Aria of the Sea by Dia Calhoun

This book will be added to my bibliography of strong female protagonists! Cerinthe, who lives in the alternate world of Windward, a sea-based multiple female gods religious society, travels to the capitol city to take the trial, to get into the royal academy of dancing. Cerinthe struggles with the memories of her mother's death, of which, she blames herself, her self-dispised gift of healing and an ill tempered older dancer with endless talent but no work ethic. Cerinthe quickly rises in the ranks of the dancers due to her ability, but has lost the song of the goddess (something akin to losing faith or not hearing answers to our prayers), which she misses more than anything. Finally, after a tragic accident following a dare, Cerinthe hears the song once again while she is helping a fallen dancer. In the end, Cerinthe must choose between dancing, her mother's dream and following her goddess given gift, healing.