Mini review:

DNF

I received this E-ARC via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

I was really excited to read this! Unfortunately it wasn’t for me. 

It was pretty interesting in the beginning. As I read on the book lagged for me. I quickly lost interest. 

Still recommend.

I really enjoyed this fantasy that features a biracial heroine. The magic and the world-building were unique and well done and I really liked Jasminda (the heroine) and Jack (the prince). Though he wasn't perfect, Jack was a good guy who cared. And not just about himself or amassing power. In addition to the usual good vs evil of every good fantasy, the author includes themes of racism, oppression, and the plight of refugees. There was a lot going on here and it was handled very well. I'll definitely be looking for the next in this series.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-ARC of this book.

It was ok. That's about all I can say. The character building was pretty good, but the world building was confusing. I felt like I picked up a book that was a spin-off from an earlier series and I was missing a lot of the story. This book was more of a cheesy love story than a well-built fantasy novel. That's fine if it's how its advertised, but I was looking for more substance than I found here.

The author really knows how to carve and create an amazing world and story. Between situations in the book mirroring real world issues today and a slow burning romance. Plus nothing is better than a strong female lead.

The author has an amazing ability to really make you feel like you are there and feel what the characters are feeling. The main character Jasminda comes from a mixed family and when her family is gone she feels like she doesn't belong especially when her neighbors are so different, plus she has magic. She feels rejection not only because her skin color being different from those around her, the Elsiran, but because of her magic.

All in all, I really enjoyed this story. I absolutely loved Jasminda and how strong and real of a character she was. Jack was pretty meh. It also took a bit long to get into the story, but it's so worth it!

This was an interesting read. I like the dysotopia feel along with the magic and the characters were likable. The romance was predictable, but the story itself was unique and well executed. I did enjoy reading this story and I will recommend it to friends.

This book was not for me. I tried really hard to get into it but it just didn't work out for me. The cover is really beautiful though.

What a great read! I was hooked from the beginning by the compelling story and wonderful characters. I really liked the magic system as well. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

DNF. 



I gave this book two chances and each time I just couldn't finish it. 



Jasminda inst a bad character, but I couldn't connect with her and neither could I connect with Jack. These characters just needed a little more push for me. 



The story itself just seemed to move so slow. The details didn't jump out and pull me in to the,edge of my seat. Overall the story just wasn't meant for me.

I'm not sure how to feel about this one. It is set in an alternate 1920s and has a wild west feel to it. The friendship  is the best.

Firstly I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

This book was truly awesome! It had everything I love in a YA fantasy and more. I wasn't particularly expecting great things from it but it was honestly great. It had a strong and likeable main character, with a strong, protective and sweet love interest who is struggling with his emotions and inner demons. I really liked how they made him so vulnerable and open, which many male characters are not.

It was fast paced, with an alternating point of view between the two main characters that really allowed us as readers to understand the characters and their motivations much more easily. The world building was extensive without being over-done, the writing was enjoyable and easy to read, and the characters were really likeable. I cannot wait for the next book in this series and highly recommend Song Of Blood And Stone for those who like YA fantasy that seems more 'grown up' than most. 4.5 stars from me!

To me the plot was really intriguing and was well played in this book. I ABSOLUTELY loved L. Penelope's writing style, to me it was beautiful and I could just imagine scenes playing out!! The first couple chapters were slow, but as soon as it got to around 100 pages the story really picked up and I was just enjoying everything. I do have to put a trigger warning for sexual assault in this story, if you would like to know what happens please DM me, for me that scene was tough to get through, but the author did a good job at taking care of the problem.
At first, I wasn't a fan of the love story, but as the story kept going it grew on me, and let me just say I AM IN LOVE WITH THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS, THEY ARE MY BABIES AND YOU NEED TO LOVE THEM TOO!! 💕 One thing that was huge for me was the magic system and how it's huge in this story. I was originally going to give this book a 3.75, but after stuff really started to happen my rating changed to a 4.25.

As a note, a copy of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

Finally, something GOOD! I feel like I've been in THE BIGGEST slump when it comes to YA fantasy books. I mean it: the biggest. Which is a bit unsettling, considering there's so many books out there--far too many to feel like there's a drought in the genre. But, there I was feeling like I'd forever be underwhelmed with the genre. And along came Song of Blood & Stone--which packed a seriously magical punch!

I was a little confused on it being sorted into the YA genre if I'm being honest. Much like the general confusion I felt over Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses. There are many scenes in Song of Blood & Stone that feel a bit more graphic than most YA* scenes do. While I don't at all mind it, it does seem to fit a bit less and makes me wonder if it was original meant for an older audience. So, that is something you should note. If that's not your cup of tea, there will be some scenes you'll want to skim over.

Now, before I get into the good about Song of Blood & Stone, I want to address the negatives. The negatives calculated into that .5 drop on what would have been a 4+ star review (ugh, I know, I suck): I felt like it didn't live up to its full potential in terms of fantasy. Don't get me wrong, it was still full of thrills and a certain essence of magic and fun. Just not as much as I'd hoped. I went into this book expecting one thing, but was surprised to find it took a more vocal approach unto the romance.

