Finding North: Release Day Edition
I've been waiting years for this day.
Note: The recording above is a reading of this newsletter — there’s no different content, and it’s not produced, so you’ll hear the occasional stumble, or sounds of daily life in the background. If you’re someone who needs or prefers to hear their news, then I hope it’s helpful.
Hi there! I’m Amie Kaufman, NYT and internationally bestselling author of The Isles of the Gods, Illuminae, Aurora Rising, These Broken Stars, and many more books besides. This newsletter is the place to learn about my latest releases or events, and to follow along behind the scenes as I find my way through writing, and through life.
Hi, my friends.
Right before a book comes out, I often return to it — all the work of writing and editing and polishing is behind me, and now the book is simply… a book. Not a work in progress, not something to be changed, or improved, or critiqued. It’s a story, and I get to plunge into it.
I write these stories because I love them — because I want to live in these worlds for a while, to adventure with these characters, to experience the magic of losing myself in a book. And in this moment, on the precipice of sharing it with my readers, I get to become one of you. I get to leave my part in creating the story behind, and simply read.
I’ve been reading The Heart of the World this week, in these moments before you join me on the Crescent Sea once more, and it’s been a joyful experience. I’m so proud of this duology, and of this book. I love the way it turned out.
In this special edition of my newsletter, I’m telling you all about The Heart of the World. If you’ve read The Isles of the Gods, I hope you’ll pick up the sequel this week. If you haven’t, then with the series concluded, it’s the perfect time to join my latest squad.
You can preorder via these US links, these UK links, and in Australia, at Dymocks, Readings, Amazon, QBD, and your local independent bookshop.
In this letter:
Early reviews
All about The Heart of the World
Preorder offer — about to close!
US tour dates
And finally, a soppy bit
Early reviews
I’ve been so thrilled with the early reviews that have been coming in for the book — I knew what I wanted it to be, but an author can never tell if they’ve pulled it off until readers start to report in.
Kirkus says The Heart of the World ‘…thrums with tension, racing toward a conclusion that never feels foregone… Kaufman’s evocative prose and richly detailed worldbuilding are a treat.’
I’ve really been enjoying some of the booksellers and librarians on Netgalley, who had early access. They said:
‘I wish I could have my memory wiped so I could read it again for the first time.’
‘One of the most original YA novels I’ve read this year.’
‘This is probably going to be my top book of the year.’
‘Amie Kaufman, you heartbreaker and heart-putterbacktogetherer.’
‘This was my most anticipated book of 2024, and it really delivered...in the form of my tears.’
School Reading List: 'The Heart of the World is an immersive, fast-paced adventure that will grip readers from the first to the last page. Be prepared to lose sleep as you stay up late to gasp through the tense climax before reluctantly emerging back into the real world... A fantastically rich, swashbuckling adventure that will appeal to fans of Tamora Pierce and Kalynn Bayron.'
Paperbound Magazine: This duology is a riveting and intricately plotted gem — fast-paced with a dash of romance and plenty of action. A must for fans of huge worldbuilding fantasies!'
School Reading List Best Picks of Summer ‘24: 'With captivating storytelling and high-stakes tension, this sequel to The Isles of the Gods promises heart-pounding excitement and intricate world-building. It’s an epic tale of magic and sacrifice for fantasy genre fans. Highly recommended.'
All about The Heart of the World
With book two, this duology gets bigger in every way. We see so much more of the world — we get to visit the palace and walk through its halls of portraits, take to the dance floor in its great ballroom. We journey to the Bibliotek, the great library often called the heart of the world. We gaze out at the Barren Reaches, the ruins of the country of Vostain, reduced to rubble last time the gods clashed.
We see each of our characters continue their journeys — Selly’s a fish out of water at the royal court, Keegan’s still not able to run away to university, Jude’s… well, Jude’s got things going on in many different directions. And as for Leander and Laskia? You’ll have to wait and see.
We also meet a new character, Kiki. Do you remember the moment in The Isles of the Gods when Keegan admitted to Leander that his fiancee helped him climb out the window to run away? Well, brace yourself for the human whirlwind that is Kiki Dastenholz. She may be my favourite character I’ve ever written.
Oh, and there’s romance — and not just for Selly and Leander.
Here’s the copy we wrote for the back cover of the book:
Magic and sacrifice will collide as lovers and gods, enemies and allies vie for the fate of the world in this heart-pounding sequel to THE ISLES OF THE GODS, which Stephanie Garber called "deliciously diabolical and full of heart."
When Selly and Leander began their treacherous voyage to the Isles of the Gods, the captain’s daughter and the playboy prince were strangers. But amid talk of war and a deadly attack on their ship, the unthinkable happened.
They fell in love.
Leander’s ritual at the island temple was meant to prevent a war between the gods. Instead, it nearly cost him his life, and drew the goddess Barrica back from exile. Now, as her Messenger, Leander is imbued with her deadly magic, and only Selly’s presence can stop it from consuming him.
But Barrica wasn’t the only immortal roused from sleep. The God of Risk, Macean, was awakened by an enemy all thought dead, and across the sea he’s calling for war.
The fight to save their world will take Selly and Leander from the gilded ballroom of the royal palace to the hallowed halls of an ancient library. Battle lines will be drawn, and bonds will break.
With the wrath of gods and the machinations of power-hungry rulers straining their loyalties, can their love withstand the trials that await them?
The Heart of the World preorder offer:
If you have a mailing address in the UK, US or Australia (or can borrow one) then you have until the end of September 21st to lodge your claim — buy The Heart of the World as a hardcover, paperback, ebook or audio and you can claim a set of two art prints of the beautiful cover art, by Aykut Aydogdu.
Click the button below to claim, and for a whole list of FAQs.
The Heart of the World tour:
If you’re in Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Houston or Sacramento then I’d love to see you at one of my tour stops. (Seriously, all authors worry nobody will show up.)
If you’re not, the bookshops on tour will happily take your order for a signed copy, and some will also arrange personalisation — just give them a call!
You can find tickets to all tour events below.
And finally, a soppy bit…
If you’re about to pick up The Heart of the World, or you already have, thank you. I’ve been waiting so, so long for this moment. My twentieth published book, but my first solo YA series.
I dreamed of this book for the many years I improved my craft, hoping to be good enough to pull it off. I pushed through many, many months of long covid, days I barely remember through the haze of exhaustion, summoning all my resources so I could push through the brain fog and craft this story.
Eventually I started to heal, and I came back to my draft to refine it over and over again, tweaking every twist and turn, smoothing out every wrinkle, spending frankly far too much time making sure it was perfect. But you know what? I’m so, so proud of it.
Duologies are wonderful beasts — you get to set everything up in the first book, then knock it all down in the second, saving nothing for later. But writing a truly epic conclusion requires a trust fall, on the author’s part. You have to trust that your readers will come with you, as you unabashedly swing for it, pouring your heart onto the page. Early readers have been there to catch me, and I hope you feel the same way when you pick up this book.
That’s it from me for now — I have a launch day to celebrate! Thank you for following along with me, and… stay tuned for some very exciting new book news, coming next month!
Happy book birthday!!!
Might have already said this but will get my library to order. And a note to all Amie's subscribers-- these requests work!