This fifth installment of the Galactic Bonds series sees Kyrion and Vesper trying a new test of their true bond. They are guests of Asterin's parents in the Erzton Kingdom. This couple have paid for a private true bond test in Roderick Battis' exclusive state-of-the-art battle simulator and maze. When the last battle group clears out, it is their turn. They divest themselves of weapons and head into the maze on opposite sides. They must avoid the traps and find each other in the centre of the maze.
But Roderick isn't interested in just watching. He wants to participate. Suddenly, it's a science fiction version of The Most Dangerous Game. Kyrion must fight for his life barehanded against an armoured opponent with a deadly war hammer, while Vesper deals with a lethal Black Scarab robot. This is Vesper's chance to prove that seers and engineers can be badasses too. Knowing how to build things means you also can figure out how to destroy them. Vesper gets to indulge her inner vandal, all the while wondering where Roderick acquired the Techwave robot.
This book felt rather like a holding pattern. I'm unsure that it advanced the storyline at all, despite the fun of seeing Vesper blow shit up and Kyrion turn the tables on a bully who can't win a fair fight. The pair are no farther along in their opposition to the Techwave or Callus Holloway, ruler of the Imperium. They still can't return home and Vesper's half-brother Zane is still obliged to at least pretend to pursue them on behalf of Holloway. Don't get me wrong, it was a fun story, but it didn't have the momentum that this series has had up to this point. I am glad that my library bought it, however, and I'll look forward to the next installment (where just maybe Asterin and Zane will finally click as a couple).
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