Betrayer

Foreigner #12

by C.J. Cherryh, Daniel May (Narrator)

In the wake of civil war, Bren Cameron, the brilliant human diplomat of the alien atevi civilization, has left the capital and sought refuge at his country estate, Najida. But now he is trapped inside Najida-which has been surrounded by enemies- with the powerful grandmother of his ally, Tabiniaiji, atevi leader of the Western Association. Ilisidi, the aiji-dowager, is not inclined to be passive and sends Bren into enemy territory, to the palace of the leader of the rebels.

Bren's mission is to negotiate with Machigi-a young atevi lord who has never actually seen a human-and somehow persuade him to cease his hostile actions against the west. Is Bren a shrewd enough negotiator to stay alive, and not alienate Ilisidi or Tabini, while also representing the interests of their enemy?

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Aliens, Science Fiction Fantasy, Audiobook, Space Opera

11 pages, Audible Audio

First published April 5, 2011

About the author

Currently resident in Spokane, Washington, C.J. Cherryh has won four Hugos and is one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed authors in the science fiction and fantasy field. She is the author of more than forty novels. Her hobbies include travel, photography, reef culture, Mariners baseball, and, a late passion, figure skating: she intends to compete in the adult USFSA track. She began with the modest ambition to learn to skate backwards and now is working on jumps. She sketches, occasionally, cooks fairly well, and hates house work; she loves the outdoors, animals wild and tame, is a hobbyist geologist, adores dinosaurs, and has academic specialties in Roman constitutional law and bronze age Greek ethnography. She has written science fiction since she was ten, spent ten years of her life teaching Latin and Ancient History on the high school level, before retiring to full time writing, and now does not have enough hours in the day to pursue all her interests. Her studies include planetary geology, weather systems, and natural and man-made catastrophes, civilizations, and cosmology…in fact, there's very little that doesn't interest her. A loom is gathering dust and needs rethreading, a wooden ship model awaits construction, and the cats demand their own time much more urgently. She works constantly, researches mostly on the internet, and has books stacked up and waiting to be written.

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is consistently satisfying in a way that very few SF can be. It's very political, very immersive, and so deeply rooted in an alien world. Humans and Atevi navigate the turmoil in the provinces as Tabini regrows his political strength. Tabini's grandmother Ilsidi has sent Bren into enemy territory to broker a deal among the most chaotic associations.

This is a huge amount of trust. And amidst various accidents, Bren has been forced to appear like he's betraying all his associations with Tabini and Ilisidi. It's exciting and it's very, very political, but Cherryh pulls it off wonderfully. I just love how Bren always comes through as an extraordinary diplomat.

If that wasn't enough to hold our interest, of course, we get a huge dose of action as war breaks out and alliances shift and Bren is caught in horrorshow of field movement and gunfire. These novels aren't normally this full of action, either, but this is the end of this mini-trilogy, so it's perfectly natural. :)

I can't help but think of this as anything but a long, long story arc over years, from Bren's early days to his middle age, encompassing so many huge changes over an alien world, with humans stuck on a small island in a world full of very dangerous aliens. What would it be like as a tv series? A long-running tv series? It's very close in my mind to, say, Shogun, and the similarities keep coming... only, I have to admit... I love this one more. :)

[Veronique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 12

Cherryh offers us a little more action in this instalment, as she usually does in her novels that end each trilogy arc in this mammoth of a series. Having said this, 'Foreigner' is not an amalgamation of various stories but one huge, all-encompassing, narrative that just happens to be cut in 18 books (so far), showing us the tribulations of humans and atevi in this 'lost' universe. The focus is very much on politics, sociology and psychology (with a good dose of linguistics, which is intrinsically connected to those anyway, especially in the first 6 books).

Bren is once more in the middle of it all, trying to sort out the mess that is the Marid and the threat it poses to Tabini and the aijinate, while trying to get his 'people' back to safety in one piece. In this game of wits, he finds himself having to become the spokesperson for what appears to be one of the 'enemy', but of course nothing is at it seems. It is a very fine balance. While our human 'diplomat' is trying to make the best of this explosive situation, Cajeiri's narration keeps us in the loop about what happens in his estate, especially Ilisidi's game plan. Through his eyes, we see how the atevi link between each other, how their manchi are built, with deep repercussions, and how Bren has become instrumental to many people, all vying to 'have' him!

