The Isles of the Gods - by Amie Kaufman

About the Book

Selly's plans to follow her father to the north seas are dashed when a handsome stranger with tell-tale magician's marks on his arm boards her ship and presents her with a dangerous mission--to sail to the Isles of the Gods so he can complete a mysterious ritual.

Book Synopsis

Magic, romance, and slumbering gods clash in this riveting fantasy duology that spans gangsters' dens, forgotten temples, and the high seas from the New York Times bestselling author of the Aurora Cycle and the Illuminae Files.

Selly has salt water in her veins. So when her father leaves her high and dry in the port of Kirkpool, she has no intention of riding out the winter at home while he sails off to adventure. But any plans to follow him are dashed when a handsome stranger with tell-tale magician's marks on his arm commandeers her ship. He is Prince Leander of Alinor and he needs to cross the Crescent Sea without detection so he can complete a ritual on the sacred Isles of the Gods. Selly has no desire to escort a spoiled prince anywhere, and no time for his entitled demands or his good looks. But what starts as a leisure cruise will lead to acts of treason and sheer terror on the high seas, bringing two countries to the brink of war, two strangers closer than they ever thought possible and stirring two dangerous gods from centuries of slumber...

Review Quotes

★ "Kaufman's organically incorporated, intricate mythology never detracts from the action-packed plot or the complex relationships developing between the variously diverse characters." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Readers who love a good fantasy with lots of action.... will be happy to devour this new series and will anxiously await the next volume." --School Library Journal, starred review

"A thrilling series opener." --Kirkus Reviews

"Sweeping adventure, sleeping gods, magic, and heartwarming love and friendship--a winner." --Booklist


"A swashbuckling adventure that boasts intricate worldbuilding, deeply realized internal mythology, and an array of diverse and intriguing characters . . . you'll tear through it in no time." --Paste

"Fantasy readers who favor fast-paced, intricate plots will find much to love here." --BookPage

"Brimming with magic, mythology, and danger. . . The sea beckons and destiny calls--don't miss this one!" - Alexandra Bracken, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lore

"A book that is both deliciously diabolical and full of heart. I was absolutely enthralled!!" --Stephanie Garber, bestselling author of Caraval

"I devoured it. When is the next book?" --Garth Nix, bestselling author of the Old Kingdom series

"[A]n epic, propulsive adventure filled with characters that demand to be loved instantly. The lore of the gods is cool, the prince is delightfully full of himself--the twists and betrayals make for a breathless wild ride...I didn't know what to do besides keep turning the pages." - Kendare Blake #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns

"Gorgeous and gripping... an epic adventure of gods, magic and romance." - C.S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Rise

"A lush fantasy world so evocative and romantic that you will feel the salty spray of the ocean on your skin. . . I was immersed in this epic story, and you will be too. Deserves to be a classic." - Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Skyhunter

"With playful magic, high-stakes action, sweetly-simmering romance, and lovable (and hateable!) characters, Amie Kaufman continues to prove her talent as a master storyteller. I need the next book, stat!" - Lynette Noni, bestselling author of The Prison Healer

About the Author

Amie Kaufman is the New York Times bestselling co-author of the Illuminae Files and the Aurora Cycle, with Jay Kristoff, and the Starbound, Unearthed, and Other Side of the Sky series with Meagan Spooner. Raised in Australia and occasionally Ireland, Amie has degrees in history, literature, law and conflict resolution, and is currently undertaking a PhD in Creative Writing. She lives in Melbourne with her husband, daughter and rescue dog, and an extremely large personal library.You can learn more about Amie at amiekaufman.com, on social, or via her podcast.