This historical fantasy had an interesting premise, but it seemed like an unfinished project. For one, it was way too short, more a novella or a short story, and that was no way enough to properly explore the either the setting or the story.

Kikeru, a priestess's child in ancient Crete is conflicted about his gender. But even as he struggles between being a man and marrying a woman, or being a woman and dedicating himself to the temple, he finds himself flung headlong into a Greek conspiracy to overthrow Crete--and also in love.

A gender-fluid teenager in ancient civilization was enough to make me want to read the book, but it was disappointing overall. The attraction between Rusa and Kikeru was all telling without showing, and especially given their age difference, it was very difficult to find it believable. I did like Kikeru's gender confuison and the fact that there was no real resolution to that in the span of the story, however.

(Review copy from NetGalley)