The second book in The Oracle Prophesies trilogy picks up shortly after the conclusion of The Oracle Betrayed (Greenwillow / HarperCollins, 2004). Parallel plots alternate throughout. They follow Mirany, a priestess fighting to stay one step ahead of the deadly political intrigue rampant in the city, and ten-year-old Alexos, host body to the god, as he travels with four mismatched companions to find the Well of Songs. Mirany and Alexos’s individual stories are clearly distinct, and readers will find both brimming with suspense. As in the first book, the ancient Greek and Egyptian setting is wholly convincing, and character development keeps pace with the action-packed plot. Although Sphere of Secrets succeeds as a stand-alone fantasy, addicted readers will be impatiently awaiting the trilogy’s conclusion. (Age 13 and older)