Furious Heaven: The Sun Chronicles #2    by Kate Elliott Order:  USA  Can Tor, 2023 (2023) Hardcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Furious Heaven follows Unconquerable Sun as the second in Kate Elliott's Sun Chronicles, a space opera saga starring a female interstellar version of Alexander the Great. Princess Sun is heir to the Republic of Chaonia, ruled by her mother, Queen-Marshall Eirene. Her father Joao, a prince of the Gatoi, is distrusted in the Republic, but has her back. The Gatoi hire out most of their banner soldiers to the Phene Empire (compulsions to fight engineered into them by the Phene). Aside from Sun, the saga's leads include her two newest companions - Persephone Lee who previously fled her powerful family to join the military academy; and Gatoi Zizou who's been conditioned as an assassin - as well as talented Phene lancer pilot Apama At Sabao. In the first episode, Sun and her Companions fought off a Phene gunship attack on the Chaonian capital. Now, each side rebuilds, and the Phene plot against Sun and Eirene, with some success, aiming for a succession crisis. The plot thickens, with space combat and Machiavellian political action at every turn. Sun wins another uniquely skilled Companion, while Perse finds a long lost relative, and Zizou meets his beloved grandmother once more, reclaiming his real name. This all leads to a titanic battle. Sun, 'the spear cast at the furious heaven', faces impossible odds, yet Perse turns disaster into triumph. I can't wait for more of this brilliant Alexandrian saga. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more SF books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews