[2] The novel received a generally positive review from the British Science Fiction Association's John Dodd, who found the book "as compelling as the first.".
[3] Autostraddle's Amari Gaiter thought the novel "exemplifies the power of science fiction",[1] while Booklist's Biz Hyzy wrote that Ellis's writing allows the reader to empathise with the main protagonist Cora.
Since Coras father, Nils Ortega, unveiled the existence of aliens to the world, the Cheney administration is debating whether to grant the ETIs (intelligent extraterrestrials) full human rights or to keep them detained.
When Cora travels to the site of the explosion with CIA agent Sol Kaplan, she is transported by Ampersand to a cave, where he reveals that he has kept Obelus alive by placing him in Cefo's body, but without his memory.
Kaveh bonds with Ampersands symphile, which he names "Nikola", and tells Cora he wishes to help her oppose the Third Option since he worries it may be used to restrict the rights of other humans.
Frustrated with the apathy of the military towards the aliens, Cora quits her job and starts working closely with Kaveh to publicly advocate against the Third Option, bringing them closer as friends and quickly lovers.
At the base, Nikola reveals to Kaveh and the military that the Superorganism will likely reach Earth within 10-15 years, rather than a few centuries as thought previously, to exterminate humanity as a perceived threat.
Cora threatens them using her pulse emitter, forcing the Similars to leave Earth with Obelus and his body, but she is soon attacked by Gadsden Line militiamen who were loitering the base.