As much as I enjoyed this novel, I can't help but wonder where the author is leading us. She started with the fascinating interactions between two races who were totally different but trying to co-exist on the same planet, and then added a third for a blink of an eye, only to throw us back to the political manipulations of only one of the original people. Yes, there are many factions on all sides, but focusing her narrative on only one makes me wonder what is happening to the rest. This is NOT a static world after all...

[Gergana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, as always! Despite the usual slow-pace I was on the tip of my toes - definitely better than the last few books, in my personal opinion.

There are so many things I absolutely loved in this book, but if I have to fangirl about them it will take me hours, so I'll just list them below:

- Machigi's character! LOVED HIM! I would read a whole series just based on his adventures! I'm secretly hoping to see him face Tabini in the near future (and quarrel over Bren, while Ilisidi just steals the poor human all for herself.) And now we have Cajeiri in the list of jealous and possessive atevi lords! Poor Bren...
- Barb! I am honestly super surprised in her character development revealing! I still believe Tobi is a far bigger idiot than her, but everyone prefers to judge her actions and words instead. She proves to be not only not-so-stupid, but also genuinely kind, carrying, brave and resourceful, super happy about this!
- Bren and his atevi bodyguards - I have no words to describe how amazing their chemistry is! Although I still don't get the Jago+Bren thingy, I love their mutual loyalty and, dare one say, friendship?
-Cajeiri and his bodyguards - Did I mention how delighted I am with this new POV? No? I FREAKING LOVE IT! You really start to get a sense of how different the atevi's way of thinking is and Cajeiri is one adorable and entertaining character that's growing up to be a dangerous political figure on the planet. "[Bren] is mine!" - definitely don't want to mess with this eight-year old. And his new bodyguards? Love them! (so much love in this review XD)
- Honestly, I can keep going, but I'll just mention one last thing - the plot twist in the end was brilliant as always (although it was logical for it to happen, it still caught me by surprise). God, just reviewing this book, makes me desperate to start the next one.

The book is divided into two parts - the first is more politics and dialogue-heavy while the second is filled with action and both were equally exciting!

PS: No fanarts this time, as I am really busy with new freelancing projects (that I get paid for :P )

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book number 528 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project

I did not mean to read this book in just one day. It was simply the book in the pile that called loudest to me this morning. Sometimes you just have to follow your mood.

Cherryh's novels rarely disappoint me. This one was just as engrossing as usual. I have a fondness for Bren Cameron, the paidhi and expert negotiator. And young Cajieri, son of the aetevi ruler Tabini, has grown on me over the last few books. Bren is still hurt from the adventures of the previous book, when the dowager Ilisidi sends him into perilous circumstances to beard a young Muradi leader in his palace. Machigi has had no contact with humans and is surrounded by enemies of various kinds. Ilisidi has taken advantage of this instability to offer him an honourable way out and sends Bren to accomplish her goal.

Cajieri is so young (eight going on nine) to be involved in political machinations, but he has been rising to the occasion. His instincts may have been thrown off by the time which he spent in space with Bren and Ilisidi, dealing with more humans than aetevi. This is the book where he feels his aetevi heritage clearly and recognizes it for the first time. His time with Ilisidi has been well spent—he is learning how to think, how to remain silent when it's advantageous, and how to control his emotions. That last is something we all strive for!

Bren has become a highly sought after person. His allies wish his help and advice; his enemies wish him as a hostage. As often happens on the aetevi home world, events quickly spiral out of control. Once again, Bren finds himself on the run with his body guards and a stray youngster. He's like that old Timex watch commercial—he takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

I spent several confused seconds at the end of this e-book trying unsuccessfully to turn the page! It turned out that the book was done although I wasn't. I think this means that I will be seeking out the 13th volume asap. It's like wanting the next episode of a tv show—I want to know what happens next!

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third part of this fourth sub-trilogy of the Foreiger series. The beginning was good and then it got exciting and very adventurous for our paidhi.

Bren is still stuck on Najida with Ilisidi. She sends him into dangerous territory to do what he does best with a rebellious lord. Machigi is a great character! Bren find himself in a difficult position, first negotiating for Ilisidi and then finding himself advising Machigi on how to deal with his neighbours and the Western Association. The other rebels don‘t react well to Machigi‘s shifting interests and the situation turns explosive and dangerous for everybody.

As in the previous books we get alternate chapters narrated by Cajeiri, who is definitely starting to grow up. He closely observes his grandmother and gives us insights into what happens at Najida, while Bren is away.

