Wonderful, intriguing, great story premise, and good writing combine to make this novel a good read. However, there are some factors involved that you need to be aware of. There is a graphic rape scene about 17% into the book. There is also some graphic, and nasty violence.

Just beware.

Character development is very good. There is quite a bit of backstory, and I'm not sure how crucial that is for the rest of the story, although it does help to develop the characters and motivations.

Well written and well turned phrases, in some places rather lyrical. This is just more adult fare than I am used to and that is why I couldn't go past the 20% mark. So it this review is not all it should be.

I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This review was published here and on Upon Reflection http://uponreflectionblog.blogspot.com simultaneously. Tweeted and Facebooked

SONG OF BLOOD & STONE is a very well written fantasy that alludes to the current politics causing so much upheaval in the western world today. In this respect, it is not unique. I am of the opinion that writers use what they see and hear in the world around them to create the fictions about which they write. Some incorporate the elements of reality in much more subtle ways than do others. I was somewhat reminded of the classic Star Trek episode "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" while reading of the war between people, with and without Earthsong, separated by a magical wall into which there have been seven breaches.

There are two separate stories woven in the pages of SONG OF BLOOD & STONE. The main story is an action packed chronicle of two people who find each other in dire straits and grow to depend on each other for their very survival. The second story is the legend of the people who inhabit this place. The coincidence of the two doesn't occur until very near the end of the book, but that's a good thing. Although the legend is meant to foreshadow what is to come and why events unfurl as they do, to have them become fully meaningful too soon would have destroyed the ending.

Although this is meant to be the first book in a series (Earthsinger Chronicles), SONG OF BLOOD & STONE stands well on its own. It is a story of battles and nationalism taken to the extreme. It is also a story of finding love and acceptance where none was expected.

The next book in the series, WHISPERS OF SHADOW & FLAME, appears to be available in paperback only, with limited availability at this time. I trust that an eBook version is in the works.

If you love the idea of fantasy and romance combined, you'll probably have a hard time putting down Song of Blood & Stone.

Jasminda has humble ambitions: after losing her whole family, she'd only like to keep her ownership of the family home and live there in peace. She knows that the Elsiran community shuns her for her Lagrimari looks – not that she can change the colour of her skin, can she? – and so she visits the nearby village only when she really needs something. Like this she doesn't have to bear the locals' frowning looks very often.

But when a dangerous storm starts to brew and her little cottage – the place she deems the safest in whole Elsira – is invaded by soldiers, she gets pulled into a chain of events that threatens to tear her whole world apart. The spy – a boy named Jack – who the soldiers brought with them is trying to convince her she is an important piece on a chessboard where the fate of both Elsira and Lagrimar will be soon decided. She finds it hard not to believe him because he looks and sounds like destiny.

Jasminda and Jack manage to escape and they start to work together to ensure peace and prosperity in the two countries that have always been in war with each other.

Jasminda was born in Elsira but she is part Lagrimari, because her father came from the other side of the border. Since her skin is darker and that marks her as a Lagrimari, Elsiran people don't particularly like her. She is also a Singer like all of the Lagrimari. Her Song can create and heal, however, people are terrified of her power. Jack is the first Elsiran who sees potential in her and Jasminda is grateful for that.

I absolutely adored the world building in this book. The two countries share a history. Their two mysterious leaders from the past, whose identities are revealed through flashbacks, were once very close to each other. The reason why their relationship changed is very logical and believable, yet their tale is rather tragic.

Jack, the male protagonist, isn't who he seems to be either and because of his true status him and Jasminda have to suffer quite a lot.

The Song as a power has interesting qualities; it makes a Singer capable of healing, growing crop or seeing into the distance, among other things. It is fascinating, though a bit all over the place and not much explanation is given how it works, unfortunately. Jasminda's Song, despite her being the MC is very weak, which I was happy to learn because I'm a bit fed up with super-strong protagonists, be they male or female. Her own Song doesn't develop, not even later in the story and yet she is the one who fights the good fight for the right of the Lagrimari (with a little help of course, but still... you see my point). It was a nice touch.

The romance between Jack and Jasminda is as tender as it comes. They care deeply for each other and stand up for one another when they need to. Their stolen moments are beautiful.

