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alongreader's review
4.0
A wonderful followup to Isle of Blood and Stone, this novel sweeps the reader into an aquatic adventure featuring strange lands and magic. I loved the detail, things like the smell of the spices and the dresses Reyna (reluctantly) wears. The mystery was fascinating and I read this in almost one go...had to stop for work, more's the pity, but I got there in the end. The ghosts really creeped me out, too! I wasn't so sure of the instalove, but I've learned to accept and mostly ignore it, as it features in so many books nowadays.
I hope there's more books set in this strange, magical world. I'll happily keep reading.
“My goodness,” Dita said. “I’ve never seen such a transformation.”
They stood by a full-length looking glass in Reyna’s chamber, Dita expertly weaving strips of gold wire into her hair. It had been left loose; there was no time for anything more elaborate, and the strands fell like liquid onyx to her waist. “You’re like a chameleon. So much beauty under that scruff and paint.”
“I’m scared to death, Dita.”
Dita’s hands stilled. She met Reyna’s gaze in the looking glass. “Of Queen Vashti?”
“Of everything. What if Mercedes doesn’t get better? What if we can’t find Lord Eli—”
“Don’t borrow trouble.” Dita resumed her weaving, this time with more vigor. “What we choose to believe is powerful, Reyna. Mercedes and the babe will be fine. Elias will come home safe. He always does. *This* I believe.”
Her reflection showed busy hands and a solitary teardrop on her cheek. Reyna did not flinch when Dita pulled too hard. She said, “And so will Jaime.”
A black lace fan lay on a high chest. Dita took the fan, offered it to Reyna. “And so will Jaime.”
I hope there's more books set in this strange, magical world. I'll happily keep reading.
“My goodness,” Dita said. “I’ve never seen such a transformation.”
They stood by a full-length looking glass in Reyna’s chamber, Dita expertly weaving strips of gold wire into her hair. It had been left loose; there was no time for anything more elaborate, and the strands fell like liquid onyx to her waist. “You’re like a chameleon. So much beauty under that scruff and paint.”
“I’m scared to death, Dita.”
Dita’s hands stilled. She met Reyna’s gaze in the looking glass. “Of Queen Vashti?”
“Of everything. What if Mercedes doesn’t get better? What if we can’t find Lord Eli—”
“Don’t borrow trouble.” Dita resumed her weaving, this time with more vigor. “What we choose to believe is powerful, Reyna. Mercedes and the babe will be fine. Elias will come home safe. He always does. *This* I believe.”
Her reflection showed busy hands and a solitary teardrop on her cheek. Reyna did not flinch when Dita pulled too hard. She said, “And so will Jaime.”
A black lace fan lay on a high chest. Dita took the fan, offered it to Reyna. “And so will Jaime.”
ladynightwolf's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars. Best enjoyed on a beach or on a boat and with a sense of adventure.
I’d like to preface this review by stating that although this book is a sequel t0 the Tower of Winds, it is not necessary to read the first book prior to this one. Although the del Marians often elude to events that happened in the first book, the storytelling in this one is not dependent on that and the story does truly stand on its own.
Reyna is a mapmaker for the kingdom of St. John del Mar. During one of her adventures, her ship is overtaken by a mysterious group led by a distinctive leader with an interesting sword topped by a chrysanthemum. The men aboard her ship, seemingly in a trance, transfer themselves to the ships that had overtaken them and Reyna escapes into the unforgiving sea, finding her way to the kingdom of Lunes where she meets a handsome stranger, Levi, who turns out to be a Lunesian prince. After a small coup, she escapes back to St. John del Mar where she puzzles out who could have possibly taken her crew. While home, Lord Elias and her childhood friend Jaime, two very important people in Reyna’s life, take a ship of their own to investigate these pirates or slave traders…and fail to return, seemingly gone the same way. It is up to Reyna to band together with Levi, whose own brother, Asher, was taken the same way. They must search for their lost loved ones in a distant, isolated, and lush kingdom once thought to be legend, and figure out what this leader did with them before the people they love are lost forever.
Overall, Song of the Abyss was pretty good. The first half of it is where most of my issues stem from, and it’s mostly just because it’s super slow up until Levi and Reyna travel. I admittedly struggled to get into it because it seemed like there was a lot of people judging Reyna as only being ‘pretty’ and not recognizing her value as a scholar. Although this is kind of how the world worked in any other time setting, it was nonetheless a bit of a distraction from the adventure itself. There was also a little bit of insta-love, will they/won’t they, which I can take or leave that could have been written better. Maybe that’s a little nitpick-y, but I just wasn’t into it.
