From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—At 19, Elias is a talented and adventurous royal mapmaker for the powerful island nation of St. John del Mar, traveling the world in search of new lands to fill his maps. When he returns to his home city hoping to prepare for his next journey, he instead becomes entangled in a mystery spanning 18 years. Two cryptic maps may contain the clues to find the missing princes of del Mar, as well as Elias' father, once the Royal Navigator of the land. Joined by the young king, Ulises, and the inscrutable diplomat, Lady Mercedes, Elias uses his considerable skills and a bit of luck to unwind the tragic story hidden in the maps. Although this young adult fantasy's pages are graced with ghosts and sea-serpents, the real joy in this novel exists in the intrigue that sweeps readers along. Teens will be drawn to Elias and Mercedes's slow-burning romance—thankfully unhindered by an awkward third party—but plagued by ignorant and misplaced nationalist prejudice among the people of del Mar. St. John del Mar is a diverse nation, populated by a well-rounded cast of secondary characters who help or secretly hinder Elias's quest for truth. Above all, Lucier has crafted an exciting plot of attempted murder and betrayal that simmers just below the surface, right up to the breathtaking twist in the final pages. VERDICT Highly recommended where Tamora Pierce, V.E. Schwab, and Rachel Hartman are popular.—Ashley Fetterolf, Indian Creek Upper School, Crownsville, MD

Review

ALA's Best Fiction for Young Adults List

YALSA Teens' Top Ten Nominee 2019

Tor.com Reviewers' Choice Best Book of 2018

Tor.com Best YA SF & Fantasy

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Booklist Top 10 Crime Fiction for Youth

International Literacy Assoc. 2018 Books Too Good To Miss

Publishers Weekly Starred Review
Booklist Starred Review
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Epic Reads 14 Most Anticipated YA Books
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"(A) brilliant fantasy." --Booklist, starred review

"(Elias) is the Captain Jack Sparrow of YA, only dreamier and not as stupid!...I could not find one thing wrong with this book." --The Nerd Daily

"(A) lush historical fantasy." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"(A)n exciting plot of attempted murder and betrayal that simmers just below the surface, right up to the breathtaking twist in the final pages...Highly recommended." --School Library Journal

"(A) lovely mystery and an enchanting romance."--New York Journal of Books

"(T)he perfect fantasy novel for those who appreciate a dramatic mystery with a bit of romance." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A romantic maritime epic and a charming tribute to mapmakers, calligraphers, and explorers." --Kirkus

"Lucier paints a marvelously complex and vivid portrait of this long-ago island kingdom...This enthralling mix of intrigue, mystery and romance will especially appeal to fans of Kristin Cashore's "Graceling" series." --The Buffalo News

"Full of intrigue, mythical creatures, and astonishing surprises, this historical fantasy by the acclaimed author of A Death-Struck Year will keep readers guessing from the very first page."--Barnes & Noble Teen

"(A) commanding novel." --The Center for Fiction

"Isle of Blood and Stone carries within it the spirit of the Pacific Islands, expanding a fun YA fantasy into something more unique." --Tor.com

"Deftly employing suspense and mystery, bolstered by tantalizing details about strange beasts and geographical fascinations, this original fantasy drops hints with masterful precision, tracing clues left in the maps to a startling conclusion." --Horn Book

"In a story with twists at every turn, Lucier paints a vivid world where sea serpents abound, royal mapmakers spend their lives at sea, and friendship and romances are tested. Elias is a sympathetic character,and readers will delight in his (mis)adventures."--ALAN Pick, Assembly on Literature for Adolescents

"The plot moves briskly, and the characters are dynamic...(A)n absorbing mystery."
--VOYA, Voice of Youth Advocates

★ Readers craving a captivating adventure will find that and more in Lucier's brilliant fantasy. In St. John del Mar, the royal mapmaker disappears on the same day as the kingdom's two young princes. Eighteen years later, two maps and a mysterious riddle are discovered and believed to be connected to the presumed deaths of del Mar's princes, setting the mapmaker's son Elias on the journey of a lifetime. With the aid of the new king (Elias' longtime friend) and the king's cousin, Elias endeavors to unearth what really happened to the lost princes. Along with the truth come secrets and unknown enemies that threaten both Elias and the future of del Mar. Lucier's novel gifts readers a lush fantasy rife with adventure, slow-burning romance,mysteries, intrigue, and action. The main characters are vividly drawn and pop off the page, while even the secondary characters are masterfully and believably rendered. The world building is smart and staggering, and the plot excels at being fast-paced without sacrificing the depth of the characters or story. Family, duty, love, secrets, lies, betrayal, and exposed truths are all subjects explored by Lucier. This is the perfect book for any reader who loves the open seas, a good secret, a haunting mystery, and a dangerous yet breathtaking adventure.-- Enishia Davenport --Booklist, starred review

About the Author

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

Her debut novel, A Death-Struck Year, was a"Best Books for Children" selection by the American BooksellersAssociation. The world of St. John del Mar, in which Isle of Blood andStone and Song of the Abyss take place, was inspired by a childhood love of the Indiana Jones movies, as well as a lifelong fascination withold, old maps.

She lives with her family in North Carolina. Visit her at makiialucier.com and
Twitter: @makiialucier.