*I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *
DNF @47%

I really did try and I gotta say, this book started off hooking me. I was so happy that I had ignored what my Goodreads' friends' reviews said, because I was liking it.
Then, I got confused.
And more confused.
Until finally the characters began to hold back information from each other or thinking "I'll tell them later" but we all know how that will end up, which just aggravates me.
And then how some scenes transitioned didn't make sense to me or how relationships were built and acted upon even with ... well, stuff.

Also, halfway through the book and I still don't understand Earthsong or the magic system. I mean... the limits and possibilities or if it affects people differently. I really wanted to know especially since it is talked about as a song.

And what exactly is the Mantle?? Why is it there? When did it get there?

I always find it weird when I'm the one asking for more information, since usually I think some books go overboard with explanations.

I'm so disappointed. The concept is there. The beginning and the hook? Totally there. I do want to know what is going to happen! So, I think there are some people who will be able to look past the things that confused me or the holding back of information to extend the book. I do honestly think many will like this book because of the plot, the interesting characters, and the magic system. All the more power to them. This is one I could have pushed myself to continue, I'm sure, but it just isn't worth it if I know I won't continue the series.

So, two stars because of how much I wanted to like it and because I think others might enjoy it as well.

An absolutely fantastic novel. It was lush, and the word-building was completely fabulous. I did get confused a couple of times about which side was which, but I'm chalking that up to not reading closely enough (I started this book while waiting on my an oil change for my car, and it was a bit loud in the room and hard to concentrate). I loved the main characters and the magic system was really interesting. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series as it comes out!

TW for attempted rape (of two different characters) around 11% and again at 17%.

I selected this book solely because of the beautiful cover and the stunning black cover model.

Song of Blood and Stone is a new fantasy series that has hints of politics ranging from refugee crisis, xenophobia, homophobia and racism. However, while these heavier topics are covered throughout the novel, at its heart is a fairy tale styled romance.

After completing book one of the Earthsinger Chronicles, I'm still unsure of the magic systems and rules of the society. The book was a slow read for me.

Fans of any of those young adult or new adult fantasy series may enjoy the book.

3.5 stars

The cover initially caught my eye in this creative YA fantasy. Vivid detailing brings scenes to life. The Songs (magic) could have been a bit more clarified, but it was an interesting twist to this genre. Backstory is woven in vs. given in info dumps. While some things were a bit predictable, it was still enjoyable overall. Jasminda is a likeable character. Fans of fantasy novels will want to add this to their TBR pile.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. I wasn’t required to write a positive review.

I have mixed feelings about Song of Blood and Stone. It was slow at times and the romance was more dominant than I was expecting.

But I “aww-d” in more than one place and was swept up by the story even if I wasn’t completely engaged in it.

This was the type of book where the characters made it for me. Jasminda is independent and brave: she risks everything to help an injured soldier and defends herself when she is attacked. But there was a naivety to her character that stopped me completely connecting with her.

Jack, however, I loved. He starts off as a captured, wounded soldier but has kept his honour: he will protect this woman who helps him. If you ever want character growth, Jack’s status at the beginning and his position at the end is it! Jack’s stubborn and headstrong but will fight with everything he has to right the wrongs he feels are being committed. I thought he was a great character.

One of the things that did throw me off about this book was the world. There is a complete contrast between a fantastical/magical world and one that reflects a modern-recognisable world. This could work – the land is divided in two, after all. But Jasminda lives on the supposedly “modern” side but her village is more like the fantasy one. Maybe I’m misreading something, but I couldn’t get my head around it.

Although romance is suggested in the synopsis, I wasn’t expecting how explicit it would get in a few places. While I’m fine with that, it did catch me off guard a little – which is rather amusing when you’re reading on a packed commuter train. I can’t work out if I wanted someone to be reading over my shoulder or not! As with a lot of books where romance is a theme, the characters seem to fall for each other very quickly.

So saying, I did want them to get their happy ending and was rooting for the pair of them the entire way through. The romance works: it makes their struggle personal.

One of the reasons why I decided that I did, overall, enjoy this book is that I thought it had some powerful messages. Take away the magic, the Earthsong and everything that sets this book in a different world and you have a story about race. It’s about accepting people based on their intentions, not their looks, and not letting prejudices rule.

