I finished this book a while ago, and somehow forgot to rate it. Overall, it was certainly worse than the first book for quite a number of reasons, the main on being that it was SO hard to follow and empathize with the characters, because their worldviews and perspectives were so far removed from mine, and very little effort was put into making a world I could understand before having characters exist in it. Instead, I felt like I was just traveling down a spiraling slide until the book ended, and at the end I wasn’t sure why I did it.

That said, the part in the middle where the book turns into a mini horror novel was quite chilling and well written. ( )

If I could give this 10 stars, I would. I cannot even attempt to write a review--I'm just sitting here in awe at this story.

I will be recommending this duology for years to come. ( )

Another great book in this trilogy of intelligent scifi.
There is much to like - the characters are engaging, there is some play - as in the gender reversal in the Portiid spiders, where it is the males who have to defer and pander in order to get ahead, the focus on (accelerated) evolution as part of the plot development, and the science which may not always be scientifically plausible, but remains believable in a fictional setting.
I was not a fan of the non-linear plot progression - with alternating sections from the past and present. I know that authors today sign up to a sacred pledge to never tell a story in linear fashion, but in this case I don't thenk anything was gained by the shuffling of timed segments.
Looking forward now to Part 3 of the series. ( )

ending is a little weak ( )

This was an OK sequel. I didn’t really get on with it. It started OK, and the parasitic element was interesting and this took some time to get into. Some space battles. Now enter near as good as the first one. ( )