In the aftermath of a devastating plague, a young lord is determined to discover the truth behind a mysterious attempt to assassinate the young queen in this captivating YA fantasy that’s perfect for fans of Brigid Kemmerer, Rachel Hartman, and Naomi Novik.
Three years ago, young Lord Cassia disappeared in the midst of war. Since then, a devastating illness has swept the land, leaving countless dead and a kingdom forever altered. Having survived war and plague, Cas, now eighteen, wants only to return to his home in the mountains and forget past horrors. But home is not what he remembers.
His castle has become a refuge for the royal court. And they have brought their enemies with them.
An assassin targets those closest to the queen, drawing Cas into a search for a killer. With the help of a historian-in-training named Lena, he soon realizes that who is behind the attacks is far less important than why. Cas and Lena must look to the past, following the trail of a terrible secret—one that could threaten the kingdom’s newfound peace and plunge it back into war.
Makiia Lucier grew up on the Pacific Island of Guam and holds degress in journalism and library studies from the University of Oregon and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She is the author of A Death-Struck Year, Isle of Blood and Stone, and Song of the Abyss.makiialucier.comTwitter: @makiialucier
GREAT REVIEWS: In a starred review, SLJ calls Year of the Reaper “deeply satisfying,” and the New York Times says it’s a “moving book [that] explores what it means to rebuild and how much history depends on who is left to tell it.” Also a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year and named to YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults List.
TIMELY SUBJECT: Set in the aftermath of a plague, the themes of grief, loss, and recovery will feel particularly resonant to readers who have experienced life during a pandemic. Cas’s journey to recover from his trauma with the help of friends and family give the read an ultimately uplifting and hopeful tone.
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR: Isle of Blood and Stone received two starred reviews; was an Amazon Best YA Book of the Month and a Hypable Books Top Pick; and appeared on BuzzFeed’s 31 YA Books You Should Absolutely Read This Spring, Barnes & Noble Teen’s 25 Most Anticipated, Epic Reads’s 14 Most Anticipated YA Books, and ALA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults List. Her first book, A Death-Struck Year, received a starred review and was a 2014 Indies Introduce New Voices Selection and a Spring 2014 Kids’ Indie Next Pick.
ACCESSIBLE WORLD AND LUSH, IMMERSIVE SETTING: With more emphasis on mystery than magic, this is perfect for readers who prefer a lighter fantasy without complicated worldbuilding and magic systems. This is the kind of read that appeals to mystery, action/adventure, and fantasy fans alike. Inspired by fourteenth-century Spain, readers will be swept away by the historical details and Makiia’s vivid writing.
MORE TO COME FROM MAKIIA: Dragonfruit, Makiia’s next fantasy, is coming in Winter 2024.
"A refreshing stand-alone novel....Full of complex characters and unexpected twists, this moving book explores what it means to rebuild and how much history depends on who is left to tell it." -New York Times
"Cas’s soft, slow-building romance with Lena, a clever young historian, is wonderfully authentic and adds depth to Cas’s character arc from vengeful prisoner to trusted official. Lucier’s a deft hand with layered relationships tangling her characters together in fascinating ways and propeling the story forward, and Cas’s succinct narrative voice holding high stakes and hope in equal measure. Expertly plotted with complex characters, the book features well-crafted twists and turns as Cas is thrown headfirst into the mysteries of the royal court....Part political mystery, part dark adventure fantasy, this is a book you’ll want to devour in one sitting. Deeply satisfying." -School Library Journal (starred review)
"Lucier wastes no time in this gripping mystery: Every twist is carefully plotted, and the worldbuilding is intricate yet effortless. Each of Cas’ relationships, even those with the spirits he encounters, is distinct, and, like him, readers will find it difficult to judge who is trustworthy....A well-balanced and captivating stand-alone fantasy." -Kirkus Reviews
"Themes of loss, sorrow, and moral conflict, balanced by a delicate and emotionally mature romance, suffuse Lucier’s (the Tower of Winds series) novel set in a time of plague...The gripping narrative glides along via Lucier’s spare, deftly employed prose style, while Cas’s fiercely affectionate relationship with his brother Ventillas lends the plot particular warmth, deepening its moving and thought-provoking depictions of variously traumatized characters." -Publishers Weekly
"A captivating world....Readers who have experienced trauma will likely relate to this exploration of mourning for or reckoning with the person you were, and then finding ways to move forward within new parameters." -Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"A fast-paced, fantastical mystery that's rife with courtly intrigue and twisty secrets and rooted in nuanced depictions of personal and societal trauma....quick to enthrall." -BookPage