myworldinwordsandpages

*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author or narrator.

Ten months after the port was destroyed, the Foundation has built a new port. The Foundation is coming for Ultar and all who live there, but Ultar doesn't know when. The Nomads, Hunters, and ex-Foundation are struggling to live in harmony on Ultar but they know they have one enemy in common. Is it enough to get them to cooperate and work together?

Terra has worked hard to move past the terrible loss of Gryffin's death when the port blew, but she's starting to move on and maybe finding a new love in her life. When a shuttle lands on Ultar carrying the one person she thought she'd never see again.

He's been physically harmed further under the Scientists hands, but found a way out. All that's kept Gryffin alive these last months was thinking of Terra, escaping in his mind with her. But when he returns she is avoiding him, and he's struggling with the new array of emotions flooding him.

Okay, I loved Keith's voice in the first book and just him reading the title page made me smile and shiver. Yes, I love his voice still. I'm amazed at how great Keith voices all the different characters with different personalities and intonation. All like different people present with a large ray of emotions from each person. Keith feels to fit the characters perfectly, as if he's living through their lives. I could listen to this story over and over just to hear him!

K.A. Finn had some huge shoes to fill as I loved the first story. And... SHE HAS FILLED THEM! Wow. It's a challenge to write the first book with an incredible mix to the story and then to follow up with a sequel at the same power. AMAZING! Well done K.A. Finn!

We start in the here and now of the characters, which is 10 months after Ares ended. We do get a small refresher of the battle fought, but it's quick and full of information about where everyone is now as they live through the moment. No rehashing for us. Moving on strong with the next book, we go.

We get several POV's in the book. But there is NO confusion at all! Each person is off in a different part of the world seeing a different piece of the puzzle for us. This is a full cast to juggle, and K.A. Finn does an amazing job doing so. Each person is individual and influential on others, good or bad that's your choice. I love the strong personalities we get from all the characters. When they interact, oh some interactions make me smile because they clash but are sarcastic with each other. I have to say, Milla is my favorite here. She shines as the best doctor and strong mind. She has NO problem telling Gryffin as it is (not many do this, and live). She has a sense of humor that is truth at the same time. Her sarcasm with her patient, Gryffin, and his stubborn personality is perfect.

Oh poor Gryffin. Nothing ever works to the good for him. But he grows so much in this book. His world becomes more than just one step at a time. He's finding good things and people in the world, but with his circumstances...it just makes it harder. Gryffin is turning a new corner in his life, but it's new territory and going to make life as he knows it more complicated to maneuver through.

We meet a few new characters. Of these the one that sticks out for me is Garvan. He's a prison inmate that is freed. I'll leave it at that. lol. But he has grown on me. Though at times I'm curious about him...

We learn the secret to why the Foundation is backing the cyborg program. It's a secret, but we get to see things from that side. It's got something to do with Earth...

I think this is a wonderful space opera that all can listen to. There is personal relationships and struggles that appeal to the small need of romances but the story is much more than that. Their lives are driven by the world and actions of others, everyone's wants are affected and they have to fight for it all, and their own lives.

This book looks long in hours, but it's so short in listening. I never felt like I was ready for it to end. On the contrary, I was checking to see if there would be enough time to get to all I wanted to hear!

I'm drawn into all the characters lives, getting a great blend of worry for the characters on a personal level - will they live through the terrible events they find themselves in, will they finally admit their feelings, will the Foundation destroy it all with their terrible plans or will they destroy themselves with their attempts to save themselves. All realms of emotions here combine with adventure and danger.

I found I loved this story just as much as the first. Well written to keep us interested in all the characters as we worry over the bigger troubles too.