Children of Scarabaeus

This sequel to Song of Scarabaeus was very good, though not quite as great as book one. Sara Creasy continues to build this science fiction world to great effect and there is plenty of action and suspence this time out.

As Children of Scarabaeus opens Edie and Finn are trying to escape to the Fringe where they will be safe from Crib influence and be able to help the Fringe worlds get out from under the control of the Empire. The knowledge they carry and Edie's cypherteck abilities make them the perfect antidote to the problems with the terraforming on the Empire's planets. That terraforming is breaking down and many planets are facing starvation if they can't get assistance from the Crib. Their plan goes awry when they are captured by the Crib and Edie is forced to work on the terraforming of a new planet where the accelerated pace of the work may be causing planetary destruction. Though she is forced to work for her former masters Edie and Finn remain determined to escape. Their plans are complicated by the discovery that the Crib is now using children to work the planet and by a military agenda that has other plans for Edie's tech skills.

Fans of science fiction with a romantic element will certainly be looking to read this one. And though I didn't love it as much as the first, which had a tighter plot, it is still a very strong entry in the science fiction/romance field.