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Stardoc #7
Plague of Memory
Dr. Cherijo Torin is not herself. With no memory of her past-or even of the man she loved-she sees herself as a different person and has no desire to remember who she once was. But Cherijo must remember if she's to develop a cure for the Hsktskt plague before their race becomes extinct.
371 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 2, 2007
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269 people want to read
About the author
S.L. Viehl
31Ìýbooks222ÌýfollowersAlso see Lynn Viehl, Gena Hale, Jessica Hall and Rebecca Kelly.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 15, 2015
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After the disappointing , I was hesitant to continue with the Stardoc series. In Rebel Ice, Dr. Cherijo Torin crash landed on the icy planet of Akkabarr, where she lost her memories but retained her medical skills. When her husband finds her, she is now Jarn, with a completely different personality and no recognition of her husband and daughter.
In Plague of Memory, the medical expertise of Dr. Cherijo Torin is needed to stop a plague that is causing large numbers of the Hsktskt (a brutal race of reptilian slavers) population to suffer mental delusions resulting in violence to self and others.
With the help of her husband, Duncan Reever, who is able to communicate and share memories with her telepathically, and her surrogate mother, Maggie, who imprints Cherijo’s memories in Jarn’s mind, Cherijo has now become an integrated Cherijo/Jarn which is a vast improvement over Jarn in the previous book.
All in all, Plague of Memory was a fast-paced, entertaining story. I enjoyed revisiting some old favorites, particularly Squilyp, the Senior Healer and his mate, Garphawayn, who was more developed in this installment. I also enjoyed the developing friendship between Cherijo/Jarn’s daughter, Marel, and the son of Tss-Var, the new Hsktskt leader. I was sad that the story’s minor gay characters, Qonja and Hawk, were “repudiated� from the Jorenian clan because of its strict pro-natalist policies. I hope they fare better in the next book.
After the disappointing , I was hesitant to continue with the Stardoc series. In Rebel Ice, Dr. Cherijo Torin crash landed on the icy planet of Akkabarr, where she lost her memories but retained her medical skills. When her husband finds her, she is now Jarn, with a completely different personality and no recognition of her husband and daughter.
In Plague of Memory, the medical expertise of Dr. Cherijo Torin is needed to stop a plague that is causing large numbers of the Hsktskt (a brutal race of reptilian slavers) population to suffer mental delusions resulting in violence to self and others.
With the help of her husband, Duncan Reever, who is able to communicate and share memories with her telepathically, and her surrogate mother, Maggie, who imprints Cherijo’s memories in Jarn’s mind, Cherijo has now become an integrated Cherijo/Jarn which is a vast improvement over Jarn in the previous book.
All in all, Plague of Memory was a fast-paced, entertaining story. I enjoyed revisiting some old favorites, particularly Squilyp, the Senior Healer and his mate, Garphawayn, who was more developed in this installment. I also enjoyed the developing friendship between Cherijo/Jarn’s daughter, Marel, and the son of Tss-Var, the new Hsktskt leader. I was sad that the story’s minor gay characters, Qonja and Hawk, were “repudiated� from the Jorenian clan because of its strict pro-natalist policies. I hope they fare better in the next book.
November 13, 2011
I'm one of the few people who likes Jarn more than Cherijo. Cherijo was so confrontational and in your face, not caring how things she said would have implications later. Also her relationship with Duncan did feel like an afterthought sometimes. You could tell she meant everything to him, but like he said in this book, Cherijo put medicine first and foremost in her life. Jarn puts their daughter and him central to everything with medicine and everything else playing a distance 2nd and 3rd. She would even think that next time, she would stay out of it and try to live her life with her husband and daughter. That is so much more appealing to me. I loved how Jarn and Duncan's relationship just grew into something wonderful in this book. I love this series and am planning on reading the next book as soon as I can get my hands on it.
November 11, 2010
Same old, same old. An entire civilization based on slaving isn't going to atop just because one guy says so. But there was some good use of continuing elements, weaving the early books into the thru-story.
August 30, 2020
Plague of Memory is book seven in the StarDoc series by SL Viehl. The last book in this series was my least favorite, which makes it funny that this one is my favorite, but there's a reason for that. In the last book we dealt with a lot of confusing scenes, and a lot of different perspectives.
