Quick Synopsis – Mossa has returned to Valdegeld on a missing person’s case, for which she’ll once again need Pleiti’s insight. Seventeen students and staff members have disappeared from Valdegeld University—yet no one has noticed. The answers to this case may lie on the moon of Io—Mossa’s home—and the history of Jupiter’s original settlements during humanity’s exodus from Earth.

Song This Reminds Me Of – she -Dodie

Publication Date – Feb. 13, 2024

Rating – 3.5 out of 5 stars⭐

Content Warnings – Light violence

Book Review – This is the second book in a series which I didn’t realize when I picked it up. However, even though I didn’t read the first book, the author does an excellent job of continuing her story while peppering plot points from the previous novel. I wasn’t lost at any point and in my opinion, you could read this as a standalone.

This was a quick angsty mystery novel where Pleiti and Mossa are sort of maybe girlfriend’s that fight crime. Okay, okay, it isn’t like a superhero novel, but Mossa is an investigator that needs Pleiti’s help. Pleiti is a professor of Classics at one of the most prestigious universities on Jupiter, Valdegeld. Mainly she studies Earth ecosystems in the hope of planning the perfect ecosystem so that humans can return to the planet they destroyed. Her studies are more of background for the story and not really a main plot point.

The main plot focuses on missing students, teachers, and other university staff. The B plot is that Pleiti is basically in love with Mossa and Mossa has a hard time with feelings. It actually bothered me that this plot felt unresolved. They never really talk about their relationship and if there is something more than just hooking up or needing help. The end of the book implies that they are a couple, but I would have enjoyed a real conversation about their status.

Overall this was a quick mystery read that I really enjoyed. I loved how humans had built platforms connected by rings for travel in order to survive on the gas giant. I’m going to go back and read the first one as well as keep an eye out for the next!

Thanks NetGalley and Tordotcom for the ARC.