Synopsis: In this world, everything was brought to life by the Earthsingers, whose Songs produce magic and life. The nation has been split into two regions, Lagrimara (home to the powerful dark-skinned Earthsingers) and Elsira (a world dominated by xenophobic Elsirans who shun the Earthsingers and call them evil). Both of these regions are at war with one another, the tyrannical True King of the Lagrimari trying to conquer the Elsiran region, with many Lagrimari on the run from this evil king. Our main protagonist, Jasminda, is half Lagrimari and half Elsiran, and is also a third-generation Earthsinger. Shunned by the people in her region, she tries to live a quiet life by herself on her farm. However, one day she meets a man named Jack and her life is forever changed.

★ ★ ★ 1/2 stars

Trigger warning: There is one scene where an attempted rape happens.

I absolutely adored the world in this book. The Earthsingers and their history were probably the most fascinating and well-written part of Song of Blood & Stone. The short excerpts from the native folklore tales in front of each chapters also succeeded at adding additional depth to the history and world that L. Penelope has created and I found them to be incredibly witty and interesting. For example:

"Never give a gift with your eyes closed, said the Master of Sharks to the rich man. For you may part with more than you intend."


Jasminda was a really admirable protagonist. I loved how intelligent she was, especially at the beginning of the book when she had to outsmart a handful of men who showed up unannounced at her house (e.g. mixing herbs into their tea to prevent rape). I was also very proud of what a strong woman she was with all of the tough ordeals she had to push through, including a horrible dose of xenophobia. She never backed down from standing up for herself, and also what she believed to be right. Jack was also a very interesting character, but I felt like I wasn't able to connect with his person as much as I was with Jasminda.

Unfortunately, I'm taking off a star and a half off this rating for a number of reasons. The first one being that some of the plot was overly predictable and cliche. For example, those "tests" that Jasminda had to go through as well as the identity of the True King. At the beginning of the book, parts of the story left me a tad confused, having to backtrack a couple of pages in order to clear up certain things that weren't clearly explained. The plot itself also seemed to drag on a little bit at the beginning of the novel. Then, when the midpoint of the book was reached, the plot sped up waaay too fast. By the end of the book, I felt like the author had crammed a whole novel's worth of information into that last fifty percent of the story. The entire ending felt incredibly rushed and it almost felt like the book was trying to reach a happy ending as soon as possible rather than produce great quality writing.

What I did really appreciate though, was how accurately this book seemed to mirror specific issues that our society is facing today. The Lagrimari, as well as Jasminda, being naturally dark-skinned, faced a lot of hatred, racism and xenophobia. The refugees in Elsira were treated absolutely horrifically and it broke my heart when I had to read through those specific passages. I think it's great that books like these are raising awareness to these problems and will hopefully spread a positive message which will inspire many to fight for love and peace for all. Not only that, but I loved the representation in this book, including a biracial main character (Jasminda), many other people of color as well as an adorable lesbian couple.

I did enjoy my read of this book, but overall I felt like this novel did fall short of being the amazing story which the world and the overall plot definitely could have attained. I still think this is a great read and would recommend anyone who enjoys fantastic world-building, wants to see a strong female lead and doesn't mind certain book tropes playing out. I will definitely pick up the next book though!

Song of Blood and Stone is a debut fantasy romance with a strong female lead, rich mythology, important themes, and plenty of magic. Jasminda is a biracial young woman who inherited her magical Earthsong abilities from her dark-skinned Lagamiri father. Now orphaned, she lives in the predominately white kingdom of Elsira, struggling to hold onto her home in a place where her magic is feared and her coloring despised. When she stumbles across a wounded Elsiran soldier named Jack being pursued by a brutal unit of Lagamiri soldiers, she is drawn into a centuries-old power struggle where magic plays a central role.

This was a really enjoyable read full of adventure, intrigue, and a thought-provoking portrayal of racial discrimination and anti-refugee prejudice. Jasminda and Jack are very drawn to one another romantically, but interracial relationships are not considered desirable or appropriate. The depiction of what they face as a result is hard to read at times, especially assumptions that she is sort of a throw-away plaything, but that is the reality for people in some places even now, and certainly isn't historically distant. I liked the fact that Jasminda is such a strong character in her own right and doesn't really need saving most of the time, because otherwise there could have been some weird power imbalances there. As it is, I liked the romance and I liked the fact that it wasn't immediately consummated, and the positive depictions of non-white beauty!

