'naatat parasite means when it regrows her uterus and reverses Ade Bennett's vasectomy and she becomes pregnant. Knowing that a child growing up effectively immortal and isolated is a recipe for disaster forces Shan to make more decisions about how to live an ethical life. Meanwhile on Bezer'ej, Rayat and Lindsey Neville discover the truth about the bezeri species past and it isn't benign. At this point in the series, it gets a bit repetitive and the story moves very slowly. Not the best entry.
November 11, 2017
I didn't finish it, but got 2/3rd way through and got bored. The premise of an overly-powerful micro-organism that could change people of different species who evolved on different planets so they could survive anywhere from the vacuum of space to high pressure under an ocean was a bit much to swallow and the characters were too caricatured for me. I stuck it so long in the hopes that they would develop, but not enough.
Not sure if I should pass it along to friends but I hate to throw things out.
Not sure if I should pass it along to friends but I hate to throw things out.
August 14, 2023
A good series is a rare thing, and this series does not manage it. The first book was fantastic; I remained interested through the next two books; and I grew completely bored during Matriarch. The characters have become repetitive caricatures of themselves, particularly Shan and Ade. I almost didn't finish it. I won't be continuing to the next book. It's such a letdown from the start of the series.
January 2, 2023
I realized that with the last book, I was completely over Shan, the repetitive descriptions of her as "A Copper" and how hard ass, unbending, terrifying, etc, she is.
I have no idea why I decided to read this one. Maybe the cover peeked my interest? Parts were interesting, but towards the end, I realized I didn't want to waste yet another moment reading about the world according to this woman
I have no idea why I decided to read this one. Maybe the cover peeked my interest? Parts were interesting, but towards the end, I realized I didn't want to waste yet another moment reading about the world according to this woman
July 7, 2017
The further I delve into this series, the more impressed I am with the deft plotting, characterization, sly wit, and incisive observation. There's no black nor white here, but a varied palette of greys, providing much food for thought.
May 11, 2018
SciFi drama at its best
Character driven story with interesting characters and moral questions. I really enjoy this series and I am looking forward to seeing how the end of this book plays out in the final two novels.
Character driven story with interesting characters and moral questions. I really enjoy this series and I am looking forward to seeing how the end of this book plays out in the final two novels.
March 16, 2022
So this is Book 4 of a series, and the other one I own is Book 1. The author did a pretty good job of covering the important events that I missed by skipping the other books of the series, but I REALLY want to read them anyway! Loved this book, will look for the others in the series. Recommend!
June 26, 2017
I can't wait to read the next book
August 28, 2017
The writing style really too repetitive, she could have written everything in a trilogy if only she said things only once or twice.
January 2, 2018
I think I would have liked this book even better if I'd read the other three first.
December 29, 2018
Again, I'm re-reading this series, and getting so much more out of it. Still rates as one of the best series I've ever read.
May 8, 2020
Tiptree shortlist 2006
January 20, 2022
Solid and enjoyable without being outstanding. Interesting world building, lots of interesting morality.
December 26, 2022
Whew, this continues to be a good tale but there's a moment of personal horror for our heroine that's just ... a lot! I'm moving on to something else for a bit before I handle the two sequels.
August 21, 2024
Enjoyed it cover to cover. Awesome ending 😄 that’s all I’ll say
October 7, 2012
"Matriarch" is the 4th book in Traviss' Science Fiction epic, The Wess'har War Series. As it is the 4th book I would advise people to stay away from this review unless you have already read the previous books. For anyone interested in the series then you can find my review of the first book in the series here on Goodreads.
The story picks up right where the previous novel, "The World Before" left off, with the the Eqbas preparing to take a break from their planned journey to Earth so that they can ecologically rebalance the overpopulated world of the Isenj. This leads to disagreement and conflict between both the different Wess'har & Isenj factions. At the same time, Shan Frankland learns that Rayat and Neville have both been kept alive and infected with the C'naatat parasite, the one thing she wanted to avoid at all costs. So the story follows both the various inter species interactions at the top level and Shan's obsession with hunting down Rayat and Neville to ensure the C'naatat parasite can not spread any further.
