This book is very different from its predecessor. It starts happily. Pawl and Laurel are married and in love. She falls pregnant. Pawl finds a real family in her father and brother and learns to treasure their straight forward enjoyment of life. They have no worries as Pawl is firmly ensconced with the other heads of the Families, up to the point were he can openly consort with dangerous aliens: for example he visits the homeworld of the Hammer and learns to respect their uniqiue combination of violence and intelligence. He also gets moreand more attached to his alien Inner Circle advisor, Odin.

Pawl likes to compose poems, and this artistic expression is given free reign. He travels to Elliot's Pocket, a part of space which is rich in legend, especially about John 'Death' Elliot himself, who vanished there many years ago. The pace of the novel really slows down here, as Pawl and his immediate circle are allowed to enjoy themselves, before the storm breaks.

The unknowing last act of the old human regime of the Families is an expedition to investigate a solar system that appears out of nowhere in Elliot's Pocket. It has two planets, a red one which instills a particular type of madness in those that approach it and a giant planet that is covered in large Trees, which stand well apart from one another. The reader will recognise the Tree on Sanctum, which leads the alien rebellion, as one of these. Under some trees are old spaceships. It is thought one of them might be Elliot's, so, against their better judgement they land...and walk straight into a 'Solaris' scenario, where deep desires are made flesh. They just manage to escape...

This is the portent that kicks off the final murderous last act. Both violent and peaceable beings must commit murder so that the power of the human families is broken. It is a much-changed Pawl that wreaks the most damage, by spreading alien forces and saboteurs through the Way Gates. A galactic cleansing takes place. Some, but not all, of the Families fall, so that their genetic and moral abnormalities can be purged. The narrative delivers everyone and everything their just deserts. Even Pawl finds lasting peace on the mysterious planet of the Trees... ( )