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Confederated Star Systems #2
Enigma: Confederated Star Systems #2
Aboard the space station First Contact Café, Station Commander General Jake Devlin and Sissy, inexperienced and undereducated High Priestess of Harmony, confront the mystery of an odd eight-limbed stowaway, a mystical refugee who talks in circles rather than reveal the truth, and clues to the origin and genetic breakdown of enemies and allies alike. Together they fight diplomatic protocols to forge a necessary treaty between CSS and Harmony. Their efforts threaten to break the caste system and culture of Harmony by declaring their out-of-caste and out-of-culture love for each other. High Priest Gregor will veto the treaty rather than allow Sissy and Jake be together. But all of their agendas have a the space station seems determined to break orbit and plunge them all into the local sun.
382 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2009
About the author
Irene Radford
129 books136 followersAlso uses C.F. Bentley, Phyllis Irene Radford, Julia Verne St. John, Rachel Atwood, Phyllis Ames, P. Irene Radford and P.R. Frost.
Irene has been writing stories ever since she figured out what a pencil was for. Combining a love for Medieval history and a fascination with paranormal, Irene concentrated on fantasy writing.
In her spare time, Irene enjoys lacemaking and is a long time member of an international guild. Check out THE LONELIEST MAGICIAN, The Dragon Nimbus #3 for an exploration of her favorite obsession. A piece of magic lace is the obvious patch for a dragon wing. She has published numerous magazine articles about the history and technique of lacemaking as well as self publishing two lacemaker's fairy tales with lace patterns that can be made up to illustrate the stories. When she isn't writing or making lace she enjoys exploring the back roads and many museums of the Pacific Northwest.
For many years Irene was active in Ballet du Lac, a semi-pro ballet company. She taught ballet to youngsters in her local community school program. At the same time she led a Cub Scout pack and frequently found her home the preferred playground in the neighborhood for many more children than she thought possible.
Irene has held many full and part time jobs from Insurance underwriter to assistant curator of a museum to clerk in a fabric store. Writing is now her “day job.”
Two years ago, Irene took up fencing as research for GUARDIAN OF THE FREEDOM, Merlin’s Descendants #5. She figured one quarter would give her some vocabulary and a feel for a weapon in her hand. But that wasn’t enough to write realistic battles on the Ottoman frontier or convincing duels. So she signed up for another quarter. And another. Now she’s addicted and needs to add fencing to more of her books and let her subjects range further afield.
A native Oregonian living in Oregon, Irene is a member of an endangered species. As a service brat, she lived in a number of cities throughout the country until returning to Oregon in time to graduate from Tigard High School. She earned a B.A. in history from Lewis and Clark College, where she met her husband, Tim. Historical research has remained a lifelong passion and finally became a part of her job with the historical fantasy series Merlin’s Descendants.
Irene and her husband currently make their home in Welches, Oregon where they share their back yard with deer, coyotes, bear (check the pictures), raccoons and too many bird species to mention.
Irene has been writing stories ever since she figured out what a pencil was for. Combining a love for Medieval history and a fascination with paranormal, Irene concentrated on fantasy writing.
In her spare time, Irene enjoys lacemaking and is a long time member of an international guild. Check out THE LONELIEST MAGICIAN, The Dragon Nimbus #3 for an exploration of her favorite obsession. A piece of magic lace is the obvious patch for a dragon wing. She has published numerous magazine articles about the history and technique of lacemaking as well as self publishing two lacemaker's fairy tales with lace patterns that can be made up to illustrate the stories. When she isn't writing or making lace she enjoys exploring the back roads and many museums of the Pacific Northwest.
For many years Irene was active in Ballet du Lac, a semi-pro ballet company. She taught ballet to youngsters in her local community school program. At the same time she led a Cub Scout pack and frequently found her home the preferred playground in the neighborhood for many more children than she thought possible.
Irene has held many full and part time jobs from Insurance underwriter to assistant curator of a museum to clerk in a fabric store. Writing is now her “day job.”
Two years ago, Irene took up fencing as research for GUARDIAN OF THE FREEDOM, Merlin’s Descendants #5. She figured one quarter would give her some vocabulary and a feel for a weapon in her hand. But that wasn’t enough to write realistic battles on the Ottoman frontier or convincing duels. So she signed up for another quarter. And another. Now she’s addicted and needs to add fencing to more of her books and let her subjects range further afield.
A native Oregonian living in Oregon, Irene is a member of an endangered species. As a service brat, she lived in a number of cities throughout the country until returning to Oregon in time to graduate from Tigard High School. She earned a B.A. in history from Lewis and Clark College, where she met her husband, Tim. Historical research has remained a lifelong passion and finally became a part of her job with the historical fantasy series Merlin’s Descendants.
Irene and her husband currently make their home in Welches, Oregon where they share their back yard with deer, coyotes, bear (check the pictures), raccoons and too many bird species to mention.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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November 15, 2015Readers who enjoy the first in this series, Harmony, are sure to like this follow-up that carries forward the adventures of young Sissy, High Priestess of Harmony, and Jake, the commander of First Contact Cafe, a space station that attracts a number of wildly diverging alien types.