As with the previous novels in the series, the story continues to highlight the different cultures that could exist between different species and the various moral conflicts that can result from trying to accept these differences. I specifically enjoyed the closer look that Traviss took here in regards the family unit and how the Wess'har view on family was very different to ours yet Shan and Ade were willing to accept and embrace it. I do think that his book more than any in the series seems dedicated to exploring the consequences that can result from your choices, principles and hopes.
There is however an issue that results from this concentration on the various consequences that each character must face. The issue is that the book focuses on the characters, their interaction and development to the point that the plot of the overall story grinds to a halt. Whilst I found the added complexity to be interesting, I am a little disappointed that a reader could probably skip most of the book and still understand the direction of the plot and narrative. I just felt that it was missing some of the drive present in the previous books and really does feel like a middle series book.
In summary, whilst the book does little to progress the overall plot there is still enough here to ensure I enjoyed the book and continue to highly recommend this series to people. The continued development of the characters and exploration of their actions was entertaining and I appreciated some of the moral ambiguity that was present. One thing to note is that the book really does not work in a stand alone sense and therefore you really do need to have read the previous novels in order to appreciate it. Personally, I am now looking forward to reading the next novel and hope that Traviss uses it to move the plot along in a much more meaningful way.
The story picks up right where the previous novel, "The World Before" left off, with the the Eqbas preparing to take a break from their planned journey to Earth so that they can ecologically rebalance the overpopulated world of the Isenj. This leads to disagreement and conflict between both the different Wess'har & Isenj factions. At the same time, Shan Frankland learns that Rayat and Neville have both been kept alive and infected with the C'naatat parasite, the one thing she wanted to avoid at all costs. So the story follows both the various inter species interactions at the top level and Shan's obsession with hunting down Rayat and Neville to ensure the C'naatat parasite can not spread any further.
As with the previous novels in the series, the story continues to highlight the different cultures that could exist between different species and the various moral conflicts that can result from trying to accept these differences. I specifically enjoyed the closer look that Traviss took here in regards the family unit and how the Wess'har view on family was very different to ours yet Shan and Ade were willing to accept and embrace it. I do think that his book more than any in the series seems dedicated to exploring the consequences that can result from your choices, principles and hopes.
There is however an issue that results from this concentration on the various consequences that each character must face. The issue is that the book focuses on the characters, their interaction and development to the point that the plot of the overall story grinds to a halt. Whilst I found the added complexity to be interesting, I am a little disappointed that a reader could probably skip most of the book and still understand the direction of the plot and narrative. I just felt that it was missing some of the drive present in the previous books and really does feel like a middle series book.
In summary, whilst the book does little to progress the overall plot there is still enough here to ensure I enjoyed the book and continue to highly recommend this series to people. The continued development of the characters and exploration of their actions was entertaining and I appreciated some of the moral ambiguity that was present. One thing to note is that the book really does not work in a stand alone sense and therefore you really do need to have read the previous novels in order to appreciate it. Personally, I am now looking forward to reading the next novel and hope that Traviss uses it to move the plot along in a much more meaningful way.
February 24, 2017
Oh Vijissi .....
February 11, 2016
There are few books that genuinely make me go ‘what the fuck’ while reading them, but this was one.
I have to say, it was a slow read at times, slower than most of the series, mostly because I couldn’t clearly see where it was headed, but that’s just nit-picking. The series is still one of the most enjoyable things I’ve read in a while.
Most of what I want to say here would be spoilers, so I’m not gonna do it. I will make vague allusions to some of the plot details though. The book continues in the vein of difficult moral questions that the series poses.
Eddie continues to be my favourite person in a shitty situation, and probably the one with the most realistic problems in the series, thus a very relatable character.
The others… well, it’s all still very interesting, but some of the dilemmas felt almost forced. The bezeri plot, for example, continues to be extremely simplified and a bit icky at times. I’m curious to see where this is heading, though, mostly because I’m hoping it won’t go where I think it’s going.
Shan, of course, still continues to make problems hers that shouldn’t be hers. There were a few shock moments here that I felt were over the top, but her character is still wonderful and a joy to read (not that she’s a particularly good person – just a very interesting character).
