Song of the Abyss

Tower of Winds #2

by Makiia Lucier

Ancient grievances, long-held grudges, and dangerous magic combine in this sweeping fantasy perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce and Rachel Hartman.

As the granddaughter of a famed navigator, seventeen-year-old Reyna has always lived life on her own terms, despite those who say a girl could never be an explorer for the royal house of St. John del Mar. She is determined to prove them wrong, and as she returns home after a year-long expedition, she knows her dream is within reach. No longer an apprentice, Reyna, Master Explorer. But when menacing raiders attack her ship, those dreams are pushed aside. Reyna's escape is both desperate and dangerous, and when next she sees her ship, a mystery rises from the deep. The sailors--her captain, her countrymen--have vanished. To find them, Reyna must use every resource at her disposal . . . including placing her trust in a handsome prince from a rival kingdom. Together they uncover a disturbing truth. The attack was no isolated incident. Troubling signs point to a shadowy kingdom in the north, and for once, the rulers of the Sea of Magdalen something must be done. But can Reyna be brave enough to find a way?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Adventure, Pirates

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 2019

About the author

Makiia Lucier is the author of Year of the Reaper, the Isle of Blood and Stone duology, and A Death-Struck Year. Her stories are inspired by history and mythology and have been called “brilliant” (Booklist), “moving,” (New York Times), “masterful” (Horn Book), and “breathtaking” (School Library Journal). They can be found on many notable lists, including the Kids’ Indie Next and the American Library Association’s ‘Best Fiction for Young Adults.’

Makiia grew up on the Pacific island of Guam, not too far from the equator, and holds degrees in journalism and library science.

She lives with her family in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Bitchin' Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

8/12/2019: Here I was worried that Song of the Abyss wouldn't live up to Isle of Blood and Stone, so I waited until within a month of its release to read it. Pfffft. I should never doubt Makiia Lucier because she is an amazing storyteller. This companion novel stays true to those from Song of the Abyss while also expanding Reyna's perspective to new lands as a mystery has her searching for her beloved friends.

And of course, there was a romancing brewing between Reyna and a dashing, kind-hearted, wonderful man that had me very much swooning. Reyna deserved a good man and, dangit if I didn't tear up several times, she got him.

I believe this concludes our time alongside our del Marian friends (I could be wrong), but the ending was definitely left in a way where I could see Makiia choosing to continue on if she chooses to do so. (Makiaa, if you read this, I think it is a wonderful idea to revisit this world again in the future. <3)

That being said, please pick up Song of the Abyss from your local bookstore as soon as you can. It publishes on 8/27/2019 and I am SO EXCITED to order my own copy!



***

I loved book 1 so much, and as I am crafting my full review for it--I am also trying to figure out a way to convince someone, SOMEONE, to help me get an ARC of book 2 when it becomes available. The possibilities of where book 2 will lead us excites me. Thank you to Makiia revealing this to me on Twitter, I know we follow young Reyna (oh man, I think that is her name--I am suddenly blanking), and she had a bright and promising future ahead of her, full of so many possibilities.

Gah. 💖😭 I haven't even read it and I feel emotional.

[Yusra ✨]

wow i NEED THIS

[Vicky Again · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sped through this so quickly. I love how Lucier's writing is so clearheaded and easy--Lucier wants you to focus on the story and what will happen next in the plot, rather than getting lost and confused in the prose, and I really appreciated this a lot.

This world is so much fun and it's definitely a fantasy I'd recommend--totally lived up to my expectations. I'd highly recommend this series (in any order! they can be read as standalones and don't need to be sequential) and wish we would get more in this world.

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Totally went rogue with this series. No, I didn't read the books out of order. It has just been like a super long time since I read the first book of this wonderful series. For example, I read Isle of Blood and Stone almost a year ago. Yup, May 20th to be exact. So you'd think that I would've been normal/smart about diving back into the first book before reading this one.. and you'd be completely wrong. I definitely just kind of dove into this one not regretting anything.

Song of the Abyss was so freaking good. I fell in love with Reyna and Levi so quickly. God they are truly wonderful and make such a great team. But mostly I just love little Reyna. She definitely reminds me Arya Stark.. which makes me so freaking giddy since GoT is in it's final season. She is my ultimate favorite character and if any book character reminds me of that little ninja bad ass - I will instantly love.

A lot happens in this book. I'm trying not to spoil anything.. but damn, a lot. I loved the ending so much. I love little teasing moments I get between my ship because they were just so god damn cute and adorable from day one. This book just brought me so much joy and happiness - which is probably why I devoured it so freaking quickly.

It just took me like 3-5 business days to woman up and write the damn review.

I still have no regrets.

In the end, I already miss these characters. I hope there's going to be another book but if not, I will continue to reread these two books for the rest of my life.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It upsets me that Tower of Winds is only a duology. I want more. 😭 I want to learn about Blaise time in medical school, the fate of Lord Jaime, and if King Ulises will ever marry.

[The Captain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this young adult fantasy novella eARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, isle of blood and stone, and was very excited to get a copy of this companion novel.  And I loved it!  I read this in one sitting and was completely immersed in the story.  The highlights of this one included:  

The world-building - Seriously I loved getting more information about del Mar and the other surrounding countries.  I still absolutely love del Mar's culture of exploration and the sea.  I still love the function of maps in the society.

