Ancient grievances, long-held grudges, and dangerous magic combine in this sweeping standalone fantasy perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce and Rachel Hartman.

They came in the night as she dreamt, in her berth, on a ship sailing home to del Mar. After, they would be all Reyna thought about: two carracks painted scorpion black. No emblem on either forecastle, no pennants flying above the mainmasts to hint at a kingdom of origin. 

Never a good sign.

As the granddaughter of a famed navigator, seventeen-year-old Reyna has always lived life on her own terms, despite those who say a girl could never be an explorer for the royal house of St. John del Mar. She is determined to prove them wrong, and as she returns home after a year-long expedition, she knows her dream is within reach. No longer an apprentice, instead: Reyna, Master Explorer.

But when menacing raiders attack her ship, those dreams are pushed aside. Reyna's escape is both desperate and dangerous, and when next she sees her ship, a mystery rises from the deep. The sailors--her captain, her countrymen--have vanished. To find them, Reyna must use every resource at her disposal . . . including placing her trust in a handsome prince from a rival kingdom.

Together they uncover a disturbing truth. The attack was no isolated incident. Troubling signs point to a shadowy kingdom in the north, and for once, the rulers of the Sea of Magdalen agree: something must be done. But can Reyna be brave enough to find a way?

Can you briefly tell us more about the series, the characters and what’s going to happen in SONG OF THE ABYSS?

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

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

Her debut novel, A Death-Struck Year, was called a "powerful and disturbing reading experience" by Publishers Weekly, and was a finalist for Germany's top book prize for children, the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis. Her second novel, Isle of Blood and Stone, was inspired by her love of Indiana Jones movies and old, old maps.

She lives with her family in North Carolina.

Identical twins Nor and Zadie live in Varenia, an ocean village that provides the Kingdom of Ilara with two rare exports: pink pearls and a bride for the Ilarean prince. But when Zadie is chosen against her will, the sisters devise a plan that will change not only Nor's fate, but that of an entire kingdom, forever.

My favorite character is Nor, because she’s the main character and I’ve spent so much time “in her head,” so to speak. She is the kind of person I aspire to be – loyal, brave, generous, and scrappy. But my favorite character to write was probably Ceren. I can’t help it – I love a villain.

This was a story that had been brewing in my head for a while – twin sisters whose lives are a competition, whether they like it or not. Other elements, like diving for pearls and a mountain castle, came to me in bits and pieces in the form of magazine articles, photographs, and music.

There is a song by Enya called “The Humming” that I heard on an airplane radio station which totally reminds of me CoCaP. The lyrics are:

And all the light, will be, will be And all the future prophecy And all the waves, the sea, the sea And on the road are you and me

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

It’s a little limiting when your main characters are identical twins, but Elisha and Renee Herbert (Australian models) would work. And it turns out they have a triplet brother, just like I do! I could see KJ Apa playing Talin.

Summer is here and we love to go out and enjoy the sun. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?

CoCaP would definitely be a perfect beach read with a pina colada! But it also has a mountain setting, and I could imagine reading it in a cozy cabin after a day of hiking or horseback riding with a glass of cider.

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish CROWN OF CORAL AND PEARL?

I recently read Robin LaFever’s His Fair Assassin series and loved it. I’m also a huge Holly Black fan and am waiting impatiently for the conclusion to her The Folk of the Air trilogy.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a contemporary fantasy about a girl who wants revenge on the wishing well spirit who cursed her family.

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As Lira and Reyker form a bond forbidden by both their clans, the wrath of the Dragon falls upon them and all of Glasnith, and Lira finds herself facing the same tragic fate as her ancestor. The battle for Lira's life, for Reyker's soul, and for their peoples' freedom has only just begun.

Beasts of the Frozen Sun is a young adult fantasy inspired by Viking invasions in Ireland. It's about Lira, a chieftain’s daughter with the power to read a person's soul, who saves Reyker, a foreign invader sent to attack her village. Despite being from enemy nations, they begin to care for each other. But Lira’s father and Reyker’s warlord will do anything to keep them apart, forcing them to choose between loyalty and love, between the fates of their countries and the desires of their hearts. 

It's hard to choose between Lira and Reyker. Lira starts out an idealist, but as the people she cares for die or betray her and the gods she worships use her as a pawn in their schemes, her character gets darker and darker. Reyker has already hit rock bottom, and his journey is about clawing his way back to redemption, with many setbacks and relapses along the way. Both of them are flawed and struggling through tragedy and trauma, which made it fascinating to write from their points of view. 

Years ago, I journeyed to Iceland and fell in love with its stark landscapes and Viking heritage. Inspiration struck when I toured the Saga Museum in Reykjavík: there was an exhibit about the legend of an Irish princess who was kidnaped by Viking invaders and taken as a slave to Iceland. I got an image in my head of a girl standing on the coast of Ireland, watching Viking longships come ashore, filled with terror and awe. “That,” I said to myself, “is a story.” That idea became Beasts of the Frozen Sun. 

I have a playlist for my book on Spotify, and the link is posted on my author website (https://jillcriswell.com). This playlist includes many of the songs I listened to or was inspired by as I was writing Beasts of the Frozen Sun. If I had to pick one song from the playlist to represent the book as a whole, it would be "Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums" by A Perfect Circle. I think of it as the theme song for Draki, the story's main villain. The beat is eerie and beautiful, and it has a primal feel to it. The lyrics capture the essence of who Draki is, what he wants, and how he plays with Lira's and Reyker's minds. It's a great song to have playing in the background of a battle scene. 

Fall is almost here (at least in England it feels like it!), and we love to go out and enjoy the sun. What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date? 

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish BEASTS OF THE FROZEN SUN? 

Some of the series that inspired Beasts of the Frozen Sun are The Sevenwaters Trilogy by Juliet Marillier, Kushiel’s Legacy by Jacqueline Carey, The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson, and The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski. Readers have also compared Beasts of the Frozen Sun to Sky in the Deep, which is another book I loved. 

What’s next for you? 

Right now, I’m focused on promoting Beasts of the Frozen Sun and finishing up work on the sequels (which should be released in 2020 and 2021, respectively). But I do also have a draft of a Hindu-inspired young adult fantasy sitting on my computer, just waiting for some attention, so I’m hoping to polish that up and make it my next book project.