This is not very coherent, mostly because I don’t wanna speculate to much, but I can say that you have to hold out till the end of this book to make it worth reading. I’ve been dragging this book through half of my exam season, and I only read it little pieces at a time but finished the last few chapters in one night because it just wouldn’t stop with the surprising events. That, at least, made it worth reading, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
I have to say, it was a slow read at times, slower than most of the series, mostly because I couldn’t clearly see where it was headed, but that’s just nit-picking. The series is still one of the most enjoyable things I’ve read in a while.
Most of what I want to say here would be spoilers, so I’m not gonna do it. I will make vague allusions to some of the plot details though. The book continues in the vein of difficult moral questions that the series poses.
Eddie continues to be my favourite person in a shitty situation, and probably the one with the most realistic problems in the series, thus a very relatable character.
The others… well, it’s all still very interesting, but some of the dilemmas felt almost forced. The bezeri plot, for example, continues to be extremely simplified and a bit icky at times. I’m curious to see where this is heading, though, mostly because I’m hoping it won’t go where I think it’s going.
Shan, of course, still continues to make problems hers that shouldn’t be hers. There were a few shock moments here that I felt were over the top, but her character is still wonderful and a joy to read (not that she’s a particularly good person – just a very interesting character).
This is not very coherent, mostly because I don’t wanna speculate to much, but I can say that you have to hold out till the end of this book to make it worth reading. I’ve been dragging this book through half of my exam season, and I only read it little pieces at a time but finished the last few chapters in one night because it just wouldn’t stop with the surprising events. That, at least, made it worth reading, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.
July 6, 2012
Matriarch, I suspect, marks the beginning of my dislike of the Wess'har Wars series. I was mostly ambivalent about it before, somewhat leaning towards "Eh, not all that bad", but this book is large, top heavy, and is really beginning to bog itself down in little things that I just don't care about anymore.
I liked the progression of the first three books in that you slowly go from so-and-so species are good/bad to something a lot more complex with a lot of different moralities being flung around, but it's getting to be a little ridiculous at this stage. It's like every five steps there is a new moral conundrum that can't be solved and only serves to shove hardship on the characters, and I found myself flipping through pages more quickly just to barrel through the book.
And the distribution of the C'naatat is also getting ridiculous by now. I won't go into specifics, but I am rather tired with how it's sort of flung around like a large hammer that just really bores me.
I feel like the book is just getting more complex rather needlessly. I am aware that complexity is a part of life, and I actually liked how things were heading in the first three books, but now it just makes me sigh. The plot is either stagnating or circular, and nothing much ever seems to happen but the same old crises that never really get resolved. It's getting old. I want actual progression in my books, not this wheeling around that never gets anywhere. 2 stars.
I liked the progression of the first three books in that you slowly go from so-and-so species are good/bad to something a lot more complex with a lot of different moralities being flung around, but it's getting to be a little ridiculous at this stage. It's like every five steps there is a new moral conundrum that can't be solved and only serves to shove hardship on the characters, and I found myself flipping through pages more quickly just to barrel through the book.
And the distribution of the C'naatat is also getting ridiculous by now. I won't go into specifics, but I am rather tired with how it's sort of flung around like a large hammer that just really bores me.
I feel like the book is just getting more complex rather needlessly. I am aware that complexity is a part of life, and I actually liked how things were heading in the first three books, but now it just makes me sigh. The plot is either stagnating or circular, and nothing much ever seems to happen but the same old crises that never really get resolved. It's getting old. I want actual progression in my books, not this wheeling around that never gets anywhere. 2 stars.
January 17, 2016
It's not a bad book, just a very slow one - with so much action packed into the previous installment of the series, this one bogs down immediately in an endless daisy-chain of discussions about the morals of characters and ethics of their actions. A few tiny (though important) revelations are made, but on the whole the action pretty much crawls to a halt in this book, and it definitely suffers for it. There's a lot to think about, and some of the points are in fact quite interesting and sobering, but all of it is presented so densely that it becomes overwhelming, and so loses a lot of the gut-punch impact it should have had.
For all that, though, it's refreshing to see a science fiction book discussing ethics at all these days (the sole reason why I've scored it one star higher than I normally would); and the layered complexity of responses both among species and among individual characters practically begs for a second re-read. Even at their slowest, the amount of skill and thought Traviss has sunk into crafting these books is still impressive. This one feels like it might have been more rushed than usual, and certainly the "heavy" morality debates would have benefited of being spread out across the other books rather than all dropped into one place, but at the very least it is a thought-provoking piece of worldbuilding.
