dnf @ 38%. While I love that the main character is a poc, and I love the cover, I couldn't get past the pacing and insta-love this story had. also---Trigger warning for attempted rape.

Overall a nice read, dragged a bit at times, but what a lovely, strong heroine in Jasminda. It is a traditional good vs evil YA fantasy story with elemental magic, ancient enemies and a bit of romance. The plot was perhaps a little predictable, but that cover is everything.

This book had such a promising premise, with a really strong start and a cover that I think is gorgeous - but that's about where it ends for me. The rest of the novel felt underdeveloped and rushed, with such a lack of world-building that I felt lost and confused through much of the story.

At times it seemed like the author was trying to cram too much into such a short space: a fairytale romance; huge, complex social and political issues; a magical war; a rising villain; family dramas; personal dramas; and everything else you can imagine. Given everything that was going on in the plot (and sub-plots), I expected the story to carry over into another book (at least) and think it really would have benefited from some further expansion and development.

The characters also came across as slightly two-dimension - Jasminda and Jack were archetypal perfect heroes, but with only each other to bounce off (neither had any friends or family in the picture) it was hard to get a rounded view of either of them.

Sadly, I won't be keeping an eye out for the next installment.

Lovely, intricate, interesting world-building. The culture contains both magic and some measure of technology. The heroine was interesting: tough, tender, and resourceful. The hero's secrets were rather easily telegraphed, but not in an un-pleasing way and the heroine's journey was also easy to see coming (in the sense that the story contains common, enjoyable high-fantasy tropes).

The love story was achingly believable, based both on their connection and the forces that strove to separate them. I'm looking forward to seeing more books in this series.

I was given an Advance Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a powerful book that sucks you in its first page. Song of Blood & Stone is really well written and delves into very important topics of race, privilege, power, corruption, and a refugee crisis without over burdening the fantasy story.

Song of Blood & Stone is set in a fantasy mountain region where two enemy countries border one another. The people of Lagrimar have dark skin and magic, whereas those that live in Elsira are fair skinned and are without magic. The Mantle is a magical and invisible wall that separates the two lands, erected five hundred years prior and keeps (for the most part) the people with Earthsong on the Lagrimar side and those without on the Elsira side. There have been breaches in the past which resulted in war and a limited number of Lagrimari stay in refugee camps in Elsira; but the refugees are not well regarded. They are judged by the color of their skin and feared due to their place of origin.

Jasminda is an orphan living in the mountainous and isolated area near the Mantle in Elsira. She lives an isolated life because she does not find a lot of kindness due to the color of her skin: her mother was Elsiran and her father Lagrimari. Jack is a soldier that went behind enemy lines to gain vital information to save his country but nearly dies. Their paths cross by happenstance and Jasminda heals him with her Song. The book is told through their alternating points of views as they together try to save their country before it is too late.

The worldbuilding develops both all at once and slowly. The reader is thrust right into this world, but at first I was incredibly confused. Even after the end of this amazing book I do not really have much of a mental picture what the world looks like. While the description of the physical world left much more open to interpretation, the backstory and mythology is vast. Each chapter begins with a brief folktale reminiscent to Aesop's Fables, which I LOVED, and through dreams the reader gains a better understanding of how the world got to its present state. I really enjoyed this method of storytelling and its pacing was good.

I adored the characters and their budding romance. Jasminda and Jack are both well developed, haunted by guilt but strong in the face of it. Jack also witnesses the way that Jasminda is treated and begins to use his privilege. The only thing is that the circumstances of their romance seemed a little... fairy tale? I don't know, they just started making googly eyes at each other and longing to touch them without much of an internal dialog to lead up to it? It felt a bit sudden and forward for them to be overly affectionate with one another. But barring the circumstances of how the romance budded, I am here for it!

Magic is called the Earthsong, and it appears to be both the manipulation of the Earth as well as oneself. It can heal, it can change one's appearance. I wish that this were explained a little better, especially how it is practiced and cultivated.

cw: attempted rape, racism, war

I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading the next book in the series.

A Song of Blood & Stone was a entertaining and quick read, filled with action and romance and still managing to deliver an interesting plot and some rounded characters.

Our story takes place in a world where there are two nations who have been at war for hundreds of years; no one quite knows why it started, but they know well enough the hardships they've been forced to face because of it. One of the nations involved, Elsira, is a rich, technologically advanced country who thrives under the reign of their Prince Regent when they're not in war times and who pray constantly for their goddess, the Queen Who Sleeps, to wake up and defeat their enemies. The other country, Lagrimari, is ruled by a ruthless dictator since the beggining of times, who calls himself the True Father. The Lagrimari are a people who have the power of the Earthsong, and the True Father forces all of his citizens to gift him their song, which is how he keeps himself alive and in power, and desperate to take the rest of the land from the elsirans.

