An interview with the author... Song of the Abyss by Makiia Lucier (Interview & #Giveaway) @the_ffbc


I'm so excited to welcome Author Makiia Lucier to my blog today
with an interview! Check that out and enter the tour giveaway below...

Song of the Abyss
(Tower of Winds #2)
By Makiia Lucier
YA Fantasy
Paperback & ebook, 362 Pages
August 27th 2019 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary

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?

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Interview

Would you tell us a little more about the main character from SONG OF THE ABYSS?

Sure. Reyna is seventeen-years old, an orphan, and determined to be a royal explorer and mapmaker like her family members before her. She’s a loyal friend, extremely smart, the kind of person you would want searching for you if you happened to be kidnapped by pirates.

What’s Reyna’s favorite thing about sailing?

Reyna’s first love is exploration. Sailing allows her to do what she loves most: discover new lands, meet new people, immerse herself in new cultures.

What is your favorite thing about the book’s cover?

I love how the covers for both Isle of Blood and Stone and Song of the Abyss complement one another. There’s a sea serpent on one and an octopus on the other. Both hint at the type of stories to come-mysteries and adventures tied closely with the sea.

What part or aspect of this story do you love the most?

Reyna’s relationship with her friends, definitely. Reyna lost her parents when she was very young. Her friends are her family. I love seeing how strong those connections are, how they’re nurtured and strengthened, and how she doesn’t take them for granted.

What’s one piece of advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Besides writing and reading, I think it’s important to keep your eyes on your own work. Everywhere you look, someone is signing a book deal, signing deals for multiple books, while you’re just a chump with a half-finished draft and little else. It’s easy to become discouraged. Keep your head down. Keep writing. Finish your story. For most people, writing a good story takes time and patience and a little faith.

What are you working on next?

I’m still in the very early stages of writing my fourth book so there isn’t much to tell, except that it involves a lot of head scratching, pacing, muttering, and broken pencils (but in the best possible way). Stay tuned!

Other Books in the Series

Isle of Blood and Stone
(Tower of Winds #1)
by Makiia Lucier
YA Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook, 400 Pages
April 10th 2018 by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary

Ulises asked, "How can I look at these maps, see this riddle, and do nothing? They are my brothers."

Elias reached across the table and flicked aside two shells with a fingertip. The map curled into itself. "It's bound to be a goose chase. You know that?"

"Or a treasure hunt," Ulises countered, "and you've always been good at those."

Nineteen-year-old Elias is a royal explorer, a skilled mapmaker, and the new king of del Mar's oldest friend. Soon he will embark on the adventure of a lifetime, an expedition past the Strait of Cain and into uncharted waters. Nothing stands in his way...until a long-ago tragedy creeps back into the light, threatening all he holds dear.

The people of St. John del Mar have never recovered from the loss of their boy princes, kidnapped eighteen years ago, both presumed dead. But when two maps surface, each bearing the same hidden riddle, troubling questions arise. What really happened to the young heirs? And why do the maps appear to be drawn by Lord Antoni, Elias's father, who vanished on that same fateful day? With the king's beautiful cousin by his side-whether he wants her there or not-Elias will race to solve the riddle of the princes. He will have to use his wits and guard his back. Because some truths are better left buried...and an unknown enemy stalks his every turn.

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About the Author


Makiia is the author of historical fiction and historical fantasy for young adults. She grew up on the Pacific Island of Guam (not too far from the equator), and has degrees in journalism and library science from the University of Oregon and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Her debut novel, A Death-Struck Year, was called a "powerful and disturbing reading experience" by Publishers Weekly, and was a finalist for Germany's top book prize for children, the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis. Her second novel, Isle of Blood and Stone, was inspired by her love of Indiana Jones movies and old, old maps.

She lives with her family in North Carolina.


Tour Schedule
Tour-Wide Giveaway

Win (1) of (3) finished copies of SONG OF THE ABYSS by Makiia Lucier (US Only)

Ends September 4th 2019

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This book has been high on my tbr this year and I can't wait to read it! What did you think of the interview? Will you be reading this one?

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