Reviews

Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier

rachelibrary's review

4.0

Slow to begin, and slow to end, which is why I knocked off a star. I enjoyed the characters and most of the plot to this one, but what knocked me off my feet was the world-building! It has been a long time since I read a world I could sink into so easily. I love everything about the island of St. John del Mar, its kingdom and the rich descriptions of life there. I could read small stories about its inhabitants happily: jobs, currency, food, stories, traditions. Breathtaking, and worth five stars on its own. If YA fantasy is your thing I recommend giving this a shot!

lovenecy's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was a good read. I struggled at tomes as it soed up then slowed down. I knew quickly who the bad guy was but the location of the prisoners was a surprise to me. Hoping to pick up the next one soon.

epgr's review

3.0

3 1/2 stars. This is a good stand alone book. I was kind of surprised to see it's going to have a sequel. We will see where the author takes the story--I'll look forward to it.

mnboyer's review

3.0

But death can transform a man into a myth. A legend even he would not recognize. (p129)

This book had me at the start, and I was excited. The author was creating a new world, there were missing princes and secret maps, and a group of friends from different 'cliques' were going to team up to solve this mystery. Yeah, you absolutely had me at the beginning and I was excited!

Yet... unfortunately the novel started to become slow, slow, slow. The world wasn't being created as much as it was being told. The characters seemed okay, but at the same time I wasn't seeing a lot of development. There were connections that I wanted further information about but (1) there is some mystery and (2) this is going to be a series of books so I guess some of that will come later. But every time I would pick this up and reflect on how excited I was at the beginning of the book... the more I started to realize that the plot had become painfully slow.

I made it through and wasn't necessarily disappointed, but I had lost all of the excitement I had initially started reading with. It was almost like for 70% of the book I was thinking "meh" and just wanted to get through it because I hate leaving books unfinished.

I'll try out something different from author Makiia Lucier, but unfortunately *this* book just didn't keep me interested (even though I really wanted it to!).

talkadyen's review

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

kevinscorner's review against another edition

emotional sad

4.5

What a beautifully written and surprisingly heartbreaking story Isle of Blood and Stone was. I went into the book expecting a fairly typical YA fantasy, but this was not at all what I was expecting. Eighteen year ago, the Royal Navigator and two young princes of the island kingdom of St. John del Mar went missing during a daytrip and are presumed dead after a botched kidnapping for ransom attempt by a neighboring kingdom. But when a map with hidden clues shows up after all this time, the former Royal Navigator’s son Elias alongside newly crowned King Ulises (the youngest prince) and his mixed-blood cousin Mercedes must unravel the mystery behind the map, and they may find some truths they are not ready for.

I just loved Elais as the main protagonist. He is a 19 year old who finds a connection with the father he never knew through his love of exploring and mapmaking. His love for his new family, his loyalty to his best friend/king, and his budding romance with Mercedes really shine through in the prose and the nobility of his actions. The book is character-driven through and through, but the central mystery will leave you at the edge of your seat. When Elias and his friends unravel the mystery and find an unspeakable betrayal, it nearly broke me as it did them because it was far more heartbreaking that even I expected.

Isle of Blood and Stone is a lush and heartfelt low fantasy with a compelling central mystery.

meganac's review

5.0

I was sent this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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

This book is WOW amazing. It looks like a fantasy, but it's actually a mystery/romance/court intrigue novel in disguise. If that doesn't grab your attention, think An Ember in the Ashes crossed with Eragon. I started reading this, unsure what to expect, and I was hooked. From beginning to end, you'll be guessing - what happened to the missing princes? Who drew the maps? Who was behind the tragedy that caused one kingdom to destroy another in retaliation? The story unfolds in agonizing suspense. My only complaint is that at times, the main character can be a little scatter-brained and careless...but. He is nineteen. Teenage brain is a thing.

bigbeardedbookseller's review

4.0

A land devastated by betrayal, full of intrigue and beset by sea serpents.

Isle of Blood and Stone has been one of my favourite recent reads.

It is set in a low-fantasy setting with ghosts and sea serpents with as flavour of the Spanish main.

A mystery has to be solved and it falls to the son of a missing mapmaker to do so with the help of the daughter of an enemy and disgraced nation.

There are a lot of twists and turns, romance and swashbuckling, and a satisfactory conclusion.

licensetoshelbs's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

delaneybull's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0