The Prophecy of the Codex Playlist
One of my favorite parts about working on a new book is creating a book playlist.
Come on — I can’t be the only one who does this.
Sometimes books come so quickly (I wrote a book this summer in like 11 days, after all) that I don’t have the time to create a book playlist, but when I work on the first draft for a while, I have so much fun curating a list of songs that fit the book perfectly! It also helps me think about the book and want to get back to writing when I listen to it. I’ve gotta be sneaky with myself at times. 😏
Sometimes a particular song will speak to me during a scene, and I can actually hear the song playing while the scene is happening in my head. It’s so much fun!
Other times, I feel like the lyrics or melody really connect with the book either overall or as a particular theme in the book.
Either way, the songs on my playlist are specially chosen to fit with The Prophecy of the Codex (which comes out in just ONE WEEK, by the way!).
Ready?
Here’s the playlist for The Prophecy of the Codex (on Spotify).
The playlist for The Prophecy of the Codex on Apple Music (with a special bonus song!) is below! 👇🏻 Whichever works best for you. 😊
Go make some coffee, tea, or hot chocolate (my favorite!), click the link above, then keep reading to get the story behind the songs.
Song #1: Dancing in the Sky by Shawn Hook — This song gives me all the opening vibes. You know, where life is still mostly perfect for Kayla and Grady? It’s my “before everything hits the fan” song.
Song #2: Nervous by Shawn Mendes — There’s a scene toward the beginning of the book where Kayla and Grady are in a museum and *may* get to use their powers. 😇 I could hear this song playing during that scene. So much fun.
Song #3: I’ll Find You by Lacrae and Tori Kelly — As we move forward in the book, someone goes missing. This is the song from the perspective of the person trying desperately to find them. A little on the nose? Maybe. Who cares? It’s my playlist. 😂 (And you didn’t think I’d tell you who, did you? 😉)
Song #4: Carry You by Novo Amor — This song is more “vibey” than anything and really gets you in the mood for the book. Think “calm before the storm.”
Song #5: BUILDING by Michael Andrew — This song just gives me all the feels. (And seriously, if you’ve never listened to this album, go do it now. It’s so good.) This song talks about living in the moment and enjoying what you have. I love this lyric: “I wanna forget the middle/Wanna speed through the finish line/Want it all right now.” It also talks about forests and fire, which is totally the Codex vibe.
Song #6: Perfectly Wrong by Shawn Mendes — Okay, I will give too much away if I explain this one, but just suffice it to say, there may be a relationship in The Prophecy of the Codex that just isn’t right — and one of the people in that relationship isn’t okay with that. Read into that what you will then read the book to find out who. It may surprise you. (Then once you figure it out, you’ll probably know which scene this song belongs to. If you can’t figure it out, message me and I’ll fill you in. 😉)
Song #7: Easier to Run by Linkin Park — Remember that wrong relationship in song #6? Well, it may negatively affect another person who wants to run away from their problems instead of facing them. Again, read the book. You’ll know which scene this song belongs to and whose theme song this is.
Song #8: If I Break by Red — This song is the theme song for the book. Seriously — you have no idea how many times I had just this song on repeat as I wrote. It’s heartbreaking in the best way. Again, you’ll have to read the book. But once you get it, you’ll just know.
Song #9: Let It Go by Civil Twilight — Kinda self-explanatory, don’t you think?
Song #10: Hesitate by Jonas Brothers — A new relationship starts in this book between Holun, who we met in book 1, and Yatzil, a new character in this book. This is their song. *swoon* 🥰
Song #11: YOU by Michael Andrew — You can see I have some favorite artists on this list…This is a song I dedicated to Kayla and Grady. Just listen to the lyrics — trust me.
Song #12: Legendary Reign by Vo Williams, Martin Julius — So there’s a part in the book where the Four really get to stretch themselves and show off their superpowers. This song is for that scene. Which may surprise you. 😉
Song #13: Get Up and Fight by Muse — This was also a song I listened to on repeat as I wrote. There’s a scene where *ahem* someone gets hurt, and someone else has to tell them to fight. To not give up. Also, this song just rocks out. Enjoy. 🤘🏻
Song #14: Algorithm (Alternate Reality Version) by Muse — The lyrics on this one don’t have much to do with the book, but this song is epic and just gives me all the fighting vibes. What? You didn’t think there would be fighting in the book?? 😏
Song #15: Figure.09 by Linkin Park — This one was a later addition, one I added once I discovered our antagonist’s backstory. This is her song. Yes, it’s heartbreaking. But also a perfect song for an antagonist.
Song #16: Bad Guy by Vo Williams — I really wish you guys could hear this song, but alas, they’ve taken it off of Spotify (and Apple Music for that matter). If you can find it, go listen to it. (I actually found it here!) It’s just perfect for a particular scene in the book where…um, how to explain this without giving too much away…a gun may be involved. You’re welcome.
Song #17: Centuries by Fall Out Boy — You know that part of the movie where a song fades in at the end of the closing scene? That’s this song. Just picture movie credits rolling. At least, that’s what I do. 😂
Song #18: Never Be the Same by Red — This is actually the song for the entire series, but it fits the plot of this book almost to a tee. Seriously — once you read the book, go back and listen to this song. It’s almost as if two of the characters are singing it back and forth to each other. It blew my mind when I realized it.
That’s it! Hope you enjoy the playlist. It’s so fun to listen to anyway, but it’s even better to listen to while you’re reading the book! The ebook is available for preorder now and will come out on 10/27/20! And the paperback may be available sooner than you think… 😜
Let me know which of these songs or artists you like below! 👇🏻
<3 Melissa