Lucia and Jazz have finally succeeded in getting Ben,
Jazz’s old partner, out of jail where he has been wrongfully imprisoned and his
life threatened for years. It’s a difficult time to celebrate though, as the
death threat still looms over Jazz, confining her to the office.
But the battle between the two psychic organisations – the Cross Society and the Eidolon Corporation – is heating up and getting ever more deadly, even their office is no safe haven. And, as can be expected from organisations that can see the future, their plotting is convoluted, long term, confusing and very complex; and nearly impossible to protect against
It also seems that their pasts were more affected by these organisations than they ever imagined – and that their supposed allies are much more ruthless and much more callous than they previously thought, begging the question whether they’re truly on the good guy’s side here. Or if there are any good guys at all
The last book made me turn on my brain and pay attention
as the late appearing mystical elements of the story added a whole new level of
complexity – the duelling psychics constantly trying to shift tiny events to
have a massive effect on major events, the whole concept of different people
having massive different influences on the time line. Then there were our two
main character’s attempt to negotiate this and do what’s best with forces
determined to play “end justifies the means” long term planning that may
sacrifice many people in the name of the greater good.
This book not only continues that but plunges us in ever
deeper with a much stronger challenge of the ethics of the whole seeing the
future. Lucia and Jazz are increasingly trying to distance themselves from or
at least question the actions of the Cross Society and Eidolon both as they’re
struggling over the idea of who to trust. There’s a lot of moral quandary here,
a lot of struggling to figure out exactly what would be the best thing to do
all more complicated by the two men in their lives – Ben and James – having
very strong and very rigid opinions of the Cross society as well. I like how
the disagreement is handled in a mature fashion, there’s no big dramatic
ultimatums, no screaming matches, just a mutual wish to work it out coupled
with a firm insistence that none of them cross their red lines they’ve set up.
So, in many ways this continues the fascination of the
first book - it has a fascinating world, an excellent concept and a well paced
story with lots of really well done action, sensible behaviour and interesting mystery
as Lucia tries to navigate her way round the complications of the Cross society’s
planning, Eidolon’s plotting and several mine fields from her past.
