This installment of the series that started with The Comet’s Curse (2009) continues the adventures of teens aboard the spaceship Galahad, selected by a dying population to carry Earth’s heritage to a new planet.
A year into their voyage, they’ve already survived their share of trials and tribulations, including the recent death of one of their own. But it is the departure of their leader Triana that rocks their enclosed world this time. She has disappeared, leaving a void in the leadership council that must be filled. Gap is the natural choice, but his long-standing antagonist, Merit Simms, has other plans. He nominates Hannah, Gap’s ex-flame, to run against him, setting up a trying time for everyone concerned. As if this weren’t enough, the ship begins to pass through a series of cosmic storms that threaten Galahad’s safety shields. Even the ship’s know-it-all computer, Roc, can’t answer this puzzle. The pace of this novel is slower than previous entries, dealing almost exclusively with the key characters and their feelings. It isn’t until the very end that it heats up again, with a cliffhanger that leaves patient readers wanting more. Unfortunately, some readers won’t stay with it that long.
Unlikely to win new fans to the series, this is for committed readers only. (Science fiction. 12 & up)
