In the icy depths of the Finnish wilderness, besties Aina and Siiri are about to have their friendship seriously tested. Aina, the sweet and cautious one, gets snatched up by a death goddess and dragged into the mythical underworld Tuonela. Siiri, ever the fearless one, sets off on a wild journey to save her. She’s got to deal with trappers, wolves, and a snow witch, all while hunting down a legendary shaman, Vainamoinen, for help. Meanwhile, Aina’s stuck playing twisted games in the underworld, where she’s making unexpected allies and maybe even falling for the king of death. No biggie.

This book totally sucked me in with its fascinating and unique Finnish mythology. Aina’s storyline had me hooked; she’s not just some meek sidekick but a total badass in her own right. Siiri’s adventure added a nice layer, though her whole “I’m not like other girls” thing felt a bit overdone at times. And yeah, some of her scenes with Vainamoinen dragged a bit, but hey, I get it, they needed time to bond.

Verdict:  Dark, magical, and seriously epic.