Normally her books tend to be from Cherijo's point of view pretty consistently but that didn't work for the story she wanted to tell there so it felt jarring. And there was a lot of deliberate confusion as a plot point since we didn't know for sure which character she was.Ìý
For a quick run down, Cherijo crash landed on a dangerous ice planet, was killed, but because she's Cherijo she didn't stay dead. The only problem was that when she woke up her memory was gone. She becomes Jarn. The part of her brain that was destroyed held her memories and although she healed fine, those memories didn't come back. The book ends with her trying to adjust to being Jarn, and wanting to live her new life, while everyone around her just wanted Cherijo back. For her that feels like it would be death and she doesn't want that, understandably.
But stepping into the life Cherijo had without being her isn't easy. Her child accepts her as she is, but her husband, her friends, and her family all keep pushing her to try to remember who she was. Luckily her medical skills were not destroyed and she's able to go back to being a doctor again, and she's just as good as Cherijo was because she has all of those memories intact, but she comes at things differently and as we went through the book I really grew to like Jarn a lot. She surrenders to things that Cherijo would have fought, and she fights things that Cherijo would have given up on.
She's an entirely different woman, one whose only memories involve fearing men, and while she doesn't fear them anymore she is cautious about the interactions.ÌýIn general she's a nicer in many ways, and easier to get along with than Cherijo was because she doesn't have that major ego and confidence, but she has her own kind of strength and in some ways she's better prepared for the challenges that arrive in this book.
For one thing she's a skilled fighter, and willing to kill to protect her husband and daughter. She also doesn't have the overwhelming memories of her time as a slave to the Hsktskt faction, so when they call begging her to come and help with a plague that is destroying their people, she is much better able to deal with it emotionally. What she didn't plan was for her child to end up in the crosshair of rebels, or for one of the rebels to look like someone she loved a long time ago, someone who definitely isn't a lizard like the others.
Through it all she works to find a cure, but when she ends up infected with the plague Cherijo's memories slowly start to come back and that shakes everything up. This was a fantastic book, so many emotions, so much detail. I really loved learning more about the Faction, and their society and we see that in some ways they aren't so different from the warm-bloods they despise. And we were reintroduced to Cherijo's namesake, the baby she delivered at the risk of her life is all grown up and has followed in Cherijo's footsteps to become a doctor. The two women are the only hope this world has of surviving the plague.
Normally her books tend to be from Cherijo's point of view pretty consistently but that didn't work for the story she wanted to tell there so it felt jarring. And there was a lot of deliberate confusion as a plot point since we didn't know for sure which character she was.Ìý
For a quick run down, Cherijo crash landed on a dangerous ice planet, was killed, but because she's Cherijo she didn't stay dead. The only problem was that when she woke up her memory was gone. She becomes Jarn. The part of her brain that was destroyed held her memories and although she healed fine, those memories didn't come back. The book ends with her trying to adjust to being Jarn, and wanting to live her new life, while everyone around her just wanted Cherijo back. For her that feels like it would be death and she doesn't want that, understandably.
But stepping into the life Cherijo had without being her isn't easy. Her child accepts her as she is, but her husband, her friends, and her family all keep pushing her to try to remember who she was. Luckily her medical skills were not destroyed and she's able to go back to being a doctor again, and she's just as good as Cherijo was because she has all of those memories intact, but she comes at things differently and as we went through the book I really grew to like Jarn a lot. She surrenders to things that Cherijo would have fought, and she fights things that Cherijo would have given up on.
She's an entirely different woman, one whose only memories involve fearing men, and while she doesn't fear them anymore she is cautious about the interactions.ÌýIn general she's a nicer in many ways, and easier to get along with than Cherijo was because she doesn't have that major ego and confidence, but she has her own kind of strength and in some ways she's better prepared for the challenges that arrive in this book.
For one thing she's a skilled fighter, and willing to kill to protect her husband and daughter. She also doesn't have the overwhelming memories of her time as a slave to the Hsktskt faction, so when they call begging her to come and help with a plague that is destroying their people, she is much better able to deal with it emotionally. What she didn't plan was for her child to end up in the crosshair of rebels, or for one of the rebels to look like someone she loved a long time ago, someone who definitely isn't a lizard like the others.
Through it all she works to find a cure, but when she ends up infected with the plague Cherijo's memories slowly start to come back and that shakes everything up. This was a fantastic book, so many emotions, so much detail. I really loved learning more about the Faction, and their society and we see that in some ways they aren't so different from the warm-bloods they despise. And we were reintroduced to Cherijo's namesake, the baby she delivered at the risk of her life is all grown up and has followed in Cherijo's footsteps to become a doctor. The two women are the only hope this world has of surviving the plague.