The main character - I loved that this was the story of Reyna who we met in book one when she was nine.  She has grown up and has spunk and tenacity.  Hooray for woman power and challenging the status quo.  Arrrr!

Visiting old friends - I loved getting insights into how character's lives from the first book unfolded.  They were certainly not the focus but I those tidbits I did get made me smile.

The tone - Like the first, this book is marketed as a young adult but can certainly be read by all ages.

The plot - this starts out with a lot of action and doesn't stop.  It was great that lots of women were the focus of the story.  I did like the romance in this one too and was glad that, like in the first book, the romance was not the focus.  Instead the focus was were it should have been - on saving their friends.  I also liked how the characters worked together and needed each other's talents to save the day.

The bad guys - The main bad guy in this book was a lot less cookie-cutter than in the previous book.  He at least had motivations.

The ending - Some unexpected things happened at the end of this book and it made me happy.  I loved it!

There were a few downsides to this book.  I could have used more insight into the secondary characters.  I especially wanted more about Blaise cause she was awesome.  I would have loved more answers about the fantasy creatures introduced in this book.  And I also would have liked more insight into the culture and politics of the countries outside of del Mar.  That said, I did love what I got.

This companion book is the last in the series according to the author's Goodreads page.  But I have to admit that I hope she writes another story set in this lovely world.  Besides the ending of the novel hints at another potential mystery.  Aye, more please!  If ye haven't read this series, then I highly recommend it. Arrrr!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

Initial post reading thoughts:
Absolutely stunning and mesmerizing 😍

Teaser Review:
I was super lucky to win a giveaway for Song of The Abyss back in November and an eGalley prior and I was going to wait longer to start it because this book does not come out until August. But the cover kept looking at me and I was looking at it and I caved. Release date is still a while off BUT I loved Song of the Abyss to much to not talk about it now. So, please enjoy this teaser review.

○The action starts from page one and doesn't slow down for a moment. Each page furthered the plot and sucked me deeper into the story.

○Lucier created a cast of really likable characters. Obviously I didn't like the villain in the story, but I loved the connections each character had with each other and how in their own little sense were a family.

○It took me all of about two pages to fall in love with Levi, the prince of Lunes. He is super dreamy and moody and amazing.

○Though Song of the Abyss can be read as a stand alone it is a part of the Tower of Wind series and its companion novel Isle of Blood and Stone follows the story of Ulises and Elias who do play a large role in this book as well. It isn't required but I am sure it does clear some of their back story up.

○The last fifty pages over the novel were a complete page turner. The whole villain, what they were doing and the whole cultural part of the story really interested me. It was something really different and refreshing.

○Song of the Abyss was absolutely both stunning and mesmerizing!

Be sure to check back closer to August for my full review of Song of the Abyss, I promise this is one fantasy novel you are not going to want to miss in 2019!

[Christina (Ensconced in Lit) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate this book 4.5 stars. I really honestly wish I could rate it a full 5 stars, but beginnings continue to be a struggle for Lucier. The first book had about 100 pages of backstory that was rather boring to get through and then suddenly it picked up several notches and didn't let go until the end. This second installment was the same, except it was only 75 pages. The story focuses on Reyna, who was a 9 year old girl full of spunk in the first book and stole every scene she was in. My biggest gripe with this book is that I was completely confused at the beginning (I'm guessing the author wanted to get rid of the issues of the first by thrusting us immediately into the action). But the problem was, I had no idea it was 8 years later, and expected to see the characters right after the first book. Instead, I didn't know who anyone was, and didn't care they were in danger. I wonder if the book started when Reyna was 9 and just quickly got us up to speed, we would be more engaged from the start, and be right there with Reyna, who is a terrific character. From the 75 page mark, once again, the book takes off, and I was holding my breath and hanging on for dear life until the end. The rest of the book is just mindblowingly fantastic, even better than the first. I worry that people won't make it through the first part to the well worth it second part. Lucier is clearly very talented and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

[Raquel · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ★★☆☆☆
Review copy was received from the publisher via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review

This was a quick, easy and entertaining read perfect for a summer holiday next to the sea. I chose Song of the Abyss to read and review because the plot sounded really interesting and combined a YA fantasy theme with pirates and a strong young heroine, elements I genuinely like. Although I haven’t read the first book in the series (both are intended as standalone), I did not feel as though I was missing out on any backstory and had no problems with the characters’ development or the world-building –I really appreciate the effort Lucier did so new readers not be left confused or with tons of hidden references to understand–.

The story starts in media res, with a third-person narrator from the POV of Reyna, a seventeen-year-old woman in training to be a master navigator, and with the sudden attack of some pirates to her ship. After narrowly escaping, she encounters the young prince of a rival kingdom while hiding her real identity. At this point I was invested in the story since the plot was slowly developing with calm pacing and rhythm –this was one of the points I most liked about this novel until the last third of the story–. Reyna then will return home and there she will find people she loves are in danger from the same pirates, so she must team up with the prince in a harrowing adventure to try to rescue their loved ones, with the fate of all of their countries in the balance.

While this novel was full of rich descriptions about various countries and geographical locations, the story still felt as though it could have used more depth. The world created is an interesting one, with seas full of monsters and some interesting mythological creatures, even though I felt like the fantasy elements did not belong for a moment. In my opinion, this felt more a historical-fiction than fantasy, but it is due to the author leans much too heavily on actual historical and cultural aspects from different cultures around the world (Caribbean and Japanese, for example) to build the fictionalised countries of the story.

