Divergence – C.J. Cherryh

This is a middle book in an arc. (Sort of. The previous book, ‘Resurgence’, leaves one story line and launches this one.) The Dowager has launched a complicated plan, and at the end of this book it is still playing out.

The writing displays a high level of craft. History is being made - new alliances, enemies isolated and attacked, unexpected counter-moves - but we don’t see the action directly. The main viewpoint is Bren’s, and he spends most of the book sitting in a chair, watching, sometimes advising. The situation is complex, as situations are when the participants come with grudges, historical baggage, and their own ideas. Cherryh lets the complexity peek out from behind the story without making the story too crowded, and lets enough of the action peek out from behind reports to maintain tension and reader interest.

Cherryh has written superb books, and this one isn’t superb, but it’s very good.