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Song of the Abyss (Tower of Winds) Kindle Edition
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?
- Reading age12 years and up
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level7 - 9
- Lexile measureHL600L
- PublisherClarion Books
- Publication dateAugust 27, 2019
- ISBN-13978-0544968585
Editorial Reviews
Review
- "A richly satisfying maritime world...There's more heart-pounding action in Reyna's story, with a superbly developed heroine, charming secondary characters, and playful dialogue...A delightful romantic adventure flavored with ancient legends and salty ocean lore." --Kirkus
- "Reyna ranks with Katniss Everdeen from Hunger Games and Dashti from The Book of a Thousand Days as one of those rare characters who feels completely realized in her strengths and depth as well as her limitations...This makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read peopled with satisfyingly complex villains to serve as foils to heroines and heroes who will stand the test of time."--ALAN Pick, Assembly on Literature for Adolescents
- "Awash with thrilling, sea-faring adventures...(Lucier) expertly weavesculture, history, magic, and fantasy together into one explosive story." --Booklist
- "Lucier's fantasy world-building is exquisite and the romance is heady. Fans of Isle of Blood and Stone will thoroughly enjoy this return to the enchanting Sea of Magdalen."--Horn Book
- "(O)ne of those rare sequels that is just as good as its predecessor...Every now and again I catch myself thinking about the characters and kingdoms and wondering what wild and exciting thing they've gotten themselves tangled up in now. Wherever Makiia Lucier chooses to go with her next young adult novel, you can bet I'll be there ready and waiting."--Tor.com
- "In the tradition of Tamora Pierce, Lucier represents a global diversity of cultures...A swashbuckling adventure...this book will satisfy fansof female-led adventure fantasy." --School Library Journal
- Teen Magazine Best YA Books of 2019
- Barnes & Noble Teen Best YA Books of August
- Hypable.com 10 Most Anticipated YA Sequels
- Hypable.com 10 Badass Female Characters We Loved
- Book Riot 10 New Enemies-to-Lovers YA Books You Need to Read
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
One
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 pennant flying above the mainmast to hint at a kingdom of origin.
Never a good sign.
She had not meant to fall asleep. Her cabin was the size of a leading stone, her berth within the only comfortable spot. She had taken a chart to study there and had dozed by the light of a candle. A rough shaking woke her. In that dazed state between sleep and wakefulness loomed a face, inches from her own.
'Quiet," Gunnel ordered before Reyna could scream. The gruffness of her voice suggested she too had just woken. But Gunnel wore her sword on her back and two daggers in her belt, something she hadn't done since they had boarded this ship seven days ago. "Good, you're dressed. Up, up. Quickly, Reyna!"
Reyna rolled from her berth and dropped lightly onto bare feet. From overhead, so peculiar she thought she must still be dreaming, came the sound of a man singing. A gentle, soothing tune, soft as a child's lullaby. "What is that?' she said.
'sea raiders."
Reyna's grogginess vanished, replaced by a deep, thrumming fear. "Where is the captain?"
'Captured.' Gunnel pointed directly upward. "With the others."
Reyna crossed the cabin in two steps and threw open her sea chest. There were rules that must be followed, for an occasion such as this. The top half of the trunk was filled with maps and portolans, each rolled and secured with twine. She crushed an armful to her chest and spun around. Gunnel, a sea captain's daughter long before she'd become Reyna's guard, had anticipated her next move. The older woman shoved open the window so that the maps could be flung into the darkness and open sea.
It's fine, Reyna told herself. Fine. Those had been copies of copies, the originals safe on del Mar. Better she lose them than let their trade routes be known to the enemy. Whoever the enemy was. As they emptied the chest, the light from the candle cast shadows onto the walls. Gunnel explained what she knew; it turned out to be very little.
'there are two ships to our west. Both much larger than ours."
'We had no warning?' There were lookouts aboard theSimona. How had anyone managed to come so close without setting off the alarms?
'None."
Reyna's map carrier lay on the table, a leather tube three feet in length. She uncapped it, glanced inside, and felt her heart spasm in protest. These maps were not copies, but the result of twelve months of labor. A year of her life. And she was expected to destroy them. What would Uncle Ginés do? Or Lord Elias? She knew the answer, which only made her decision more agonizing. Above, the strange humming continued. An eternity passed before she replaced the cap and slung the strap over her head. The carrier lay against her back.