One thing that stood out for me was the credibility of the characters’ actions and emotions, although their final development was rather flat. I really liked all the characters, from our protagonist Reyna to all the secondary ones (especially Blaise and Levi); and although I am not a big fan of romantic subplots, I quite enjoyed the romantic trope in here since it was not a major highlight of the novel. The plot, although exciting at first, was flatter developed and the many dangerous situations that the characters found themselves in did not feel very suspenseful or threatening. There were no major plot twists. The ending chapters were too rushed compared to the rhythm of the first two parts of the novel.

All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast and light read. The story could have used more depth and I was not a big fan of Makiia Lucier’s writing style, but if you like young adult historical-fantasiesque adventures at sea, with pirates, different cultures and kingdoms, some mysteries, and lovely characters, this would be an enjoyable reading.

———
[ Fills into the Reading Women Challenge (24) A young adult book by a woman of color ]

[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 4 out of 5]

⤅ The romance in this one is just LOVELY.

Levi falls hard for Reyna basically as soon as he sees her, and everyone knows it (though she's initially resistant to acknowledge it). My favourite trope. She, for her part, is a quietly competent cartographer who's not as flashy as the heroines of YA fantasy often are, but embodies the proverb 'still waters run deep'. So does Levi, for that matter. They're both very well-grounded characters who will be good for each other.

The prose is beautiful too. It's not overly lyrical, but it flows past like silk. The fantasy world-building could do with some fleshing out, because right now it's kind of generic, but the writing helps smooth over any gaps.

And yes, I got this as an ARC... two years ago... Better late than never.

[Blog] - [Bookstagram]

[~Evy's OBSESSED~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It was a day filled with the dead and the dying."

Honestly I was a little worried this book wouldn't be as good as the first bc the characters were different. Thankfully, my suspicions we're unfounded. This book is so amazing!! The storyline was quite unique and the characters captured my heart from beginning to end❤️

**

OVERVIEW
"Ancient grievances, long-held grudges, and dangerous magic combine in this sweeping standalone fantasy perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce and Rachel Hartman.

They came in the night as she dreamt, in her berth, on a ship sailing home to del Mar. After, they would be all Reyna thought about: two carracks painted scorpion black. No emblem on either forecastle, no pennants flying above the mainmasts to hint at a kingdom of origin.

Never a good sign.

As the granddaughter of a famed navigator, seventeen-year-old Reyna has always lived life on her own terms, despite those who say a girl could never be an explorer for the royal house of St. John del Mar. She is determined to prove them wrong, and as she returns home after a year-long expedition, she knows her dream is within reach. No longer an apprentice, instead: Reyna, Master Explorer.

But when menacing raiders attack her ship, those dreams are pushed aside. Reyna's escape is both desperate and dangerous, and when next she sees her ship, a mystery rises from the deep. The sailors--her captain, her countrymen--have vanished. To find them, Reyna must use every resource at her disposal . . . including placing her trust in a handsome prince from a rival kingdom.

Together they uncover a disturbing truth. The attack was no isolated incident. Troubling signs point to a shadowy kingdom in the north, and for once, the rulers of the Sea of Magdalen agree: something must be done. But can Reyna be brave enough to find a way?"

POSITIVE ELEMENTS
Reyna fights for what's right and wants to find her friends. Levi is compassionate and a good role model. Positive messages of never giving up.

SPIRITUAL ELEMENTS
Mentions of saints and prayers. Magic.

VIOLENCE
People kidnapped. Descriptions of death, blood and pain. Some sword fights (little to semi-detailed). Blaise helps those who are sick or hurt (semi-detailed). Ships attacked. A person nearly drowns. Huge storms. Magical creatures try to kill some people. Mentions of past injuries. A girl is kept away and is underfed.

SEXUAL CONTENT
Two kisses (little detail). Holding and wanting (not inappropriate). A woman is pregnant.

LANGUAGE
"A--" used literally and as an insult. "H--l" said once.

DRUGS/ALCOHOL
Mentions of alcohol.

OTHER NOTES
Soooo good!!! Idk why these books aren't better known, they're so amazing! Highly suggest for ages 12+ for violence.

**

"For some reason, there was no greater insult than pity."

~Happy Reading~

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

*A exhilarating journey with all the hallmarks of a grand adventure*

Last year I read Isle of Blood and Stone and thoroughly enjoyed it. So I was excited to read the sequel. Although they can be read as standalones, I would recommend reading them in order. There is a lot of worldbuilding in the first book. And many of the characters from the first book are also in Song of the Abyss.

The one grumble about Isle of Blood and Stone was that while it was an enjoyable quest, it didn’t have the scope of a grand adventure. And I said I wanted to see more of the surrounding world. Well, Lucier certainly delivered on that! Song of the Abyss has everything a good adventure needs. (Well, it could have used a bit more swashbuckling.) But the story has a mysterious quest, sailing, mythological elements, possible love, and best of all, a dauntless heroine.

The story takes place eight years after the first book. Reyna is all grown up and struggling to make her mark as a cartographer despite massive gender biases. When her ship is attacked and her friends taken prisoner, Reyna sets off to lands unknown to try to save them. The story was fun and exciting and exactly the escapist adventure that I was in the mood for! I’m excited to see what Lucier does next!


