Yet another instance of thinking I'd grabbed a first book at the library. Oops. This one was a good read in spite of that. I didn't feel too lost (overall) and I really liked the world building. Would give this author money for books (as opposed to just getting them from the library) based on this reading experience. Liked the hint of cyberpunk, space opera, and an open ending that leaves the possibility of happiness without perfection. There are some intriguing potentials with this book and the first one in the series... but they are larely lost in a one-note plot that tries to keep up tension by doing the same thing over and over again/.Edie can be manipulated by threats to Finn. Fine. But when basically the entire plot has her being pressured into cooperating with her enemies because of the same damn threat over and over again... well, it starts to lack the tension necessary to make it interesting. I say "This yet again???"The political set-up of the universe is potentially interesting and plausible. However- as in the first volume- the "tecjh" just doesn't feel plausible to me. Not even as plausible as a good thoughtfully based magical system. There's lots of buzzwords, carefully unexplained, and I did not see any hard-and-fast rules that would make a deus ex machina impossible; rather the opposite. Throwing jargon at something and calling it "tech" does not really work when it's not well-thought-out and lacks an underlying consistency and plausibility.Also, the characterization is lacking. Everyone is a cliche. Edie is a doormat- OK, there's reasons why, but still. Finn is a cipher. And the rest are yet less vividly drawn; they exists mostly as plot elements.I read this because I do think the idea of an awakened sentient ecosystem- "Mother Nature" as it were- is fascinating. I wish Creasy had opened her vision wider and explored more there... or even explored more about Edie NOT being a victim of all and sundry. There were various points where she could have used her skills to upend things... but she did not and remained a doormat.I was disappointed.
What do You think about Children Of Scarabaeus (2011)?
Very talented author; this is a satisfying ending to the Scarabaeus story :)
—Cedric
Now I've read it and I am sad.... because there's not a third book.....
—tien