Gunnel looked down at her with a disapproving expression. Quite a ways down, for she stood a good three inches above six feet, unnaturally tall even among her people. She indicated Reyna's carrier. "It's a bad idea," she said.
'Yes. I realize."
If Lord Braga learned she had kept these maps, and they were stolen as a result, he would suffer a seizure. He would banish her from the Tower of Winds. He would string her up by her feet and toss her over the cliffs at Alfonse to die slowly, her eyeballs pecked away by the gulls. And she would deserve it all. There were rules that must be followed, for an occasion such as this.
She left the carrier where it was.
Gunnel shrugged as if to say, It's your bed, before pitching the last of the charts out the window. "Listen to me," she said. 'there's something wrong with the men."
Reyna shoved her father's dagger in her belt. 'they're injured?"
'No, something is wrong here.' Gunnel tapped the side of her head impatiently. "I heard footsteps outside my cabin, and when I opened the door, they were shuffling past. Like cattle. And their faces . . .' Her brows, unkempt, sprouting everywhere, drew together. 'there was nothing there."
Gunnel was not making sense. 'they had no faces?' Reyna asked.
'Of course they had faces!' Gunnel hissed. "Don't be an idiot. They looked like . . . like your parchment before you begin painting."
Blank, Reyna realized. That was what Gunnel meant. "But how? And why were we missed? And who is that man singing?"
'I don't know, and I don't care to find out. Not a sound from you.' Gunnel reached for the door just as Reyna snuffed the candle with pinched fingertips, plunging them into darkness.
Luck was on their side. The door hinges, well oiled and silent, did not give them away. Reyna followed Gunnel down the narrow, stifling passageway. They crept along the edges like mice. Ahead, torchlight trickled in through the open hatchway. The humming had stopped. A man spoke in a language she thought was Coronad at first, until she realized she could only make out a smattering of words: Yes. Lame. No. The inflection was guttural, like Coronad, but not. A dialect? From her shipmates she heard nothing. No begging or threats. Not a word of protest. Were they dead already? Killed while she slept in her berth? As they tiptoed beneath the hatchway, a man stepped into view on the deck. Reyna and Gunnel moved as one, flattening their backs against the wall.
Don't look down. Please do not see us. Sweat trickled between Reyna's shoulder blades. After a minute, she chanced a glance upward, long enough for her to see a man caught half in shadow, half in light. Younger than she'd expected, bigger than she wished. His face, wide, with sharp cheekbones, bore the toughness of a Coronad and was heavily pocked. A knot of hair, perfectly rounded, perched atop his head, a feminine style that contrasted sharply with the assortment of weapons hanging from his vest and belt. Axe, whip, daggers for every occasion. Perhaps strangest of all were the ear covers draped around his neck. The night was warm and pleasant. Why would anyone need to keep their ears covered in such temperatures? He exchanged words with someone out of sight, then reached up and sliced a finger across his throat, an ominous gesture that needed no interpretation. At least one shipman would lose his life tonight.
Gunnel touched her hand lightly. A sign to move on. Swallowing the sickness that crawled up her throat, Reyna followed her to the captain's quarters, which took up the entire width of the stern. The room was far more richly appointed than hers. The massive oak bed could sleep six captains. A wire-fronted bookcase held years' worth of charts and logs. She started there, clearing the shelves and throwing everything into the water. Working fast. With every armful, she ran by the desk, where a taper flickered cheerfully beside an untouched supper and a full glass of red wine. The captain had not had time to eat.
Outside, it was as Gunnel had described. Two ships dwarfed their own, nearly impossible to distinguish in the night.
Gunnel beckoned Reyna over to another window. "Do you know where we are?' She moved aside so that Reyna could see.
Reyna tipped the last of the charts overboard before peering out. The lights of a city glimmered in the distance. A large city, and to its west . . . Oh. So that's where we are.She could not fail to recognize that particular lighthouse. It was the brightest beam in the known world.
'that's Selene.' Capital city of the kingdom of Lunes. They were only a four-day journey from del Mar.
Gunnel nodded, eyes traveling upward as the sea raider's voice rose. He issued what sounded like a command. Another man answered.
