Jahir is a new student at Seersana University. He is one of the Eldritch, a reclusive species of humanoid espers. He is taken under the wing of Vasiht’h, also an esper, but of one of the Pelted centauroid races. The unlikely pair become friends, as they negotiate psychology classes, cooking, future career choices, and their growing esper bond.
This is just delightful. The complex history of the various Pelted races, uplifted and gene engineered on Earth, fleeing their enslavement there, the description of life on campus and the joy of learning, the coming to grips with some terminally ill patients, the depiction of the joy and difficulties of cross-species friendships, all work perfectly.
This is a very gentle tale, in that there is no overt violence, and very little nastiness (just one bigoted professor), but the actions and choices of the characters have real depth and consequence.
I immediately ordered the rest of the series.
