Eva Nine continues to unravel the secrets of her origin on her quest across Orbona. Without her loving Muthr to guide her and protect her, Eva Nine begins to emerge from her vulnerability as a brave and compassionate character. DiTerlizzi has a strong grasp on character development, including Eva Nine's slow embrace of her unique fate. For most of the book, she still has underlying hesitation and fragility but, in dire situations, her courage and perseverance dominate, especially when her friends are in danger. I also enjoyed the connection between Rovender and Eva Nine, as their personalities develop together as a result of their loving friendship and learning from each others values. In spite of the great characters, I had a hard time following some of the too-fast action scenes.

I was so excited to read this sequel and find out the answers to some looming questions. Are there any humans left on the planet? Why did she grow up in a secluded shelter? What is Rovender's past? If Eva is Eva Nine, is there an Eight, Seven, etc.? What does her fortune mean? What other creatures will she meet? How did they get here? What happened to Earth? Why can she talk to animals when others cannot?

This book seems to have solved most of these tantalizing questions. I feel like the third book might just be one big action scene. I'll definitely still read it to figure out Eva Nine's true connection to this new world.

Rovender: "A heart of compassion is just as hard to hold within you as one of indifference." pg. 368