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 5 Stars
Writing Style: 5 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 5 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 5 Stars
Level of Captivation: 5 Stars
Originality: 4 Stars

[coffee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went through the previous posts for this blog tour and it looks like everyone knew that you could read this book as a standalone from Isle of Blood and Stone. I must have missed the memo because I went and read the first book, which is now making me feel conflicted! Why? Because I adored book one!!

In Song of the Abyss, we are once more dropped off into the lands of St. John del Mar, except eight years into the future. While book one followed the adventures of Elias, Mercedes, and King Ulises, they have now gone into retirement because of their old bones. Now we get a glimpse of this world through the eyes of Reyna, who was actually a pretty important side character in the first book! When I realized this was the case, I was a bit EHERM, worried

It was nice to see that my worry was only half-justified. I say half because when I put these two books together, Isle of Blood and Stone definitely comes out as the winner, but if I think about everything that we got in Song of the Abyss, well, we do get some nice content

“You don’t really believe she made that swim.”
“No, that part I believe,” Levi said. “But if she is a painter I’ll eat that compass.”

In Song of the Abyss, Reyna is on her way back home to St. John del Mar after being on an expedition for one year where she charted a new map. When she’s woken up by her bodyguard and told they have been attacked by possible pirates, strange ones that leave their enemies blank-faced and pliant, Reyna knows she must destroy all maps on the ship. Including the one she just made. A whole year of work destroyed. New routes and lands once more shrouded in mystery. Which is why she does what no mapmaker would ever do

She decides not to destroy the maps and escapes her taken ship, crosses the sea filled with dangerous sea lions and serpents, and lands right in the hands of the one family she didn’t want – the Lunes royalty. Specifically, one Levi Lamech, second son of King Lamech and captain in the royal navy

“We’re perfectly capable of doing what men can do. It does not mean we have to look like them.” She held up a hand when Reyna would have spoken. “Before you say anything more, I must tell you my physician says I am in a delicate stage and must not be distressed in any way.”

That silenced Reyna. Momentarily. “You’re shameless,” she said.

In terms of characters, I have to admit that I really liked Reyna. Considering the many girls in YA, I felt like Reyna was very mature for her age, possibly because of the things she experienced as a child, but possibly because that’s just her character. You could tell she really loved exploring, refusing to give in to the mapmaking men that only seemed to want to keep her indoors to make a family. While there were some moments where I couldn’t help but scream because talk about reckless!!, I also just thought it was cool that she didn’t hesitate to help those she loved

But perhaps the reason that she stands out on top of all other YA girls is that she doesn’t let the romance dictate her actions look I just finished reading Crier and SCREAMS. Like the first book, in this one, the romance is pretty clear cut and because of Reyna being Reyna, she’s very open and clear about her feelings, preferring to be honest than be led around by misunderstandings. That said, I do have to say that my favorite moments usually came from Levi, who was often feeling jealous over her relationship with a certain guy who I was sad didn’t get much story time!!

“We’ll see Jaime before you know it, and he’ll be swearing his love for you, and for me, and likely even for your handsome, brooding captain. You know he’s not particular.”

Outside of the romance and more into the worldbuilding and plot, I have to say I wasn’t very impressed. I really liked the first few pages because of how Reyna escaped the ship and then tricked Levi and his crew (#impressed). But after Reyna makes it back home, the pacing really slows down and we’re introduced into some mundane tasks like Reyna cleaning up a really messy room. And getting some dresses done. Even part of the voyage became a bit too much, even though it really did wonders for the relationship between characters. Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded all of this as much if the ending hadn’t felt as compressed as it did

Once I was in the last fifty pages for this book, the content felt a little rushed. There was no planning done and yet everything worked out for our characters. Which I was happy about because of ma boys, but also, it took away potentially suspenseful moments. I know while I was reading I kept thinking, has NOBODY been caught snooping? How is it all going so well? They must have their sneak at level 100

“What we choose to believe is powerful, Reyna.”

Overall, I’m glad I was introduced to this series but I didn’t really feel very attached to Song of the Abyss. There were a lot of fun moments (as I’m hoping I conveyed with the quotes I chose), but I felt like the payoff wasn’t as good as it could have been. I do recommend it if you like a mature 17-yo female protagonist, an interesting world where mapmakers are the heroes of the kingdom, and where the romance is clear cut and too soft for my soul

I gave it a 3/5 for a slightly above average read. I wonder briefly how my experience would have been if I’d read this one first and not Isle of Blood and Stone, which is where I fell in love with the worldbuilding

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

You guys can see the full review on my dumb blog here.

HOLY CRAP. I loved the first book, and the second is even better, you guys!

Remember Reyna, everyone’s favorite little badass from Isle of Blood and Stone? Reyna is the granddaughter of former Royal Navigator Lord Silva, and she’s the one who discovered the map who set off all the action of the first book. Well, Song of the Abyss takes place eight years after the events of Isle of Blood and Stone. Reyna is now seventeen and well on her way to becoming a Master Explorer, in spite of St. John del Mar’s institutionalized patriarchy. Reyna is on her way home from a year of exploring and creating gorgeous, painstakingly detailed maps when her ship is attacked by pirates. Never a good thing. These pirates speak a language similar to that spoken on the island of Coronad, and, of course, their ship has no identifying markers. Somehow, with the help of some pied-piper-esque magic, the pirates manage to take Reyna’s ship without a fight. Reyna just barely manages to escape, hitching a ride with some friendly sea worms to the nearby Isle of Lunes.

