Jasminda is feared in her homeland of Elsira. She’s got the gift of Earthsong, and everyone shuns her. She wonders if she’ll ever go back, and if she’s save from an invasion. There’s a war going between Elsira and Lagrimar — is she safe from their grasp? She’s not. Soldiers invade her cabin, bringing in a captive. Jack needs to escape. His mission? To return to Elsira and uncover the secrets of the Queen Who Sleeps. This is the only way to win this war. That and Jasminda’s Earthsong. He must escape and his fellow captive with her.

“Earthsong moves across his skin like the lips of a lover ... He fought the desire to fall to his knees with relief.”

This magical story about two feuding worlds and the two people who could end it is engaging and beautifully written. The main characters are well developed, their motives and stakes full of depth. The romantic tension, the conflict, the decisions and sacrifices they have to make — these are the things that enthralled me from the beginning. As for the world-building itself, I had a difficult time picturing most of it. The setting is far too vague, and it could have taken place any time between the late 1700s to mid 1800s. This is common in SFF fiction. It’s not a historical novel, and you don’t want anachronisms and language to distract you, but I’d still like a clear picture of the world the author has created. It is an enjoyable read with plenty of action though, romance and plot. I give Song of Blood and Stone four out of five Cinnamon Dolce lattes.

I am giving this e-galley a three star review because I didn’t get into it as much as I had hoped. There were many great qualities to this novel. The beginning was amazing, great worldbuilding. The chapters were quite long but that isn’t a big deal.
Jasminda and jack were adorable I loved them.
I do wish we got too meet more of her family and twins.
I will definitely attempt more books from this author. The writing was unique and did I loved Jasminda. Such a strong female heroine.

A fun YA read full of magic and romance. Nothing outside of the pretty typical, but I enjoyed the world and people the author created.

This book is so well written, the characters, the setting, the magic. I love everything.

The setting, like in terms of fashion, was a little difficult to picture. Not a lot of detail was given for the types of dresses worn, or style of pants, but I assume it was possibly a Victorian era, maybe Edwardian era. They had things like motor vehicles, radios, and airships. I was picturing something like a zeppelin. So it was a little steampunk in that regard.

The characters were amazing, Jack and Jasminda are both wonderful characters, and all the supporting characters were also great. None of them really fell flat in any way for me. The romance between Jack and Jasminda was honestly one of the best parts of this book, it had a purity to it, and was just sweet, and based on trust and respect. The respect he has for her is not something often found in books.

The magic, while interesting and I love it, could use some clarifying. It's referred to as a Song, but I don't know what that means because there are times when people are using discreetly which makes me believe that it's not singing, but yeah I would like some clarifying. Still love it, even if I don't fully understand it.



The back story of the main plot was woven in beautifully. Told in small batches of folktales at the start of each chapter, and in flashbacks through a magic stone. Sounds weird, but it worked. I was able to piece together who the True Father and the Queen who Sleeps were before their big reveal at the end of the book. It was done on purpose, not in an annoying predictable way. At least not annoying in my opinion.



I am even more excited to read the sequel now than I was before. This is a pretty fantastic book.

The cover captured my attention and I had seen the great reviews readers had given the book so I was already interested. Unfortunately, it didn't hit the mark for me. I would recommend it to readers - particularly as YA or YA for adults - that read SFF and, specifically, as a black/racially diverse SFF title. I can see why it appeals to a lot of readers.

