It’s been six years since the end of the second trilogy within this story arc. Here is the first of what might be the last trilogy. First Trilogy: Click here for a review of A Thousand Words for Stranger, and here for Ties of Power and here for To Trade the Stars. Second Trilogy: Click here for Reap the Wild Wind. And here for Riders of the Storm. And here for Rift in the Sky.
Sira di Sarc is back as the main character from the first trilogy. Events are going full-circle. Sira is the great-granddaughter of Naryn, whom we met in the last trilogy. The Clan have been living within the Trade Pact, hiding in plain sight, as it were. They used the wealth from the Hoveny artifacts they brought with them to insure comfort and secrecy; both of which were enforced by their power. But they aren’t safe anymore and they aren’t secret anymore; their past crimes against other species are coming back to haunt them. They are being systematically hunted by a deadly foe with a long memory.
More is revealed about the connection between the Bowman family and the Clan, and old friends do their best to help protect the Clan; but the enemy is too well prepared. Hundreds of the Clan die before Sira can gather up the survivors. If she is to save the remaining ones, she has to find somewhere safe. And the enemy is everywhere within the Trade Pact; no planet is safe. Leaving pretty much one choice: return to their home planet.
That isn’t as easy as it sounds. No one, including the Clan, know where or what their home planet is. But Sira knows how to get there.
Once there, a whole new batch of problems emerge; beginning with the Clan’s total loss of memory. Morgan, being human, is left with his memories intact. He is immediately beaten and restrained as he isn’t one of them. His Joining with Sira is still intact but she rejects him anyway. The Om’ray who still inhabit the planet are somewhat confused at the sudden appearance of a hundred unknown beings who insist they are the rightful owners of that particular cloister and clan.
And following right behind that debacle, is the question of what the Tikitik and Oud will do.
This book finally revealed a truth that I’d been suspecting for the past couple books and will move the Clan to altogether different place. I simply can’t give that one away; the spoiler police would beat me severely. I sped through this hefty book and can’t wait to get to the next one, sitting on my shelf this moment. So stay tuned… ~~ Catherine Book
For reviews of the entire series click here
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