Lunes is having it’s own problems at the moment: the king has just died and his eldest daughter Vashti is now queen. The queen has two younger brothers - Levi, a dashing sea captain, and Asher, a lovable, but clueless college student who is bad with money. When Reyna arrives, soaking wet, on Lunes, literally the first person she meets is Levi, drowning his sorrows after the death of his father. Reyna just wants to find the first Del Marian ship she can and get the hell out - Lunes and St. John del Mar are allies, but they’d gladly stab one another in the back at the first opportunity. If the Royal Family of Lunes finds out who Reyna is, well, they’ll make her turn over her precious, precious maps. So Reyna ditches Levi, hops on a ship and heads back to St. John del Mar.

Everything’s fine now, right? Nope. Soon after Reyna gets home, Queen Vashti shows up, Levi in tow. They want to figure out what is up with these pirates - turns out these weird maybe-they’re-from-Coronad-but-not-really type pirates are really from a place called Miramar. Miramar is an isolationist nation that rarely ever admits foreigners. The Del Marians and Lunesians don’t really know all that much about them, except that they sent all their convicts to Coronad, Australia style, hence the similar language. Few Miranese ever leave Miramar...so why are bands of Miranese pirates suddenly raiding the seas and kidnapping sailors? The Lunesians want to know because, well, poor dumb Asher, after learning of his father’s death, hopped on the first ship he could find and ended up disappearing. Soon after, Reyna’s friend and mentor, Lord Elias, along with her childhood friend Jamie, also disappear. They’ve all been taken without a fight by these Miranese pirates and now everyone wants to know a) why; b) how; c) what the actual hell; and d) are their friends and loved ones still alive?

To find the missing, they must have an adventurous Master Explorer and a daring Sea Captain sail across the sea to the mysterious nation of Miramar to figure out what the hell is going on. So Reyna and Levi head west on Levi’s ship, the Truthsayer, to solve this mystery and definitely not fall in love or anything like that. Nope. Not gonna happen. They just want to find their friends and loved ones, that’s all.

Since I absolutely loved Isle of Blood and Stone, it almost goes without saying that, yes, I absolutely loved Song of the Abyss as well. We get to see more of the world Lucier introduced us to in the first novel, plus we get an entire story dedicated to the now all-grown-up Reyna, who was one of my favorite characters from the first book. If you haven’t read Isle of Blood and Stone, then you definitely want to do that, especially if you’re a fan of action/adventure YA fantasies with lots of political intrigue, ghosts, monstrous sea creatures and a leprosy subplot. If you go into Song of the Abyss blind, you might feel a little lost, but if you’re already a fan, then you’ll absolutely be in your element. Song of the Abyss starts out exciting and then just keeps going. At no point does the story drag or feel tedious - there’s a good balance between all of the action and the quieter moments in between. The romance between Reyna and Levi is sweet and develops naturally, but everyone’s main focus is on finding out what happened to their friends. The setting is, again, fantastic - the whole world of St. John del Mar definitely sounds like somewhere you’d want to visit (though maybe skip Miramar...). Also, I am just so fricking happy that Reyna got her own book - she’s a tenacious badass adventurer who isn’t about to let pirates or the patriarchy or feuding royals get in the way of her desire to be a Master Explorer.

My only complaint is that, after Song of the Abyss, we won’t be getting any more. According to the Word of God, this is to be our last foray into the world of the Tower of the Winds. Fingers crossed that maybe, just maybe, we’ll get a third book? Maybe?

[C.P. Cabaniss · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lies were best remembered when they bore some semblance of truth."

This was my second read of this book and almost one year to the day of the first read. This, as well as the companion novel Isle of Blood and Stone are among the best of young adult fantasy.

The writing is excellent, the characters well drawn, the world building subtle yet complex. If you haven't added Makiia Lucier's books to your reading list, you really need to.


original review
*My review is based on the reading of an ARC that I received. All thoughts are my own.*

A few chapters into this, I wasn't sure if I was going to continue. The concept of it was really interesting to me, but I was finding a hard time connecting with the writing style. I decided to give it a bit more time to see if it would catch my attention and it did. I enjoyed this quite a lot.

I liked the cast of characters and the world that was developed. The magical elements were woven in smoothly and added to the story and the world. The plot was interesting without being overly complex.

At times there were things that seemed a little too easy or simplified, but even the characters would acknowledge this, which made it less annoying and more relatable. Because sometimes things are just like that.

There was some romance and while I liked this aspect overall, there were a few things that annoyed me. The jealousy felt and acted on by one of the characters was sometimes over the top to me. I could understand some of his feelings and liked that he acknowledged them, but there were some aspects of possessiveness that I did not like.

Overall I enjoyed this one a lot and will be trying other books by this author. I have not read Isle of Blood and Stone the first book in this companionship, so I'm going to get that one and see what I think.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stan-alone companion to Isle of Blood and Stone. While you do not have to read it, I highly recommend you do, as Song of the Abyss takes place a few years after the events of Isle of Blood and Stone.