If you don't read this book for anything else, read it for the writing. It is phenomenal, it will blow you away. Oh, how I wish I could write like Ms. Penelope...

I'm sure I'll devour the second book just like I did the this one...

In a world where some are touched by magic, where 2 nations are divided by an impenetrable wall of magic we follow Jasminda and Jack.
Jasminda is an outcast in her own country of Elsira, being of mixed parentage and having the gift of Earthsong. Jack, a prisoner of war being led back to the True Father, the god-king of Lagamiri. When they meet each other, sparks fly and through thick and thin they are resolved to protect their home from war.
The Mantle can be breached, for now only by those who know where the cracks are, but soon the magic that keeps the True Father at bay will fall and Elsira will be unable to withstand the Earthsong the inhabitants can wield.

My take on the book:

I loved it, it had everything you would want from a book. A great story, characters with real flaws, with insecurities and longings just like everyone else. It was a very powerful story full of intrigue, deceit, fear, betrayal, hope, friendship, love, determination, ...

World building was superb, with detailed descriptions the author got our imagination working overtime, dropping us in the middle of nations on the verge of another war. Character building was likewise very good, we got to know Jack and Jasminda on a pretty deep level, why they react certain ways, what they fear and love and what pulls them to each other. But not only the main characters are well fleshed out, our support characters have a feel to them as if you've known them for years.

As already said, the story is great, it's excellently written and I have found little to no errors.
The pacing and flow are good, giving Jasminda and Jack enough time between running to explore their feelings and insecurities.

This book contains sex (if that is important for you).

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book, courtesy of NetGalley and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will surely read the following books!

FROM GOODREADS:
A treacherous, thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a war between two powerful rulers.

Orphaned and alone, Jasminda lives in a land where cold whispers of invasion and war linger on the wind. Jasminda herself is an outcast in her homeland of Elsira, where her gift of Earthsong is feared. When ruthless soldiers seek refuge in her isolated cabin, they bring with them a captive–an injured spy who threatens to steal her heart.

Jack’s mission behind enemy lines to prove that the Mantle between Elsira and Lagamiri is about to fall nearly cost him his life, but he is saved by the healing Song of a mysterious young woman. Now he must do whatever it takes to save Elsira and it’s people from the True Father and he needs Jasminda’s Earthsong to do it. They escape their ruthless captors and together they embark on a perilous journey to save Elsira and to uncover the secrets of The Queen Who Sleeps.

Thrust into a hostile society, Jasminda and Jack must rely on one another even as secrets jeopardize their bond. As an ancient evil gains power, Jasminda races to unlock a mystery that promises salvation.

The fates of two nations hang in the balance as Jasminda and Jack must choose between love and duty to fulfill their destinies and end the war.

★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆

I’ve been looking forward to sitting down to write this review, because this was one of the better fantasy titles I have read this year.

In this novel you get the current (present) POVs of both Jasminda and Jack. Jasminda is such a strong female lead–she’s independent, strong, fierce, loyal, intelligent, and has no problem with sacrificing or own wants for the greater good. And Jack… without revealing too much about him.. he stands out from the norm for his situation in life. He tends to see people for who they are in their hearts and souls, always stands up for what is right, and has so much determination to protect those that he loves. You also get some flashbacks/visions thrown into the mix from some characters who lived long ago. These flashbacks/visions are super important and it was really great how they all tied together in the ending.

Speaking of the ending— WOW! I kind of lost steam around 60-70% of the way through the book (not due to any fault of the novel’s… I just tend to do that with fantasy sometimes), but once I started hitting that rising action that led up to the climactic ending, I couldn’t put the book down!

For me, this was the perfect level of fantasy. While I enjoy most fantasy titles I pick up, many times I have a hard time wading into the waters and getting started because sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all of the new language, characters, locations, specifications of magic, etc…. But Song of Blood & Stone was very easy to jump head-first into. The Earthsinger magic was not overly complicated, the characters were introduced at a very easy pacing, and the locations were basically divided between two areas, so there weren’t five thousand cities to keep up with.

The magic system in this novel is called Earthsong, and Jasminda is one of the individuals–a Singer– who can perform this type of magic. Some individuals have more power than others, and those who live under the reign of the ‘True Father’ have to give up their song (called a ‘tribute’) to him. Therefore, those that are able to sing (cast Earthsong), have somehow escaped the reign of the ‘True Father’ or, like Jasminda, are living under unique circumstances.