One group of people were trying to force another to go “back to where they came from”, despite that being torment and death. There was no acceptance, no empathy, only selfish desires to protect their own interests. That’s what made me like Jack as a character so much: he is in the position of the “fortunate” and yet never once considers the others as anything less.

Peel back the fantasy and there is a very powerful message in this book. That, for me, is why I enjoyed it.

I had a really hard time getting into this book, it just seemed to drag on. The book was well written, but the story line just has too much crammed into it and I had to keep putting it down and coming back to it.

I’m very selective about the fantasy novels I choose to read because I find a lot of them have recycled plots. That’s why I was really excited to read this novel. First, the main character is not white (hallelujah), and second, it seemed to have a really vivid and interesting world. I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed this book and it had a lot of complex topics that I thought were handled very gracefully.

I really loved how Jasminda was developed. She’s a strong, self-sufficient woman who is not talented at everything. There is no special snowflake syndrome in this novel. In fact, her Earthsong is far weaker than others of her kind. Not only that, but she has real problems, and handles them in a realistic way.

In this world, Jasminda is biracial and despised and feared by the people in her town. This book hones in on the problem of systemic racism through the lens of a fantasy novel. It’s something I wasn’t expecting at all, and I was very impressed by L. Penelope’s ability to talk about contemporary issues through an invented world. She handled the issue extremely well and we saw exactly what Jasminda had to face as an outcast.

I also really enjoyed the world-building, but I did find it a little hard to understand everything at the beginning. We were thrown into a world we knew very little about and at the start, it was difficult to understand exactly how the world functioned. It takes a few chapters to get completely invested in the story, but once I got through my initial confusion, I was hooked.

While I loved Jasminda, I had a harder time warming up to Jack. I was expecting this book to be about Jasminda and her struggles to save her world, but the book shifts between both characters. While I like the character of Jack, I just didn’t think his points of view were necessary. This book was centered around their “forbidden” romance, and his chapters seemed to only be there to make Jasminda seem more desirable. I didn’t think Jasminda needed to be seen through the perspective of some guy she barely knew. There’s also a ‘twist’ revolving around Jack that I saw coming a mile away. I suppose that I wasn’t expecting so much romance in this novel, and I thought it could have been tamped down quite a bit.

Thankfully, the book also has a strong plot as well as great character development. There is an attempted rape in this book, which I happen to hate in novels, but I also thought that was handled really well and it felt realistic and not gratuitous. It moved quickly and was exciting, though it did drag a little in the middle. I also really liked the resolution of the novel and once the pieces all clicked together, it was really rewarding.

Overall, this book is an excellent start to a series. It has an inventive, unique world that talks about present-day issues through fantasy. Jasminda is an amazing character, and I’d be very interested in continuing on with this series. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys both fantasy and romance.

Jasminda has lost her entire family. She now lives alone in Elsira, where her powers as an Earthsinger are met with fear and disdain. She keeps to herself, avoiding the nearby village as much as possible. The people there dislike her because of her magic, and also because of who here parents were. Her mother was Elsiran and her father was from Lagamiri. The two lands are separated by a magical mantle, which has only been breached a few times in history. Every time, a breach was followed by war and death. One day while walking home after an agonizingly awful trip to the village, Jasminda sees soldiers with a prisoner. Jasminda realizes that they are from Lagamiri and don't realize they have crossed the mantle into Elsira. They have been ordered to bring the prisoner, Jack, back with them. In talking to Jack, Jasminda learns that the mantle between the two countries will soon fall and that the True Father plans to attack and destroy Elsira. The True Father already takes the Earthsong of his people to make himself stronger. Ancient evil gains strength and threatens the lives of everyone. Can Jack and Jasminda discover how to stop the coming destruction?

I enjoyed this book. It was a magical fantasy story, with some very interesting world building. The idea of Earthsong powers is so creative and beautiful! I definitely like the creative story idea. At times I felt the story got a bit confused....like a few too many ideas got mixed into the pot. And I found myself wondering why the story seemed a lot like a medieval type fantasy but then threw modern technologies like telephones into the mix. But, those little things really didn't pull me away from the story. I enjoyed the action, the mystery of the magic, the stones and the backstory of the two different cultures.