While I greatly enjoyed Isle of Blood and Stone, Song of the Abyss is far superior. The adventure, the romance, the characterization, the mystery--all of it is absolutely fantastic and phenomenally well-crafted.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Fantastic book. Taking off the half a star for claustrophobic nightmare fuel.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to HMH for giving me a free ARC at Yallwest

It was super cool for me to read this book, because I received it at a panel at Yallwest! I went to the Royals panel, and I had the pleasure of listening to the author, Makiia Lucier, speak with other authors about writing about royals, fantasy kingdoms, etc. I loved hearing about her writing, and especially how much she enjoys maps! It was so cool to see that in this book!

Song of the Abyss is the sequel to Isle of Blood and Stone, which I read about a year ago and honestly have zero recollection of. I see that I rated it three stars, and I rated this one four stars (and have also gotten harsher in my ratings in the last year), so it’s a pretty safe bet that I enjoyed this one more, so if you read the first book and didn’t enjoy it that much, I would still recommend this one!

Also, this book can really stand alone; it’s more of a companion than I sequel, I think. It’s set eight years after the first one, and has a different main character, who was apparently just mentioned as a cameo in the first one, and the main characters from the first book (honestly all I remember are their names and nothing else from that book) have short cameos in this one, but aren’t the main characters. So if this book appeals to you and you have no recollection of the other one or don’t want to read it or anything, I still recommend diving into this one as I did.

I really loved premise of this book. It has a lot to do with maps and exploration, as the main character, Reyna, is a mapmaker, and she and the other main characters travel to a previously uncharted kingdom. Reyna is constantly taking stuff in, sketching maps and the scenery, and loves trying to figure stuff out about their world and circumstances, and I love being along for the ride!

I loved the fantasy world as well! It’s not over the top with fantasy and magic or anything, but rather presents things such as whirlpools of spirits (which is very cool) and sirens and harpies like normal. Also yes sirens!! I didn’t know there were going to be sirens in this book before going into it, and I really love sirens, so I was very happily surprised to see them in there!

I love Reyna! I love how she’s so passionate about her kingdom, her friends, her trade. It was clear that she was so invested in map making, and really fierce and strong too–I mean, the book opens up with her jumping off an attacked ship and swimming in a monster infested sea to enemy shore with classified maps… which is pretty amazing, just saying. Prince Levi was amazing too, seeing how he carefully balanced politics and diplomacy and being a good prince, with at the same time just trying to be a good friend and grieving brother, all while really liking Reyna…

Their romance, unfortunately, felt a bit like instalove and annoyed me a bit, particularly at the beginning. By the end though it really grew on me and I was totally rooting for these two! I also loved the other relationships in the book, particularly that between Reyna and her kindhearted best friend.

There were so many interesting cool characters besides just them in this book! Particularly as more is revealed about the mysterious place they travel to, and we progress farther into the book, there is a character who is so ruthless and cutthroat while pretending to be friendly on the outside, a broken character full of secrets, and a lot of other amazing people that I want to gush about but don’t want to spoil anything.

My biggest complaint with this book was, unfortunately, the pacing. The beginning of the book was great with Reyna swimming with monsters, and the second half of the book once the adventure really kicked off was fantastic, but the hundred pages or so in the middle were really boring and I was really not invested in the story then. It felt like action, then a whole lot of nothing, and then more action. But the rest of the book definitely makes the slow parts worth it!

[The Nerd Daily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on The Nerd Daily | Review by Holly Angus

Seventeen-year-old Reyna is the daughter of an esteemed navigator. While on an adventure to prove her ability to be a female explorer for the royal house of St. John del Mar, Reyna’s ship is attacked by pirates and she is left to swim to shore in sea serpent infested waters.

Enter Captain Levi, the second child of the king of Lunes. I enjoyed how Lucier originally introduced this character as weeping in public on the port than Reyna swims to. Levi is a strong, independent man who is captain of his own ship and leads many men to battle. However, Lucier took this introduction to depict this ‘manly man’ as crying, which is something that is not often seen in teen books. I found that this opening scene allows for Levi to feel his emotions and embrace grief while still being a strong male lead. YA readers, male especially, should be able to view Levi as a character to look up to and not just someone who needs to ‘man up’ and stop crying.

This novel also features a lost island that has been isolated from society and other explorers. The kingdom of Miramar is self-sufficient but is depicted as ruthless and violent. The only known fact of this kingdom is that they used to trade with the other esteemed islands for clay. Reyna quickly recognises the Miranese as the raiders who stole her ship in the beginning of the novel. This isolated kingdom seems to hold the answers of why her ship was stolen and where her kidnapped sailors are.

Lucier has a way with writing settings so vibrantly that they come to life in the reader’s head. The kingdoms of Lunes and St. John del Mar are so well written that I could practically smell the salty breeze as Reyna walks along the port of call. If your book buzzwords are sea, kingdoms or exploring, you have to pick up the Tower of Winds books. These books are action packed, witty, and full of political intrigue, all of which are well executed and simple enough to grasp the reader without info-dumping.

Although this is a companion novel, I would recommend reading Isle of Blood and Stone first as some characters reappear and it would be helpful and fun to have the background of their narratives. At a rating of 8/10 stars, I liked Isle of Blood and Stone more but also thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked the storyline of King Ulises and Elias more than Reyna, therefore, if you are only going to read one of Lucier’s novels, I would recommend the first of the duology. With that being said, I would highly recommend both for YA and middle-grade readers.

[Breanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS REVIEW & MORE → Paws and Paperbacks

ARC provided by the publisher.

Isle of Blood and Stone is one of the most under-hyped books, and it’s companion novel Song of the Abyss can join its ranks as greatly written YA fantasies that deserve way more attention than they are getting.

The main character’s name is Reyna, and I will 100% admit that it was the reason I decided to pick up this ARC and forced me into reading the first book. Reyna was one of my favorite characters in Isle of Blood and Stone and it was so awesome to see her get her own story!

There was more action in Song of the Abyss, which along with the fantastic pacing, made this such an easy book to fly through. The story follows Reyna as she goes searching for her missing friends to a mysterious kingdom. As with Isle of Blood and Stone, Makiia Lucier does an amazing job in creating a story that blends adventure, mystery, and a hint of romance together with excellent writing and memorable characters. I definitely recommend these books to anyone looking for a fun fantasy done right. My message to the bookish community: stop sleeping on these books!

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Song of the Abyss took me almost three weeks to get through, which is not a great sign, even with the number of books I read.

The world Lucier has created is an interesting one, with seas full of monsters. The first book didn't have that much fantasy to it, aside from being a fictional world with monstrous seas, but Song of the Abyss has a bit more, which through me for a loop. Ironically, I felt like the fantasy elements didn't belong for a moment, even though this book is a fantasy. There's nothing wrong with it, however. The plot has some cool elements, though I do feel like Miramar leans much too heavily in its construction upon Japan's culture.

Reyna was my favorite character in the first book, but she lacked that same vibrancy here. Her romance is tepid, though perfectly nice. If I'd felt some connection to these characters, I think this book would have been pretty great. Definitely worth giving it a shot because your mileage may vary.

[Sabrina au Barca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and quick read!
The first book is still better in my opinion and the beginning keeps being a problem for Lucier but I still really enjoyed the story, the plot and the characters!
Where the first book had a rather slow pace to itself the pace of this one was much faster, which is also the reason for the rating being only about 3.75 to 4 stars.
Still an enjoyable read and I do hope for another book set in this very interesting and unique world!

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

Song of the Abyss delivers the same feels and atmosphere as Isle of Blood and Stone with a just as compelling but more harrowing central mystery. Entire shiploads of men are going missing and Reyna is the only surviving witness to it happening. With the help of a prince from a rival kingdom, they must infiltrated another isolationist kingdom to find answers.

Reyna, the young girl from Isle of Blood and Stone, is now 17 years old and takes the reign in this companion novel. She is fierce and headstrong with the same propensity for exploring as Lord Elias (who makes a few appearances here as well as some other familiar characters). Prince Levi is the brooding prince who falls in love with her, and I thought their romance was quite subtle but believable. The story this time around is far more action-packed and fast-paced and with higher and deadlier stakes. The mystery will leave you at the edge of your seat and you won’t want to stop reading until the last final reveal.

Song of the Abyss is a compelling, immensely readable YA fantasy with a lot of action and heart.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I wrote in my review for Book 1, I was thankful to find both of the books in this series as a recent library book sale. So when I finished Book 1 I immediately jumped into book two.

Book two takes place 10 years later on the same island with some of the supporting characters becoming main characters. While you do see the original main characters from Book 1 in this book they're doing their own thing and the focus is just enough to let the new focus characters shine.

This book is a bit more heavier on the romance aspect. The sister of the King from Book 1 is now 19 and is an apprentice mapmaker. It is when her ship gets attacked, leaving her to abandon ship and swim to the nearest port that she is rescued by the newly crowned King, Levi. Levi and Renya's meeting then is linked back to the attack of her ship which puts in motion the events in which causes her to travel off to the different kingdom.

I thought to myself - yay, we finally get to see a different culture and a different kingdom. While it was still refreshing and did add to the lore, I felt like I was still being withheld from the rest of the world. And, from the way that mapmakers are discussed, the world is fairly new? Why do mapmakers still need to create maps seeking out unknown places? Hasn't the world been discovered yet? Is that why we don't see as many cultures? ... But their lore, their religion, their myths / stories have been around for hundreds, thousands of years? Why is this still being treated as if the world is still brand new?

Don't get me wrong, it's a fun series and I enjoyed it, but world building is not the greatest strength of the duology. All in all, a fun read but I wouldn't mind if the author returned to the series in the future.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two princes, one charming and one wicked, along with pirates, cartographers, and some lovely nautical magic making this a rousing sails and sorcery novel for those inclined towards such adventures. A stand-alone novel, it is quite as charming as book one in the series, but seriously begs for a book three, if only because the author has hinted at many other islands and magical adventures.

[Genevieve Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I intended to start this book yesterday and accidentally swallowed it whole.

I didn't love this one quite as much as Isle of Blood and Stone, but I've never met a Makiia Lucier book yet that wasn't effortless to read.

This was a lot of fun. Not a deep, complex, epic scale fantasy. It's a tightly-written story with focused scope and no unnecessary flab, and I enjoyed it a lot.

(Obligatory ghost cameo, check. Obligatory plague cameo, check.)

