This is really a roller coaster ride, figuratively & literally. Lots of action with an ancient artifact (think Star Gate), blood thirsty rebels and a smidgen of intrigue, lots of people with secrets. Of course, there's one big mystery, same one as in Star Gate. Who are the Builders & how does this gosh-darned thing work?

Once again man has spread to the stars using ancient technology . This time however its different! They are mining the planets for rare resources. ;-D What again!?!

The world-building is limited, it is more focused on action and technology. Character development is okay - focusing mainly on 2 characters. The love interests (?) are basically milquetoast. Ending climax takes your breath away and gives the book the potential to become an ongoing saga. The end actually made me think of some of those old movies (1960s/1950s) with mythic quests (ex., The Black Rose, Hercules, Golden Fleece).

Matthew Costello has written other novels, worked on games and movies. Multi-talented man. I cannot do justice to his career so go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Costello or his website http://www.mattcostello.com/. He wrote this book with his friend Rick Hautala (died 2013), also a writer of many parts - lots of horror (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Hautala).

I apologize to the authors if I sound just a tad facetious. I think I am reading too many books in a row using the same mechanisms. ( )