Sphere of Secrets

By Catherine Fisher
Rating: 4 1/4 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

In this sequel to The Oracle Betrayed (see review), the boy Archon Alexos has been put into place by the priestess Mirany and her friends, Seth, Oblek and the tomb thief, the Jackal. But their troubles are far from ended. Alexos has no real power, and the general of the army, Argelin, and the Speaker of the Nine still plot against him. A sphere is found which reveals a map to the lost Well of Songs, deep in the desert. Alexos, Seth, Oblek and the Jackal all make a pilgrimage into the desert to find the Well, but one of them has been blackmailed to make sure the group doesn't return while others are only going for their own gain. Can they learn to trust each other through the dangers of the desert? Meanwhile, Mirany struggles to keep things balanced with the priestesses, but one encourages a war between their Port and the Emperor from another land while the Speaker still plots with Argelin to kill the Archon. Mirany is torn between her desire to do what's right and to just keep out of the mess. Like the first book, this one is filled with adventure, betrayal, hard choices, and the hardest task of all--believing. Fans of the first book will not be disappointed by this one, and will be eager to read the third installment, Day of the Scarab. A cut above the usual story.