Article contributed 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.
Song of the Abyss is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of August 27th.
Will you be picking up Song of the Abyss? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
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?
