3.5/5 stars. While the boys of Atlantis are celebrating their passage into manhood, Atlantis itself is crumbling around them. There is war in the far outposts of the kingdom, and in the very heart of the kingdom itself there is murder and betrayal. And for Aerander, heir to the King, his journey into manhood is filled with romance, choices, and secrets.

Aerander is involved in a love affair with a boy from another royal house. It's accepted when boys are young, but the expectation is they will eventually marry a woman and father heirs. But for Aerander this is no youthful experimentation, this is the way he wishes to lead his life, even though his father disapproves. On top of that, when Aerander's accusations about the missing boys are disbelieved as fantasy, he brings shame on himself and his house. Desperate to fix things, and to find and save his friends, he embarks on a quest that takes him to the very beginning--and ending--of Atlantis.

I was fascinated by this story. I fell into it and didn't want to leave. Aerander was a great character and a great hero.

(Provided by publisher) ( )

I am not typically one for historical fiction since sometimes the telling of a story can get booked down in the preservation of historical facts. For that reason, it took me a few extra pages to get into this story. However, once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it! The author does a great job of creating characters that the reader can relate to on a number of different levels. Within this he does a good job of weaving in the emotional aspects of youth coming to understand the concept of love and how that affects a sense of self. Combine that with an interesting supernatural storyline and this was a hit. Very enjoyable! ( )