I have really mixed thoughts on this book and I don't feel like writing a novel about them. So, here's the short non-spoilery version.

The book has a couple of slower chapters, but over all is full of excellent writing. Ariadne is a likeable enough character. The book explores life in Crete from her perspective through the first third of the story. After Ariadne leaves Crete we have a few alternating chapters from her sister, Phaedra's point of view. I didn't find her as likeable a character, but she was strong in making the best of her situation and I greatly admired that about her.

This book does have a bit of a timeline problem with Theseus and Perseus, but I didn't mind that.

What really bothered me was the last chapter and epilogue. The theme of mortal female agency the author sets up throughout the entire book is completely unraveled by the book's ending. The upsetting thing about this, for me, is that the original myth's ending would have fit the theme well. The only purpose of ending the book at the point the author chose was for tragic shock value. The fact that the original ending isn't included makes this story feel incomplete because I was expecting more from Dionysus. This ending lessens both his and Ariadne's character arcs, even for those who don't know that there is supposed to be more to the myth. The ending of this book took this adventure from a five star to a three star read.

I'm willing to read more from this author, but I hope she'll pay attention to the thematic arc of her story next time, because this one wound up being the exact opposite of what she spent 250+ pages building and what her team marketed.

It was so much fun to be back in Solaris, following the adventures of Alderik and Vhalla's daughter, Vi. If you've read the original Air Awakens quintet, then you'll find Vi's name is interesting enough to immediately draw you into this journey.

Now, don't be disappointed that Alderik and Vhalla only make an appearance through off-the-page letters. That doesn't make this borning. Firstly, Jax is still a presence in this book, keeping a solid and tangible connection to the characters we have come to love.

Vi is her own person though. She didn't grow up in the South like her father, the emperor, nor in the East, like her mother the Empress. She's never been to either of those places. She looks the spitting image of her Western grandmother, but she's never been there either. Vi has spent all of her seventeen years as a ward of the North, as a part of a peace treaty forged before she was ever born. She was supposed to be returned home to groomed as the next Empress three years ago, but something is wrong and no one has come to claim her and her back to the capital. Vi thinks it's because she still hasn't awakened her magical ability as a firebearer. She can't control her magic. So not only is she seen as some Northern savage, but she's also an inept sorceress. Who would want her for a ruler when the people already love her twin brother, born just a few minutes too late for the crown?

But one day Vi's abilities do awaken and they are not exactly what she or anyone expected. With the awakening comes an unexplainable mental connection to a strange man a continent away, a man named Taavin, who calls himself The Voice.

With Taavin's help, Vi begins to get a grip on her magic, but she's no closer to understanding why she has this kind of magic or knowing exactly what she's supposed to do with it. Unfortunately, the fate of the world and the ability to reconnect with her family, might just depend on the answers to those questions.

You'll love the new characters. Vi is strong and stubborn to a fault. She is dedicated and determined and a good mix of her father, her mother, and just herself. Taavin is a mysterious cinnamon roll who probably needs a good hug. But he's also got some major secrets we're just beginning to hint at. Jax is precious as always and I'm not so patiently waiting for his happily ever after.