Song of Blood & Stone is the first novel in the Earthsinger Chronicles. There are three books, but each one is a stand alone story. This book was first independently published in 2015, and is now being re-released by St. Martin's Press. The cover art is gorgeous!! The artwork definitely is what first drew me to this book....then the fantasy theme pulled me the rest of the way in.

I very much enjoyed this book! I definitely want to read more by L. Penelope. I'm definitely very curious what the other two stories bring to this series. I liked the characters in this first book. I hope the other characters are just as interesting and varied.

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

A cool fantasy romance novel. Unique world and fairytale-type story. The romance was a bit cookie-cutter, but it was sweet and true. Pick this one up if you're looking for a light, fun read.

I have been looking for more fantasy novels with women of color protagonists and came upon this book. I was confused on how I missed it but realized that it was self published first and found a major publisher. This was a fun fantasy with a unique premise of an alternate 1920s setting. I liked the fresh twist and would definitely recommend this to those who seek more fantasy with diverse characters.

Solid beginning to a new series.

I loved the borderlands setting - it had almost a 'wild west' feel to it, and made me feel like I could be reading the backstory for Zoe from Firefly (if Zoe had magical healing powers). Jasminda is as much of a badass as Zoe. She shows a very strong moral code and level of maturity for her age, which makes sense given her life up until that point.

And, I enjoyed the developing romance between her and Jack. Until they returned to the capital. Then I just wanted to smack him. Several times. Really hard. The sexy parts were well-written, though, even if I didn't fully support the emotional rollercoaster that also existed.

Had the world-building been a bit more detailed, I could have given this five stars. I just didn't feel like I was really THERE, and I had a hard time getting into the history and mythology that I know the author was trying to establish. Hopefully, this will be developed more in the forthcoming sequel(s).

That said, there is good resolution of various elements in the end that allowed for the story to have a satisfying ending, yet also incorporate hints of the continuing storyline. Always nice not to be left hanging off a cliff, feeling all the feels, wondering when the author will be back to rescue you. :)

I really enjoyed Jasminda as a character – she is gutsy, intelligent and resourceful under pressure. It was a really nice change having a young girl being the one doing the rescuing during those first, desperate encounters on the mountain. The other main viewpoint character in this adventure is Jack, the wounded soldier who Jasminda finds herself trying to protect from the brutality of the soldiers hunting him for a spy. The beginning immediately pulled me in and had me fully engaged – fast-paced, full of adventure and peopled with strong, sympathetic characters. There is thoughtful, intelligent handling of racism throughout this book, which worked effectively within the story – I wish other fantasy authors would also tackle this subject. I also enjoyed the world and the magic system, which made sense and had definable boundaries – always a bonus.

I powered through the book until I got nearly to the halfway stage when the whole tenor changed as it morphed into a love story – furthermore, a love story with a fair amount of graphic sex. As I was under the impression that this was a YA read, I was slightly taken aback because the amount of description and time devoted to the sex scenes felt far more appropriate for a New Adult book. While the sex took part between two people who clearly loved each other, it isn’t what I’d bargained for, or expected from the cover or the blurb – and yes, that was something of a problem for me. However, I am aware that is a personal preference and there was nothing violent or untoward about these scenes, other than they went into a lot more detail than I was expecting.

Alongside the love story is the deteriorating political situation between the two countries involved, along with a power-hungry, autocratic wizard of immense power. The flashback scenes were well handled and no time was I confused about what was happening. The writing is smooth and the plotting well paced. All in all, this is a gripping, well told story with a good climax and strong ending. Highly recommended for fans of gripping romance fantasy stories. While I obtained an arc of The Song of Blood and Stone from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10

"The blue of the day's sky and the black of the night's are different, but one is not better than the other. We need both."

I was pleasantly surprised by this one, I found the story to be so satisfying. It ended up being exactly what I needed to read! If you're looking for a fantasy novel that pushes the boundaries of young adult into new adult without being overly explicit, this is the book for you. And that cover!? Look at how beautiful that cover is!

This story follows two main characters, Jasminda and Jack. Jasminda, half Elsiran and half Lagrimari is an Earthsinger. All she desires is to live a life of peace, away from others on her homestead in the wilderness. Jack is an Elsiran soldier, disguised as the enemy, desperate and in seek of a way to end the centuries old war between Elsira and Lagrimar. Chance will bring them together, but it seems as though destiny keeps them there.

