INTUITION

This first sequel to the reincarnation story Transcendence (2012) starts slowly but builds up.

At first, Cole and her heartthrob Griffon act as though they’re characters in a standard romance novel. As the plot progresses however, events from Cole’s past life in 16th-century England begin to intrude on her blossoming romance. Drew, a 20-year-old Australian who already has built an enormous fortune, claims to be Cole’s husband from that previous life, the one in which the two pledged eternal love. When he learns of Drew’s identity, Griffon instantly cuts off his relationship with Cole. Here the story speeds up. Drew introduces Cole into a new society of reincarnated beings, all wealthy but with few scruples. He offers her an easy life that she finds difficult to resist. Meanwhile, she continues trying to recover from the injury to her arm that has cut short her cello career and giving cello lessons. Readers may need a chart to keep track of all the new terms introduced to describe the reincarnated characters. In addition to Akhet and Sekhem, there are now Iawi, Khered and a few other Egyptian-derived terms. While expanding Cole’s romance possibilities, Omololu introduces another mystery: What does Veronique, Cole’s nemesis from the first installment, intend to do with a secret formula she’s developed? Thus is the next sequel set up nicely even as Cole’s romantic choices resolve.

Cole’s tale is still an interesting one, but the series can’t take too much more romantic push and pull.