I love this author and this was a great continuation of an excellent series. I will recommend and purchase this title.

I wanted to read this book because the second book of the trilogy ended with cliffhangers. However, this book doesn't pick up at the place the second book ended. When I reached the 60% point of this book and it still hadn't resolved the cliffhangers, I decided that I just didn't care any more and gave up. I was bored by the Mattie/Ivan/Constance threesome and Ananke and Althea had not appeared. In addition, the author was intent on being perversely confusing with her time shifts. I wasn't enjoying this book at all and it wasn't worth any more of my time. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

The only reason I gave this (and the other two books in the series) 2 stars is for the potential. Too bad that potential was never realized. Not recommended.

Loved the first two books. Not impressed with third. It was like there was a three book deal, and Higgins just wanted it over with. The in-your-face homosexuality that was added to book three was also a big turn off.

Higgins has written a sweeping, compelling scifi epic about revolution an multiple layers (from the actual violent physical rebellion against The System that rules the solar system via draconian surveillance and violent oppression to the accidental awakening of an AI on a powerful research starship). It is wildly successful. My only qualm is that characters who identify as women (it gets trick when you're talking about AI) are slowly shunted to the side by the end of the series. The men literally take over every role and even the legendary Mall ty nos is completely absent from her own revolution. And what happens to Althea nearly made me put this book down forever.