There is a bit of middle-book-in-a-series-itis with this novel but it still was a gripping continuation of the story in the first book. The race between two sets of aliens sent to Earth each with a specific agenda, is tightening up. The women, the Kibsu, are getting close to discovering who they are and why they’ve been on Earth for three thousand years, urging and nudging humans in math, science and astronomy to reach beyond their planet.

The two women track down the enigmatic words carved on a Scythian bow that may tell them where they can find the object that will reveal their truths; but the three Trackers, the alien males bent on destroying them, are getting closer and the heart of this story is who will win the race.

Will the Kibsu send humanity off, encouraged by the launch of the Voyager spacecrafts, or will the Trackers bring to a close their thousands of years work and research and end the human space race?

Again, Neuvel gives us a gripping story and a whopper of an ending leaving us wondering what happens next and who ultimately wins.

The next book is out in 2023. Stay tuned! ~~ Sue Martin

For more titles by Sylvain Neuvel click here