Makiia Lucier

I really enjoyed this story. When I got home from a Hawaiian vacation and wanted more of the islands... I picked up this book. I really enjoyed it! I especially loved how it just felt so much like an island culture (appropriate, since it is) and how the MC has a worldbuilding reason for the ways she's special. (It never got annoying, because there was an explanation for the things she could do… and it didn't magically fix everything, either.)

There were a lot of things I really liked about show more this book. The seadragons were very cool. I liked them a lot. I got the same awe and magic from them that I remember from early readings of the Pern books. (Though these seadragons and Pern dragons are otherwise very different. They're only similar in my reaction to them.)

I also really liked the markings. I don't want to get a tattoo personally, but a marking—effectively a magical tattoo that is also an animal familiar—would be very cool. The two that appear as new markings during this book are my favorites.

There were a couple of things I didn't like as much, but honestly not many. I wasn't fond of the end result for Captain Erro, for example, and there was a particular scene that was especially heart-wrenching. I knew something of the sort was coming (it was hinted that something was wrong for long enough) but I didn't expect how it was going to go. However... even the bits I didn't like as much were still important for the book. They still made sense within the worldbuilding, and fit the characters' personalities.

I really enjoyed reading this, and it was a breath of fresh air. It felt very much like a book set among a fantasy version of Hawaii, with cultures and customs appropriate to the islands. (Note: there are many islands in the Pacific, but the Hawaiian islands are the only ones I have been to, so that is my comparison.) Also, though this is a YA book and there was a minor subplot of Prince Sam finding a wife, there was no fuss with love triangles or romantic angst, and the romance in the book was very light. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who thinks it sounds interesting, regardless of age. I think that even though it is a YA book, it has a much broader appeal, and could be enjoyed by everyone.

CW: animal death, kidnapping, spider (but a very good spider) show less

I quickly became enmeshed in this fantasy with elements of mystery and romance aimed at young adults but appealing for all ages. The author writes that the story grew out her love of the Indiana Jones movies as well as a lifelong fascination with old maps. She ably did justice in this novel to both of her passions.

The story begins with a description of a deadly ambush killing everyone attending a St. John del Mar royal outing for the education of two of the princes. The group included the show more Royal Navigator, Lord Antoni, and the oldest princes - Bartolome and Teodor - who were receiving a lesson in magnets.

We then fast-forward eighteen years. The surviving prince, Ulises, 19, is now King of St. John del Mar. Elias, his best friend and the son of Lord Antoni, is training to be a navigator and mapmaker himself. Mercedes, a close friend of both the boys, is King Ulises’s cousin and only living relative. Her father had been the old king’s younger brother. Her mother was a noblewoman from Mondrago, the neighboring kingdom blamed for the ambush. Thus Mondragans are scorned in del Mar, and Mercedes, recognizable as mixed race by her green eyes and freckles, is taunted and spit on when she leaves the castle, in spite of the fact that she is second in line to the throne.

Lord Silva took over as Royal Navigator after Lord Antoni died, and trained Elias just as he had trained Elias’s father. His granddaughter Reyna, only nine, helps out with mapmaking. She longs to be a navigator herself but as a female, her best hope is perhaps being able to teach geography to male students. But Ulises, Elias, and Mercedes dote on Reyna and feel she has exceptional potential. Indeed, it was Reyna who spotted an unusual map at the marketplace that now occupies the full attention of the castle.

Lord Silva confirms that the worksmanship on this mysterious map looks identical to maps drawn by Lord Antoni, but it features a beacon on the cliffs erected only ten years ago. Lord Antoni died eighteen years earlier; how was this possible? And there was more: hidden among the trees in the map were tiny letters that read:

“Adventurer, two princes lost but not gone.
Follow the path of the ancient mariners, Tramontana to Ostro.
Look not to what is there but to what is not.”

Perhaps someone was fooling them or even setting a trap, but they had to know the truth. The three friends decided they must follow the instructions on the map and solve the mystery.

Evaluation: There is so much to like in this fantasy, from the appealing characters to the fearsome sea serpents and friendly sea worms that ply the waters around this Mediterranean-like country. And it’s hard to beat a story that combines elements of Treasure Island and the Indiana Jones adventures. The book can be read as a standalone, but I’m eager to read the next one in this duology. show less

Such an enjoyable read! While the writing felt a bit funky at times—some phrasing and pacing threw me off here and there—the story itself more than made up for it. At its core, this book is about family and the lengths we go to fight for the people (and creatures) we love.

Hanalei was a strong and compassionate main character, and I loved how determined she was to protect the seadragons. Her bond with the natural world was beautiful, and the way things came full circle with her return show more home and the incredible marking she received was such a satisfying moment.

I loved Fetu, the bat—what a standout character! That part of the story absolutely broke my heart. The emotional moments were powerful, and the theme of “every wish demands a price” echoed through the narrative in a way that really stuck with me.

Even though this is a YA book, I found it exciting and meaningful. It had adventure, heart, and just the right touch of magic. A lovely, memorable story that’s well worth the read! show less

Literary Merit: Excellent
Characterization: Excellent
Recommended: Recommended
Level: High School and above

What a fun read! I am a big fan of sea-faring books, and this one did not disappoint. Having chosen this from my review group at work, I didn’t have time to read Isle of Blood and Stone first, however, these are companion novels and can totally be read independent of each other which was so nice!

The world building was excellent, and only expanded on what I’m sure was initially show more instilled in book one. I was able to catch on quickly to the different kingdoms and the caste system without anything being overly info-dumpy, which can be attributed to the great writing style. The novel begins with action from the start, throwing the reader directly into the story which I really loved. From there the pacing continues at a good speed and I found myself flying through this book in a day.

The characters are also wonderful. From what I’ve seen in other reviews, I believe Reyna was a young girl in book one and acted as a side character. In Song of the Abyss, she’s all grown up and having adventures of her own. Reyna is a map-maker in training for the royal family and after a few mishaps, ends up on an adventure with Prince Levi of a rival kingdom in order to save those they both care about. I love that Reyna is smart and compassionate and not afraid to speak her truth. Levi is sweet and caring and ready to help. They have a connection almost immediately, but their romance develops nicely over the course of the book without the insta-love factor. It’s there as a secondary plot element, which is great, seeing at the main focus is finding their friends and family who have vanished and saving them from a cruel fate. There’s also a really large focus on women who work together and support each other, instead of betraying and tearing each other down, so I appreciated that aspect of the novel a lot.

I really enjoyed picking this one up and now I think I’ll go back and read the first book in the series. Can’t wait to see what Makiia Lucier writes next! show less