In the first age of Earth's colonization of space, the FTL drive that powered the starships caused severe genetic damage in the colonists. Generations later, a new mutant race arises, one which can safely conduct people between the stars. But since they use their ability to tightly control all interstellar commerce, rival interests soon seek to break the monopoly. An when a lab-raised young woman narrowly escapes kidnapping, even as a rogue computer virus wreaks havoc on the interstellar "Net," she must flee into "alien shores", evading her persuers while attempting to uncover the secrets of her own existence. Praise for C.S. Friedman's trilogy: "The creative genius of C.S. Friedman burns brightly with the publication of her stunning new novel, blending elements of science fiction and fantasy into an extraordinary reading experience."-- "Friedman writes cogently on the nature of human desire for knowledge and the dangerous covenants necessary to attain it...."-- "Some of the best writing I have seen in quite a while, and the ending is excellent. Very highly recommended."--