The first third of this book was somewhat slow. I was a little unsure of what I was getting into and had a lot of questions. I liked the story and found it interesting, but it really didn't reach out and grab me. However, after that first third, the ball really gets rolling. The setting, pace and feel of the story changes tremendously and I read nonstop until I finished it, I couldn't put it down!

The world created in this story is rich and vast, I hope we get the opportunity to learn more about the lands beyond Elsira and Lagrimar in future installments. Additionally, one of my favorite parts was the "Collected Folktales" included at the beginning of each chapter. They were very reminiscent of Aesop's Fables and were so unique, clever and even charming. I looked forward to reading them as each chapter ended and another began.

The story itself includes many elements I absolutely adore and I was very proud of the characters regarding most of the choices they made. Each of them stuck to their convictions and never followed paths that I felt were out of character. Jasminda and Jack are both very admirable in their actions, despite a few moments I was irritated with them for avoiding what was staring them straight in the face, but hey - that's what makes books interesting! I *really* wish I could give you more about the story and my thoughts on it but I would be spoiling a major reveal by voicing half of what I want to say and it's just not fair to do that!

So I'll just include a few elements I loved: traveling, courtly intrigue, mysterious histories, forbidden romance, and more!

Also, WE NEED MORE POC fantasy and sci-fi main characters written by POC authors!

Half-Elsiran, half-Lagrimari Jasminda is reviled in her tiny community near the Lagrimari border, but she is determined to keep the home her parents built and determined to find a way to pay off the back-taxes the tiny settlement suddenly owes. But when an Elsiran spy stumbles into her path chased by Lagrimari soldiers who somehow escaped through the impenetrable Mantle separating the two warring countries, Jasminda finds herself at the heart of a centuries old battle.

I really, really, really wanted to like this one (I mean, check out that gorgeous cover!), but I just...didn't. I really disliked it. While I loved the semi-steampunkish world of Elsira (sp?) with its busses and telephones and electricity and machine guns, the magic of the world didn't really seem to mesh with everything else. It felt unexplained and awkward, particularly with the animosity between the two countries, and the entire plot line felt both excruciatingly slow and then badly rushed—in essence, very choppy and uneven with the pacing. Plus the depiction of the Lagrimari in general was...problematic.

Finally, I had issues with Jasminda's relationship with Jack. And really Jack himself.

I think other people might like this quite a bit, but it really wasn't for me.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

A bit slow at first, but the writing was IMPECCABLE. The world building was done so well, it was so easy to immerse myself into this book. The romance was electric and I loved it! Can't wait for the next book!

Song of Blood & Stone is the captivating and thrilling first installment in L. Penelope’s new Earthsinger Chronicles fantasy series. It follows Jasminda, a young woman who is orphaned and living alone. She lives caught between two warring lands, Elsira and Lagrimar. The people of Lagrimar are dark-skinned and many of them possess an unusual magic called Earthsong, while the people of Elsira are fair-skinned, non-magical, and possess a strong fear of this strange magic. The Elsirans and Lagrimars have disliked and distrusted each other for generations and live in relative peace only because the two lands are separated by a magical wall called the Mantle. The mantle has occasionally been breached over the years and each time there has been a breach, war has followed.

Even though she considers Elsira to be her homeland, because she is half-Elsiran and half-Lagrimar, Jasminda is treated as an outcast by everyone around her. She therefore lives alone on the outskirts of Elsira and has little human contact on any given day, that is, until a group of menacing Elsiran soldiers show up on her doorstep seeking refuge. With them is a prisoner they have clearly mistreated and beaten within an inch of his life. Jasminda is drawn to this prisoner, whose name is Jack, right away and communicates with him whenever she can steal a moment to visit him. She learns that Jack is actually a spy who had disguised himself to go behind enemy lines and prove that the rumors are true: the Mantle is about to be destroyed and then nothing will stop the tyrant True Father and the people of Lagrimar from bring war and their magic to Elsira.

