Children of Ruin

I also really enjoyed volume 2. However, I should point out to others that, unlike the first volume, it contains a horror element. But I enjoyed the ride and the new alliances. Oh, and unlike in the last book, I was more attached to the human characters.

The epilogue is somewhat strange but optimistic. That's why I read sci-fi!

Not quite as enjoyable as the first book. The pacing was a bit slower, particularly on the octopus side. But it was fun to see the different intellects and how they interacted. And I enjoyed the resolution with the microorganism. I find it hard to imagine how this has additional sequels... But I'm not half as imaginative as the author!

Tchaikovsky's Children Of Series focuses on the lifeforms left behind by mankind's self-destruction. The sentient spiders from Children of Time are back, and are exploring a solar system caught in a civil war. One of science fiction's strengths is being able to imagine other beings, and Tchaikovsky's depictions of their life and thoughts are excellent here as well.