Dominion

In this ambitious conclusion to the Chronicles of the Invaders space opera trilogy (after Empire), Connolly and Ridyard pick up the myriad dangling plot threads and push forward with an epic, if somewhat rushed, story that sees star-crossed lovers Paul Kerr and Syl Hellais, as well as their allies and enemies, jockeying for dominance in an intergalactic civil war. Paul and Syl are trapped in a place where time flows strangely, and four days for them become four years for everyone else. During those years, Earth is devastated by the parasitic Others, and the Illyri Empire is split by war among its various factions. All hope for humankind rests on a daring assault on the Illyri stronghold known as the Marque, and a strike against the source of the Others to remove their influence. Multiple perspectives slow the development of the collective narrative, but as they combine, the race toward the climax feels overly hasty, with some of the characters’ sacrifices and actions not given their proper due. However, the core romance between the leads and the sense of wonder remain intact, giving this strong trilogy a satisfying ending. Agent: Clare Wallace, Darley Anderson Agency. (May)