Reyna asked, 'Do you recognize them?"
Gunnel listened a bit more. She looked confounded. "I don't believe it. I think they're'' A loud thump from the deck. The sound of a man falling. Whatever Gunnel might have said remained unspoken. "Never mind that now. Pay attention. Ginés says you're a fine swimmer. A strong one?"
Reyna met her eyes and understood what was intended for her. Gunnel had not led her to the captain's quarters to destroy his maps. Gunnel was a Coronad; she would not care too deeply about protecting del Marian trade routes. Unlike the other cabins, this one had windows large enough for a person to climb through. Reyna stuck her head out one of them and looked down. It was good it was so dark, for if there were sea monsters below, she could not see them. And if she happened upon one, well. Too late to do anything about it then. She would have lived a short life, but an interesting one. At least the water would be warm.
Reyna pulled her head back in. "I can swim," she answered quietly. Jaime had taught her. "What about you?"
'I never learned," Gunnel said. Deep lines bracketed her mouth. "We both know what's in these waters. I think you're safer out there than in here. But it's your life. Your choice."
Reyna was a young female on a captured ship. It was not really a choice.
'I'll go.' Before she could change her mind, she swung onto the ledge, arms braced by her sides, bare feet dangling over nothing. Her heart thundered in her chest. She looked back at Gunnel. They had known each other weeks only, but in that time Reyna had come to consider this woman her friend. "And I'll bring help. I swear it."
'Use the worms if you can.' Grim-faced, Gunnel checked the seal on Reyna's carrier. "Best to avoid the castle if you want to keep those maps."
'I will.' She would find a del Marian ship. In a harbor of that size, there was bound to be one.
Gunnel's gnarled hand covered Reyna's own. She squeezed hard. "I promised Ginés I'd keep you safe. Do not dare make a liar out of'"
A shout. A dark figure stood on the hatch steps, looking beyond the passageway directly at them. He scrambled down the rest of the way, yelling. From above came the sound of many running feet.
Reyna said, 'Gunnel!"
Gunnel shoved her. Reyna pointed her toes downward and tucked her arms in tight, making herself small, and when she entered the water, it was without a whisper; it was without a sound.
Product details
- ASIN : B07FK8MNGP
- Publisher : Clarion Books (August 27, 2019)
- Publication date : August 27, 2019
- Language : English
- File size : 7661 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Not Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 373 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 0544968581
- Best Sellers Rank: #658,683 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
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.You can visit her at www.makiialucier.com.
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I'd recommend this to fans of Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, and The Mummy!
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.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for me honest musings. Arrrr!
I loved the characters! Especially Reyna, Levi and Blaise. I would also like to see more with Vashti in a future book. If there are not going to be anymore books. I would be very very sad.
So Reyna was a little fireball in Isle of Blood and Stone, which she continues here. She’s been studying to be a Master Explorer and doesn’t let her gender get in the way. She’s dealt with some very serious prejudice against her but she still prevails. She has a strong will and won’t let anything get in her way of protecting her maps. Which shows her dedication to her work.
I love the interactions between her and Levi. Levi is a Captain of his own ship but also second born son to the King of Lunes. In his country, the oldest his heir and it doesn’t matter if you are a boy or girl. So his sister Vashti takes up the throne when their father passes away. You kind of expect him to be either rough or snotty. He is neither and his actually very kind and even a little sensitive. He cares greatly about his crew and works hard as captain of his ship. The way he treats Reyna is so cute at times. Even though their little romance is not a main focus of the story, it’s very sweet and the perfect amount to dose you with.
The plot is great. Crews of ships are going missing and nobody knows why but there is suspicion that they might be taken for the human trafficking. Reyna is sent to investigate with the help of Levi. I really enjoyed the mystery behind the story and where it would take us. As pieces fall together, I’m like I know. I know what is happening and I am itching to tell someone. I wish I was buddy reading because I really want to tell someone and then I thought about how clever it was.
So Miramar and the Miranese are a very interesting culture and I like the way their world was built. We know they are isolated and that it reminded me of the first emperor of China’s domain. Especially something in particular……. So I really enjoyed getting not only to see Miramar but a little bit of Lunes too. Again we need another book to explore more!!!!
I really loved Song of the Abyss. I recommend both books, but of course you can read either alone.