The romance is fantastic in this book. It was also the perfect balance. Many times you either get the adventure overshadowing the romance, or the romance overshadowing the adventure–but L. Penelope got it right with this one.. the perfect blend! Jasminda and Jack have such a strong chemistry and I loved watching their relationship unfold. But they also both know that they serve a bigger purpose in this story and do not let their attraction get in the way of ‘moving mountains’. Also note.. this is definitely an adult fantasy title–there are a couple super steamy scenes (but they are very well integrated and do not dominate the plot in any way).

There are so many layers to this book, which I loved. The diversity is a front-runner in this novel, with not only the author being a POC, but also the main character, Jasminda, is of a dark-skinned race and is often looked down upon for both that and her abilities. She is unique in the fact that she is a blend of these two opposing cultures/races, so she very much has to battle with the challenge of never truly feeling like she ‘fits’ anywhere. There are so many themes of political conflict, discrimination (of all types), fulfillment of destiny, and even moral righteousness (especially when related to refugees). There were so many instances where I paused my reading and really reflected on how the current scene could apply to a current event or current issue (as well as former events/issues in our history).

This book is the first in a series, so I am super anxious to read the next installment. From what I have gathered, the next installment does not jump into a continuation of Jasminda and Jack’s story, but does introduce two new, very likable characters. I cannot wait to pick up the next title and fall in love with another set of characters.



Trigger Warning(s): Adult Sexual Content, Racial/Cultural/Religious Discrimination, Sexual Assault, Attempted Rape, Violence, Violence Toward a Child, War Themes, Death



Thank you to L. Penelope & St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope is an older YA/ NA fantasy romance novel with an excellent introduction that really made me want to dive into to the story. My favorite aspects of this new story are the world-building and our main character, Jasminda. In regards to the world-building that we get to see of warring nations Elsira and Lagrimar are intriguing when it comes to the big picture, such as the physical and magical differences between the Lagrimari and the Elsirans, how Elsiran society treats those it views as other like our main character Jasminda who is both part Elsiran and Lagrimari (she strongly favors her Lagrimari side, Earthsong magic included). Broadly, the author's world building is quite good, but when it comes down to the details I wish we could have seen a little more. Primarily, I felt a bit out of the loop on what exactly Earthsong magic entails and how it works. We get to see it in action a few times, but there are still so many questions I had about the magic system overall. Due to the mentalities and some details I also expected more of a historical setting, but peppered throughout we see things like vehicles, airplanes, tanks, modern military weaponry. If done more consistently this could have been a great setting feature, but as it is this mash up of historical and modern is quite jarring. Though I do have to mention that I loved the opening of each chapter with a bit of folklore from their world, that was a nice touch as it helps set the stage.

In regards to our main character, Jasminda is a very strong and courageous young woman who is willing to take things into her own hands to get things done. Her character also gives us a look into her experiences as biracial in tough circumstances. I could greatly appreciate watching Jasminda grow over the course of the story. Jack, her love interest, on the other hand, I wasn't all that interested in him even though he does get a few great twists, especially when it comes to his identity - and, of course, what that means for Jasminda. What surprised me the most about him has to do with his name. Of course, this is a fantasy story and everyone has interesting names except him. I mean, his full name is more interesting, but he really only goes by his nickname Jack. I don't know about you, but it actually bothered me that he goes by such a boring name. It's not nearly as cool as Jasminda's, that's for sure. Finally, I have got to mention their romance. Sure Jasminda and Jack go through a lot together, but I'd still classify it as instalove. In the long run, though, that didn't bother me as much as how graphic their love scenes become. The story is marketed as Young Adult, but when it comes to the romance it's definitely New Adult. I was not expecting that level of steaminess. The lead up is very YA in tone which was fine, but then the story takes on a level of steaminess that I associate with NA, or maybe even adult romance. Honestly, that's not really my thing and I could have done without about 10% of the story as the romance began to monopolize everything else.