Jasminda, the female protagonist of this story, is someone who feels like she doesn't belong anywhere: half-Lagrimari, half-Elsiran, she's lived her entire life in an isolated cottage with her family and has been truly alone since her mother's passing and her father's and two brothers' disappereances. She just wants to keep her head down and live a quiet life - and find a way to pay the taxes the Crown has been charging her - when, one day, her home is stormed by Lagrimari soldiers carrying an Elsiran spy infiltrated in their ranks and, because they believe they are still in Lagrimari, they force her to shelter them during a terrible storm. That makes Jasminda confront two hard truths: one, that the Mantle that separates the two nations and keeps the Elsirans safe most of the time has started to breach, allowing these soldiers to come through; and two, that she must do something to help Jack, the soldier they've captured and have been relentlessly torturing and beating.

I admit I was very confused by the worldbuilding at first. It's not exactly clear where Jasminda is when the story begins, so when she meets the soldiers and is surprised they believed they were in Lagrimari, I was surprised as well, because I also believed that's where she was lmao The world has an interesting setting that reminded me of the beggining of the 20th century; there were cars, telephones, and eletricity (also machine guns, ew), although not everywhere. However, I felt like that was highly underdeveloped and not explored enough. I'd never read a fantasy story set in anything other than medieval-like times, so I was super interested to see how some aspects of technology would play alongside the magic, but that was literally never discussed. I felt as if it was a wasted plot opportunity.

Speaking of the magic, I also felt like that was very underdeveloped. There's never actually an explanation about what earthsinging actually is - at first I thought it was generic elemental magic, then they could also feel other people's emotions, then they had healing powers, then they could communicate telephatically??? Basically, they do it all, without any sort of logic applied to it. As someone who immensely enjoys more structured explanations of magic systems, I felt a bit let down.

The plot was fast-paced and the book was divided in short chapters that made me feel like I was reading much faster, but I figured out the plot very early on in the novel (although this specific thing didn't affect my overall enjoyment of the book - albeit I did find it a bit generic, I've also read tons and tons of fantasy before, so I've pretty seen it all). Some parts of the story also didn't make sense to me from the storytelling point of view; sometimes it felt more like random scenes thrown together rather than an actual cohesive plot, if that makes sense? I mean, in one chapter the characters would be in a location doing something, and then in the next they would be doing something entirely different with new characters that didn't really feel like an organic part of the plot. It felt kinda... convoluted, at times.

The characters were pretty great! I loved Jasminda. She wasn't the kind of heroine who does stupid, reckless things just because she's the chosen one and she's "stubborn" and "fearless" - she actually thought things through! What a rarity amongst female fantasy protags! She also didn't let her relationship with Jack cloud her judgement, which really pleased me. Although her overall goal changed as she made new discoveries throughout the novel, she knew she had somethings more important to focus on rather than the fact that she was in love.

Jack, however, was just a bland generic male love interest to me. There were some comments he made about Jasminda being different from all the girls he'd had sex with (kill me) and referring to her virginity as her "virtue"(seriously KILL ME NOW) that made me pretty unsympathetic to him. All throughout the novel him being there was the same as him not being there for me. He was just a meh character overall.

In summary, this was an enjoyable book. Truthfully, I feel like I didn't enjoy it as much because I'm not generally a fan of romance; I enjoy it when it's a part of the story, but not when it's central to it (and definitely not when I can't stand half of the main couple). This tale certainly revolved a lot around Jasminda and Jack's relationship but there was enough plot besides it that made it a pretty decent read for me. If you're a fan of fantasy romance, definitely give this one a go.

I am giving this book 3.5 out of 5 starts, leaning closer to 4 stars. I loved the worldbuilding and thought Jasminda and Jack were great main characters. I found some parts to be a little slow and hard to follow. It honestly took me awhile to truly be fully invested into the story. I think l. Penelope had a interesting writing style. A little winded at times, but I liked her writing style. I would attempt to read more by her. I'd recommend Song of Blood and Stone but with reservations. I wish you learned more of the other characters. Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend this to others.

Content warning: Attempted rape, violence, racism, sex scenes

Kicking off with a disclaimer (because disclaimers are important), I’m a white lady, this is a book written by a woman of colour with a protagonist who is also a woman of colour. Race and racism play an important role in this book and I will almost certainly have missed some nuances because of my own privilege.