Good one. Cohesive story telling across this trilogy. I liked the plot. Wondering how the next sub-trilogy will look like. I guess it will take more books to sufficiently resolve the conflict with the Marid, but I keep hoping that our other aliens will show up soon.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️¾

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting development of the younger characters in this series. Only wish the complicated political situation had been a little easier to follow. Many new geographically new towns and peoples.
Still a favorite series and will dive into the next trilogy arc soon!

[Lata · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I love the politics that is complicated, the atevi who are dangerous, dry-witted, oh so courteous even when threatening, and the simply gallons and gallons of tea everyone consumes through the story.

[Sud666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 12th book in the Foreigner series. i have enjoyed every single one and it will be ranked among my favorite sci-fi series. What makes this so different is the emphasis on cultural and diplomatic relationships between humans and an alien species known as the Atevi.

The events of this book are closely related to the events of the previous novel. Bren still is trying to figure out the power dynamics of formerly rogue elements amongst the Atevi Lords. But on top of the distrust among the Atevi, Bren is also caught up in the fallout of the rogue Guild from the previous novel. The Guild is at war with itself as it tries to root out the rogue elements and Bren is stuck right in the middle of it all.

A good novel in a great series. I look forward to the next installment of this superb Alien-Human soap opera.

[Viridian5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

C.J. Cherryh's Betrayer is a pleasant but not entirely satisfying read. I love Cherryh. Her atevi culture continues to feel very lived in and consistent. The verbal sparring matches between Bren and various atevi on various sides continue to feel dangerously tense, like actual fights. You really feel like war could break out over a badly chosen word.

I wish there was more of that instead of the "action" scenes, where the nobles being kept out of the actual fighting are left in a room or behind a rock wondering what's going on, something that happens over and over, something that's been happening over and over in the last few books. Can we stop driving Bren around to get shot at and not leave him hiding out in the woods? There have been so many attacks on a van or bus he's riding in with people that the moment any of them get on a vehicle I'm expecting gunfire followed by Bren being dragged behind a bush to hide for a long time of uncomfortable boredom occasionally punctuated by a moment of terror.

Worse, aside from the offscreen battles and rare verbal diplomacy battles, not much plot actually moves forward in Betrayer, making me feel like the series is spinning its wheels. I'll check out the next book because I love Cherryh, but I'm not excited for it.

[Rachel (Kalanadi) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An improvement over book 11 but not the strongest trilogy arc in the series.

