Plotwise, this book became slightly confusing at the end, with crosses and double-crosses and triple-crosses. At first I wasn't sure whether or not to be pleased about Paul's resolution, but it has been growing on me since I finished the book and have given it more thought. There is also a nice cliffhanger teaser that doesn't make the reader feel cheated -- "Changing Vision" is still a complete story within itself.
So, why does it mostly leave me cold, when I otherwise like Ms. Czerneda's writing? I'm not sure. I really like Paul and Esen -- their development here makes sense, is well thought out, and it's an enjoyable relationship all the way around. And I felt sorry for Largas, Kearn, and most of the other characters that Paul and Esen are unfortunately forced to outfox during this book.
Still, this book is not as strong as the first (granted, the first was exceptional). It's a good novel, but it's not up to the standard of "Beholder's Eye" or "A Thousand Words for Stranger." I'm not sure what's up with that; it seems that Ms. Czerneda gets a really good concept, writes a book about it, then writes a few sequels because the concept isn't exhausted. Nothing wrong with that, but the quality dips consistently in follow-up books -- and especially here moreso than in the Trade Pact universe setup.
Of course, when your first book is one of my top twenty all time books, it's pretty hard to live up to that standard, too. ;-) Revisiting this review, I realized something; I hold Ms. Czerneda, along with a few other favorite writers like eluki bes shahar (also known as Rosemary Edghill), Mercedes Lackey, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, and Lois McMaster Bujold, to a higher standard than others.
With some other writer, I might give this a higher rating; my original rating was three stars (wanting to give it three and a half, but not knowing that I could say so here). For another writer writing the very same book, I'd probably give it four or four and a half, which is why the newly adjusted rating.
Esen is extremely interesting, and I like to see her interact with others. She's written well; she's an innocent child _and_ a Stranger in a Strange Land, all in one. And I like Paul, who's interesting, flawed, and an overall meaty character.
But there's just something about this book that nags at me, that says it should have been better than it is. Probably the fact that the first was so outstanding; no matter how well written this book is, and it is very well done, it can't compare with the originality of the first because that's where I met the vast majority of these characters.
But that's not Ms. Czerneda's fault; she wrote an interesting world and wanted to play some more. This is a good book, and as such, I've adjusted the rating accordingly, to a four star effort.
Barb Caffrey
Oh, and yes, I'd definitely recommend this series to anyone. It's very well done. (Even though I hate Skalet, mind you.)