Story grows out of character and the author's characters make this series rise above the plethora of similarly plotted fantasy trilogies. Review by Regina Lynn Preciado. Four students discover a manuscript, The Book of Skulls , which reveals the existence of a sect, now living in the Arizona desert, whose members can offer immortality to those who can complete its initiation rite. To their surprise, they discover that the sect survives, and is willing to accept them as acolytes. But for each group of four who enter the rite, two must die in order for the others to succeed.
Nobody gives it away for free.
Review by . This rather unique novel of first contact was first published in 1998. Just as the aliens promised, a ship has landed and taken away those who took up their invitation to a new, better life. But when the pioneers wake aboard the vessel there is no welcoming committee to be seen. When the US Special Forces squad radio also malfunctions, it's clear that something on board the alien ship is decommissioning everything electronic, no matter how mundane.