[Edward McKeown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betrayer
In my prior review of Deceiver I commented on how impossible it was to enter the series from that book because of the sheer weight of all that had gone before and how nobody should expect a writer to be able to do that. Then at the beginning of Betrayer, CJ Cherryh pretty much does so and makes it coherent and cogent with little evident effort. Drat.
Now that said, a summary is not a substitute for knowledge. If I told you War and Peace was essentially, “Napoleon invades Russia, goes badly” you’d have the essential plot, but so what? Even there you are starting with the information that most people, other than American college students know: Napoleon was French, Russia and France are countries and they fought a war with bright uniforms, tall hats, horses, cannons and a lot of snow. An SF writer has none of that built in and has to do all of that and not bore you. CJ succeeds though I still think a reader who had not read the earlier work will still be at sea, but maybe at least in sight of landfall.
Betrayer plunges us further into the battle to stabilize the Marid province and prevent most of the Atevi world from going up in a civil war that would threaten to destabilize the prospace, pro-human government of the Tabini and his human ally and lead diplomat, Bren Cameron. War among the Atevi is conducted within strict bounds as different groups of the Assassins Guild struggle against each other to carry out or prevent judicially approved Filings of Intent to Kill. The isolated human colony on its island of Mospheira is sitting this one out but in understandable nerves about anything that happens with the planet full of Atevi.
But the Guild itself has been split by the recent coup and counter coup against Tabini and many of the Pretender Murini’s Guild fled after Tabini’s return, to Marid province finding this nest of internecine family struggles, ripe fruit for the plucking. They insert themselves into existing plots and organize new ones, spreading conflict and unrest and having it blamed on Machigi the existing Marid clan chief, whose fall would allow them to essentially take over the clan from the inside. These Guild renegades would then own their own country.
Ilsidii, Tabini’s grandmother and power in her own right and ruthless cunning, believes Machigi is being set up. She had sent Cameron and his small but elite team of Guild guards into the Marid to settle the Deceiver Pauit in the first book and they now proceed to Mashcigi to establish relations with him. Cameron is Mashicigi and the Marid clan’s way out of the traps closing in on as the Guild frames Machigi for war crimes and the other Marid lords seek to replace him.
But the fires of conspiracy and rebellion outrace diplomatic efforts. Cameron and his team flee with Mashigi’s aid as a Guild-conducted purge of the rebel Guild explodes among conspirators and loyalists alike.
Isilidi and Cajeiri along with Barbara and Toby are besieged in Cameron’s home while Cameron must flee afoot through the badlands separating him from home and safety. Action and adventure abound in the second half of this book in sharp contrast to Deceiver.
My chief frustration remains how little we see of the love-interest (in itself the wrong word as the Atevi Jago has no word for love in her language) between Bren and Jago. There is a rich and unexplored field here. Bren and Jago are lovers, something of a scandal in itself. However we spend little time exploring this at all. Why would an Atevi woman begin this association (i.e. fall in love) with what to her is a Halfling? Jago is about eight and half feet tall, her father Bianchi seems to be about ten feet. You would think that the intimacies of relations between a giantess and a human might yield some moments of humor. Beyond that does anyone ever look askance at her for her relationship?
Imagine if you had a perfectly proportioned partner of another color who was still only three feet tall to your six foot or better? Would the world take so little notice or comment? Is she never embarrassed by it? In short, the difficulties inherent in an interracial relationship, much less an interspecies one seem glossed over. It doubtless helps if your girlfriend is a Guild assassin.
Another means of looking at this is the character of Barbara, Cameron’s ex-girlfriend and now his brother’s (an agent of the human government) girlfriend. Other than a tinge of jealously and contempt, Jago seems to have little reaction to her. How much more interesting could it have been if there were scenes between these two as they struggle to understand each other and Cameron.
Barbara as written is largely an emotional, grasping nuisance who seems somewhere between a stalker and normal jilted female character, but point is, she is a real human woman. She has love, affection, tears, kindness and on an instinctive level is the more rational choice for Bren, or could have been had she been expanded into three dimensions. Does Bren never long for a person who would understand him in a way no alien could? Never long for that comfort?
Don’t get me wrong. I am not dissing the character of Jago but rather wishing she had more of one and I had some access to it. She is the powerful ebony princess, always there and always at Cameron’s beck and call, for all that he defers to her in all matter of security. She is mysterious and deadly, but to me to the point of abstraction. Who are you, Jago? What do want and long for and why did it take the shape of Cameron? What does mother think of your new boyfriend? Do you ever dream of children? Will you know what to do if Cameron was crying by a graveside? What would you need from him if you stood over your father Bianchi’s grave and he was in there because he died protecting Cameron? All undiscovered country, but one that beckons.
Another area and this may just be the military geek in me, but when CJ does small unit actions, the running and gunning on the Guild level it is well done and plausible. There is a paucity of detail on the larger scale. Machigi for example comments that his people are a naval power. In a world that varies as wildly for levels of technology as does the Atevi one, I have no idea what that means: ironclads with steam power and Dahlgren guns yet still using sales, like the Abraham Lincoln in 20,000 leagues under the sea? Dreadnaughts of the WWI or II era? Or are we talking about armed fishing trawlers? It may seem odd with a space station and a starship above them but most Atevi live in the equivalent of our later 19th and very early 20th century.
Most of the fighting, which happens usually at the distance, is in deadly small unit scuffles between Guild. Occasionally one sees a mob of hunters or other militia. From the military point of view the war is rather confusing and devoid of detail. Do they have tanks, artillery? Do they operate in divisions, battalions or mere companies? The military of all sides again seems sketched rather than drawn.
Betrayer pumps up the action quotient and the fast cutting back and forth between Cameron’s point-of-view as he escapes Marid and Cajeiri as he juggles his deadly grandmother and his promise to Cameron to look after Barbara and Toby during the siege are compelling. When young Cajeiri ends up in combat for the first time, you are truly fearful for this brave little boy even if he is the size of Cameron and Toby.
Betrayer is a strong entry in this series, enjoyable in all respects. It features a well done Todd Lockwood cover, though not as good as the Whelan for Deceiver in my view. I would have enjoyed a more leisurely denouement with more scenes between the principals. Of course I also like the ending of the Lord of the Rings, so go figure. It’s probably a good thing that the ending leaves you wanting to see and hear a little more but in typical CJ fashion, when we wrap, we wrap damn fast.

