Makiia Lucier

Featuring author Makiia Lucier

If you are looking for YA historical fantasy with murder twists, your next favorite novel may be by author Makiia Lucier. Her stories are inspired by history and mythology, and they have received high praise, have been called “brilliant” (Booklist), “moving,” (New York Times), “masterful” (Horn Book), and “breathtaking” (School Library Journal). 

Makiia grew up on the Pacific island of Guam, not too far from the equator, and holds degrees in journalism (University of Oregon) and library science (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee); she is a former librarian. She has also lived in Saipan, Colorado, Italy, New Hampshire, Idaho, and North Carolina. As of 2023 she lives with her family in Portland, Oregon. 

Makiia never considered writing fiction until she was in her 30s. She had always loved the Indiana Jones series which may have helped influence her writing, as well as her interests medieval mapmaking and travel. Isle of Blood and Stone is actually a collection of things that she has found fascinating.

When asked in an interview (Nerd Daily) about where the inspiration for Years of the Reaper came from, she replied: 

"My first novel came out in 2014 and takes places right at the start of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. While I was writing it, I found myself wondering, 'Well, what happened to the survivors? To those forced to carry on? What’s their story?' That is what Year of the Reaper is ultimately about, about the survivors of a terrible medieval plague." 

Makiia's books can be found on many notable lists, including the Kids’ Indie Next and the American Library Association’s ‘Best Fiction for Young Adults.’ Currently, her five novels include: A Death-Struck Year (2016), Year of the Reaper (2001), Isle of Blood and Stone (2018), Song of the Abyss (2019), and Dragonfruit (2024).

Written by John Repplinger
Content is taken from Makiia's home page, Nerd Daily., and Utopia State of Mind.
​

---