Blog Tour: Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun

HEIR TO THE SKY Playlist

I have weird taste in music. Let’s just get that out of the way first. I listen to Celtic pop, video game soundtracks, Icelandic pop, KPop, JPop. My favorite artists are Enya, Arashi, Loreena McKennit, SHINee, B2ST, and Sigur Ros.

I’m sorry, but also not. I love this weird mix of sounds. And I hope maybe you’ll find something new that you like, too!

Here are the top 5 songs I listened to while writing HEIR TO THE SKY:

Noel’s Theme (The Last Hunter) – Final Fantasy XIII-2

This has been repurposed as Griffin’s theme. ^_^ There’s a sadness in it that to me echoes the earth on the edge of destruction. There are so few survivors left on the surface, and so little hope to cling to. But that little shred of hope is beautiful and sharp as a diamond.

Awake – Skyrim

This is the theme I played over and over as I wrote the scenes in Ashra. In particular, I used it to help me visualize the opening scene, when Kali is standing in her field of flowers and fireweed, the earth at a dizzying distance below. It sets the scene, too, for the rainbow of fireflies in the outlands, and for the swamps of earth when they glow at night.

Ultima Weapon’s Theme – Final Fantasy XIV

There are a lot of monster fights in HEIR TO THE SKY, and I had a lot of game music to turn to. Ultima Weapon was a good piece, as well as the final Ganon battle from Ocarina of Time and the Esper Battle from Final Fantasy XII. It also brings back good memories of playing FFXIV with my character Tomo. ^_^ (and yes, he was an arcanist/summoner—drawings coming to life ftw!)

Kolniður – Jonsi

An Icelandic song, it was useful for the broad and wild landscapes of the earth as I was writing them. I was in Iceland a few years ago and I remember the amazing variety of the scenery—snow one minute, then coils of hardened lava ten minutes down the road.

I May Not Awaken – Enya

Enya has been a favorite of mine since forever. Her music evokes amazing landscapes when I write. I can only hope to capture the wildness on the page as I listen to her. I hope if you listen to this song, you’ll see the variety on earth and on Kali’s floating continents, too.

You can get a full playlist for HEIR TO THE SKY here. I hope you’ll listen as you read!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxOJ1abCyAQVOgtgkQyRQYKUZMHHfMr8s

ABOUT HEIR TO THE SKY:

As heir to a kingdom of floating continents, Kali has spent her life bound by limits—by her duties as a member of the royal family; by a forced betrothal to the son of a nobleman; and by the edge of the only world she’s ever known—a small island hovering above a monster-ridden earth, long since uninhabited by humans. She is the Eternal Flame of Hope for what’s left of mankind, the wick and the wax burning in service for her people, and for their revered Phoenix, whose magic keeps them aloft.

When Kali falls off the edge of her kingdom and miraculously survives, she is shocked to discover there are still humans on the earth. Determined to get home, Kali entrusts a rugged monster-hunter named Griffin to guide her across a world overrun by chimera, storm dragons, basilisks, and other terrifying beasts. But the more time she spends on earth, the more dark truths she begins to uncover about her home in the sky, and the more resolute she is to start burning for herself.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

ABOUT AMANDA SUN:

I’m a YA author and proud Nerdfighter. I was born in Deep River, Canada, a very small town without traffic lights or buses, and where stranger safety is comprised of what to do if you see a bear—or skunk. I started reading fantasy novels at 4 and writing as soon as I could hold a pencil. Hopefully my work’s improved since then.

​In university I took English, Linguistics, and Asian History, before settling into Archaeology, because I loved learning about the cultures and stories of ancient people. Of course, I didn’t actually become an archaeologist—I have an intense fear of spiders. I prefer unearthing fascinating stories in the safety of my living room.

​The Paper Gods is inspired by my time living in Osaka and travelling throughout Japan. That and watching far too many J-Dramas. I currently live in Toronto with my husband and daughter. When I’m not writing, I’m devouring YA books, knitting nerdy things like Companion Cubes and Triforce mitts, and making elaborate cosplays for anime cons.

LINKS: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Tour Schedule:

Week 1:

4/25: Two Chicks on Books - Q&A

4/26: That Artsy Reader Girl - Review

4/27: The Irish Banana Review - Playlist

4/28: Books Buying Beauty - Review

4/29: Fiery Reads - Top 10

Week 2:

5/2: Chapter By Chapter - Review

5/3: The Book Cellar - Guest Post

5/4: Brooke Reports - Review

5/5: YA Bookmark - Q&A

5/6: Gone Pecan - Review

Giveaway:

3 Finished Copies of HEIR TO THE SKY (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway