About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with the complexities of power, the ethics of modern intervention, and the blurry lines between civilization and savagery. It is a sophisticated choice for mature readers who are ready to explore how corporate interests can manipulate ancient cultures and how individual loyalty is tested when two worlds collide. This is the gritty sequel to The Sterkarm Handshake, where the high-tech 21st-century Elves attempt to use guile and forced peace to exploit a 16th-century Scottish border clan. Through the lens of a fragile marriage alliance, the story tackles themes of cultural identity, the morality of time travel, and the consequences of betrayal. Due to its visceral descriptions of violence and complex political maneuvering, it is best suited for older teens who enjoy challenging, thought-provoking speculative fiction that mirrors real-world colonial history.