Jasminda helps Jack heal from his wounds and, working together, they manage to slip away from the Elsiran soldiers. Realizing that their homeland truly is in danger, Jack and Jasminda vow to do whatever they can to stop this war and so they set off on a dangerous journey together to save Elsira by unlocking the mystery of what caused these two lands to become enemies in the first place…

Jasminda was such an easy character to fall in love with. Being half Elsiran and half Lagrimar, Jasminda is dark-skinned and possesses a weak version of the Earthsong like the Lagrimars, so while the Elsirans tolerate her on their land, they do not trust her and shun her at every opportunity. She endeared herself to me from the opening scenes of the book when some Elsiran ladies sneer at her while she is retrieving her mail, and she responds by using her Earthsong to change her skin color to match theirs, taunting the women and asking them if that made her appearance more acceptable to them. I laughed aloud as the ladies, with horrified looks on their faces, scurried away from Jasminda as fast as they possibly could.

I’m always drawn to a character who is portrayed as an underdog anyway, but Jasminda also appealed to me because she’s smart, independent, and resourceful. She knows how to take care of herself and she’s also a proud woman who refuses to hang her head no matter how poorly those around her treat her, not even when her grandfather tries to pay her to say that she is not related to him. Apparently he fears that this mixed race child, visible proof of his own daughter’s transgression, might put a crimp in his political ambitions, so he wants Jasminda out of his life permanently.

Jack was also a likeable character. He’s a proud Elsiran who serves in their military. When Jasminda first encounters him, he is working as a spy, trying to gather evidence to prove there is a breach imminent so that his people can prepare for the war that will also be imminent. Even though he’s fiercely devoted to his own people, what I immediately liked about Jack was that he didn’t turn his nose up at Jasminda because of her skin color like the rest of his people do. Instead, because she lives on Elsiran land, he sees it as his duty to protect her just as he would protect any other Elsiran citizen. I admired his sense of duty and how passionate he was about doing what was right and honorable.

Even though I liked Jack, I have to admit there were a few moments when I wanted to throttle him. As he became more and more attracted to Jasminda, he became very intense in his need to protect her. I found myself yelling at him: “Dude, she wears a knife strapped to her with a garter belt and she has saved your ass more than once already! She does NOT need you to save her!” LOL!

That said, I did very much enjoy their relationship. Even though there was a bit of instant attraction, there was clearly chemistry between them and it felt like their relationship naturally progressed throughout the novel. Even more than the romantic aspect of their relationship, what I really liked was how well they worked together as a team to try to find a way to stop the breach and the war.

Aside from these two great characters, what appealed to me the most about Song of Blood & Stone is that even though it was a fantasy, the author has packed it full of social issues that parallel important issues we are dealing with today in our own society. This fantasy world very much mirrors our reality so it just made the story feel all the more relevant. The two warring lands have created a refugee crisis similar to what we have witnessed in Syria. Elsira has hundreds of Lagrimar refugees, and as we’ve witnessed with the Syrian refugees, reactions to them are very mixed. While some are accepting of them, by and large, people are prejudiced against them and afraid of the magic and just want them to go back where they came from. We also clearly see the racism and prejudice everywhere Jasminda goes. She even experiences it as a guest in the royal palace.

The author also creates a magnificent backstory that explains how the war between the Elsirans and the Lagrimars got started in the first place. The story is locked inside of a magical stone, and for reasons no one understands, only Jasminda is able to connect with the stone and reveal the story. She does so a little at a time so that the backstory unfolds parallel to the story we’re following. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’ll just say that it illustrates the roles that both the noble Sleeping Queen and the tyrannical True Father play in the conflict’s origins, as well as how the magical Earthsong factors in, and it ultimately reveals why Jasminda is able to connect with the stone when no one else can. It’s all quite fascinating and I loved watching the two stories unfold alongside each other.

I don’t want to call any of these issues dislikes, but there were a few areas where I just felt like I wanted more from the story.

The first of which is the worldbuilding. While I loved what the author created with the two warring lands and the mantle dividing them, I still felt like I only had a vague notion of what this fantasy world actually looked like. I just couldn’t easily picture it, which was a little disappointing. I like to be able to vividly picture the fantasy land I’m reading about, so I’m really hoping for more detail in the next book.

I had the same experience with the magical system. The idea of the Earthsong completely fascinated me, especially with its intense healing powers and the way Earthsingers can “link” and share their songs. That said, however, I felt like I never quite fully understand how exactly the Earthsong worked or what exactly one could do with it. It seemed like everyone who could use it did something different with it and I didn’t really see a common thread. So yeah, I’d definitely love to learn more about this Earthsong and what it entails, especially after seeing how differently True Father used it from so many others.

