This is the sequel to 'the search for fierra' and was a good read. It starts off with Treet inside the archives in Dome while Crocker is getting settled in in the Blue Forest and the other two members of the original party, Pizzle and Yarden, settling in amongst the Fierri. Treet is trying to learn all he can about the history of Dome in order to help prevent the spreading madness he recognized from the previous novel. Yarden wishes to forget Treet and move on with her life. Pizzle wishes to marry a Fierri woman he has met. The rebellion in Dome is not going well as Jamrog has gained complete control by murdering his predecessor as well as anyone else who stands in his way. Tvrdy has to go to the Dhogs for help as the majority of other Hage leaders will not support open rebellion against Jamrog. We learn more about Fierri civilization in this novel. It has some nice expansion to the peaceful group sharing the planet with the citizens of Dome, but it also left much to be desired. It is also about a journey of discovery for the three 'surviving' travelers [Crocker's mind has been broken, so he no longer 'counts' other than his revealing to Yarden what he failed to do upon arriving at Dome with Treet and Calin] as they discover the 'reason[s]' as to why they survived the trip across the desert and encountered the Fierri. Pizzle and Yarden eventually go on a trip to a northern bay where they will meet 'fish' resembling pilot whales that can communicate with humans if the humans wish for the communication to occur. Yarden realizes that the 'fish' are trying to communicate the danger soon to be emanating from Dome and that action is required. Treet has been captured in Dome and is being tortured in a sensory deprivation chamber; while in the chamber he encounters the Divine Presence Who saves his life [and sanity], allowing him to be dumped on the steps of a local 'healer' when there is a change in power in the Nikolerous Hage. He is captured a second time by the leader of the Invisibles, but his former doctor is able to acquire his freedom through subterfuge and brazenness. Tvrdy and his followers move in with the Dhogs to begin striking back at the 'false' government ruled by Jamrog. Treet manages to join up with Tvyrdy and his factions and becomes a spiritual figurehead for many followers [especially the Dhogs] as he is proclaimed to be a Fierri come to help them. The rebellion begins to go poorly for Tvrdy and company; they are eventually herded into a 'last stand' situation after the Dhogs grow tired of fighting and abandon their allies. Other members of the Fierri complain of a growing sense of unease, which allows a fleet of balons to head to Dome to see if anything can be done to help Treet stop Dome's madness and attempted second attack of Fierra. Pizzle ends up coming up with a plan by which the fleet of balons will fly close to the roof of Dome in such a manner that the sympathic vibrations from their engines will cause the dome surrounding the city to collapse. The collapse of the dome will incapacitate the city's dwellers for about thirty minutes as they are not used to breathing the natural atmosphere of the planet. The plan works, and the Fierri are saved. Yarden tells Treet she loves him but she will be nothing more than a friend. Pizzle is finally able to marry the love of his life, Starla, and starts a publishing company amongst the Fierri. Treet falls in love with Jaire and the two become married after a leisurely ardent courtship. Crocker remains in the Blue Forest, unwilling to put forth the effort to have his mind healed.Overall, it was a good book. Some of the writing in some parts seemed forced; some contrived. I disagree with Yarden's assessment of Crocker about Crocker being weak whereas Treet was strong. Treet only survived the conditioning/torture because the Divine Presence [God] saved him; Crocker did not have the help that Treet had to stand against the attempts of the Nikolerous to break his will and mind. It seemed like a petty comment on her part to make [granted, she was also basing it on Crocker's not being willing to push through the pain to have his mind restored. What she does not take into account is that Crocker might be feeling immense guilt over attempting to kill Treet despite how his conversation went with Yarden when Crocker described Calin's last moments]. After all of the insight that Yarden had had up to that point, her comments about Crocker seemed mean-spirited and petty to me.It is always interesting to read about somebody attempting to describe a fictional character's 'salvation experience' because it almost always seems contrived. It is a very difficult experience to write about, let alone trying to describe a fictional character's coming to salvation. Some authors do a good job of it; some not so good. I think Lawhead made some noble efforts at describing the various salvation experiences; some worked better than others.Overall, though, I felt it was a well-written book and has done a reasonable job of standing the test of time [for a reasonably 'early' Christian sci-fi novel]. It was obviously written for enjoyment with minimal levels of depth to it [in my opinion]; I do not think he was trying to win a 'spiritual enlightenment of the year award' with this novel [although I thought he made some good points dealing with sins of omission versus commission].
