But she was critical of Cherryh's portrayal of the two major characters, Marak and the Ila, who she felt come across as being the perfect hero and villain. Buzbee said that neither of them appear to experience any internal conflict: one never doubts Makak's sanity, and the Ila is simply too opaque to understand.
Buzbee disagreed with Cherryh's portrayal of Marak and the Ila in her novel. She felt they were portrayed as flawless heroes and villains, lacking any inner turmoil. Buzbee argued that neither character experiences doubt about the other's sanity, nor is there a clear understanding of the Ila's motivations.