This starts with cresting an interesting universe, where the future the characters of the first part of the series has been twisted into a new malevolence. Like the Hegemony, we're shown gradually how monstrous (and corrupt at its heart) the Pax is, but the problem is the main plot is dull. Even with two strands going on, each becomes repetitive as everyone looks for someone to explain the bigger plot to them, until eventually something gets dropped in to set up a conclusion. And a final star knocked off for the really rather skeevy way Aenea's depicted, especially the whole "eleven year old girl telling a twenty seven year old man they're going to be lovers in the future" thing.