Persephone's victory over Boreas proves short-lived. Suddenly, a siren of a sister goddess rises and Persephone is saddled with acclimating Aphrodite. Persephone's realization of her powers causes friction with both Demeter and Melissa. Zeus poses an increasing threat. And no one can declare war on a deity quite like the god of death. The stakes keep getting higher, and Persephone finds herself sacrificing everything. Will there be anything left to salvage in the end?

Daughter of Earth & Sky takes readers steadily further into the dark side of mythology. No longer playing with the safe, familiar stories, Bevis thrusts Persephone straight into the world of endless appetites, divine demands for sex, death and cruelty. The effects feel much more immediate when you don't already know at least the frame for the story. Persephone acquits herself well, without losing her accessibility or plausibility. The plot turns just fast enough so that predictions don't overshadow the suspense. The romance between Hades and Persephone turns easily with the story, a key part of the plot rather than gratuitous fluff.

In short, Daughter of Earth & Sky is the exemplary second book: new elements are introduced without encroaching on the old, obstacles are overcome to the point of facing the ultimate danger without giving away anything about the climax, characters experience real growth, romance reaches a level of satisfaction to offset the unfinished plotlines, and you want to read the next one. Particularly because this book ended so abruptly. If Persephone refreshed the roots for spring, Daughter of Earth & Sky grew the story's stem. Now we just need the blossom.

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