The history of the two kingdoms and their magic is really interesting and I liked the mythology that the author built and the mechanics used to share it. I loved the examination of how people might respond when you flip their expectations (I don't want to be more specific because spoilers!). Overall, I enjoyed the book and thought it had a lot going for it.

However, I do think it could have used more attention to world-building. The magic system is only explained loosely and the rules are unclear. I would have liked to see a tighter, more detailed presentation of that. I was also unsure what to think about the role of technology in the book. Elsira has guns, telephones, and even busses, which sometimes felt out of place in a world with magic. It seemed like early-modern levels of technology. To be fair, I can definitely see an argument for those things making sense in the world, but I think we needed a better understanding of how much technological development had taken place and why. I also didn't think that the twist ending was very surprising. And I'm okay with that, but I thought I should throw it out there that I guessed pretty early on what was happening.

I think this is a fairly strong debut and start to an interesting fantasy series with diverse characters. I would definitely want to continue on with later books. I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book. Jasminda lives in a country where the color of her skin makes her and her people pariahs. It doesn’t matter that she is ‘biracial’. She is discriminated upon at every turn. She meets and saves Jack who is white—and as it turns out Royalty. They fall in love, but of course this is highly frowned upon not only because of his station, but also because she is black. This book really explored colorism/racism/classism/discrimination/abuse. You name it. All while being wrapped up in a wonderfully written book that kept me rapt from start to finish. Of course you knew how the book would end, but I didn’t care. I loved it and can’t wait for the second book

Well written romantic fantasy read. The story moved at a fair pace although I did find myself growing bored at various points. Fortunately, the author was able to recapture my attention by just creating wonderful characters in Jasminda and Jack. If you enjoy YA epic fantasy then you will enjoy this.

I was given an ARC for my honest opinion.

Song of Blood and Stone by L. Penelope
Jasminda had been concerned about her land and the prospect of losing everything that her family had worked for. She was all alone and had been for two years, but the memories made at her home with her parents and siblings gave her comfort. That had been her concern, before she found the young man, badly beaten outside her home. Jack was wearing a Lagrimari uniform but he was an Elsiran, his skin color and ginger hair proved as much. He was running from Lagrimari soldiers and believed he was still in Lagrimari, unaware that Jasminda lived as an Elsiran citizen being part Elsiran herself. Her dark brown complexion was that of her father who was a Lagrimari refugee. The mantle that separated the two lands was broken in spots and a new war was coming. Jasminda tried to heal the young soldier using her Earthsong, but unexperienced as she was she could do little to heal him before the soldiers arrived. But he has secrets of his own and the two must learn to trust each other, if either of them are going to survive.

Don’t let that introduction fool you, this story becomes very complicated very quickly, as the history of the mantle and what lead to it’s creation is slowly untold. When this story begins all readers are aware of is the bias and prejudice that exists towards those who have magic through their Earthsong. It’s obvious how unfair and bias this is and that is based off of physical characteristics, mainly the color of the skin. Jasminda whose appearance doesn’t reveal that she is in fact an Elsiran citizen, leaves her to be ridiculed and ostracized. The biases are so clear cut and well defined that it’s impossible to deny its presence. With that we have Jack who doesn’t judge Jasminda, ends up working with her and falling for her but has to deal with his own prejudice and the prejudice of people around him as he is given new roles. Like I said this story gets complicated but everything unfolds beautifully.

What I ended up really enjoying about this story was the attention to world building and how well it is wrapped up in the storytelling. It’s essential in this story to build a world where a wall divides people that once lived in unison together and now through the centuries have been separated by fear and prejudice. I loved that the third person narrative was used throughout the story, because it distanced the readers in a way from being too sympathetic to any character’s struggle. The only time this isn’t true is when the story of the mantle was being unveiled and then readers were able to experience through first person narrative how that unfolded.

I really enjoyed this novel. I loved this pacing and I absolutely loved how the true history was unfolded. I thought that for a first in a series it did a really good job of establishing the magic of the Earthsong but I hope other novels in this series delve deeper into it. I want to know as much as I can because I thought it was really well done. My interest in it is piqued to say the least. I’m also curious to see how life unfolds for society after the way this first novel ended. How difficulty will it be to dismantle the pre-existing prejudice? Throughout the novel we are shown time and time again how imbedded this prejudice is and I’m curious to see what direction Penelope will take the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. It’s a strong introduction to what I’m sure will be an intense series. There is a social commentary littered throughout that readers will have no choice but to be drawn into and I’m hoping it will resonate outside of the book. I’m looking forward to more from Penelope. The world building had me hooked, and the story kept me reading.