November 12, 2017
I was torn about this one. I'm with the majority of the crew of the Sunlace - I don't want Jarn, I want Cherijo. Still, I'm getting used to Jarn and more of Cherijo is poking through all the time, so it's all good. As always, the story was very gripping and I still love all the characters (or hate them as the villain's case definitely is). This was my last unread book in the StarDoc series. I can't wait to re-read the next one.
June 14, 2021
This is a worthy sequel in the Stardoc series. There's quite a medical puzzle to be solved. Actually, there is more than one problem, and only one gets solved this time. There is capture, battle, and new friendships forged - important ones. Cherijo doesn't have her memories back, but she's started to remember without trying. She finds it disconcerting. There are still a few loose ends, but not so many that you want to throw the book at the wall.
August 15, 2024
I'd actually give it a solid 3.5. This one is better than some of the previous ones which seemed to focus on how much she could be tortured and still heal. I always like the bits on alien medicine, and the identity issue regarding Jarn/Cherijo is interesting.
October 26, 2018
Good book. It is a shame that one human has so much trouble in the universe.
August 18, 2024
Hard to follow but the author has quite an imgination
February 14, 2009
This book was a surprise to me because though I have read the first three in the series, I lost track of Viehl until I deliberately looked her up. To find such a drastic change in Cherijo made this a more difficult book to remain with, though I decided to do so. I did not expect a timeless epic of love and adversity, only an entertaining formulaic SF story about a woman and her husband, and so I was not disappointed. Cherijo, now named Jarn, gets into trouble and gets out of trouble, gets into trouble and gets out of trouble, and so on and so forth. Because it was entertaining and because it did hold my interest until the end of the book, I gave the story a four-star rating. The detractions of the book are few but major. Viehl is obviously liberal and she isn't afraid to incorporate those liberal ideas into the book. And there's a death scene at the end of the book that suddenly becomes a not-death scene, which added a bit of plasticity to the story. Still, if one can handle the liberal drivel and doesn't mind the bit of Plastic God here and there, this story is worth reading.
July 26, 2016
I used to sneak the Stardoc series from my mom's bookcase when I was a kid and read them in the bathroom. Fighting! Space! Aliens! Yes, I was super cool in middle school, how did you guess? Anyway. I'm no longer twelve but revisiting Cherijo's world was a kick.
Some thoughts:
In the beginning of Plague of Memory I wanted to dropkick the overly meek Jarn, but as my own memories of Cherijo's characterization came back I came to embrace Jarn's imperfections. As Jarn she's flawed, but as Cherijo she's nearly insufferably Mary Sueish.
But! I don't read space opera for the realism of its heroines, I read it for the sexy sexy action and jargon and high-stakes battles, and here, the book delivers. Yes, there are moments where it totally fails the "But why wouldn't they just [____]?" test, and yes, the pacing can be a bit jumpy, but it's sufficiently gripping that I didn't care overmuch.
There's no way I'm going to reread the whole series, but I'll probably seek out the first installment to revisit. For old times' sake.
Some thoughts:
In the beginning of Plague of Memory I wanted to dropkick the overly meek Jarn, but as my own memories of Cherijo's characterization came back I came to embrace Jarn's imperfections. As Jarn she's flawed, but as Cherijo she's nearly insufferably Mary Sueish.
But! I don't read space opera for the realism of its heroines, I read it for the sexy sexy action and jargon and high-stakes battles, and here, the book delivers. Yes, there are moments where it totally fails the "But why wouldn't they just [____]?" test, and yes, the pacing can be a bit jumpy, but it's sufficiently gripping that I didn't care overmuch.
There's no way I'm going to reread the whole series, but I'll probably seek out the first installment to revisit. For old times' sake.
January 2, 2009
Cherijo is one of those characters that gets under your skin. Very nearly a Mary Sue, she avoids "too perfect" by being stubborn, bull-headed, nearly autocratic. She tries hard to do her best, and that's not a bad role to model.
In Plague, Cherijo has survived an attack on her life, but her memory has been wiped clean. Her name is Jarn; a skilled healer with a very different personality.
Reever, her husband, is about as bad-ass as one could ever desire, except for one horrendous flaw -- his ability to absolutely control his wife's body. And yet that trait is played lightly and is explained with believable motivation. (still...squick)
Plague opens new details on Cherijo's/Jarn's backgrounds, begins to reconcile the two personalities, and includes the fascinating worlds and fast-paced action that one expects from the StarDoc series.
