Regime change on Dolvia has been bitterly won by a series of self-immolations, but Khalif Ananke still holds Brianna Miller in captivity, where she has been blinded and raped. Meanwhile, Henry Herschel is sent on a mission to rescue released conscripts abandoned by the Company, while an unexpected coup on Stargate Junction diverts Jesse Hartley on her trip home. Will they ever find each other again?—and what will be the costs of these political shifts in the wind?
Stella Atrium’s TRIBAL LOGIC is an intricate, complicated, and thoroughly well-developed novel, but it was definitely not intended to be read on its own. The first three books of the Tribal Wars series (The Bush Clinic, The Body Politic, and Home Rule) should be read first to set up the complex and dynamic political situation, the very large cast of characters, and the vividly imagined universe in which these stories take place.
TRIBAL LOGIC dives quickly and deeply into the middle of an established, ongoing story that’s full of lively, multifaceted action that doesn’t conclude even with the last page (there will be a sequel, and a teaser chapter is offered at the end of the book), so it is rather difficult to keep track of what’s going on without having already been immersed. That said, the worldbuilding here is spectacular; there are multiple cultures, each with believable politics, customs, histories, and interactions. They are populated by three-dimensional characters with a wide range of backgrounds, personalities, and relationships, even different forms of speech. Dolvia and the greater universe are full of life and interest, and not just human; the semi-telepathic reptilian gualareps, for example, are a fascinating and integral part of the story, with their own priorities and worldviews. The author focuses substantially (but not by any means exclusively) on female characters, exploring the intricate political, social, and personal tactics used by women of varying levels of power and status to establish their own agency.
The book is split between different points of view, allowing the reader to be drawn into the minds and hearts of a variety of protagonists, experiencing the world and events through their eyes. This technique is beautifully used here, especially when allowing us to view characters from both inside their own minds and outside, as others see them. Emotions are deftly drawn, without melodrama but with heartrending details, mostly through a character’s sensations and actions. The shock and numbness a wife feels at her husband’s death, for example: “I covered his face with the sheet and carried the pack out into the hot day. Then I forgot where I was going and sat on a bench there. Lots of activity surrounded me…I didn’t watch them much, didn’t care.” In short, the writing, plot, character development, and worldbuilding here are marvelous.
A rich, intricate story of interplanetary politics, Stella Atrium’s TRIBAL LOGIC is the fourth in a series and should be read that way. This is not a standalone book, but it is full of vibrant worldbuilding, an energetic plot, and well-developed characters.
~Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader