I've been reading Trek books for many years, and enjoy how Star Trek often serves as a format for metaphysical discussion. Unfortunately, this book read more like a moralistic sermon. This may be because the plot is designed as a foil to a fictitious Cardassian novel referenced in the DS9 series. Whatever the cause, it makes for lopsided pacing, one-dimensional villains and predictable plot 'twists' that themselves seem self-serving. The novel's treatment of some continuing civilizations and characters has, at best, little textual basis in the episodes or earlier books. As a result, the actions and plot developments in this work are contradictory to them or simply make no sense. This is one of the worst Trek books I've read in a while. Don't waste your money and wait for the next book in The Fall series.

The story line was fascinating and as usual a Trek novel I couldn't put down. The first novel offered some predictability, whereas this novel almost blurted it out just a few chapters in. Besides the somewhat stretched timeline, the second novel in the series is well written.