The story picks up after the events of Circumstellar and follows stubborn teen Ingrid Fairheit, one of several Lockkeepers identified by the elders at the Orion temple. The Lockkeepers have a hereditary affinity for a particular keystone, an item that allows travel between worlds. As long as all of the keystones remain hidden from the Ankira, the enemy will be unable to open a portal to invade our world.
Ingrid’s life is in a shambles at the outset of HELIOCENTRIC—her best friend is not allowed out, her aunt is dead, and the police are harassing her. Meissa and Rigel, elders at the temple, send Ingrid and her friends out to search for the remaining keystones, hoping to secure them before the Ankira can. This takes them to a surfing tournament in Virginia Beach and a remote forest mansion, locations that give the book a nice change of setting.
The pacing flows well through this entire novel, with more surprising and tragic plot twists than the first volume. Ingrid continues to be abrasive, but is less irritating and more likeable as a character, probably because she earns greater sympathy as she endures more heartbreak and adversity as the plot unfolds. The conclusion of the book does show Ingrid making a reckless decision to meet with someone who had earlier betrayed her. While this action makes some sense in hindsight when thinking about her actions in the previous book, it makes Ingrid seem foolish and irresponsible at the worst possible time.
HELIOCENTRIC is easy and enjoyable to read, with only a few typos and errors in grammar, but may be tough to follow for readers who haven’t read the first book. While the history behind the Ankira versus human conflict and the set of rules for the keystones and Lockkeepers was outlined well initially, this book adds complications that do not always make sense in light of the other aspects of the world. It appears that the Ankira have some sort of magic or superpowers, but this is not well-defined.
HELIOCENTRIC is a fun blend of science fiction, fantasy, and teenage romance. As the second book in a series, it has solid action, a mostly likeable heroine, and a satisfying conclusion that still leaves room for another sequel.
~IndieReader.