To Trade the Stars (Trade Pact
Universe) by Julie E. Czerneda
A Planetary Romance?
Julie E. Czernedas 1997 debut, A Thousand Words for Stranger, was the
first novel of the Trade Pact Universe-an instant best-seller, Science
Fiction Book Club Editors Choice and Locus Recommended First Novel.
Book two, Ties of Power, further established the authors reputation as a
master of vivid alien worlds-and had fans clamoring for the third book in
the trilogy.
Now comes the final chapter: To Trade the Stars. The stage is set for a
possibly cataclysmic confrontation in non-space-and the Speaker for the
Clan Council and her human mate are about to find themselves in the
heart of the conflict....
Personal Review: To Trade the Stars (Trade Pact Universe) by
Julie E. Czerneda

To Trade the Stars (2002) is the third SF novel in the Trade Pact series,
following Ties of Power. In the previous volume, Jarad di Sarc challenged
Faitlen di Parth for stealing reproductive tissue from Sira di Sarc and killed
him shortly thereafter. Two Board Members invited the Clan to join the
Trade Pact. Jarad voted against the motion, but Sira challenged him for
the Council seat, proved to be the stronger, and reversed his vote. The
Clan is now a member of the Trade Pact and Sira is the Speaker for the
Clan Council.
In this novel, Sara is now part owner of the Silver Fox and the lover of
Jason Morgan. Yet they cannot get any privacy for the interruptions, even
in midflight. Other Clan Council members are not comfortable with
technology, so they don't call before they drop in for a chat. Nor do the
Rugherans. Then Sector Chief Lydis Bowman does call to invite the
Morgans for a talk; the Conciliator just happens to be alongside the Silver
Fox.
One of Bowman's Constables seems to have been brain-wiped, despite
her implanted mind-shield. Also, Bowman has received reports that seven
ships have landed on Acrannam and left shortly thereafter. Moreover, a
human telepath, Naes Fodera, has been murdered on Plexis.
Jason is able to help the supposedly brain-wiped Constable. Sira learns
that the seven ships have been used to transport fosterlings from Acranam
to other planets. Then she travels to Plexis through the M'hir to check on
Huido.
Huido is having problems at the Claws and Jaws on Plexis. Naes Fodera
has shown up at the restaurant . . . in pieces. His only remaining Certified
Multi-species Master Chef wants to serve the remains to the customers.
Huido finally fires his Chef, but is left without anyone to cook for the
restaurant.
However, a young member of the Clan and kitchen worker, Ruti, knows the
recipes and is capable of doing the work. Huido decides to feed his
customers and worry about Multi-species certification later, but Ruti has an
unsavory friend: Ren Symon. And then another Carasian shows up.
When Sira arrives on Plexis, she sees Symon in the company of a Clan
child. Unfortunately, he also notices her and overcomes her before she
can react. Then he pops her into a stasis chamber.
In this story, Jason pursues Sira, but finds Symon instead. Sira is rescued
by the Drapsk, but taken to the homeworld of the Rugherans. Barac
rescues Ruti, but finds her to be a Chooser. The story also has a
planetary romance. The plot is nicely muddled, but unraveled by the
conclusion.

Highly recommended for Czerneda fans and for anyone else who enjoys
tales of mental powers, high adventure and romance.
-Arthur W. Jordin
For More 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price:
To Trade the Stars (Trade Pact Universe) by Julie E. Czerneda 5 Star Customer Reviews
and Lowest Price!