I'm not ragging on it, of course. The story was still wonderful.

As for the pluses. Oh, there were SO MANY. I wish I could have looked past certain parts I wasn't keen on, because the rating could have likely reached 4.5/5 stars. But, a 3.5 is far from bad, so don't hate me! I'd still recommend this book in a heartbeat because it was so fun.

Song of Blood & Stone's biggest strong suit lay with its characters; their character development and backstories, and the magnificent tone in which the series' world-building takes. Nothing is left in the dust when it comes to being developed, and continuing to develop throughout the course of book one. While so many fantasy series can take on archetypes that are overdone and underdeveloped, and take the "tell not show" approach, Penelope makes certain that nothing is left in the dark.

(Plus, there are a lot of elements to this world that tie into ours. And there is a moment that will be triggering re: sexual assault.) 

She's taken great care in crafting a world that is enthralling to her readers and will leave a mark on them for good. This is essentially the perfect (!!!) first installment in a new series and shows off Penelope's writing chops--I have a feeling we're going to be hearing nothing short of praise for the series as it expands and I'm so intensely excited to read the second installment ASAP.

If you are looking for a good read that is action packed, romantic, compelling and full of diversity that is desperately needed in literature, Song of Blood & Stone is for you. This book has been out for a while and I'm honestly surprised it hasn't received more praise than it is--it's brilliant and will keep readers glued to their seat.

**I'm curious if I mislabeled this or someone else has because it kind of feels like YA and kind of doesn't.

Within the first few paragraphs of the prologue, I felt like this would be an amazing read. It was like poetry in the prologue and it felt like it was setting this big amazing tone for the story. However, the prologue is about the lore of the world and the rest of the book isn't quite like that. I like the different concepts in the book and I liked it overall.

Jasminda is a tough and unique in a world that looks down on her. She has Earthsinger powers which originated as something beautiful but has devolved over the years. There is a mythology created for this world that I liked. This world is divided into two countries. Honestly, at the start, I was a little confused about which side was what. I think that’s because of her location geologically in the world, but also her bi-racial heritage. I feel like this could have been done a little better in the beginning. So her father is from Lagrimar where the Earthsinger magic seems to be located, and her mother was Elsira. She lived in Elsira but right on the border. The two countries had been in multiple wars up to this point in the story. Jasminda has a little of the Earthsinger power, healing, emotion reading, etc. Her family is gone and she is alone trying to keep her family's land. With the deadline coming up for her to pay her taxes owed, her world gets complicated. While walking home she sees a man laying wounded in the road and heals him some with her powers. He ends up being captured and she rescues him. The man is Jack, an Elsira soldier.

The romance between them is young, but it isn’t for a teen to read. Jasminda is twenty-two if I remember correctly, so they are in the new adult age group. When they’re touching hands is still “tingly” and all that. That isn’t a terrible thing. It just isn't what I was expecting when I started reading the book. I love the cover. It is stunning and vibrant like the world that was built. I just wish there was more world building to read about. I would love to hear more about the looks and feels of the world.

If you love YA fantasy, then you will really enjoy this read. I really liked Jasminda and her power, and I was proud to see a YA fantasy tackling racism and interracial relationships. To be perfectly honest, I read a lot of this genre, so it feels like I've read it all, and this book was nothing too new. But it's a safe bet if you want to read a really good story with a great main character, magic and romance. Song of Blood and Stone gave me Onyx and Ivory vibes, as well as Kiss of Deception, with a hint of Children of Blood and Bone (but not much!). A solid read.

Rating: 3.5/5
I really enjoyed reading this book! I loved the world building and the characters really drew me in. The writing is very good and the author really delivered the story well. It is a great read for lovers of fantasy!

The world is richly drawn and tackles heavy morality issues. The characters are superbly developed and the plot unravels at a breakneck pace.

This novel was a tough one for me to get into. I thought the story line definitely had some character and promise, but I had a hard time really getting attached to the characters or the plot. The setting was also quite wishy washy and I couldn't really picture where the story was taking place. 

I don't think I would really recommend this to other readers at this time. However, I do think that the story has promise of something great, there are just a few too many kinks right now. Thank you for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book is so good! I loved the characters, and the world-building is fantastic! I was at first drawn in by the beautiful cover, but after reading the blurb, I couldn't wait to read it! Just a few pages in, and I knew I was going to like this one.

Jasminda has a special gift, one that could get her killed. When soldiers stay at her house, and bring a prisoner, she realizes that maybe she isn't so different from this prisoner, and has an instant connection with him. Jack is on an important mission, he's a spy who unfortunately (or perhaps, fortunatly?) gets caught and has a chance incounter with Jasminda.

While I enjoyed the story, it didn't captivate me quite as much as I wanted and hoped! Its still an interesting story of love and loss, and I always love a good hidden and forbidden magic story.

I really enjoyed this book! The writing was great and I loved the character development. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!