The story centers around a mystery as two mysterious alien visitors throw the station into chaos, and Sissy and Jake have to solve the mystery, save the station, and maneuver around ambitious people from their respective home planets who do not necessarily have good intentions.
The story centers around a mystery as two mysterious alien visitors throw the station into chaos, and Sissy and Jake have to solve the mystery, save the station, and maneuver around ambitious people from their respective home planets who do not necessarily have good intentions.
September 22, 2009
I openly admit that I am a book-aholic. Reading can open the mind, provide an escape, liven the heart, and so much more. Sometimes when I read a book I zip right through it, but other times, as was with Enigma by C.F. Bentley, my reading slows as I become entrenched in the lives of the characters. I consider a book powerful when it can bring a tear to my eye, whether in sadness or joy, because a good book is not just about how well it is written but whether a reader connects to the characters and world the author has created. Both Enigma and Harmony, the first in the series, achieved this effect leaving my heart and soul filled to the brim.
Enigma has everything, from military conquest, spies and murder to diverse alien cultures and societies built on slavery and religious extremism. Central to the story are the CSS, the Harmonites and the Marils; who are all fighting not only to survive but to retain their uniqueness and connection to their culture. Ironically, all three are more alike than they know.
Enigma has everything, from military conquest, spies and murder to diverse alien cultures and societies built on slavery and religious extremism. Central to the story are the CSS, the Harmonites and the Marils; who are all fighting not only to survive but to retain their uniqueness and connection to their culture. Ironically, all three are more alike than they know.
February 2, 2016
Lora Sissy, guiada por una profecía, viaja hasta una terminal espacial. En este escenario, hay un misterioso asesino, una media-angel media-desquisiada por torturas, varias especies intergalácticas novedosas, un ser arácnido que boicotea la nave desde las sombras, Patty (la ex jefa espía de Jack), un tratado de paz entre dos razas (Harmony y CSS), y un Jefe Sacerdote empecinado en que las cosas se hagan a su modo. Adicionar una pizca de romance entre Sissy y Jack, su guardaespalda, actual Jefe máximo de la nave.
Me encanta que Lord Gregory
Muy interesante combinación de ciencia ficción y religión basada en el concepto musical de "Harmonía"
Me encanta que Lord Gregory
Muy interesante combinación de ciencia ficción y religión basada en el concepto musical de "Harmonía"
July 2, 2016
I won this book from LibraryThing.
First off I never read the first book Harmony so I only have snatches of past history of Jake and Sissy. But seeing she is a priestess and he is the commander of the space station, I can already see problems with their relationship. Then of course a ship crashes into the station and the aliens are found dead. There are two stowaways that will help and hinder why the ship crashed. Plus Jake and Sissy are trying to negotiate a treaty between the CSS and Harmony the planet. All kinds of problems happen. Will everything work out in the end?
First off I never read the first book Harmony so I only have snatches of past history of Jake and Sissy. But seeing she is a priestess and he is the commander of the space station, I can already see problems with their relationship. Then of course a ship crashes into the station and the aliens are found dead. There are two stowaways that will help and hinder why the ship crashed. Plus Jake and Sissy are trying to negotiate a treaty between the CSS and Harmony the planet. All kinds of problems happen. Will everything work out in the end?
December 10, 2015
Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book (at multiple times through the book, I was thinking of quitting, but kept deciding to give it another chance and kept going) - not sure if it was because I had not read the 1st book in the series due to which it took me a while to understand the premise or this is not a genre I enjoy. By the end of the book I did start liking some of the characters, Sissy & Jake definitely and even Mac. But I don't think I'll return to read another book in this series.
September 23, 2009
This is a sequel to Harmony. As with Harmony, it's not afraid to have religion and the prophetic mixed in the story as real, instead of how many books approach religion.
It had many things going at once, which I like. Occasionally I was frustrated by the "you're not suppose to notice I lift something out that will turn up later." But overall, not a bad read.
It had many things going at once, which I like. Occasionally I was frustrated by the "you're not suppose to notice I lift something out that will turn up later." But overall, not a bad read.
March 28, 2016
Part two of a series. It could be read separately but, especially towards the end, you wonder what has taken place in part one.
It had been a long time since I had read SF. I liked the book very much.
Weird beings, even one with tentacles. But still ‘human’ feelings everywhere: love (a very important part), greed, power, jealousy, fear, ruthlessness.
For everyone who likes SF: do read the book.
It had been a long time since I had read SF. I liked the book very much.
Weird beings, even one with tentacles. But still ‘human’ feelings everywhere: love (a very important part), greed, power, jealousy, fear, ruthlessness.
For everyone who likes SF: do read the book.
November 7, 2011
I read and loved Harmony & I couldn't wait to read it's sequel Enigma. Unfortunately I just couldn't get unto it. The plot seemed sooo convoluted & just dragged on. I got a good third of the way into this book & gave up
April 8, 2025
This is the second book in the series. The characters continue to evolve and the political machinations are fun to read about. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it is a great entry level book to the SciFi genre.
November 12, 2015
Action, mystery, love and the race to find wholeness and holiness make this a fast paced excellent page turner. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews