3 1/2 Stars. This is the third book in the Return to Earth series, if you include the novella, The Ground Beneath. Though there is also a prequel, that I have not read yet. I liked this quite a bit better than The Ground Beneath, but not as much as All Things Rise.
This book stars Ava, who we met in All Things Rise. Ava, is a hard character to like. She wants to be attached to nobody, but when others around her pair off, she becomes jealous. And while I didn't really care for her in Book 1, I felt bad that she was lonely and stuck in this spiral. It was nice to read a book with a potential love interest for her. That brings us to Leland, a new character. Leland is daughter to the Chancellor of the cloud cities. Basically the man in charge of it all. Leland is tired of people wanting her for wealth and power, so she happily brings Ava home from the bar for a little bit of an escape. Neither women realize this one night stand is not the last they will see each other again.
Leland is a very likeable character and I think she helped carry the book a bit. She absolutely made Ava more likeable. The romance was pretty sweet between them, and you hope for a happy ever after for them.
This story doesn't have as much excitement as some of the other books, its a bit more political about the people against the ruling cast in the cloud cities. There is some time spent on Earth and a small cameo of Cole and Audrey. I would not have minded a little more of them as they are such a likeable pairing. This book did leave an opening as to whats going to happen in this world next. There is definitely room for some more books, and I look forward to reading them.
If this book sounds interesting to you, I would absolutely read All Things Rise first, to get more of a feel about Ava.
An ARC have been given to me by Bold Strokes Books, for a honest review.