Overall, Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope shows a lot of potential as an older YA/ NA fantasy romance. It has several elements I enjoyed - I liked what world-building we got to see and I enjoyed getting to know our leading lady. However, there's so much more I'd like to know about the world of the Elsirans and Lagrimari. If you're a fan of a major portion romance with your on the side fantasy, you may enjoy the love story a little more than I did (for me, it was just a little too overpowering). While reading this novel, I totally had Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples in the back of my mind, so if you enjoy that graphic novel series you may want to try this series opener.

"Said the Master of Jackals to the soldier, 'A victorious warrior fights for one of three things: a righteous cause, a broken heart, or a noble death.'"
Song of Blood and Stone was unexpected. I knew I was getting a fantasy story about power struggles, destiny, and a bit of romance thrown in. I wasn’t expecting modern social commentary to be weaved effortlessly and poignantly into this historical fantasy. Song of Blood and Stone follows Jasminda, an outcast Earthsinger, who teams up with Jack, an injured spy, to heal their warring Country and discover the mysterious secrets surrounding the Queen Who Sleeps.

Things I Liked
I mentioned it above, but I really enjoyed the social commentary that was present throughout the book. Penelope tackles topics like immigration and refugee rights, racism, oppression, and controlled media. Though these topics are explored in the fantasy setting, they clearly draw from real-world issues. I though the issues were handled with care and addressed, but never belittled. The story also never got preachy, which I appreciated.

The prologue hooked me from the start, along with the folktale quotes at the beginning of the chapters (which if you know me, is no surprise I loved them!) created this fantastical atmosphere that was easy to get lost in.

I really liked the flashback visions we get of Oola, Yllis, and Eeron. I feel like they not only helped establish the worldbuilding and history of Elsira and Lagamira, but also established tension and conflict between the countries that made the actions seem authentic.

Things I Didn’t Like
I personally found the romance to be a little heavy handed, especially in the beginning of the story. Jasminda and Jack have an almost too perfect relationship. There wasn’t anything bad about their romance, but I didn’t find myself swooning either. The story was also heavily romance-leaning. I’d say it felt more like a romance in a fantasy setting thana fantasy story with a romance in it.

The writing didn’t grab me the way I wanted it too. I thought it was a little simplistic and focused. I didn’t feel like it ‘set the scene’ for the story, the scene was already there and the story was just happening over it. I don’t need super flowery prose to be invested in a story, but I would have liked more. Especially because I loved the Folktale collections that created a fantastical element, but otherwise there wasn’t much.

I thought the end battle was a little too easy. While I appreciate the tension setup, I feel like it was over too quickly to have a meaningful or successful payoff.

Song of Blood and Stone was a fun fantasy surprise with a surprising amount of depth. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and many of the personal moments that allow the characters to shine. Song of Blood and Stone is a story about power struggles, destiny, and conviction.

I received a copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNFed at 40%
So, I really wanted to love this book. I loved the cover and I'm all about diverse fantasy. However, the attempted rape on-page and pervasive rape culture throughout the 40 percent that I did read that I couldn't finish it. I am absolutely exhausted with fantasy books that think that the only thing a man can do to show how evil he is is to rape people. This is the same reason I quit reading the Tearling book.

Song of Blood and Stone is an epic fantasy about two warring countries ones with magic (called Earthsingers) and the ones without, that are separated by a magical barrier. In Elsira most people have red hair and copper-colored eyes and no magic, they are ruled by a Prince Regent who awaits a queen from long ago who under a spell. While the Lagamar are people of color (brown skin and dark eyes), in a barren land and is ruled by an evil madman. With tensions high and the Elsirans negative view of the Lagamiri who are trying to escape things have finally reached a boiling point and one way or another it's time for a change.

This book is so awesome! I love fantasy book and I love magic and Leslye has brought both subject together to tell and epic story. There are a lot of subjects touched on in the book and with the writing and plot flowing seamlessly I could help but be invested in the characters and pulled into the story. Almost every chapter begins with little fables and folktales at the beginning that are interesting and ones that I haven't heard of before and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. The fables seem to add a better understanding to the story.

