[Review] Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier

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Title: Isle of Blood and Stone

Author: Makiia Lucier

Series: Tower of Winds #1

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date: April 10th 2018
Goodreads Page

Synopsis:

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.

I received an advance copy from the distributor in exchange for an honest review.

what a fun ass book.

I usually don't keep the first line I write of my reviews because it's just a way for me to gauge my thoughts and to get into the flow of writing a review. However, I put this first line in my Goodreads review after finishing the book and Makiia screenshotted it and shared it on twitter LOOOL. So I'm keeping it.

My favorite review so far. It gets right to the point. 🖤🐉🖤 #isleofbloodandstone @goodreads pic.twitter.com/GxxsCP5ADx

— Makiia Lucier (@makiialucier) June 25, 2018

This novel follows Elias, a mapmaker and explorer who is good friends with the newly crowned king of St. John Del Mar, Ulises. He is the son of a map maker as well, who was kidnapped along with Ulises' two older brothers when Elias was only a year old. Following the kidnapping and subsequent disappearance of the two princes, a massive war embroiled Del Mar and the supposed party responsible: Mondrago. However, as we meet Elias and Ulises, as well as the heir to the throne and Ulises' cousin, Mercedes, we learn that two maps have been discovered with the hallmarks and style of Elias' father along with a riddle that alludes to the location of the missing princes and perhaps his father as well.

I had simply expected another fantasy novel, which I'm not objecting to at all since I love fantasy a lot. However, this book is a whole adventure and felt like a mystery novel which is really combining two genres I enjoy. There's a lot of intrigue in this book, with the trio and mostly Elias trying to figure out what happened all those years ago when Ulises' two older brothers disappeared. It was especially interesting as nothing simply just dropped into their laps as they were trying to figure out what was happening. We see the characters seeking out others to help them in solving the mystery. Not only that, but I was genuinely surprised along with the characters in finding out the reason for the massive war and the tragedy that occurred. There was a lot of travelling and journeying involved in this adventure as well, so that was also pretty fun as Elias attempted to solve the riddle left by maybe his father.

The characters are all a treat and I love them all in different ways. Mercedes is the king's cousin and the heir to the throne as she is his only living relative. She has a way with words and is a spy and emissary for her cousin the king. She's half Mondragan on her mother's side and she is still ostracized by the older generation who are old enough to remember the war and the great number of casualties that happened when they went to war with Mondrago.

Ulises is the king of St. John del Mar. He is the youngest brother of his family prior to the kidnapping of his older brothers. Had they not been kidnapped, he would have become a monk as was expected of the third child. He genuinely cares for what his kingdom thinks of him and as king, he wants to right the wrongs of the past with the first step being to figure out the truth of the disappearance and the source of the mysterious riddle and maps.

Elias is the son of a mapmaker and explorer and has become one himself. He never knew his dad and the most prominent father figure in his life is the great step dad that his mother married and started a family with. He is an explorer at heart and nothing excites him like a blank space on a map that he can fill in with exploration. He grew up with Ulises and is his closest friend. Elias is charming and smart and empathetic.

The romance between Elias and Mercedes is underlying the entire book and never really becomes a distraction for the main focal point of this book -- the riddle and the mystery. Even still, their romance is a gradual build and a culmination of the growing romantic tension between them. When they do get together, it's so great and I really love it. I LOVE THEM.

The next book in the series is going to be a companion book and I'm kind of dismayed. I would really love to read more about Elias and Mercedes and Ulises and their adventures. What is this pattern of companion books in fantasy series when you've built these awesome characters I want to read more of???? Anyways, Isle of Blood and Stone is fantastic and adventurous and mysterious. While I am dismayed that it is a companion, I am excited to read the next book in the series and to see where the series goes.

Happy Reading!