In Plague, Cherijo has survived an attack on her life, but her memory has been wiped clean. Her name is Jarn; a skilled healer with a very different personality.
Reever, her husband, is about as bad-ass as one could ever desire, except for one horrendous flaw -- his ability to absolutely control his wife's body. And yet that trait is played lightly and is explained with believable motivation. (still...squick)
Plague opens new details on Cherijo's/Jarn's backgrounds, begins to reconcile the two personalities, and includes the fascinating worlds and fast-paced action that one expects from the StarDoc series.
January 8, 2013
I started this book with a little trepidation as I so disliked the events in the last book which resulted in the 'new' Cherijo. I have to admit that I was not happy about the fact the Cherijo seemed to no longer exist and we had Jarn in her place.
Fortunately Viehl's writing makes up for any unhappiness I have about the twist and I found this book a good read. I even have to admit that by midway through the book I was beginning to like Jarn a little more.
The events of the book were as usual a quick paced, interesting story line. I very much look forward to seeing where Viehl plans to take the characters in her next book.
Fortunately Viehl's writing makes up for any unhappiness I have about the twist and I found this book a good read. I even have to admit that by midway through the book I was beginning to like Jarn a little more.
The events of the book were as usual a quick paced, interesting story line. I very much look forward to seeing where Viehl plans to take the characters in her next book.
September 16, 2008
This is a new author for me. I decided to read it as Ann McCaffrey who is one of my favoriet authors was a reviewer and recommended Viehl. I read Stardoc the first in this series and really enjoyed it. I thought this was book two but it was not so it jumped ahead in the story-line and was a bit confusing at first. However, as with Stardoc she did a good job with the world she created and the characters she developed. I want to read the series in order so will look for Beyond Varallan to read next.
March 12, 2017
I admit it. I put off starting this book for such a long time because of my frustration with the events in the previous book in the series. But let me tell you, this one pulled me in quickly and I finished the book in two days. I've forgiven the author and am once again looking forward to the next installment. It doesn't hurt that the theme on this seems to be "None of us is now who we once were; be who you are now." Not a bad sentiment, no?
September 30, 2010
As much as I actively disliked the character of Cherijo Grey Veil/Torin, I had enjoyed the first two books in this series immensely because of the range of supporting characters. In this one, Cherijo has been basically lost and "replaced". I have no plans to read any more books in this series although I wish fans the best and hope the series regains it's early uniqueness.
November 4, 2012
I liked this better than the previous Stardoc, but it still wasn't as interesting as some of the earlier books in the series.
January 4, 2016
Loved it! I think I like Jarn and Reever way better than Cherijo. Jarn just understand Reever's need for intimacy more and she accepts him better as he is, than Cherijo ever did! So go Jarn! And it's funny to experience a more "primitive" doctor than the highly educated Cherijo. Two very different personalities! Liked the plot too! Really an addictive read!
December 27, 2015
3.5 stars. Luckily, the primitive/limited speech and thoughts patterns of Cherijo/Jarn are improving. Jarn was annoying at the start of the book, but got more tolerable towards the end.
It feels a bit like a soap opera: the main character one was rooting for suddenly changes personality due to amnesia.
It feels a bit like a soap opera: the main character one was rooting for suddenly changes personality due to amnesia.
July 14, 2011
Much better then Rebel Ice, even with the change-up of Cherijo to Jarn. I liked more of the medical stuff, and dealings with the Hsktskt. More depth with Jarn and Reever, and the back story of Reever is interesting. Major creepy with the cloning, but still a really good read.
April 23, 2016
Not great, not horrible. I have a feeling I won't read any of the others, but this one was alright. I hear Jarn isn't much loved and slowly gives way to the jerk that is Cherijo, so I'll leave it at this.
March 28, 2010
I really loved Cherijo and to have her be Jarl now and not remember or love her husband and child is a severe disappointment to me.
July 20, 2010
At this point, you either love the series or can't stand to not finish it.
March 20, 2011
It was ok, not as super fun as the very first book, but I'll still get the rest of the series because sometimes you just need brain candy.
January 11, 2013
I quit reading the series after this book.
August 14, 2017
Ms. Viehl alarmed me in the last few chapters when a central, beloved character seemed to be in deadly peril. Thankfully, that turned out not to be the case.
February 2, 2016
I'm glad we got back to space adventures in this novel. Cherijo also starts to get back her memory as well and I was realy glad of that - I liked her better before the personality change.
October 22, 2011
I like this author's Stardoc series, interesting characters and aliens, some romance, good balance.
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