I really wanted to like this one but I ended up stopping at Chapter 18. The cover is gorgeous and the description intrigued me but the way it was laid out just did not catch my interest. I just couldn't get into the story. Maybe I'll get back to it one day and pick up where I left off but right now Jasminda and Jack just aren't interesting to me.

This was a simply beautiful book. First and foremost it was a romance – I’m not keen on romance but I found myself captivated by the fairytale feel of this one, maybe because the romance itself felt like fantasy. The prose was dreamlike and descriptive, something I really enjoy when it’s done well. However since that usually results in a slower pace, I can see why other readers might not warm to it. Personally I just enjoyed being along for the ride with this book, never feeling that I needed to tear through it but still wanting see where it went. The world building is excellent, I love how diverse it was and I enjoyed the fantasy and political elements. I look forward to the next book.

I enjoyed this book, the world building was great and I really enjoyed the main character, Jasminda. Although this is a YA fantasy novel, I think it leans more towards a YA romance. There are definitely elements of fantasy, magic and some mystery throughout the book. I felt a bit like this book had a very strong plot and the plot it did present was fairly predictable. However, it does move along at a fairly steady pace and is pretty action packed. Some of the fantasy elements of this book I would have loved to have more information and a background on. I did enjoy the way the book ended and I appreciate that there was no cliff hanger and epilogue kind of wrapped the story up. And the cover of this book is gorgeous.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for sending me an ARC of this book.

I got to read a great book over the last few days. I was very lucky and got an advance copy of Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope. 

I am very happy to say I loved this book. I had a fun time reading it, the characters were fun to learn about and honestly, i loved this style she created the magic system within this book. now at the start of the book, i do have to say it is a slow at least in my mind it was but near the middle of the book, it started to really speed up. 

But I will put a warning in this book if you are not a person who likes scene that portrays the action a man and women have with each other. You might now like this book. Now it is not a very strong point in this book but I do want you all to be aware of that before going in. I do have to say in consideration of what I have read before it was very tame. But once again it is not for everyone. 

So from that point, I have to say this book is very well written I really enjoyed it, and I look forward to the rest of these series. I want to see how the author is going to take this story and how it wrapped up and make the next one just as good. 

I give this book a 3/5 star rating and I am excited about the next installment. 



A huge thank you goes out to NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this book. Also if this sound like something up your alley the book is going to be released May 1st. 



But until next time here at the nook!

E.

There were parts about Song of Blood and Stone that I liked, and there were parts about it that I didn’t like. The intriguing synopsis (and the gorgeous cover, I’m shallow like that) is what first piqued my interest, and I was excited to be approved for an advanced copy. As I began reading, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this is actually a New Adult novel in the Fantasy Romance genre, not a Young Adult Fantasy. I keep saying there needs to be more NA Fantasy books!

One of the better aspects of the book was the plot; it was straightforward, with no unnecessary drama added. The story was not entirely unique, however, and loosely followed the same formula as many other fantasy books. But even with that being said, I was still entertained enough to want to continue reading to see how everything would be resolved by the end. Another really part of the story were the diverse characters and the relationship between Jasminda and Jack. The author casts a very realistic portrayal of their relationship and the hardships they had to face to be together.

My biggest struggle with Song of Blood and Stone had to do with the world-building. I spent a majority of the time confused about the setting and the world. At first, it reads like a typical historical fantasy, and then suddenly there are mentions of electricity, phones, trucks, and airships. Every time a more modern invention was mentioned, it completely threw me off. I think the world-building needed to be developed more fully. I also wish there had been a better explanation of the magic system and Earthsingers’ abilities. I finished the book and still wasn’t sure what they could actually do and how.

Because of the combination of an unremarkable plot and undeveloped world-building, I didn’t enjoy this as much as I had been hoping. Had there been either a really unique and gripping plot, or stronger world-building, I would have enjoyed the story a bit more.

This book is amazing! I did not think that this books would as good as it was. The story line, the plots, the characters, everything was a wonderful read. From the very start the book was enthralling and very hard to put down. The main character, Jasminda, is such a wonderful character you can't help but cheer her on and hope for the best.

The layers in this book is amazing. I am currently looking at other books this author has written to read. I can not wait to see what she writes next. This book keeps you enthralled and it is very hard to put down. I did not want this book to end, but alas it did. Now I have to wait till the next one comes out so I can find out how Jasminda handles her new powers she received.