The setting of this book initially confused me, I read epic fantasy and my brain automatically heads to the medieval. But this book is set in a far more modern world with various kinds of technology including cars and buses. That was on me for not getting into the right zone, it’s a refreshing fantasy setting, not feeling ‘urban’ but not limited by the technological developments (or lack of) in other epic fantasy novels.

This book largely consists of the romance between Jasminda (the protagonist) and Jack (the soldier she rescues). Set against the urgency of a land about to fall once more into war, this is a sweet love story with some steamy moments, I thought it was well-written and not as clichéd as I thought it would be.

The magic system is not explained in a huge amount of detail, because the protagonist doesn’t understand it completely, so the reader learns as Jasminda learns. I am a sucker for any magic system that uses the idea of song, it warms my musical heart, so I thought this was well-done. I would like to see the system and the different ways Earthsong can be used expanded on in later books, I’m not sure if that is the case as I know they do involve totally different characters. I’m going to have to read them to find out!

I had a great time reading this book, it has just the right kind of pacing to keep you engaged and to keep the scope of the adventure ever changing. This is a romance, but it is also so much more than that. There are powerful and timely political messages in this story, and messages that are timeless. It’s not the most unique YA fantasy book I’ve read, but I’ve read so many that it’s hard for any of them to feel truly unique anymore. However this was a very unique way of setting this story and I think anyone, romance lover or no, could enjoy this book.

Should you read this? If you’re interested in reading YA fantasy and supporting diverse authors then I think this will be a book for you!

My rating: 4/5 stars

I received a digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchanged for an honest review!

Song of Blood & Stone was an emotional roller coaster. It was so freaking good though! I shipped the heck out of Jasminda and Jake. Jasminda is basically an outcast while Jake is a rebel soldier. They are basically made for each other and two peas in a freaking pod. Again, I shipped the heck out of these two!

I could probably talk all day and every day about this couple but I wont. I just really admire them though because of how they treated each other throughout the whole thing. Jack treated Jasminda with the utmost respect. She did the same to him. They didn't look down upon each other or act petty either. I honestly loved and cherished their unique romance. IT's basically goals guys.

Then there was that sort of cliffhanger kind of ending. Which yes, I hate those so freaking much. They hook me so easily and then I have to wait like 500 years for the next book. It's agonizing and beyond painful. Tears are definitely shed and I'm basically wishing, hoping, and wanting for the next book. It never happens and then I'm basically spiraling into a depression because of this news.

Overall, I need the next book. No, not need. WANT. Please give it to me soon?

First in the Earthsinger Chronicles, Jasminda and Jack’s story plays out in a land divided by those who have the magic of Earthsong and those who do not. Jasminda lives in the land of the nonmagical folks, but as essentially an outcast because her father was from the enemy Lagimari territory. She has the magic that the Elsiran’s fear as well as then dark skinned looks of her father’s people. Much prejudice between the groups exists coupled with the Lagimari being ruled by a vicious dictator who is constantly trying to breach the barriers between the two kingdoms. Jasminda’s magical talent allows her to access visions of the past showing how the current situation came to be.

Jasminda and Jack spend quite a bit of time either in peril or fighting the political establishment in Elsira as he has a high position with many responsibilities. She has fought all of her life against prejudice and circumscribed treatment, but it has not injured her spirit or compassion for those in need. After Jasminda risks much to save Jack’s life, they begin a romance that has many heavy odds stacked against it. Jasminda is a strong young woman who has not let life beat her down. She has the courage and the will to become the heroine of her own life as well as that of her people.

The world building in this book tends to get a bit confusing in the mix of magic and technology. I had some trouble keeping it all straight. Jasminda and Jack’s romance plays a strong part in the second half of the book. Their very highly charged emotions juxtaposed with the battles going on around them make for an intense read. The style and quality of writing is commendable as Ms. Penelope has a fine talent for storytelling.

Link will go live 05/02/18

For one, look at that gorgeous cover? I'm not usually a fan of covers with models, but I'll make an exception for this one. Beyond that, I was intrigued by the premise and am always stoked when I can find fantasy fiction featuring a diverse cast of characters. And while there were some slower moments, overall, I really enjoyed this read!

The world is literally split in two by an impenetrable magic force field that has kept two warring civilizations separate for as long as anyone can remember, with only brief breaks of warfare every few centuries when the field falters. On one side, Elsira, a technologically advanced civilization has risen, longing for the day when their sleeping Queen will again awaken. On the other side, Lagamiri, a nation full of magic wielders who can control the elements, but who are ruled by a tyrannical and vicious God King. The prejudices are strong on each side. Jasminda, a daughter of both races, has grown up in a country where her skin marks her as the enemy, as an Earthsinger. She's kept to herself these long years, finding isolation to be her best bet for a quiet life. That is until she meets Jack, an Elsiran soldier with his own secrets, but who also shows her that there are those out there who see her as more than just an "other."

