A completely gripping tale. I could not put it down. The protagonist, known at the beginning as Stranger it-child, is about to undergo the rite that will take her into adulthood, and she will receive a new name. it is obvious from the beginning that she is not of the same species as the clan she lives with. Her physiology is completely different, which is likely to impede her progress in the tests she must face. There is mention of Others who came once and were destroyed. She wonders if she could be Other. This question is answered when The Others return and take her, now known as Speaker for the people it-adult, away with them to their home planet. There she discovers who she is and her legacy, both of which cause her enormous challenges.
This is the first tale in a series, the rest of which, at the time of writing, is still to be written. However, this story is complete in itself. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. 5 stars
