Lone Star Book Blog Tour: The Traceverse Saga by Eric R. Swanson – Review of Book 2: The Two Gates

“Four centuries ago…A force came to our planet. We don’t know who they were. We don’t know what they wanted…other than us.”

The idea of aliens from outer space coming to Earth to kidnap humans for their own genetic purposes is absolutely terrifying. By its very nature, the Science Fiction genre depends on our fear and fascination of the unknown in galaxies far, far away and expects us to continue looking up at the night sky to see what is out there; who is out there.

The Two Gates by Eric R. Swanson is Book Two in The Traceverse Saga. As with most Sci-Fi series, reading the books in order is highly recommended. Book One, The Shattered Gate, introduces the overall plot and main characters and sets the stage for Book Two, which is a true continuation in the series. Go ahead and grab both books and start at the beginning. You’ll be glad you did!

In The Two Gates, it is now 2454, and Hybrid Micah Trace is headed to his ancestral (he is half human, after all) planet Earth to help the human population and maybe atone for the atrocities that occurred hundreds of years ago. The Episode, as that long-past bloody day is called, is still top of mind for everyone on Earth, still taught in schools, and still hangs over everyone’s head as an ongoing possible threat, like an alien Sword of Damocles, or gate in this instance. This gate in the sky may be shattered, but the innate fear that the Cerans will return can never be erased. These aliens from Ceres selected thousands of humans in a gruesome body grab all those years ago, and everyone on Earth remains wary and vigilant.

Micah and his crew, consisting of both half-human/half-Ceran crew members and full-blooded Cerans, know the truth about why humans were grabbed in the first place, and they travel for two years to reach Earth to assure the planet’s inhabitants that they come in peace and want only to help them and heal them. But will Premier of the Global Congress Kurt McCreary and the rest of the global population believe Micah’s promises and welcome the entire crew with open arms? Would you? The concept of Othering is heavy in The Two Gates, but which side falls into this category? Which is better or worse than the other―the decedents of the humans who were victimized hundreds of years earlier or the Hybrids and Cerans entering Earth’s atmosphere under the promise of peace, hope, understanding, and acceptance? Both sides have their leaders, antagonists, and fearful doubters, and twists and danger abound in The Two Gates, so be ready!

Eric Swanson delivers a gripping Sci-Fi adventure that will no doubt leave the reader asking that ever-present question of “what if?” The pacing is fairly brisk, but if you have not yet read The Shattered Gate or even a synopsis of it, the reading pace might be somewhat slow at the start as you try to make sense of who is who and what is what. With that said, you will quickly become immersed in the story because while the world building and characterization are naturally a bit complex, the overall tale will draw you in and keep you there. The plot and characterization are excellent, and the story remains enjoyable and riveting from start to finish, despite some lingering grammatical issues that would benefit from a final round of editing.

I have read many, MANY Sci-Fi works from a variety of authors over the years, and Eric Swanson has definitely earned the coveted title of fan favorite in this oh-so-prolific genre.

“Few journey to their final resting place knowingly…”

I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.