[Nathan Trachta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Cherryh’s works have been a favorite of mine for some time; she’s the only author I buy in hard without thinking about things. I love the writing, the complex characters, the twisting plots, and seeing very minor characters contributing like secondary character in other author’s works. In Betrayer we have the continuing saga of Bren Cameron, a human who’s the translator/intermediary/technical diplomat between humans and Atevi (for those that haven’t followed the series there are 11 previous books; start with the first Foreigner, you’ll have a better understanding of the environment). Now in the Marid and working to establish peace between the Marid and the rest of the Atevi, Bren is

Ok, this is a walk about book with action. Bren is traveling from the Marid to his estate. Several times Ms. Cherryh bring up about Bren getting softer and not adept at moving in the outdoors; not surprising given that Bren is basically a person who stays indoors. Possible a better question is how his bodyguard retains their fitness. This is a little hard to understand since the same four bodyguards are around Bren all the time. I don’t doubt that they’re the elite of the Guild, but being in an environment where they’re not using their “outdoor” skills would tend to mean that they wouldn’t move like Special Forces. There are subtle aspects to the plot, particularly dealing with the relationships between the Ragi, the Marid, and the Eastern Association. Here’s where Ms. Cherryh is setting the stage for her next book as these different culture blend toward one harmonious people (Ms. Cherryh implies that a future book will deal with the Kyo coming to visit the Atevi/humans). This is of interest because each of the Atevi people have their own unique ways about them (the Ragi have reminded me of the Japanese for years, the Eastern Association is closer to the Scot, the Marid is interesting because it reminds me of the Iberian Peninsula at the time of El Cid with the political flavorings). While I wasn’t as enthralled with this one as I was Deceiver, most of it has to do with Bren wondering about the Marid with limited usefulness and his being amazed by his Atevi bodyguard capabilities, both physically and technologically (this one’s been beat a little too hard. Ms. Cherryh continually mentions the strengths of the Atevi but fails to look at the disadvantages of a people who’re between 7 and 8 feet tall. It takes a lot of groceries to keep a frame of that size moving and usually it’s less dexterous. As for the technology, I find it interesting that the Atevi have a tech level that’s between early 20th Century [in the country] and later 20th Century in the cities yet the Guild are in the early 21st Century. Ms. Cherryh’s provided them a reasonable technological capability for a “special” organization without describing an infrastructure that can support it; a weakness given the environment she’s described).

This is a 3.5 star book that I’m calling a 3 star book. While good compared to other SF books on the market, I don’t think it rises to a 4 star capability for Ms. Cherryh. The book feels like a continuation that stretches and could have been cleaned up earlier. Merging this with how open-ended we’re left makes me feel that this one’s a weaker one in the Foreigner series.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve books into the Foreigner series and I'm still in love with everything about it. Even though the politics and intrigue is pretty heavy in this one there's a fair bit of action in the second half of the book. I'm enjoying reading the interspersed Cajeiri point of view segments. I love Bren but his relationship with his Atevi bodyguards and his place in Atevi society has become a lot more stable in recent books, so Cajeiri being more in flux with his associations and shifting man'chi holds a degree more fascination. If he was a human boy it wouldn't work half as much. It's Cherryh's brilliantly conceptualised alien culture that powers the fascination throughout. Writing reviews for books in this series does seem a little pointless as if you are even contemplating reading this one I'm already preaching to the choir. Long may this series continue.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable! Non-stop action, political tension, all out war, and suspense. I just love this series. No one does political suspense or weaves a plot like Cherryh.

This series has to be read from the beginning. And it's worth it. In each book we learn more about the atevi world, about their thinking, their customs. And Bren Cameron, the human negotiator/ambassador sticks out harrowing situations and broadens his own understanding of atevi politics and increases his value to atevi leaders. Most engrossing and gratifying.

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading in preparation for new Foreigner novel dropping in October.

[Estara · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the incredible events pertaining to Atevi government in this book I ought to give it a 5 stars, but I wanted a bit more time to breathe for Bren... really if the book could have been 200 pages more with the same events, just a bit slower and with more dialogue and so on, I'd have been over the moon.

C.J. Cherryh doesn't do info-dumping if she can avoid it, but this book is totally the continuation of book 11 but coming out one year later - so she did some Bren ruminating on exactly where he stands with his attempt to talk to Machigi and what the problematic highlights are.

I don't think the timeline here is more than three days for the whole book, but this is the climax for the last three books which were progressively shorter as long-term developments really came to a head. This is one of the skulking/action/firefight books and I can't wait to see what has happened in the aftermath of this.

I think only a long-running series with built-in sales (which I sure hope continues) could afford a book like this, but it's fascinating to see and I bet if you'd read the whole series in one long reread you'd be even more taken along by the swiftly moving events now.