However, the last half of the book really started to amp up and the totality of the story was completely redeemed for me, starting with the maelstrom, which caught my attention and made me snap to attention and took my imagination for a ride. The remainder of the book took place in a once-mythical kingdom and their culture, which seemed to be a mix of Egyptian, Ancient Chinese, and Ancient Central American cultures. This is where palace intrigue, and world building sunk its teeth into me and I couldn’t put the book down until I was done.
The world, the characters, and the various locations are all described in detail and the main characters are fleshed out nicely. If you need to top off your summer reading list, I recommend this satisfying fantasy that will take you on an interesting adventure.
Thank you to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
I’d like to preface this review by stating that although this book is a sequel t0 the Tower of Winds, it is not necessary to read the first book prior to this one. Although the del Marians often elude to events that happened in the first book, the storytelling in this one is not dependent on that and the story does truly stand on its own.
Reyna is a mapmaker for the kingdom of St. John del Mar. During one of her adventures, her ship is overtaken by a mysterious group led by a distinctive leader with an interesting sword topped by a chrysanthemum. The men aboard her ship, seemingly in a trance, transfer themselves to the ships that had overtaken them and Reyna escapes into the unforgiving sea, finding her way to the kingdom of Lunes where she meets a handsome stranger, Levi, who turns out to be a Lunesian prince. After a small coup, she escapes back to St. John del Mar where she puzzles out who could have possibly taken her crew. While home, Lord Elias and her childhood friend Jaime, two very important people in Reyna’s life, take a ship of their own to investigate these pirates or slave traders…and fail to return, seemingly gone the same way. It is up to Reyna to band together with Levi, whose own brother, Asher, was taken the same way. They must search for their lost loved ones in a distant, isolated, and lush kingdom once thought to be legend, and figure out what this leader did with them before the people they love are lost forever.
Overall, Song of the Abyss was pretty good. The first half of it is where most of my issues stem from, and it’s mostly just because it’s super slow up until Levi and Reyna travel. I admittedly struggled to get into it because it seemed like there was a lot of people judging Reyna as only being ‘pretty’ and not recognizing her value as a scholar. Although this is kind of how the world worked in any other time setting, it was nonetheless a bit of a distraction from the adventure itself. There was also a little bit of insta-love, will they/won’t they, which I can take or leave that could have been written better. Maybe that’s a little nitpick-y, but I just wasn’t into it.
However, the last half of the book really started to amp up and the totality of the story was completely redeemed for me, starting with the maelstrom, which caught my attention and made me snap to attention and took my imagination for a ride. The remainder of the book took place in a once-mythical kingdom and their culture, which seemed to be a mix of Egyptian, Ancient Chinese, and Ancient Central American cultures. This is where palace intrigue, and world building sunk its teeth into me and I couldn’t put the book down until I was done.
The world, the characters, and the various locations are all described in detail and the main characters are fleshed out nicely. If you need to top off your summer reading list, I recommend this satisfying fantasy that will take you on an interesting adventure.
Thank you to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
athenezadam's review against another edition
4.0
Song of the Abyss is about a granddaughter of a famed navigator who investigates a mysterious raiders' attack on her ship. While this book can be read as a standalone, the first couple of chapters and later have nice references to the first book. The mystical world is rich with monsters and spirits, and the plot is fun. The writing is clear and doesn't meander. Characters are dynamic and their relationships are entertaining. Like Lucier's other work, the romance is written in a way that is mature but still age and world appropriate. Song of the Abyss is an adventurous and whimsical story.
spicedragon's review against another edition
4.0
4/5
Makiia Lucier switches up her fantasy formula and decides to throw us right into the action. We follow Reyna, 6 years after the events of the first book, and her adventures as a mapmaker. We’re thrown into a pirate attack from which Reyna barely escapes, and ends up in the port of the rival kingdom where she’s accosted by Captain Levi (who’s later revealed to be the Prince of that very kingdom).
