Sword and Star

July 25, 2016
In this triumphant conclusion to the Root Code trilogy, Moraine (Fall and Rising) brings all the threads of their romantic space opera together, with various factions preparing for an epic confrontation in the heart of the Terran Protectorate. Newlyweds Adam Yuga and Lochlan D'Bideshi want to heal the people of the Protectorate, who are slowly succumbing to a genetic breakdown; for this, they're branded as outcasts and anathema. Their ragtag rebel fleet is on the run and suffering from a series of inexplicable losses. They must root out a traitor and find new allies in order to have a chance of winning the inevitable war. Meanwhile, ambitious Isaac Sinder has found his own terrifyingly powerful partner and is launching a plan to destroy his enemies and seize control for himself. Moraine crafts a drama built on emotion and mysticism as much as action and adventure, leading to a conflict that plays on all levels. After a substantial buildup, the resolution is almost anticlimactic, with many character stories left open-ended and much of the universe still to be explored.

May 15, 2016

The Protectorate and the Bideshi have been at odds. Still recovering from the vicious battle at Peris three months earlier, Adam Yuga, his lover Lochlan D'Bideshi, and their ragtag rebel fleet clash again with the Protectorate. Yet exhaustion on many levels beleaguers the crews, and two horrible blows will send the ships on the run, with more problems on the way from within. Yet even Protectorate loyalists can see that they are having trouble, although Issac Sinder is determined to destroy the rebels and rebuild the Protectorate--by any means necessary. Adam realizes that his issues are rooted in an alien force within him. In fighting to turn the tide for these forces, he may lose more than his humanity. He may lose his beloved, too. VERDICT The final book of this trilogy (after Line and Orbit; Fall and Rising) epitomizes the genre of space opera with its sweeping battle details and complicated personal relationships. While Moraine's tightly crafted saga could be enjoyed as a stand-alone, newcomers will find greater satisfaction if they read the other titles.--KC

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