Happy Saturday and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for SOFI AND THE BONE SONG! I’m so excited because today I have an interview with Adrienne Tooley to share with you! This book is truly amazing and I’m so excited to for you to find out more about it!
Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley Published on April 19, 2022 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genres: Fantasy, Queer, YA
Pages: 416
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Author Links: Website, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram
Music runs in Sofi’s blood.
Her father is a Musik, one of only five musicians in the country licensed to compose and perform original songs. In the kingdom of Aell, where winter is endless and magic is accessible to all, there are strict anti-magic laws ensuring music remains the last untouched art.
Sofi has spent her entire life training to inherit her father’s title. But on the day of the auditions, she is presented with unexpected competition in the form of Lara, a girl who has never before played the lute. Yet somehow, to Sofi’s horror, Lara puts on a performance that thoroughly enchants the judges.
Almost like magic.
The same day Lara wins the title of Musik, Sofi’s father dies, and a grieving Sofi sets out to prove Lara is using illegal magic in her performances. But the more time she spends with Lara, the more Sofi begins to doubt everything she knows about her family, her music, and the girl she thought was her enemy.
As Sofi works to reclaim her rightful place as a Musik, she is forced to face the dark secrets of her past and the magic she was trained to avoid—all while trying not to fall for the girl who stole her future.
What would you do if you spent the day with Sofi and Lara? Where would you go to eat, hang out, relax, etc.?
I’d take Sofi and Lara to some of my favorite live music venues in the city—Sofi would judge the songwriters while Lara would find all the different instruments enchanting. We’d definitely stop for coffee and go to a florist—after living in an endless winter for so long they’d appreciate fresh flowers!
If Sofi and Lara were to hang out with other fictional characters, who would they be and why?
I feel like Sofi and Lara would be fascinated by the world in Julia Ember’s Ruinsong, and would love to hang out with Cadence, whose singing voice holds magic.
If there was one fictional place you could travel to for a day, where would it be and why?
Some sort of magical garden, with flowers that can speak and hedge animals that can move and a giant maze in the middle. I feel like there is so much magic already in greenery and I imagine I would just get completely lost in a world like that.
If you buried a time capsule with three items inside, what three items would you choose and why?
A journal from my teenage years to highlight how universal and formative the teenage experience is, a picture of my puppy because she’s the cutest and I want everyone to know it, and—this probably ages me—a mix cd of all my favorite songs. I guess a link to a Spotify playlist would do the same thing, assuming the internet still exists when the capsule is opened. Haha
What was your favorite bit of research you ended up not using?
In an earlier draft, one of the characters was an innkeeper who didn’t let people order drinks, instead picking what beverage they received based on personality. I did a lot of research into herbs and hops and tinctures that was fascinating but ultimately didn’t make it into the final draft.
What is your favorite quote, scene, or moment from Sofi and the Bone Song?
One of my absolute favorite scenes is when Sofi tries to explain to Lara how to write a song. It’s something that feels so obvious to her, and she realizes the only way to make it make sense to Lara is to choose something she understands. So Sofi teaches Lara about songwriting by comparing it to sewing a dress. I loved creating the similes but also offering Sofi a chance to soften and communicate with someone on their terms, instead of just her own.
About Adrienne Tooley
Adrienne Tooley (she/her) was born and raised in the desert suburbs of Southern California. She grew up in the theater, earning her B.A. in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. She and her wife currently live in New York City with their puppy, Kit (short for Biscuit). In addition to writing novels she is also a singer/songwriter and has released several EPs which are available on Spotify & other streaming sites. Her debut novel, SWEET & BITTER MAGIC, is out now from S&S/McElderry. Her second novel, SOFI AND THE BONE SONG, is also out now from S&S/McElderry. In 2023, she will publish THE THIRD DAUGHTER, the first in a duology.
What do you think about Sofi and the Bone Song? Have you added it to your tbr yet? Let me know in the comments and have a splendiferous day!
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