Ideally I'd want the next book (I know she's already writing it, she said so on her website) to be a look at the fall-out of what happens here as well as a bit of a breather for all the major powers concerned. Consolidation as it were, rethinking the new ways man-chi flows.

Come to think of it this was the book that really made man-chi palpable to me, because we get Caijeiri - the 8-year-old who has spent his formative years in space - finally snapping into the system and feeling man-chi in motion and in placement.

I didn't think the split viewpoints beteen Bren and Caijeiri would work so well when she started them, but it's really a necessary part of the story: even more so now that Bren really has completely thrown in with the Atevi. He's turning into their own mediator amongst themselves! at a very high political level indeed. I don't know if the ideas he had in this book will be acceptable for the Aishiditat and associates in the long run, but if they do he will have directly influenced Atevi development for years to come, changing associations hundreds of years old.

Another thing I liked was that Bren's old human clingy girlfriend, who is now with his brother Toby, finally got to see him work and tried to behave correctly in a dangerous situation. Thank the Lord the woman is finally growing up and aware of outside concerns apart from herself.

[LindaJ^ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read Foreigner installments back-to-back, but given that Foreigner 11 left everyone in great peril, I had to immediately read Foreigner 12. Now, I can sit back and relax before moving on the fifth trilogy, as I expect we are at a point where some time could pass (or not). In any event, the current crisis seems to have stabilized and all the "good guys" are in one place, rather than spread out. Of course, it is an unusual place for them to be -- not on the ship, not at Illisidi's, not in the capital, but at Bren's country home - Najida.

This installment takes up exactly where the prior installment abruptly stopped. No time has passed. It is almost as if one book were ripped in two and pieces presented as separate books. If the Foreigner series were being serialized, that would be understandable. But it was extremely disconcerting in a series that has not previously done it.

Bren has been charged with Illisidi to make an offer to the erstwhile head of the Marid, the Atevi group that rules in the South. There are five lords of the Marid but the youngest, and probably the smartest, seems to have gotten ahead of where the other four are comfortable and they have decided to make Tabini so angry with him as to go to the assassins guild and put a contract on him. Illisidi sees right through the plot and sends Bren off to offer Machigi "association" with her. So off goes Bren. He is making reasonable progress when fighting breaks out everywhere. No place is safe. There are many close encounters before Bren, looking like a drowned rat, and company manage to make their way back to Najida.

Cajeiri, along with Bren, narrates in this installment, allowing us to have a first hand look at what is happening on two fronts. Cajeiri doesn't cause any of the trouble in this installment. In fact, he finds himself getting more and more access to the planning (and worrying) by acting more "grown up," although there are times when he'd prefer not to have to be so grown up. He sticks up for Bren and gains a relationship with Lord Geigi, which is bound to be useful as Illisidi grows even older and his parents have another child. He also ends up with two more guards, who are initially problematic but ultimately blend in.

I love the political intrigue. Interesting to see Illisidi and Tabini butt heads and Bren squirm as he has to shift Man'ji to get the job done.

[keikii Eats Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

To read more of my reviews, check out my blog at keikii Eats Books!

Quote:

The world was getting scary. That was the truth. And it was moving fast. And it wasn’t a good morning. Not at all.

Review:
WAR.

And Bren is square in the middle of it. Pulled in many directions at once. He feels responsible for this war that has, as of now, broken out a second time. It has been a very hard year, the sides are complicated and they're all in it for different reasons. And it all feels aimed at Bren. He feels that he is responsible for why it started. He feels like he should have been able to prevent it. He worries over his people, especially since he is now a Lord and land-owner.

He is an anxiety-ridden mess. I wouldn't have it any other way. It doesn't help that he is in enemy territory on a mission of diplomacy between two people who historically have not been allies, without much guidance, and not strictly under the direction of the one who is the ultimate ruler of the world. Which means Tabini doesn't have a clue what he is doing. It doesn't help that armed forces want to kill him. And it definitely doesn't help that he has had to flee enemy territory for his own safety across rugged terrain while being injured.

This, at its roots, is pure politics. Sure there is a whole bunch of action. Sure, he spends a large portion of this book running for his life. Yet this is pure Atevi politics, with a human trying to navigate his way through waters that will kill him if he takes a single step out of bounds. And he doesn't have much of a guide for help. He has his job, which has prepared him for this. But nothing can prepare you for thinking Atevi if you're human.

And

Um.

This was awesome.

Pure awesome.

Unputdownable awesome.

BUT WHY WOULD YOU END THERE?! ARGH!

These books kill me. First they start. Then they are great. And I don't want to stop reading. And then they have the fucking audacity to end. Who does that to another person?

[Jamie Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books 10-12, Conspirator, Deceiver and Betrayer, are really one long novel and I read them back-to-back. The trilogy covers only a few days in the lives of Bren, the human translator/ambassador, and Cajeiri, the mischievous son of the most powerful ruler on the atevi planet, as they are caught up in a political mess that I won’t even try to describe. The books work slowly toward a suspenseful, action-packed finale.

These are great fun despite a tremendous amount of repetition. Cajeiri gets himself into trouble and requires rescuing. His great-grandmother Illisidi is formidable and scheming. His father Tabini is intimidating and exasperated. Bren’s bodyguards are stern yet unconditionally supportive; Bren worries about them and exhausts himself trying to keep up with them. Bren’s brother pouts, but steps up to bat during a crisis. Bren’s ex-girlfriend is whiny and manipulative, and gets the evil eye from Bren’s current lover. There are a lot of bus rides, and shoot-outs, and shoot-outs while riding a bus. The servants braid hair and iron clothes and bring tea and rescue furniture.

I have enjoyed the addition of Cajeiri’s point of view, and his insight into the difference between human friendship and atevi association.

[Samantha (AK) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collective wisdom of the paidhiin before him had said, Don't interfere when it came to atevi dealing with atevi.

What the hell else had he done in his whole career but interfere?

This subtrilogy is so satisfying! I have wanted to see Bren with his back actually to the wall for a while now. He has SO many connections and so much support that--even when the stakes are high--there's a sense that there's an army behind him. Not so much here. Everyone is spread thin, and Bren is basically down to his aishid.

Meanwhile, at Najida, Cajeiri has undergone a great deal of growing-up. And he (and therefore the reader) is finally starting to understand the difference between friendship and man-chi.

Lots of interesting insights here, from atevi regional politics to just how atypical Bren's household is compared to atevi norms (and resulting troubles). And it leaves off on a very tentative note... so on to the next books!

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As has become the norm for this series, the final books in the sub-trilogies are always the most action packed. Betrayer was no exception.

It's interesting to watch Bren bring all these different, fractious folks together. They just make me want to do violence on them, but he manages to wade through all that and find the connections. I like that.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one's a bit of a placeholder. It features the usual dramatic political maneuvering by Bren as he is thrust into yet another impossible situation by Tabini and Ilisidi, whose method of solving all their problems seems to be "throw the paidhi at it, it's always worked before". This is followed by the usual dramatic run & gun during which a few plot threads get tied up but nothing really much of note happens. It's clearly a bridge between the last bit of important stuff and the next bit of important stuff, and that's fine; I continue to anticipate the next book; but the one major change on the board (the addition of a new piece (or player?) in Machigi) isn't really all that dramatic, we've been through this with Geigi eight or so books back. And the massive Guild-on-Guild maneuvering mostly happens offscreen, which is not as interesting as it might otherwise be. There's a bit of character development with Cajieri and his aishid, but Bren and company are too busy trying not to die to exchange more than a few words. As usual, Bren ends up mentally compromised (twice in this one) by either illness or fatigue, and as usual he manages to do his duty anyway. It was actually a bit disappointing how abruptly it all wrapped up, but as I said, this book is clearly just a bridge to get us to the next major development, and as that, does a competent and reasonably enjoyable job.

*EDIT* To be fair, lest you think I do a disservice to the book with this review, I will note that I did stay up quite late reading it straight through- Cherryh's writing is as crisp and engaging as ever. */EDIT*

***SPOILER***






One final note about this series in general, and that is, as much as I love every one of them, somebody in Bren's aishid has to die. The amount of sheer nailbiting mortal danger they have been through without a fatality or at least serious, career ending injury to mourn is just becoming too improbable to believe. Trust me, I don't want anything bad to happen to any of the gang either, but that's just my point- it's gotten to where I no longer worry about them. After 12 books, I'm reasonably sure that Cherryh won't abruptly whack ANYBODY on the "good guys" side, even when "bad guys" are dropping like flies. It's a bit ridiculous at this point, that's all I'm sayin'. (Which makes me worry that when Banichi or Jago finally does take a bullet for Bren, it might feel like a betrayal of our expectations. If we lose Tano or Algini or maybe Nawari or Cenedi along the way, it won't be quite a stab in the face when Banichi or Jago buys the farm in the line of duty.)