Jasminda is a strong and brave woman who does not let the judgement of other necessarily dictate her actions. Jasminda is half Elsiran and half Lagamiri, while she grew up with her family in Elsira she is viewed as Lagamiri because of the way she looks. Lagamaris in Elsiran are treated very poorly, the Elsirans fear and covet their magic and in-turn treat all Lagamar refugees very poorly. So imagine all the conflict and negativity that Jasminda has dealt with her entire life. She could have let that turn her into a bitter, spiteful person but she didn't. Now don't get me wrong she still has sass, she doesn't let anyone mistreat her but she doesn't let their behavior control her either.

The story is told from dual povs and while we do hear from Jasminda we also hear from Jack. I love Jack I really do, he is an Elsiran solider who is different from most Elsirans. First even though he is a solider he isn't harden like the others I got to see Jack's soft and squishy center. He is a good man, a bit silly, kind-hearted, treats people fairly and doesn't treat anyone differently based on the way look or who they are. Jack sees a better way and is struggling with the way his country behaves towards those who are different.

Jasminda and Jack are one of my OTPs, they are so good together and are meant to be, I swear it. This isn't a love at first sight, their connection grows over time and you could see how they could get close because of the dire situations they tend to find themselves in. They are good together, they make the other one better. A lot of my favorite scenes were when those two are alone together and are able to be themselves. The comfort the other while getting comfort and they are not blinded to they way things are but wish so badly for more, for better.

Do you have those moments when you are reading a book and know that something bad is coming, you can just sense it. Well I had that feeling with this book and I kept anticipating it, nervous as I-don't-know-what that something bad was going to happen. So my anti caption levels were high and while I did guess some of the events of this book other I did not and that is what help make this a really enjoyable book for me. While I did wish for more magic in this one and a better explanation of certain things this one was a really good read for me and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Song of Blood and Stone is a fascinating mature young adult book that dives into action, adventure, romance (sexy fun-times), mystery, magic, has evil overlords, mysterious rulers, and an epic love story that is ageless and is partially told in past events. L. Penelope touches on some of the important issues such as social injustices, racism, clash of the classes and abuse. She also weaves in characters that are strong, and has representation of diverse and LGBQ+ characters. If you are looking an incredible fantasy book then Song of Blood and Stone is a sure read.

I received Song of Blood and Stone as an ARC on NetGalley. I'm still processing how I feel about this story, but overall I'm giving it a 3.5 rating. You could divide the plot into three distinct segments. It took me a while to get truly hooked into the story. However, once Jasminda and Jack arrived to Rosira, the pages were turning quickly. It was rather predictable and there weren't any surprising twists (save for one that was only hinted at right before the reveal, which could have used more build-up). And as far as the author's use of languages goes, there were one too many similes and metaphors for my personal taste.

The theme, however, presented a very timely take on prejudice. Jasminda was well-written and I could really root for her as the main protagonist (and I LOVE seeing WOC leading fantasy and science fiction novels). I even liked the integration of flashbacks in the narrative, which are usually taboo, but they worked in this story. The epilogue piques my curiosity into what the next installment will entail, so I wouldn't be surprised to find myself continuing the Earthsinger Chronicles as they are released.

Song of Blood & Stone hooked me at the beginning. As the story went on, it became a bit predictable. I still enjoyed it, but it I didn't love it as much as I thought I would

[This review will be up on my blog on 04/30 for the Song of Blood & Stone Blog Tour]

Song of Blood & Stone is the first book in the fantasy trilogy Earthsinger Chronicles. Its sequels are Whispers of Shadow & Flame and Cry of Metal & Bone.

This fantasy novel had a bad case of bookish identity crisis: it seemed to have no idea of where it was going, what it was doing or what it was trying to be.
This book read as a cute, tropey fantasy romance with cheesy surprise royals, but at the same time it had mythological components and a 1920s-inspired setting, and also tried to be gritty because I guess nothing is serious if it isn’t graphic. These are good ideas, if you do not try to make all of them work inside the same story.

Song of Blood & Stone is a romance-heavy fantasy, and you shouldn’t go into it expecting much adventure, but at the same time I can’t recommend it as a light romantic book.
I don’t think your story with cliché royalty tropes and the most fake-feeling military ever should also try to be ~gritty dark fantasy~; choose a tone and stick to it, and if you choose “serious”, then go all the way and get rid of the cheesy tropes.
I’m also deeply uncomfortable with the idea of marketing this as adult/YA crossover when its sexual assault scene is more graphic than many adult military sci-fi books. That scene felt like it was there just for shock value, which is the worst idea when your book is also trying to be a sweet, tropey romance (with historical aspects just for the aesthetics).