I saw the striking cover and read the synopsis and thought oh goody a fantasy romance that sounds right up my street. Well having finished the book I still think it will appeal to those looking for romance and those who like to read about fantastical magic lands although honestly I did find certain things puzzling at times.
Jasminda lives alone in an isolated cabin when a freak storm brings soldiers and their prisoner to her home seeking shelter. Jasminda feels a strange kinship to the injured Jack and helps him to escape his captors and I can't deny that there's chemistry between them. Jasminda had mixed parentage and her father might have been a son of Lagrimar where 'singers' connect magically to the elements but her mother was born in Elsira a land that fears 'singers'. In order to save her home Jasminda needs to travel to land of her very much alive grandfather so teaming up with Jack makes sense. Jack needs her help though as he's trying to stop evil from overrunning Elsira and the power Jasminda has inside her could unlock secrets but there's a lot Jack hasn't told Jasminda!
If I'm blunt I much preferred the second half of the book as it had a much better pace. I'm unfortunately confused though about the world building and struggled to imagine the time or even what type of technology was available. Initially with the quite basic home of Jasminda I was imagining something simple as in a world without technology but then we are told there's electricity and radios not to mention guns ! Then weirdly the author introduced magic stones to communicate through which had me thinking of the now defunct Pebl phones which unfortunately had me laughing so yes the world building felt incomplete. Particularly when four wheel drive vehicles appeared and then we are told the royal prince has an airship and well you can probably see why I tried so had to believe everything but it just didn't gel in my head.
So Elsira reviles magic and Lagrimar embraces it and this book has the magical divide between the two lands crumbling away with the romance between Jasminda and Jack taking centre stage. Some things are quite predictable but I honestly didn't mind that . The dreams/ flashbacks Jasminda experiences do give quite a lot away but as this book ended I hasten to reassure my fellow readers that there's clearly still a lot to play for with evil not really defeated but plotting a new strategy!
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

4 Stars for Song of Blood & Stone

I had the pleasure of reading a slightly new edition Song of Blood & Stone through NetGalley. This book was initially self-published but was so acclaimed it is now being republished under St. Martin's Press. Set in an alternative 1920's universe, the story follows Jasminda, an outcast due to racial and magical heritage. She lives alone with only the memories of her family. Hated by the Elsirans and feared by the Lagrimar for her Earthsong (a magical skill that allows her to cross the border between the two countries). Despite this, Jasminda is a strong, independent but also empathetic woman.

Jasminda's luck turns when she saves a wounded Elsiran spy, Jack from death. The connection is instant - and I truly mean instant- between the two souls. Their passion is conveyed in some very steamy passages. But while Jack and Jasminda's relationship builds it is threatened by the possibility of war between the two countries. Jasminda and Jack must set off to find a way to prevent the war. Their relationship and faith is tested throughout the journey and love prevails.

This was a delightful read full of elemental magic and world building. Their romance is a major focal point of the story but I don't think it deters from it. If you love your fantasy novels with some romance, then definitely give this a shot.

Jasminda has never fit in and now is faced with losing her family farm when a wounded soldier comes her way. He isnt alone. As the enemy soldiers come after them she will learn that her magic and her life will be tied to this man she thinks is only a soldier but he has secrets all his own and their world is facing showdown with evil. A fun fantasy book.

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!

SONG OF BLOOD AND STONE is a true fantasy with the churning depth of history, humanity, and love. Intense, riveting, and spinning a tale that will have your heart captivated, this book is one for every fantasy lover’s shelves.
-pooled ink

St. Martin's Press emailed me about reviewing Song of Blood and Stone, the first book in the Earthsinger Chronicles by debut author L. Penelope and I was so excited about it! It was described to me as having the following qualities:

The doomed star-crossed lovers of Romeo & Juliet
A reluctant ruler and epic quest against darkness ala Lord of the Rings
The romance of Ilona Andrews
The world building of Brandon Sanderson
The dynastic intrigue of House of Cards
Note: I received an e-galley from St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

At its core, Song of Blood and Stone is a story about two kingdoms and groups of people who have deep-rooted prejudices. One source of conflict is the concept of magic. To the Elsirans, it's nothing more than witchcraft. To the Lagrimari, the gift of Earthsong is revered and deemed powerful. Indeed, their tyrannical ruler, the True Father, is rumored to be the most powerful Earthsinger alive.

My chief complaints about the Earthsong magic system is that we are not given a sense of what constitutes a "powerful" Earthsong. We are constantly told that Jasminda's Song is not very strong because she was raised in Elsira and hadn't had many opportunities to practice using it. But we don't have a concrete spectrum for the Song and its Singers. The scenes in which the Song is invoked are not terribly visual, and so I have a difficult time wrapping my head around this strange power. Plus, terminology is thrown around at the start of the book without any introduction. What is the Mantle? What are Breaches? These Breaches are another source of conflict throughout the book, so it would have been great if they were given some more explanation.