If you like fantasy novels then you will love it. The characters are wonderful and the plot lines are easy to follow yet still leaves you with questions. I know I say this often but I would recommend this book highly if you like fantasy novels.

I received with thanks an ARC copy of Song of Blood & Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles #1) from St Martin’s Press & Netgalley.

This is my true and honest review of Song of Blood & Stone by L Penelope. This is due for publication on 1st May 2018.

I first like to mention the world building in this is just incredible. This is a fantasy where anything can happen. We have a strong lead main character that is enjoyable to read about. I loved the romance and the diversity that is represented in this book.

I really recommend checking this one out upon release.

An interesting story, I love the beginning!I was so into the story from the beginning and I was so intrigued to see what will happen next!I loved that it has action and the romance was sweet and I like the characters!What make me not love it as much as I wanted is that it was more focused in the romance that I didn't expected in a book like this!Overall, it was a great story!

I honestly was expecting this to be just another fantasy story like hundreds of others I've read before and in some ways it was, but in most ways it was so much more and I found myself absolutely in love with it! I can't wait to read more from this author!

I was so excited to start reading this book. It had such high promise due to the description and the main protagonist sounded really interesting as well. However. I unfortunately ended up DNF-ing (did not finish) the book, due to it being to cheesy, predictable and boring.
I've read so many other books like this, it did not feel original the slightest :/ which I'm gutted for as I was really looking forward to love and adore this book.
When I say cheesy sentences, i mean: "She closed her eyes, and once again the warm buzz of Earthsong poured into him like a fizzy cola" I mean what???
Therefore, I just could not force myself to read the book. But I really appreciate that I was sent an ARC early copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital arc of "Song of Blood & Stone" by L. Penelope. I really like the world building and the magic system. They were both original and full of imagination. The main characters are very interesting and the story kept me reading. This book is perfect for those who enjoy fantasy.

I wanted so badly to like this book, especially after I found out it was self-published (as a self-published author myself). The premise is good, the cover is gorgeous, the world is interesting, and the beginning is actually not bad. But once Jasminda and Jack start their journey over the mountain, everything went kind of downhill.

The world that I found so interesting was poorly developed. I don't know anything about it, or this mysterious Earthsong. Why is it called Earthsong? Where does the "song" part come in? I read somewhere that this is an alternate 1920s, which is so cool, but it's just so flat. I can't picture it in my head, except for the mountains, because that's pretty self-explanatory.

The author introduces a pretty decent (and topical) racial disparity that is also never really explored further. The Lagrimari are clearly POC and the Elsirans are coded white, and it seems like only Lagrimari have whatever magic this Earthsong is, and it's been like that for hundreds of years. The countries are separated, so that's kind of understandable, and later you find out how and why all the Earthsingers are in Lagrimari, but, like, was it always like that? All the POC had magic and none of the white people did? That's actually fascinating, and we don't learn anything about it, which is disappointing.

As interesting as the first few chapters were, the last few chapters I had to skim, because at that point I didn't really care anymore but I wanted to finish the book. The plot is very contrived, and I don't like how things that are supposed to feel important just aren't given the importance they deserve. Oh, it turns out this guy is the prince. Oh, I just so happen to meet my estranged aunt that I've never mentioned before at this refugee camp. Oh, wouldn't you know, you need a pilot and my girlfriend is a pilot. This is the first book in a series, so I wasn't expecting basically everything to be resolved by the end of the book, and then it was, and it was just super anticlimactic. Once Jasminda and Jack leave her own plot of land, everything kind of rushes along from one plot point to the next.

Props for an interracial romance that neither of the characters really thinks twice about, but it is clearly a problem in this world, and that's also something that we don't spend any decent amount of time on. But the romance doesn't win any other points, because it's just so rushed and trope-y. They're in love with each other after a few days, which is typical, but the way Jack describes Jasminda is kind of cringe-y. It's all about her appearance and her touch, and that just doesn't say "love" to me, it says something else.

Title: Song of Blood and Stone (Book 1)
Author: L. Penticoff (?)
Series: 1 of ?
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher:
Page Count: 338
Type of Book: Uncorrected Proof, Kindle ARC
Rated: 5/5 stars


This book was a highly anticipated read for me, and while it was vastly different than what I expected, it was still a phenomenal read. Full of darkness, magic, characters struggling to survive in harsh environments, and other things still, I really enjoyed this book and thank the publisher on Netgalley for providing me a copy of it. Eventually, I want to get a physical copy of the book because it’s just that good.

