Hadrian Marlowe has managed to free himself from his gilded cage and is now in a position to pursue his dream of seeking peace with the Cielcin. For 400 years the Sollan Empire has been at war with the alien Cielcin and it has now become a war that both sides have inherited rather than started. Because of this, Hadrian thinks that if humanity could just find the Cielcin leadership it might be possible to discuss peace with them and end the bloodshed. Rumors indicate that the path to finding the Cielcin lies with first finding the lost planet of Vorgossos, and that is something Hadrian has been pursuing for decades without much success.  He has been chasing down one rumor after another and has nothing to show for it except yet another "promising" lead. With the limited support he has from the Empire eroding quickly, Hadrian finds he is at a crossroads. He must either commit treason against the Empire in order for it find peace or give up on his dream and return to his former captivity. For Hadrian Marlowe, that is no choice at all.

The universe expands a lot in the second book as events take Hadrian beyond the Empire itself. We experience planets controlled by the Extrasolarians, learn about Vorgossos, and even get a glimpse into the time in human history when humanity was almost wiped out by the artificial life forms it created. I found the wider scope to be more engaging than the first book and it does an excellent setting of the stage for future events. Do note that there is a lot less action this time around, but big things do eventually happen that give a glimpse into how Hadrian's ultimate legacy comes into being. My only concern lies in the realm of the author "taking things too far" when it comes to life and death but I will reserve judgment on that front until things are explained a bit further.

Samuel Roukin does an excellent job on the narration and that makes this series a worthy listen.