A historical novel that will appeal to female teens. Quite well-written. From the flyleaf: "The Characters: Beautiful and wayward Thalamika, handmaiden to the Queen of Crete and Priestess to the Goddess... Andrios, the boy who loves her, cousin of King Minos of Crete and instructor to his young son Sarpedon, Prince of Crete... Kretheus, ambassador from warlike Mycenae to the court of Minos, handsome, treacherous, bold... Crete at the height of its brilliant civilization is the stage for an unparalleled story of mystery, deceit, and romance. The palace of Minos at Knossos seethes with an undercurrent of intrigue and hatred as the foreign Queen entertains her armed countrymen from Mycenae. Willful Thalamika, irresistibly drawn to the Mycenean Prince, disdains the earnest advice of her friends, as Andrios tries desperately to uncover the truth behind flying rumors of disaster. The pageantry of ritual dances, festivals to the Earth Mother and Poseidon, the daring and skill of young men and women trained as Bull Leapers for the Cretan Bull Games, the luxurious court of Knossos with its frescoed walls, its Nubian Guard, its slaves - all the fascination of this ancient civilization comes vividly to life in a story of very real people and emotions. " The limitation of this 4. 5 star book is its focus on the teen characters, some of which are downright petulant and self-centered. They live within a society that contains all ages but their older mentors and family members are more shadowlike, their characters are not very developed. They seem to be props on a stage. Willful Thalamika does learn that good looks aren't everything and can cause one to be misled. The description of the Bull Games is all but riveting. The politics, religious culture, and rising conflict make for a great story and an effortless way to absorb an ancient culture. The book is well-worth seeking out for females ages 12 and up. (Note: The author spent time on Crete as part of her research for the book. )