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A hundred years from now, the Great Pandemic has ravaged Earth’s population, and climate changes have rendered much of the planet’s surface uninhabitable. The majority of survivors have been evacuated to underground shelters in the Moon Colony. Those who refused relocation are presumed to have perished. High-ranking officials in the Moon Colony’s governing body, the Assembly, are given access to Earth’s retreat locations no longer in the quarantine zones.
Sam Merritt is an Assembly diplomat sent on a clandestine mission to retrieve his best friend, Christopher, from the planet Iloora. Instead, Sam returns to the Moon Colony with a container full of ashes, closely guarded secrets, and endless questions. Sam launches an investigation into the true nature of Christopher’s mission to Iloora and is left wondering if he can trust his father, a longtime Assembly leader. Sam also questions the intentions of his former lover and friend, Annie, whose sudden reappearance seems more than a coincidence. When Sam’s pursuit of the truth culminates in an Earth retreat, he reconnects with his maternal Hopi heritage and embarks on a destiny quest that has implications for multiple planets, dimensions, and timelines.
In this sequel to The Crystalline Planet, Andresen once again delves into the world of fantasy fiction to creatively explore current controversial issues such as climate change, economic disparity, imbalance of power, and the subversion of science for greed. She uses descriptive language to paint detailed pictures of scenery and depict the beauty of Earth. The book is an eclectic amalgamation of concepts—the metaphysical properties of crystals, sci-fi theories on multidimensional time travel, and the spiritual powers behind destiny. The author sets these concepts against the backdrop of human history and Indigenous American culture. Andresen’s fans will appreciate this latest installment in the series.