In Changelings, bestselling authors Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough returned to the sentient planet Petaybee with a story of growth and transformation in the face of deadly new threats. The telepathic, shapeshifting twins Murel and Ronan found that Petaybee had plans for them as well. Now those plans begin to bear fruit with fresh possibilities . . . and dangers.

MAELSTROM

Now that Petaybee is forming a new equatorial island, the planet has agreed to harbor a group of new refugees, workers indentured to the powerful InterGal Corporation. But the mission to collect the immigrants becomes a rescue operation when it is revealed that InterGal is doing nothing to help these survivors of a world devastated by a meteor shower. Murel and Ronan set out to persuade the frightened refugees to come out of hiding, leave their world, and bring along their sacred totem animals, the gifted sea turtles called the Honus. But the twins discover that they’ve taken on more than they expected: The Honus are not the only animals sacred to the refugees. There are also the Manos, intelligent sharks who have lost none of their predatory habits–and who cannot be left behind to die.

When the Manos are released into Petaybee’s waters, a tragic misunderstanding endangers the whole resettlement operation. At the same time, the mysterious sea otters who once rescued the twins’ father are suddenly revealed to be much more than they appear to be.

Now it is up to Ronan and Murel, with the intrepid assistance of their river otter friend Sky, to smooth the waters before a maelstrom of revenge destroys Petaybee’s harmonious way of life.

But even as the twins uncover startling new facts about Petaybee’s past that will change everything they thought they knew about the planet, the forces of InterGal are gathering, preparing to strike. . . .

Library Journal

Too young to develop the bond with the sentient planet Petaybee, which prevents adults from leaving their homeworld, the shape-changing twins Murel and Ronan Shongili (introduced in Changelings) serve as ambassadors for off-planet journeys. When a rescue trip to a hostile planet meets with objections from the company overseeing the planet's development, the resulting evacuation of an endangered population takes place under hostile conditions. Once back on Petaybee, the discovery of a heretofore unknown alien race of otterlike creatures poses further problems that only the twins have a hope of solving. Coauthors McCaffrey (the "Dragonriders of Pern" series) and Scarborough ("Powers That Be" trilogy with McCaffrey) continue the ongoing history of the second generation of Petaybee's inhabitants with a story filled with adventure, intrigue, and unexpected twists. Series fans will demand this title, which belongs in most sf collections. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal
Adult/High School
In this sequel to Changelings (Del Rey, 2005), twin selkies use their "thought-talk" and shape-shifting powers to help their sentient planet and its inhabitants. Petaybee, the planet, has invited Ke-ola, a sentient sea turtle, and his people to make their home there. The Petaybeans must convince the Federation to allow such a move. The catch is that the Federation is off-world, and people who live on Petaybee for any length of time acquire a symbiotic relationship with the planet. For an adult to leave would mean death. It is therefore up to young Muriel and Ronin Shongili to be the off-world diplomats who can save lives and change worlds. This is the second novel in a planned trilogy that continues the story made popular by the "Powers That Be" trilogy (Del Rey). The story line combines Irish, Hawaiian, and Indian lore to create a rich history that is at once unique and familiar. Teens will identify with the actions and feelings of these shape-shifting river seals as they struggle with their role in Petaybee's transformation.
—Dana Cobern-KullmanCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews
The young heroes of Changelings (2005) depart the planet Petaybee, then return for more adventure. Twins Ronan and Murel are changelings, able to take seal form on their home planet of Petaybee, which is sentient and adapts to its inhabitants. The book begins with the twins leaving Petaybee on a spaceship as ambassadors to help the people of the planet Halau, who will be relocating to Petaybee. But when they arrive, Halau has been hit by meteors and its settlements destroyed. A rescue is mounted, led by the twins, who turn into seals to rescue people in the water. Halau's people are brought aboard the ship. Back at Petaybee, while trying to help Halau refugees adapt to the odd environs, Ronan is kidnapped by some very strange sea creatures who have masqueraded as deep-water otters, but are actually aliens. Murel and her family have to save Ronan, while trying to keep various intelligent animals in Petaybee's ocean from eating each other-and them-during the search. The characters are somewhat over-earnest and preachy, but the conversations between natural predators and prey make this an enjoyable.

 

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