While the magic system is not as fully formed as I would have liked, it has an intriguing mythology behind it. Jasminda, our protagonist, is given a caldera which contains the memories of an ancient Earthsinger. These memories reveal clues about the origins of the two lands and the potential of the Song. These flashbacks were interesting to read and I confess, sometimes more interesting than the current timeline.

That's because Song of Blood and Stone contains several YA fantasy cliches. I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers, but plot twists were predictable and the romance was pretty much insta-love and quite gratuitous. I was mortified when I happened upon these scenes in the middle of a crowded subway car.

What I truly enjoyed about this debut novel was its emphasis on prejudice and social commentary. Jasminda is half-Lagrimari and half-Elsiran, though her fellow citizens see her only for her dark Lagrimari skin. She has never felt like she truly belonged in the Elsira, yet all of her familial memories are rooted there. When the Lagrimari pour over the Mantle to escape their terrible ruler, the True Father, Elsirans are in an uproar about what to do with these refugees. These themes could almost be real-life parallels.

I rate Song of Blood and Stone 3/5 stars. Keep an eye out for its release on May 1st, 2018!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the e-galley!

Visit betteha.com for the full review and to view other reviews!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was refreshing to see a beautiful woman of color as the main character. L.Penelope did a wonderful job with the character development in this book and made me want to find out more about them as I read. It was also refreshing to have a book set in the timeline of the 20's that isn't your typical flapper story. It was nice to see a different world set in my favorite time. The only issue I had was I like my love stories to be a little less perfect. I love to see the flaws in relationships and the struggles that a couple has to go through to get to where they are. I felt like in Song of Blood & Stone the romance was so absolutely perfect that it almost felt unbelievable to me. Other than that little misstep for me, this book was a joy to read. The premise, characters, and the world had me wanting more.

Song of Blood & Stone is wonderfully original and the world is beautifully built. This book made my heart swoon. The beginning definitely gets you hooked right off the bat. The full review will be available on my website (www.theeverydayk.com) closer to release date.

The Song of Blood and Stone is a beautiful slow paced romance novel with aspects of fantasy in it.

In an alternative reality where magic exists, Jasminda, our main character, is an outcast, both because of the color of her skin and her magical abilities. Her whole family has been outcasts because of her parents’ interracial marriage, and now that they are gone, Jasminda is used to being alone. Then one day, Jasminda helps a wounded man, Jack, and her life is changed forever.

As I said before, The Song of Blood and Stone is a romance novel, with romance being the primary plot of the book. Everything else, the magic system and world building is secondary. It is incredibly sweet, with a perfect man, loads of steamy passages and just a pleasant story. I just wanted more, more about the magic, more about the world and Jasminda’s family…just a more flashed out fantasy novel.

I would recommend this book for anyone who loves sweet love stories, diversity and is looking for an uncomplicated, straight forward read.

What I liked: This book is beautifully written with great world building, an exciting premise, and all right elements to make a book compelling. I loved the diversity, the complex relationships, the magic in this book. The cliff hanger makes me what to read the next book to discover what will happen.

What I didn't like: The romance went from 0-100 way too fast. And there are several sex scenes which I skipped after I realized what I was reading. The book would have been much better if they had taken that part of their relationship slowly. Or if it wasn't explicitly explained. This feels very mature for a YA book.

Stars 3.5
REVIEW (Song of Blood and Stone by L. Penelope)

If you are a fan of Fantasy then this will be an excellent read for you. It is a beautifully written tale that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. The world buildup is clear an concise allowing the reader to fully envision the environment surrounding the strong well developed characters. I was pleasantly surprised by the storyline which I found exciting and not predictable at all. I very much look forward to seeing how this series progresses.

I Was given this book free via NetGalley in return for a voluntary honest review. My opinions are My own. Regards Anna