Storyline

Personally, I think a lot of people are thinking a little too small.

The gate - where was it ever said that the gate was locked to one location or one time ... even before Quin went through?

The non interference rules were set in place by the One, since the One is still in charge the rules are still in place, since it covers Lissa (remember she is one of the Mighty) I would call that a damned good indicator.

Where are the Three … I would change that question to where are four of the five … if you step back and think about it, what happened the last time the Mighty "seemed" to ignore what was going on?

The Orb … all I have to say at this point is that, in my opinion, it has a lot explaining to do.

Quin … Mother Teresa with wings … she has a lot of growing up to do, but with friends like Kaldill, Daragar, and Lissa, I think it's going to be a fun ride .

The organisms … Connie has hinted that they might be attributed to Acrimus, whom was Hank's equal, before the General. So, I doubt it's going to be as straight forward as separating particles to get rid of them.

The ending … it may be five years for some but, from the way I read it, I think it was an instant for Quin.

yes, 4 of the 5 are MIA...Except Ashe showed up to conscript Terret the Serinali (he must be overseeing some black ops and doesn't want them to be traced). If I was Lissa, I would be fuming that they are blowing me off by not answering. Common courtesy- at least acknowledge the mind speech.

Somehow, I think some of the Mighty are working behind the scenes on this issue, which is probably bigger than we or Lissa realize. Quin is the agent they (Breanne most likely) are using, probably because of Quin's ties to Liron and the poison. Some how she holds the key to setting it right. I also think that Breanne will use her to find V'ili and the other Serinali.

Non - Interference is a joke or a convenience to hide behind. I say this because they relocated the entire population of Siriaa. they (the Powerful) had to use there god powers to do this and to slow down or stop time.

Also, the One was an idea that Charles made when he was the General, not sure that still holds now. Breanne was said to have when beyond the others in power and stood outside the one (Hank, Ashe and Charles) and dealt with the General... Now it would be those three and Lissa making up the One. --- Confusing

More random thoughts:
If I was in Lissa shoes, I don't think I could take much more of being powerful and not being able to use it. I don't think Kiffrin's old edict hold about Le-Ath Veronis being dissolved (except the Comesuli) if she gives up her corporal body. She could keep all her mates as they we all made Nameless Ones or better except her Larentii's, and really she could make them gods if she wanted. She could very well find a new queen to set on the throne or just make guest appearances and store her body in stasis in the Archives. She is the only of the Mighty tied down to the mortal universe and that is sort of worrisome. I know Ashe sort of is connected to South Star, but not like Lissa is to Le-Ath Veronis.

Connie is just too good at spinning her stories. A tangled web, she does weave.

The Mighty in human form are allowed to interfere as they see fit, all the relocations were instigated by Lissa. I think Lissa is more used to acting as lesser power than acting as a Mighty … however I am sure if push comes to shove she will dust off the big guns … lol.

I believe that Lissa's duties as Queen are one of the things that keep her aware of the "human" timeline … all of the powerful, left to their own devices, seem to have a very loose sense of time passing … a century here, a millennium there, eventually you get their attention.

I was thinking... at the ending Quinn is told to shush cause caytes is out looking for more bodies.... what if Quinn is captured and forced some how to heal caytes' body over and over?
one how will he force her? beat her?
two blackmail her by saying he will kill or beat another if she doesn't?

I think that is what will happen in the next book.... also the next book is titled Black wing.... did the orb change Quinn's wing color?

I think Lissa likes her position most of the time. She is more than just the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis. She is discussing universe problems with Ildevar. She kept in touch with the kings on Cloudsong II. She does not need to do this but I think she does because she wants to. She had her disappearing acts also early in her reign -- she disappeared several times and her mates did not know where she is. So I think she is more settled in her role.

I do think the Mighty not replying when someone tries to contact them is rude but it does give a mysterious/menacing slant to the book. There would be no plot if the Mighty were around and can fix it. Someone will have to fix it in the end but we need several books to get us there.

I also thought that the epilogue was Quin just coming through the gate. So Quin's first step into the gate is 5 years in the future? It could be.

The next book being called 'Black Wing' I took to mean that Justis or his troops will play an important role in the next book. I think Quin has as much power as the Orb but she just hasn't tapped into it. I think Quin can also fold space if she would just try. She can read people and also learned to 'not read' people if she did not want to. Breanne did not learn that on her own.

Also a trivial piece of information that I picked up the second time I read it: Lendill is not one of the heads of ASD. He still handles some 'special projects' but Kooper runs it himself.

I loved it. But yes as usual Connie gives us more questions than answers and leaves us desperate for the next book.

As far as her not asking the Orb for details etc.. I think that perhaps has more to do with her emotionally. The way she was brought up has lead to a severe lack of confidence. Leading to her being too scared to ask anyone or anything what she needed to know.

As for the gate, I imagine it deposits people wherever it needs to. Tiralia for those who have done wrong. Possibly it could be the Orb that took her someplace else using the gate.

I can't wait for the next book to see where all this is going. And I wonder if it's going to be another 'mate' who has popped up at the end shushing her.