Brief

When the Royals team up with the dangerous and volatile Null, the Vitruvians and the Erde people are forced to form an unlikely partnership in an attempt to save Earth from certain destruction. Lucene, a Data Collected with empathetic powers beyond what she even knows, continues to form close relationships with Cepheus, Tanager, Fatima, Roman, and Ivan as they work together to ensure Erde and Earth’s protection.

What We Liked

With vivid characters, riveting socio-political conflict, and a well crafted fantasy/sci-fi world, this script provides readers with a well-written read that is engaging from start to finish. The story progresses forward in an organic way, and the tension builds steadily and naturally. Lucene, the protagonist, is a well formed character. She has a nuanced personality, interesting and unique powers, and romantic entanglements that make for strong drama and intrigue. Above all else, this book is confidently written. It juggles complex storylines, numerous notable characters, and a world that feels completely authentic and believable.

Film: With a clear beginning, middle, and end and a great setup for another film, this project would be ideal as a sci-fi franchise. This project (and the first novel) clearly set up a cinematic universe that would dazzle and delight viewers. The visuals are punchy and well written. Because the writing is already very visual, it’s easy to see how well this story would work on the big screen.

Key points: Vivid and intriguing world. Fantastic characters with nuanced personalities and clear motivations. A strong structure and impressive handling of countless storylines. Dramatic tension and a cathartic release as the characters finally reach the New Assembly. A plot that feels totally original and fresh.

Synopsis

The prelude reminds readers of the events of the first book. Tanager and Cepheus, professors at TARA are returning to Erde’s home planet in Section 1 with Lucene Jones and Roman Aurelius from Earth. TARA sent Data Collectors to Earth to try and save humanity, but their initiative is still threatened by those who would rather auction off Earth to the highest bidder. Lucene is a
special Data Collector who appears to have her skills naturally. The Royals want her for her powers. The Vitruvians also want Lucene, but their intentions are unclear. Now there will be a New Assembly in which Erdelings and Vitruvians must form an uneasy alliance.

September. Four Months before the New Assembly: Ivan and Cepheus touch base. The government is continuing to harass Ivan and Fatima, and Cepheus feels it is his fault because he showed Ivan how to build a vessel that will take he and Fatima to Erde.

26 Years Ago. Just After the Contrast was Signed: Jasper Set and the Null, black hole dwellers that exist to survive and to destroy anything in their paths, move through the universe, seeking chaos. Thanks to Jasper’s recent contract with the Royals, he was his next target in mind.

26 Years Ago. Before the Original Assembly: Sabrina and Hamish, the sovereigns assigned to the Training Grounds, meet with Jasper. Hamish and Sabrina seek to redirect Jasper and the Null so that they can claim Earth. They tell Jasper he can have Lucene in exchange for his help. He agrees to a 30-year contract in exchange for Lucene, and he gives Sabrina the power to control the weather on Earth.

August. Five Months Before the New Assembly: Fredo recalls how Hamish lashed out and killed his wife due to her cruelty towards their son, Cepheus. Fredo tells Hamish that the baby is awake and in good health. He also tells Hamish that Moksha has been found living on Erde, but she has claimed sanctuary. They decide to send Far, a prophesier who escaped from his home planet, to claim sanctuary on the same preserve and try to learn more about Moksha.

May. Eight Months Before the New Assembly. Tanager, Roman, and Cepheus describe their fears about Lucene. She’s been exhibiting strange behaviors, and they fear the trauma she’s been through may have caused a mental illness. For the next month, her behavior becomes worse, until everyone agrees that it’s best to keep her in a sleeping dormant state until they arrive at Erde.

September. Four Months before the New Assembly: Tanager, Lucene, Roman, and Cepheus arrive at the Western Cross. Cepheus meets and connects with Moksha, the Royal in hiding. Tanager and Royal run into Far, who has arrived to investigate Moksha. Meanwhile, Lucene is feeling much better on Erde. She’s calmer and feeling free. She goes out to buy clothes and groceries.

October. Three Months Before the New Assembly: Commander Royce, the head of Erde’s Planetary Defense League, meets with Representative Dallen, a Vitruvian representative, and Lucene, Cepheus, and Tanager. Dallen tells the others about the deal the Royals made with the Null. For this reason, Vitruvia and Erde need to work together in order to save Earth and each other. Reverend Isabella and Odessa talk and Odessa tells Isabella that she should consider becoming a Virtuvian IPP member. Odessa also reveals that she knows Isabella is more than 700 years old based on an old photograph. Isabella finally agrees to help Odessa and the Vitruvians.

August. Five Months Before the New Assembly: With Sabrina dead, Hamish renegotiates the terms of his contract with Jasper. If Jasper can redirect the Null and roll over Hamish’s Royal superiors, he’ll give Jasper Lucene as well as Far, who has the ability to jump between worlds.
The contract will add five years and will declare that Jasper must try his best not to hurt Hamish’s son, Cepheus.

October. Three Months Before the New Assembly: Lucene, Cepheus, and Tanager show Dallen to the Makerspace. After taking a tour, Dallen asks Lucene to dinner and she accepts. Lucene also meets with Tanager’s students to try and figure her enhanced empathy out through a series of tests. After class, Tanager asks Lucene to dinner, but it’s the night of her date with Dallen. Lucene’s date with Dallen has mixed results. At times he’s condescending, but she also finding him cultured and polite in ways. On her way home, the Circuit is shut down, so Lucene stays the night in Dallen’s hotel room. The next morning, Tanager informs her that the Circuit was shut down because Mallory, the very same costume maker that Lucene bought clothes from, had been murdered. After 100 years of no conflict, something has changed. Constable Melokuhle investigates the murder. He speaks to Roman and Far, and believes Lucene must be considered a suspect. It is Moksha who ends up being implicated though, but Cepheus, Tanager, and one of his students believe it may be a set up. After Odessa and Isabella’s conversation, Isabella has managed to pack her sanctuary and draw crowds. And Lucene and Dallen have been dating for weeks. During an assembly meeting, Dallen reveals the existence of the baby to the people. He also “fudges” the truth for the greater good. Afterwards, he pushes Lucene to have a “spa day” in order to look the part of his partner. She does, but all of it makes her miserable.

November. Before the New Assembly: Cepheus touches base with Fatima and Ivan, who have nearly reached Erde. During a vitals check, Fatima learns she is two months pregnant with Ivan’s baby. They head to Erde. At TARA, Lucene continues the tests of her powers. Neroni, the student who solved Mallory’s murder, uses a coin from Mallory’s shop, which sets off red flags.
During a mishap with one of the tests, Lucene intercepts a stone after it hits a student in the head and it drags her into the lake.

57 Years Ago. Before Everything: A memory from the past reveals the Moksha saved Cepheus’ life when she was just a child.

November. Before the New Assembly: Tanager checks on Lucene in her cottage. He tells her that what happened wasn’t her fault, and that she deserves better than Dallen. She doesn’t agree.

August. Before the Death at the Eastern Cross: Jasper meets with Far and tells him he’ve come to help him achieve his objective. He tells Far he needs him to kill someone for he and Hamish.

November. Before the New Assembly: Roman tells Far the he seems distant, and Far comforts him. Roman asks why the Constable might have traced Mallory’s death to Far, but Far avoids the question. Moksha visits Cepheus despite her house arrest. She tells him that they burned her house down and she has nowhere to go. Cepheus tells her he can stay with her at the
school where he’s currently living. Lucene and Fatima chat, catch up, and eagerly await when they finally reunite. They discuss the baby happily, but when Fatima asks Lucene about her love life, she logs off quickly. Lucene, it seems, is right to be unsure about Dallen, because he essentially ghosts her when he hears about the incident at the school. He leaves her without an explanation.

January. One Week Before the New Assembly: Tanager and Lucene finally go on a date together. It’s lovely and Tanager is obviously far more considerate than Dallen ever was.

Today. January. The day of the new assembly: During the assembly, Jasper Set unexpectedly takes the floor. He uses his powers to manipulate the meeting and sway decisions. The vote comes in and the assembly votes not to band together against the Royals and the Null.

In the meeting, Jasper made it clear that he knew more about Data Collectors than he should.
Afterwards, Tanager scolds Roman for sharing too much with Far. Roman argues that he has a right to talk to his partner. Dallen walks Lucene home after the altercation. The next morning, Dallen leaves, commanding Morphinae and Odessa to leave with him.

February. One Month After the New Assembly: Odessa and Morphinae talk to Isabella. After being told to return to Vitruvia immediately, Odessa told her superiors she wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t return yet. Morphinae, surprisingly, backed the story. Jasper unexpectedly appears at the Sanctuary, and Odessa, Isabella, and Morphinae realize that the greatest weapon against him is love. When they direct love in his direction, he leaves. With Jasper gone, Odessa confesses that she likes Morphinae. She swims away before he can tell her, but he likes her too. Fatima and Ivan finally arrive at Erde, but they immediately have to go into quarantine for their own safety, and for the safety of the baby. All the while, Jasper contemplates how he can win over love, and he realizes he may have to destroy the one thing he truly loves: himself. Jasper uses his supernatural powers to round up Ivan, Roman, Far, Lucene, Tanager, Moksha, and Cepheus and attach bomb vests to each of them. He’s unable to get Fatima, who remains safe.
Jasper tells them that if anyone leaves the circle, the vests will all explode. If no one leaves, time will run out and they will still explode. If, however, one person chooses to shoot themselves, the others may live. Ivan picks up the gun and shoots at Far, who disappears. The others take the opportunity to run. After escaping, Lucene fears something has happened to her powers. The world seems suspiciously quiet. Though the Vitruvians have mostly left, Odessa and Morphinae agree to try and secretly gain support. They fear that if they don’t stop the Royals from taking over Earth, then Hamish will come for Erde next. The Peace-Makers decide that after 100 years of peace, they must prepare for a war.

March. Two Months After the Assembly: A doctor tells Tanager and Lucene that their loss of powers might be permanent. They’re not harmed in any other way, but they’re normal. Jasper talks to Lucene and tries to get her to send him to another dimension, where he can find other, potentially more powerful versions of Lucene. She isn’t able to do it because of her issues with her powers, but Isabella opens a portal and sends Lucene away.

June. Five Months After the New Assembly: Cepheus and Moksha grow closer, and Far returns to the Military Training Grounds. He tells Hamish that Jasper is gone. Far, who is a prophet, tells Hamish that he sees he and his baby ruling the galaxy. He also believes that Jasper will return. Far encourages Hamish to turn his sights onto Erde, a planet that will be easier to overtake than Earth. Ivan asks Fatima to marry him, and she giddily agrees. They decide, with Cepheus’ permission, to name their daughter after his daughter who died. Cepheus is touched.

July. Six Months after the Assembly: Tanager builds a house for Lucene and they decide to live together.

About The Author

Danielle Palli is a writer, business owner, and podcast host living in Southwest Florida. She finds joy in nature, travel, the arts, and singing and dancing.