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This is book sixteen in a long-running science fiction series that began with Foreigner (1994) and currently numbers twenty-one books. I've hugely enjoyed the first sixteen books.The series centers on Bren Cameron, a human translator and mediator living among aliens. Bren's thoughts are shown in a depth that I find fascinating and highly immersive. This careful meticulous detail reminds me of reading L. E. Modesitt, Jr., though Cherryh's themes are not Modesitt's. I note that some readers find the level of detail an annoyance and the pace slow. I do not. I also note that I found the starts of many of the books their weakest point.Spoilers ahead. Through Bren, the books conjure an intricate alien civilization, one in which words such as "friend" and "love" have no close equivalent, and in which there is an official, highly-respected Assassins Guild. The depiction of the atevi alien civilization is excellent: a great strength of the series. The conspiracies, secrets, intrigue are compelling: another strength of the series. But the primary reason I love these books is Bren. He's ethical, compassionate, courageous, thoughtful, often worried, often hard on himself. I grew attached to Bren in book one, and am, by now, entirely smitten.I'm also very fond of several of the supporting characters, especially the assassins Banichi and Jago, and the elderly grande dame, Ilisidi. The plot builds from book to book, with developments from the small and personal to those of sweeping impact. While there are gripping action scenes, there are also many scenes where the action amounts to conversation and the eating of tea cakes, albeit often high-stakes conversation.Although Bren remains the principal character, books nine through sixteen include scenes from the perspective of Cajieri, the young heir apparent. In book sixteen, a kyo ship is spotted approaching, the kyo being the alien species they encountered in book six. In response, Bren, Ilisidi, and Cajieri all return to the spacestation and complications ensue. I note that I am becoming quite fond of Irene, a human child, and that I am very eager to learn more of the kyo. I enjoyed this book greatly, but would rank it in the bottom half for the series, the series being a firm favorite of mine. Highly recommended.About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).