For all that, though, it's refreshing to see a science fiction book discussing ethics at all these days (the sole reason why I've scored it one star higher than I normally would); and the layered complexity of responses both among species and among individual characters practically begs for a second re-read. Even at their slowest, the amount of skill and thought Traviss has sunk into crafting these books is still impressive. This one feels like it might have been more rushed than usual, and certainly the "heavy" morality debates would have benefited of being spread out across the other books rather than all dropped into one place, but at the very least it is a thought-provoking piece of worldbuilding.
February 28, 2015
The story and world of this book was phenomenal! I would have overlooked the many errors just for that alone, if there weren't so many. I'm shocked that a subsidiary of a major publishing company would put this book out in this condition. I read only about 30 pages and can't even begin to count the number of grammatical errors and duplicate words I encountered. Did no one edit this book before publishing? I expect this kind of thing from self-published ebooks (although I don't finish them either, rediculous) but from a book I checked out at the library? Unbelievable. If I sound disappointed, it's because I long for a great sci-fi underwater and found this as something that might satiate. Instead I found too many errors along with the tiring use of sci-fi-ease with all the apostrophe names and multiple characters continually introduced without development . . . and had to give it up. The only reason it gets two instead of one is for the story concept.
December 12, 2025
If I thought the back half of this series would slow down on increasing the scope, raising the stakes, and recontextualizing pas events, I'd be mistaken.
From the reveal of factions within a seemingly unified species (in this case the isenj) to the increasingly uncontrollable number of c'naatat hosts, Matriarch keeps everything in flux, refusing to let Shan Frankland or the reader themselves have a moment to catch their breath. Even Earth, 25 lightyears away, is a major player, facing constant tension and shifts in battle lines in response to the decades-distant yet inevitable Eqbas expedition to "correct" the planet. Throw in some alien yet painfully genuine personal struggles between the trio of Shan, Ade, and Aras, and this novel becomes the most emotionally fraught yet.
4/5 (B+), a strong escalation that surely can't ramp up much further.
From the reveal of factions within a seemingly unified species (in this case the isenj) to the increasingly uncontrollable number of c'naatat hosts, Matriarch keeps everything in flux, refusing to let Shan Frankland or the reader themselves have a moment to catch their breath. Even Earth, 25 lightyears away, is a major player, facing constant tension and shifts in battle lines in response to the decades-distant yet inevitable Eqbas expedition to "correct" the planet. Throw in some alien yet painfully genuine personal struggles between the trio of Shan, Ade, and Aras, and this novel becomes the most emotionally fraught yet.
4/5 (B+), a strong escalation that surely can't ramp up much further.
October 16, 2025
I sometimes got a little lost on the Isenj politics and their civil war which results from the intervention of the Eqbas, but otherwise this fourth book in the Wess'har Series was very enjoyable. I loved Shan's developing role as matriarch in her household of two males (Aras and Ade, and their corresponding close relationship as housebrothers). And the Lindsay and Rayat strand of the story is fascinating. It is, however, so complex as to only appeal to those who have read and loved the earlier parts of the series. I probably enjoyed the earlier books in the series more, as the focus has shifted from Shan, but they're still fantastic sci-fi.
Re-read - October 2010
[2025 re-read - ahhh yes this is the point where these books start getting a bit ridiculous.]
Re-read - October 2010
[2025 re-read - ahhh yes this is the point where these books start getting a bit ridiculous.]
November 7, 2009
It's been a while since I've read the other books in this series, so it's nice to rejoin these characters. One of the things I like so much is the way the author handles all the different storylines. Some writers think it's clever to end each section with each different group of characters with a cliff-hanger and then jump to a different set of characters in the next chapter.
Traviss completes each scene before moving on to the next set of characters, and since they are all equally as interesting, I don't mind leaving one set to read about another.
However, the ending of this book is not exactly resolved, so I'm glad I waited to read it until I had the next one readily available. Now, to find the time to read the next one....
Traviss completes each scene before moving on to the next set of characters, and since they are all equally as interesting, I don't mind leaving one set to read about another.
However, the ending of this book is not exactly resolved, so I'm glad I waited to read it until I had the next one readily available. Now, to find the time to read the next one....
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