R. J. Leahy’s long-awaited sequel to Tigra (also reviewed on Myshelf) does not disappoint. The Obsidian Seed is an intricately plotted space adventure that begins on Leahy’s created world, Ararat, a human colony of diverse religious sects, and sweeps out across the universe.

In this novel, the inhabitants of Ararat are now living in peace after a bitter war between the fundamental Judaslams and the free-living Babylonian Confederacy. That peace was won mainly through the efforts of Jeena Garza, a former Union pilot who had crashed on Ararat after escaping from a Coalition prison, and Samson, a native tigra or tiger-like being who was capable of great intelligence and speech. Beyond Ararat, a technological war still raged between the Union and the Coalition that had been going on for a thousand years. Ararat had been left alone because the two warring powers had assumed there was nothing of value on the planet. This soon changes when that war ends too and Ararat is ceded to the evil Coalition who quickly find out that the planet has vast carborillium deposits, of which a fist-sized piece could make a person rich.

As Coalition forces arrive to lay claim to Ararat, Jeena, now the Regent of Babylon, leads yet another battle for freedom. This time, she and her army of humans and tigras take to the stars and bring the war to their would-be enslavers. And as they fight to free the humans under Coalition rule, something long-asleep deep within Jeena is awakened, heralding to the universe that she—and Samson—are no common beings.

Leahy’s exciting adventure tale that began with Tigra has expanded into a sweeping epic of myth, prophesy, alien cultures and religions which only Dune could rival. There are enough unanswered questions and hints in The Obsidian Seed to assure readers that Jeena’s and Samson’s story will continue in at least another volume. Look for it as a Zumaya Otherworlds imprint.