Reyna is a royal mapmaker on a voyage for St John de la Mar when disaster strikes her ship. She washes ashore in a foreign land, and from there adventures begin that end in uncovering a far bigger threat than just ordinary pirates. Reyna and Levi's romance was just at the level I approve of -- present, but not oppressive, and the story never lost my interest.

I always wish Makiia Lucier's books included more. Would it hurt us to spend a few chapters doing nothing to advance the plot, just learning more about the characters and world? But this is her style and it works well, so the only real weak spot I would point out is the ending.

Reyna simply spills her guts to a foreign king, and boom. Problem solved. It certainly makes one wonder why this couldn't have been done a lot earlier, and seems like a poor option to count on. The king had done nothing to make himself seem particularly kind, honest, or trustworthy. What if he hadn't been? This could have gone terribly for everyone involved.

Overall, though, this was a shot of compressed fantasy adventure injected directly into my veins, and it was great.

[Josey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve known about this series for two weeks, but I love it so much. The characters, the world building, the mysteries in the plot. It’s all amazing, and I’m so sad that it’s over

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this was excellent from beginning to end.

We begin with a 17 year old Reyna on a ship heading home, when they are boarded in the dead of night by raiders. She throws all the maps overboard as instructed, except of course the ones she’s labored over for two years, and then she slips beneath the surface herself. After an exhausting swim to the nearest coast she stumbles upon a grieving prince (Levi) who is suspicious of the young woman with a map holder slung across her back, sopping wet and gasping on the dock. He finds her royal passport and doesn’t believe when she says she’s a simple painter, but when she spots a del Mar ship in the harbor, she hops on and escapes back home.

Once home she tells Ulises and the others about the strange circumstances of the raiders, the humming that seemed to prevent the men from fighting back, but no one seems to know what to make of this. But when a ship carrying Elias and Jaime is found completely empty, and Prince Levi and his sister the Queen of Lunes show up with news of the raiders (and that their youngest brother has been taken as well), Reyna and Ulises do not hesitate. Reyna will join Levi who is a captain and go to Miramar, a secretive and secluded island from which the raiders are suspected of coming from, to hopefully find what’s happened with their men.

This one moved quickly from the first page all the way through the end. Young Levi is a fantastic love interest, and Reyna deserves all the good things considering all she’s lost in her young life.

We meet Sirens, or Harpies, that isn’t cleared up lol, and find magic clay that keeps men alive yet statuesque. Miramar is an old kingdom, with nearly no outside influence, and they hold tight to their ways; when a king passes he is entombed with all of his friends and advisers and soldiers. Except a few years before they lost much of their population due to a pox, and no one is excited about entombing themselves with the dead king. The son of the king has been set aside for a nephew, and he’s determined to earn his way back to being the Crown Prince, no matter the cost.

The friendships and found family relationships in this series are truly exceptional. I found myself tearing up quite often, in both books. These are full recommends, just like the other two books of Makiia’s I’ve read (Dragonfruit and The Year of the Reaper).

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful followup to Isle of Blood and Stone, this novel sweeps the reader into an aquatic adventure featuring strange lands and magic. I loved the detail, things like the smell of the spices and the dresses Reyna (reluctantly) wears. The mystery was fascinating and I read this in almost one go...had to stop for work, more's the pity, but I got there in the end. The ghosts really creeped me out, too! I wasn't so sure of the instalove, but I've learned to accept and mostly ignore it, as it features in so many books nowadays.

I hope there's more books set in this strange, magical world. I'll happily keep reading.




“My goodness,” Dita said. “I’ve never seen such a transformation.”

They stood by a full-length looking glass in Reyna’s chamber, Dita expertly weaving strips of gold wire into her hair. It had been left loose; there was no time for anything more elaborate, and the strands fell like liquid onyx to her waist. “You’re like a chameleon. So much beauty under that scruff and paint.”

“I’m scared to death, Dita.”

Dita’s hands stilled. She met Reyna’s gaze in the looking glass. “Of Queen Vashti?”

“Of everything. What if Mercedes doesn’t get better? What if we can’t find Lord Eli—”

“Don’t borrow trouble.” Dita resumed her weaving, this time with more vigor. “What we choose to believe is powerful, Reyna. Mercedes and the babe will be fine. Elias will come home safe. He always does. *This* I believe.”

Her reflection showed busy hands and a solitary teardrop on her cheek. Reyna did not flinch when Dita pulled too hard. She said, “And so will Jaime.”

A black lace fan lay on a high chest. Dita took the fan, offered it to Reyna. “And so will Jaime.”

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been climbing my TBR list ever since I finished reading Isle of Blood and Stone back in the summer. Happily, it did not disappoint!

Song of the Abyss centers on Reyna, but the three protagonists who stole my heart in Isle make plenty of cameos, as well. I loved all four of these characters as much as ever, and it felt so good to be adventuring with them again, strolling through quiet citrus orchards and pacing the decks of spray-soaked ships.

My one complaint is that I didn't care for Reyna's love interest. The protective, jealous type wears on me really quickly, so he just wasn't the right fit for me as a reader. And, since he was one of the main characters in this book, I unfortunately didn't get much of a break from him.

Still! Song features the same impeccable worldbuilding, the same tight and effective writing, the same humor, the same sense of adventure, the same emphasis on friendship, and the same love for maritime cultures that made the first book so incredible. I'm immensely grateful to Ms. Lucier for writing this duology and giving me a new fictional place to call home.