Reyna makes it back home and we meet old characters like Mercedes and Elias in fleeting, and our understanding of the Del Marian universe is expanded to include the Lunesian kingdom and the isolated kingdom of Miramar. Levi and Reyna join forces to solve the mystery of the pirate attacks that leave ships empty and leave no trace of the inhabitants. The mystery is unravelled so expertly and like… Lucier really loves adding a dark twist to her stories!! I love how every character is used to the fullest, like no Reyna’s friend isn’t just there to be like “wow the prince likes you”, she has her own goals and her actions impact the story as equally as Reyna’s.
Lucier also once again weaves romance unbelievably well in to the plot, it isn’t at the forefront of the story but it isn’t forgotten either. I thoroughly enjoyed the final instalment in the Tower of Winds duology.
I docked a star because of personal issues I had, I don’t really enjoy age gaps where Person A is 17 and Person B is like 20… like yes Reyna would be 18 in 6 months (as she says herself) but it’s just like… weird to me… There was also something about how the characters talk about other kingdoms and people that hmmm like the in-world prejudice was just very odd but anyways!!!
I still recommend Lucier’s novels because her prose!! Her characters!! All very likeable
Makiia Lucier switches up her fantasy formula and decides to throw us right into the action. We follow Reyna, 6 years after the events of the first book, and her adventures as a mapmaker. We’re thrown into a pirate attack from which Reyna barely escapes, and ends up in the port of the rival kingdom where she’s accosted by Captain Levi (who’s later revealed to be the Prince of that very kingdom).
Reyna makes it back home and we meet old characters like Mercedes and Elias in fleeting, and our understanding of the Del Marian universe is expanded to include the Lunesian kingdom and the isolated kingdom of Miramar. Levi and Reyna join forces to solve the mystery of the pirate attacks that leave ships empty and leave no trace of the inhabitants. The mystery is unravelled so expertly and like… Lucier really loves adding a dark twist to her stories!! I love how every character is used to the fullest, like no Reyna’s friend isn’t just there to be like “wow the prince likes you”, she has her own goals and her actions impact the story as equally as Reyna’s.
Lucier also once again weaves romance unbelievably well in to the plot, it isn’t at the forefront of the story but it isn’t forgotten either. I thoroughly enjoyed the final instalment in the Tower of Winds duology.
I docked a star because of personal issues I had, I don’t really enjoy age gaps where Person A is 17 and Person B is like 20… like yes Reyna would be 18 in 6 months (as she says herself) but it’s just like… weird to me… There was also something about how the characters talk about other kingdoms and people that hmmm like the in-world prejudice was just very odd but anyways!!!
I still recommend Lucier’s novels because her prose!! Her characters!! All very likeable
rachelibrary's review against another edition
Reyna, pirates, missing sailors, a rival prince, AND hints of the fabled kingdom behind the Iron Door? GIVE IT TO ME.
talkadyen's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-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
3.5
kevinscorner's review against another edition
4.5
Song of the Abyss delivers the same feels and atmosphere as Isle of Blood and Stone with a just as compelling but more harrowing central mystery. Entire shiploads of men are going missing and Reyna is the only surviving witness to it happening. With the help of a prince from a rival kingdom, they must infiltrated another isolationist kingdom to find answers.
Reyna, the young girl from Isle of Blood and Stone, is now 17 years old and takes the reign in this companion novel. She is fierce and headstrong with the same propensity for exploring as Lord Elias (who makes a few appearances here as well as some other familiar characters). Prince Levi is the brooding prince who falls in love with her, and I thought their romance was quite subtle but believable. The story this time around is far more action-packed and fast-paced and with higher and deadlier stakes. The mystery will leave you at the edge of your seat and you won’t want to stop reading until the last final reveal.
Song of the Abyss is a compelling, immensely readable YA fantasy with a lot of action and heart.
Reyna, the young girl from Isle of Blood and Stone, is now 17 years old and takes the reign in this companion novel. She is fierce and headstrong with the same propensity for exploring as Lord Elias (who makes a few appearances here as well as some other familiar characters). Prince Levi is the brooding prince who falls in love with her, and I thought their romance was quite subtle but believable. The story this time around is far more action-packed and fast-paced and with higher and deadlier stakes. The mystery will leave you at the edge of your seat and you won’t want to stop reading until the last final reveal.
Song of the Abyss is a compelling, immensely readable YA fantasy with a lot of action and heart.
abutler's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ashleykta's review against another edition
adventurous
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