[Red Haircrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are returned to the Foreigner Universe and the on-going story of human paidhi-aiji Bren Cameron, his crack-shot team of Guild protectors while he's deep in "enemy" territory attempting negotiations with a very dangerous, yet crucial leader from the rival faction which formerly supported the coup against Tabini-aiji. Sent into action by Tabini's influential yet problematic great-grandmother, and worried over by Cajeiri, Tabini's son, his brother and household staff, Bren has potentially world-shaking decisions to make moment by moment, in a situation which can erupt in violence at any time.

Complex, action packed and solid in writing, plotting and pace as ever, Betrayer is a satisfying addition to this outstanding series, though I think it wouldn be difficult for a new reader to begin at this point without going back and reading the other books. My sole drawback which kept me from rating it 5 stars was I felt we're receiving too much of a "transitional" novel these days instead of a complete work in itself. I understand the reasoning of leaving questions and plot lines still hanging, but in earlier volumes main plots were usually tied up, though we were given a generous hint of what was to come.

You have to read these interim books to be ready for the next volumes obviously, and though I enjoy the complications of atevi politics and intrigues, I am longing for more regarding incoming aliens, a fresh twist or deeper observations into the human-atevi interpersonal relationships. I am a long-time fan and will of course continue reading, but there is slightly more of a "have to read" quality now, instead of simply for pleasure.

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 3/4 stars. Human Bren Cameron is still carefully negotiating his way through the labyrinthine machinations of the atevi and ends up occupying the ancient role of the white ribbon holder and acting as one who represents the loyalty of BOTH sides in the negotiations between aiji dowager (Ilisidi) and the formerly reviled Lord Machigi of Marid. His job might be a bit easier if a)the dowager had actually given instructions, b)young Cajeiri's renegade Guild Assassin Lucasi was not a loose cannon, c)he was not injured himself, d)the Assassins Guild did not have a contract against Machigi and a few other complications were not making his life so difficult. Bren must try to keep those he treasures safe while operating in the best interests of all three that he acts as a liaison between: the aiji, the aiji dowager and Lord Machigi. Another complex and intriguing look at the "Foreigner" universe.

[Cameluta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Foreigner series. Betrayer is more than 4-star, but not quite 5-star book.

The book has action, a lot of action in fast pace, however (as all the other books in series) the emphasis is on the politic intrigues, the alien psychology, and the relationship between Atevi and Bren Cameron, the human paidhi-aiji... And Ms. Cherryh does a great job intermingling the action with the politic maneuverings and the cultural details.

This is the third book in the forth trilogy, but I had the feeling that the story wasn't finished, and this was still a "middle book".

If you are fan of the genre this is a highly recommended read. This is the twelfth book in the series, and they must be read in order.

[John Carter McKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Foreigner series is a long-time favorite, but the past several entries have been fairly thin. Not so this one, which is a nonstop suspense ride. Everything good about the series - old friends, twisty politics, shifting alliances, insights into alien and human culture - all there, but with a much better ratio of action to introspective narration. I literally couldn't put it down, gripping the book tensely as the plot twisted and favorite characters were challenged or endangered.

Can't wait for next year's!

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 of 5. Endeavour Award. Book 12 (also book 3 of series 4) of the Foreigner Series. These books are always exhausting - this one included. Some of the better aliens and alien societies out there. But each of the book is a very abbreviated set of time - a couple of days to a week - centered around Bren the human ambassador to the Atevi - heavy on dialogue, politics and fleeing. I got tired of this series a long time ago and only came back to it for the Endeavour award. And yet I'd bet it'd be an interesting read straight through, three books at a time.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This long series continues to hold my interest, and after finishing "Betrayer" I have entertained myself by speculating about what will happen in the next installment. Not just the plot, but to the characters Cherryh has been depicting. "Betrayer" is about many things but I liked most the way characters mature as they face and make difficult choices, learn to trust one another, and wrestle with the need to compromise themselves in a complex social world.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still enjoy reading about the characters, but need something new.

The last three books really read as one story, broken into three parts. I miss having each story be able to stand on its own as well as be part of the over-arcing story line.

If you enjoyed the earlier books, its worth reading.

[Ian Suddreth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda slow. I just want them to go back to space. Or I want atevi to visit the human island. That would be fun. Anything but sit around and talk about atevi who are revolting. Cajeiri's POV is slow too, and takes away some of the mystique of the atevi. But overall, I am still having fun reading the series.