Finally, even though I enjoyed the romance between Jasminda and Jack, I still felt like it started to become a distraction the further along in the book I got. I’m frantically flipping through pages trying to figure out how they’re going to stop the war, and Jack and Jasminda seem more and more preoccupied with how they’re going to be together since their relationship will be deemed unacceptable because of Jasminda’s mixed heritage. War is coming, people. Focus! Fight first, love later! Needless to say, it was a little frustrating at times, haha!

Even with those few issues, I still thought this was a very strong start to what promises to be an outstanding fantasy series. I thought the ending was absolutely brilliant and look forward to seeing where the story goes next. I would recommend this to any reader who enjoys fantasy, romance, or even books that focus on social issues. I would also say that this is probably best geared toward mature readers as the sexual encounters between Jasminda and Jack are quite detailed and intense.

That said, if you like fantasy and a badass heroine, definitely consider reading Song of Blood & Stone!

In its blurb on Goodreads A Song of Blood and Stone is described as: "A treacherous, thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a war between two powerful rulers." And I was hooked.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jasminda is alone, trying to eke out a living on a remote farm when she meets an injured soldier, Jack. As they journey to find a way to end the war between two powerful lands they fall hopelessly in love. But Jack is hiding something that could tear them apart. Visions sent to Jasminda from an ancient queen guide her on the quest and folds through the events.

I adored the characters, particularly Jasminda. She is strong in the face of vulnerability, generous in the face of poverty. The story is indeed epic and unfolds breathlessly. I read it obsessively. This is another perfect blend of fantasy and romance (which readers will know I adore, see the post about it here.)

the story line was very fascinating, I am glad that I was approved b to read this book. This book is really good and I read it in one sitting! I definitely recommend everyone who is interested to read it!!

Title: Song of Blood and Stone
Author: L. Penelope
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5/5

Jasminda lives in an isolated cabin in Elsira, where her Earthsong, though weak, makes her an outcast—as does her being half Elsiran and half Lagrimaran. She has no one, and she prefers it that way, as too many people have always treated her like trash. When a dangerous group of soldiers from nearby Lagrimar invade her home to escape a storm, she must convince them she’s not a danger—and that she’s one of them.

Their prisoner, Jack, captures her attention. His mission to prove that the Mantle between Elsira and Lagrimar is about to fall at the hands of the True Father almost cost him his life. Only Jasminda’s power kept him alive, and now he needs her help to escape, and to save all Elsira.

As the power of the True Father grows stronger, Jasminda and Jack must uncover the secrets of The Queen Who Sleeps if they are to stop his despotic power from overwhelming their lands. But the enemies they face are not just outsiders, and they must choose between what they want and what they must do if they are to survive.

Because I choose to read books on whether the plot is appealing to me (okay, and depending on how much I like the cover), I didn’t realize going in that this book is, as the author says, “a fantasy romance about brown people.” I also didn’t really pay attention to this fact while reading it, and only noticed while reading some of the publicity surrounding it, and the author’s site. However, the truth of what it is lent the story some incredible nuances and layers that brought the entire world to vibrant, shimmering life.

I was hooked from the very first page. Jasminda is a strong character, but she’s hiding her hurts behind many protective layers because society just isn’t receptive to her existence. So, she lives alone, survives on her own, and is determined to continue living life the way she sees fit. Until fate steps in and turns her world upside down, when she meets—and saves—Jack, a soldier on an undercover mission, pursued by enemy soldiers, who turns himself in to keep Jasminda safe.

The worldbuilding is complex, and I love how the history is layered in with flashbacks. This helps to give a very real feel to the setting. I loved the diverse cast of characters and read this straight through in one sitting. Can’t wait for the second book!

Leslye (L.) Penelope is an award-winning writer. Song of Blood and Stone is her debut novel.

(Galley provided by St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

This fantasy tells of a land split between two “tribes”, separated by their appearance and abilities. The similarities between this story and our current stand on race and immigration cannot be missed.

The plot was not easy to follow and the visions made parts of the story more confusing. The romance between our main characters was always at the forefront. You may find this as an added selling point; I prefer action to romance so to me, it was a distraction.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.