Alexander Delgado was a Military Intelligence Officer tasked in the first book with escorting the Seriattic child-bearer Vourniass Lycern to Earth so she can mate with the Earth's dictator General William Myson and seal the alliance. As readers of book one know he didn't complete the mission and instead he became the father of her twin sons.

Also as readers will know from book one, Delgado and Lycern both died. This is science fiction though and so Delgado is restored.

And so the action moves forward two decades. Delgado is a member of a terrorist group battling against the oppressive rule of General Myson. One of his and Lycern's sons Cascari is also a member of this group, whereas their other son Michael (although Delgado is unaware of this father-son relationship) is Myson's protégé and heir.

Being sons of Lycern they are also heirs to the throne of Seriatt, and this fact becomes all the more important when the current Seriatt leader suddenly dies.

There are many series second (or later) volumes that are pretty much impenetrable to anyone who has not read book one. And although you will definitely benefit from having read the first book (The Affinity Trap), you will be able to pick things up and quickly find yourself up to speed.

And speed is one thing you will definitely encounter in this book. There is nowhere where the action slows, the whole book simply zips along. And the action, well there is certainly plenty of it, for Sketchley is not an author to hold back with the guts and gore.

Another thing of note about this book is that there is no slickness with the terrorist group. These guys are committed and passionate about their cause, but not the most organised of groups. This makes them feel a little more realistic, these guys simply wouldn't have had the time to train sufficiently to make their attacks in anything but amateurish.

There is also a certain amount of bravery on the part of the author in having the lead character as a terrorist. Now okay when you consider the regime he is against then it is understandable, but in this post 911 world it is still a brave move. But if you can accept this and enjoy militaristic sf then this could be the book for you.

Synopsis
After the death of Vourniass Lycern, child-bearer to the Seriattic Royal Household, her twin sons, fathered by former Military Intelligence Officer Alexander Delgado, have grown up ignorant of their relationship. Michael has been raised on Earth as the son of General William Myson, while?Cascari has been brought up within Delgado's terrorist group. Furthermore, due to the circumstances surrounding their birth, no-one knows Michael and Cascari are brothers, and both believe they are rightful heir to the position of Monosiell ? head of Seriatt's Royal Household.

When the existing Monosiell dies suddenly, the long-awaited opportunity presents itself: with Cascari in power Delgado knows he could strike at Myson more effectively, while Myson seeks the strategic value of Seriatt's proximity to the M4 wormhole.

The stakes are heightened as the Seriatts are developing time travel capacity, using technology extrapolated from The Destiny Mask ? the artefact Seriattic oracles use to predict the future. Delgado knows that with time travel capability Myson would represent an immeasurable threat, one which he must prevent.


While strange occurrences in the vicinity of the wormhole go unnoticed, on Seriatt the oracles predict the coming of a saviour; but who this will be, no one can tell.