While it does the annoying thing of swapping between two characters, it does so effortlessly to the point that I don’t really mind it. It tells the story of Jasminda (cool name!) and Jack, two characters that meet by chance, it seems. Jack is beaten and unconscious when she finds him out by her cabin in the wilderness away from town. Jack is convinced he comes from the other side of the Mantle, a barrier that’s been between two countries at war for decades it sounds like.

Jasminda’s father was from the other side, while her mother was originally Lagrimari. It seems that such pairings were unheard of, and Jasminda is looked down upon in the town because of it. Most folk in town think of her as a witch, though she only ever uses her Earthsong for good. When she meets Jack, she is already going on 24 hours of no sleep due to searching the mountain for her missing Papa and two brothers, whom she believes to have perished years ago in a dreadful storm but were never found. Her mother also gone, due to an illness in the body, Jasminda has been alone for years now, and is fighting off the tax collectors who want to take her farm and land. She has less than ten days to come up with enough money to save her family’s farm.

But when she finds Jack, the farm somehow becomes less of a problem than it has been, as the two of them struggle to survive against the soldiers from the other side who want to take Jack back for questioning as he’s considered a spy. Jasminda attempts to help him as best as she can, and the two of them play their parts as best as they are able.

*There is one brief scene that alludes to Jack nearly being sexually abused by the male soldiers, but Jasminda saves him, and a more graphic scene as well of Jasminda almost getting the same treatment at her farm as well. Nothing overly detailed, but it might be triggersome for some readers.

We watch as Jasminda and Jack leave a burning home behind, and Jasminda is forced to follow Jack into a country she knows next to nothing about, with only her Earthsong to help her along the way. Together, the two of them attempt to stop a tyrannical man who has been stealing Earthsong from people-babies even-for decades, building up his power so that he is unstoppable. It will take courage, strength, and all the powers combined to help the two of them survive.

I highly recommend this book, because it’s full of unique characters, an interesting magic system, and it makes me think vaguely if The Legend of Shannara meets The Sword of Truth series, then it would be a perfect child of those two combined series. It’s a strong, well written novel that contains several interesting characters with a storyline that I’m sure many will love.

Five out of five stars!

{review posted also on my blog and goodreads} at http://www.passmethatbook.wordpress.com}

Jasminda has always been shunned by those in the village; her dark skin marks her out as a foreign witch. Only when she rescues injured soldier Jack, does she find people that accept her. Together, they are pulled along a path to bring about an ancient prophecy.

I received a free copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows Jasminda, who inherited her dark looks from her father - a man native to Lagamiri, the eternal enemy of her homeland Elsira. Her mother's family have practically disowned her, and would like nothing more than to scrub her from existence.
After her parents are brothers die, Jasminda has to work hard to keep their little family farm running; made all the more difficult by a sudden and unexpected tax bill, that threatens to bankrupt her.
She has grown up with constant racist abuse and distrust from the local town, who can't abide her magic, and her looks.

Jasminda has no interest or ambitions beyond keeping her head down, and saving her farm from being repossessed. Until a chance encounter with an injured soldier suddenly makes her a necessary part in a scheme to refortify the barrier that stops the enemy True Father from attacking and enslaving Elsira.

The soldier, Jack, quickly becomes the most solid friend she's ever had. Despite the fact that his identity is a shifting blur from "gentle poet" to "warrior", "general" and... well, something else. He is the first person that truly believes in Jasminda.
There is an undeniable attraction between the two of them, and you know that it's only a matter of time before passion consumes them, even amidst the threat of war, and political drama.

There's a distinct change in tone, as the plot moves away from the adventure of seeking a way to protect Elsira, and avoiding a magical enemy; to the luxuries of the capital. Here, it focuses more on dances, dresses, political intrigue, and returns to Jasminda's desire to save the farm.
There is also the romance between Jasminda and Jack, as the real world threatens to ruin the connection between them.

I really enjoyed this story. It provided a lot of history and background, so even though the plot skipped along lightly, it felt well-rounded.
I like how it tackled topics like racism and the attitudes towards asylum seekers. It really built up the tension gradually, and flared in all the right places.
I also liked how Jasminda is not the most powerful witch. Her own magic is weak compared to her father and other full-blooded Lagamiri; but she still steps up to do anything she can to help stop the True Father.

This book can be read as a standalone, but does set up for a series to follow.