It’s not even good as a romance. Straight royalty drama is rarely interesting to me because I’ve read too much of it, and this was mostly fine, but the sex scenes ruined everything. They were graphic, which I don’t have a problem with, but nothing kills tension as quickly as badly-written sex scenes.
I read an ARC, and I hope the parts in which the male character is “whispering his lips across her aromatic skin” or sex is described as “the invasion of her body” do not make it to the final copy.

I did actually like some parts of this: the magical and mythological aspects were interesting if underdeveloped, and so were the themes. This book has a biracial protagonist and revolves around what it means to be in an interracial relationship when you live in a racist world; there’s also a side f/f couple.

Honestly I didn't get very far into this book. Within the first quarter of it, both the female and male protags have to save each other from rapists. Pass.

This book is a letdown to me. The story dragged and was at times aimless. Much of it focused on Jasminda and Jack’s romance which felt off since there wasn’t really a romantic buildup to their relationship. Their sex scenes lacked passion and weren’t necessary, considering how serious the situation they were facing was. Like you’re on the brink of war and all you’re thinking about is each other’s flesh?

At times, I felt lost when it came to the setting. It was sketchy. As for the characters, besides Jasminda, they were fleeting and just there to push Jasminda and Jack to react. I couldn’t connect to them. The True Father didn’t come off as threatening – the non-magical humans did though.

There were positives that kept me reading though. I thought Jasminda was great, had agency and a mission to save memories of her family. She’s also biracial and caught in a conflict, external and internal, which is well written. I found the magical side of Song of Blood and Stone‘s world interesting, especially with the history part. But I wish that it was explored more.

I’m hoping the sequel would be an improvement and hopefully, the one that would hook me in.

Song of Blood & Stone is the fantasy I've been searching for! L. Penelope reduced me to a babbling mess with her story full of rich, beautiful characters and thrilling world. Jasminda and Jack's story is powerful and will strike the hearts of epic fantasy and romance fans!

Even though Jasminda is a citizen of Elsira people only see her Lagamiri heritage. Her dark skin and Earthsong power, weak though it may be, sets her apart from society and in a dangerous position as threats of another breech spreads across the country. Jack is on a mission to strengthen the Mantle that separates Elsira and Lagamiri in order to keep the True Father from descending on the people of Elsira. Jasminda and Jack find each other on a mountain pass with a terrible storm brewing overhead, and from there the story unfolds with layers of fantastic world building and a plot full of intrigue.

Song of Blood & Stone offers readers an engaging read with compelling characters. I devoured this story as Jasminda quests to awaken a Queen and protect those without power. Even though her Earthsong is weak, she's willing to risk it all to save her country and that makes it so easy to root for her. Jack is stuck between following his heart and duty to his people. I admired his character for the choices he made as he went against what was expected of him. It showed that he was confident in his path and a true hero. Jasminda's story is so relatable and relevant that readers will have no trouble imagining this story in their mind's eye. Jack and Jasminda face an impossible attraction to each other, but their love is a conquering force that drives this story and will move readers to eat it up in one sitting!

The hype surrounding Song of Blood & Stone is very well founded. It's a perfect harmonization of romance, action, and fantastic world-building that you won't be able to walk away from once you start! I'm completely hooked on L. Penelope and excitedly looking forward to the rest of the Earthsinger Chronicles!
*ARC provided in consideration for review*

I enjoyed this way more than I expected to. And you guessed it, because it was basically a romance with a bit of fantasy.

Our story takes place where we have two parts of the world who have been at war for years but no one knows why or how this war came to be. All they know is this war and how it tears people apart.

It did start off a bit slow for me and took a while to get into. After a few chapters in, the plot kept my attention I found it to be unique. I did find it to be a little predictable but it didn’t take away from the story.

The romance was so sweet in this book. So swoonworthy! Jack and Jasminda were so sweet together. I see a lot of reviews saying their attraction was insta love, but you already know that I’m here for the insta love in my books so I was all for it.

Overall, I highly recommend and can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

The book had many beautifully written sections that were lushly described and almost lyrical. These fired up my imagination and completely engrossed me in the story. However, other parts were basically just tell, tell and tell. This character has a wonderful family, two brothers….but we never meet these people. We never actually get to see examples of this wonderful family. So many aspects of the book are written this way and if we were actually shown things rather than told, I truly believe it would have been more believable and I would have felt more of a connection to the characters.

Talking about the characters, they seemed too perfect to me. The female lead, Jasminda, was pleasant to read about. She was strong, brave and empathetic. Her love interest, Jack, was so kind and understanding. Together, their romance was very unbelievable, at least for me. Maybe it’s because I don’t like the whole destined to be together forever, true love conquers all thing? *shrugs* A lot of their interactions were kind of silly, with cheesy one-liners. The whole thing felt like a bit too much.

The book could have went in a very different direction and as a result missed out on opportunities to discuss racism and xenophobia. Jasminda lives in a world where the people appear to be predominately white, like her love interest Jack. The beginning of the story kind of touched on how she and her people were discriminated against and how hard it was for her and Jack to be together, but the message isn’t clear. It gets lost in the love story, which completely dominates everything else. Yes, it’s fantasy, but I wish more fantasy books would focus on topics that impact the real world.

The last few chapters in the story felt quite rushed and were basically a set-up for the sequel. While it had moments of amazingness I don’t think I’ll be picking up the next book anytime soon.

Review date: April 27
Review link: https://dulivre.blogspot.com/2018/04/book-review-song-of-blood-and-stone.html

4 stars

Plot: If I were to describe Song of Blood and Stone in one word, it would be 'unique'. It tackled so much and even though this is the start of a series, I feel that Song of Blood and Stone would appeal to many standalone fans as well.

Song of Blood and Stone centered around Jaminda, a dark-skinned girl living amongst fair-skinned non-magick people. For me, Song of Blood and Stone was told in the two parts: the first part had the air of an epic fantasy with two main leads journeying to solve a mystery, while the second half abruptly became more court focused. While the change in pacing and tone was a bit choppy, I couldn't pull myself away from Song of Blood and Stone. The mystery was engaging and there were a lot of great messages about race and assumptions that made me think.

Characters: Song of Blood and Stone was told from the third-person perspectives of Jaminda and Jack which helped the reader understand the characters and their motivations. I would have preferred the first person perspective because I often had difficulties separating the two narrations.

The romance in Song of Blood and Stone was a pretty big aspect of the book and let me tell you, Jack and Jaminda are hot and heavy! Overall, I enjoyed the romance, but it suffered from some typical romance tropes we're all familiar with from Young Adult novels and I got the feeling that the author wanted to rush their emotions along. Besides that complaint, I loved the two together and how they complemented each other; I hope they make an appearance in a future book!

Worldbuilding: The conflict between the people of Elsira and Lagamiri was the driving force and Penelope did a fantastic job of outlining the complex relationship; I think having Jaminda be mixed-race helped demonstrate the prejudice and bring the problem closer to home (the talk about refugees definitely felt close to home).

The world of Song of Blood and Stone was a unique one. Although it was a fantasy world, the people had a lot of technological advances that were similar in our own world such as running electricity, radios, and cars. I thought it was an interesting spin, but I didn't feel like I had a complete grip on the fantasy world because of those additions.

Short N Sweet: Song of Blood and Stone will pull you in immediately with the intrigue, and the romance will keep you glued to the pages.

I really loved SONG OF BLOOD AND STONE. It picked me up and wouldn't put me down - and I couldn't put it down. There's so much to unpack in the story. You can see it just as a beautiful story between two characters, almost star crossed, and just relish in their relationship and how it blossoms and the stresses, the cold fronts, it's put through. Or you can look at the politics, the world building, and see a hazy metaphor to our current fears regarding refugees and our own borders. Or furthermore, you can look at the way that folktales and history is woven throughout to see it as a lesson for the present. Whatever way you choose, you will be amazed and entertained.

I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did! The setting was original, not your usual medieval fantasy, and Jasminda was a interesting and believable main character. Even the romance, which usually I don't care a lot about, was great and just so sweet. I loved the magic system in particular and that sort of fairytale vibe it gave the whole book. A great read!