Daughter of Eden

Starred review from September 11, 2017
With this gritty tale of human expansion, Beckett brings his acclaimed Eden series (Dark Eden, Mother of Eden) to a striking conclusion. Eden’s tribal people are descended from a tiny group of human settlers who came to the planet some 300 years ago. They live low-tech, subsistence lives, overshadowed by their history. Legend says that, when the people reunite as one family, the starship will return and take them to Earth, but that isn’t likely in a world where women are chattel and those who question authority are cast out. Caught between warring tribes, Angie Redlantern’s family is forced to flee their lands. During their exodus, an Earth ship lands, bringing human explorers and knowledge that could save the people of Eden or set off wars more devastating than anything that came before. Beckett’s skillful worldbuilding and thoughtful characterization bring Eden to life, creating a stark microcosm of humankind’s worst and best aspects while reminding readers that “everyone needs a home.”