The Making War is the long-awaited final book in the award-winning series that began with The Silver Ship and the Sea. Six genetically engineered children fought to survive in a small town where everyone hated what they were, on a difficult planet full of out-sized predators with long teeth and sharp claws. Because they were stronger than the colonists, they found a way to live, and eventually a way to leave. But when they returned to their home planet, Silver’s Home, they were weaker and untrained. Powerful humans there could create microclimates and new species. They could—and had—created whole worlds. But while most of the six were no longer particularly powerful, Joseph discovered he had a uniquely strong version of the genetic traits that allow some people to travel the threads of data that define civilization. This also allowed him to pilot starships, which he is doing as The Making War begins, leaving the peaceful geoengineered moon Lopali to join a vast space battle.

Only five of the original six remain. The strongman, Bryan, was killed by winged humans. In spite of that, Alicia the risk-taker has abandoned the others to try the dangerous transformation that might give her wings on the planet Lopali. If she survives, she will be owned. She will lose her rights as a human. Even though she abandoned him, her best hope for freedom rests in Joseph. But he will be one young man in the fight between two powerful fleets with hundreds of warships on each side.

For help, Joseph has his pacifist sister, Chelo, and her two partners in marriage, Liam and Kayleen. They are headed to war to fight for the rights of the winged and others.

Joseph knows it is his destiny. He’s seen himself flying beautiful and deadly spaceships in battle. But the last time he fought, he killed people after he defeated them. The nagging fear he could again lose control and murder in blind rage weakens him. Kayleen, who has a little of the same power, has been driven to the edge of insanity even though she is nowhere near as strong as Joseph. Can he find his own strength and center, stay sane, keep Kayleen sane, avoid his enemies, and fight for Alicia all at once?