I loved the world-building in this story. The idea of magic users vs. technology isn't anything new, but what really added to this take on it was combining it with other prejudices, on both sides, and the fear and ignorance that can come from these sorts of long-standing built up generalizations about people. Throughout the story, we are also given glimpses into the ancient history of this world, and this is really what solidified the concept for me. Through these, we see that the world wasn't always this way, and in fact many things had been turned on their heads. The origin story was compelling and each chapter was intro'd with little parables from this almost forgotten time. I particularly enjoyed how each parable loosely connected to the happenings of each chapter.

Through this history and the current situation, Jasminda and Jack both portray different roles and experiences of segregation and prejudice. Jasminda has lived a life of not belonging. She's grown up in a country that judges her for her skin color and her power, but it is her home. I enjoyed how much this fact was hit home. Just because she looked like those on the other side of the wall, didn't mean she would be any more welcome there or that that should in any way be her place, based on only one part of her being. Jack, as an advocate and an example of a more tolerant and enlightened individual, still must learn to understand the true battles that those like Jasminda face. His idealism is often based in naivety. But through him, Jasminda, too, learns that not everyone is as they seem, and that there may be a way forward for both peoples together.

The story also had a strong through line on the experiences of refugees, and the terrible choices they face. Here, many Lagamiri secretly cross the border, hoping to escape the terror that is their homeland. This choice isn't only leaving behind all they have known, but is to willing walk into a country knowing they will face a different kind of persecution there. They live in camps and face many injustices at the hands of a struggling nation looking for someone to blame. And yet, this is still a better choice than the horrors that wait back home.

For all of these positives, I did struggle with a few things. While the story took on some big concepts, giving detailed focus and attention to these challenges, I never quite felt connected to the story. Jasminda and Jack, while interesting protagonists, were each a little too perfect to feel real. They were just kind of...fine. I wasn't hugely invested in their individual struggles, but happy to go along for the ride.

The story also isn't helped out by a few strange choices with pacing and explanations for the magic system. The plot would zip through a few key moments, with very little clarity on what was actually taking place, and then suddenly move very slowly through other, more character-driven scenes. I think this is likely a show of where the author's true interests and talents as a writer lie, but it makes for a rather bumpy reading experience.

Also, at different times, it felt like distances on the map changed drastically, or didn't match with the expanse of the world that we're told exists. It seemed, at times, that the entire country could be traveled in only a few hours, which doesn't make sense given the references to geographical elements and the population that is hinted at. Further, while the magic system was interesting, I struggled to understand how it actually worked. For example, it was referenced several times that Earthsingers couldn't kill with their magic, but could use the elements in every other way. But what does that actually look like? If they sent fire at someone, wouldn't that still be killing with their magic? Or does it do nothing, and if that's the case, then what power does that actually give them? I found it confusing, especially given the fact that this restriction was referenced more than once.

The romance, kind of like the two main characters, was also a bit too perfect. For all of theirs struggles, Jasminda and Jack's love is never really the complicated or tragic "Romeo and Juliet" story that we're promised. I enjoyed the romance, don't get me wrong, but I think the misleading description played against it, in the end.

All in all, I very much enjoyed "Song of Blood and Stone." It's a great example of fantasy fiction tackling bigger topics like diversity, prejudice, and the challenges faced by refugees. However, there is a large focus on romance, so readers who don't enjoy those elements might want to avoid this one, and the characters are also a bit flat.

Rating 7: Even with some missteps, would still recommend it based on the strengths of the challenges it addresses, especially set against an interesting fantasy backdrop.

Rating: 3.5 / 5.

Song of Blood and Stone is a romantic fantasy, with the love story being front and centre in the book. However, I wouldn't describe the love story as being the most central element of the plot (i.e. the same major plot events could have happened even if the MCs hadn't fallen in love).

The plot revolves around Jack (a soilder) and Jasminda (a poor, orphaned homesteader) attempting to rebuild / shore up "the mantle", a magical boundary between Lagrimari & Elsira. Along the way, we're introduced to mysteries our MCs need to solve, secrets they need to unearth, different political and cultural viewpoints, gods, and adventures.

Of the two MCs, Jasminda was the more interesting character. She's strong, but she has the kind of strength that comes not from physical (or magical) prowess, but from a strong will. I love the way Penelope shows us Jasminda's need for independence - Jasminda always quietly, without making a huge fuss of it, looks to take care of herself and her problems, even when it would be easy, or even understandable, if she looked to Jack to take care of her and her problems. Jasminda was definitely the highlight for me in the book, and I'd like to see what happens with her character in the future.

My biggest issues with this book was that the worldbuidling suffered due to the focus on romance. Not that the romance was terrible... It's just that the world, the magic system and the culture are all really interesting, and I wish there was more focus on that. As it stands, the worldbuilding felt a little rushed. I would have loved to read more about the history of the world, the consequences of the mantle between the two countries, and other stuff like that. However, the ending of the book is rather compelling, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Penelope's world, especially since it will focus on different MCs.

Ehh I was just bored while reading this. There is a reason why I went screaming off to read books by Rosamunde Pilcher. I kept hoping that the story would improve, but it did not. I read elsewhere this was originally a self-published book (back in 2015) that was re-published again this year. I don't know why that was, maybe the publishers were hoping to hop on some of the Young Adult fantasy with characters who are POC. But unlike with two books this year that I really enjoyed (The Belles and Children of Blood and Bone) this needed edited. I was initially intrigued by the main character (Jasminda) but I didn't get her or her powers after a while. We have her love interest Jack who just felt underdeveloped. There are two other books in this universe that I have no interest in trying to read.

"Song of Blood and Stone" starts off with Jasminda going to town and finding out that her maternal grandfather is going to offer her a lot of money to not claim her mother or use her name. I remember going huh when reading that whole thing. We start off with a quick exposition dump about this world we are in with Jasminda wondering what she's going to do (she doesn't want to give up her mother, but needs the money to save her family farm) when she comes across a young man who is being hunted by soldiers. Jasminda ignores him at first and heals him with her gift (Earthsong) then runs and hides when the soldiers find him again. Jasminda realizes that the soldiers are going to have to stop at her farm and she does what she can to intervene to help Jack. This eventually leads Jack to realizing that he needs Jasminda's help to use her Earthsong to fight off someone called the True Father (yeah I rolled my eyes too).

I can honestly say that though this book is tagged as Young Adult, it is really New Adult. I thought the age for this novel should definitely be in the late teens and older range. You have sex scenes in this one. There's also a scene where you have to worry that Jack is about to raped by soldiers. Also Jasminda is also almost raped. Reading about her potential rapist's penis made me gag. Jasminda goes through standard romance land trope of being a virgin, but the sex is so powerful and there is no pain. I maybe laughed at that whole thing.

The writing was okay, I just thought the chapters were really short. I didn't get Jasminda's song at all. I just went with it. Also no fault of the author, but every time I read "Earthsong" I started to think of Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series.

I thought the flow could be improved since it felt like each chapter ended on something important happening.

The world-building could be improved. I really didn't understand what was happening or why Jasminda's powers were called Earthsong. I seriously thought there be singing (sorry) or something happening. I mentioned this in one of my updates, I started to compare this book to the "Witch Song" books by Amber Argyle. I mean at least in those books the main character was actually singing.

I also think that Penelope did not go far enough in her book with showing the differences between the Lagrimari and Elsirans. We know that Jasminda is a young WOC. Jack is a young white male. Jasminda even mentions that Elsirans have reddish hair and pale skin so I was all oh okay, we have a predominately white race and one that is not. I hoped that we would get some discussions about race or something in this book, but everything is glossed over. I assume that the author wanted us to think about race though with the Lagrimari having abilities and the Elsirans not, but honestly, I started to think about "magical negroes" and what that means and cringed inside.

Having a biracial romance in this world seems like a very big deal (and it definitely is in our world) so I wish there had been some discussions about it.

The ending just sets things up for the second book in the series called "Whispers of Shadow & Flame."I really didn't even understand what had happened or why and was pretty dumbfounded on how things end up for Jasminda and Jack.

The cover is gorgous!!! It's what initially drew me into the book. I wasn't incredibly impressed by the story but it was still an enjoyable fantasy read.

There are a couple of reasons I really wanted to read this series, one of which (if I’m being totally honest here) was the absolutely striking cover. It’s beautiful and evocative, and bonus, it’s got a lot of purple hues in it (something I’m particularly fond of). The other reason this novel was brought to my attention was the fact that it was highly reviewed by an author I love and respect. Seriously, if you’re ever looking for good book recommendations, check out what your favorite authors have been reading.
Song of Blood & Stone is the first novel in a new series titled the Earthsinger Chronicles. It’s described as an epic fantasy, but honestly it’s more of a romance with a fantasy setting and subplot (which is totally fine, I just know I prefer to have a better idea of what I’m about to dive into).
This novel had so much potential; I don’t even know where to begin. The cover is stunning (I mentioned that already, woops) the description is captivating, and the characters engaging. Even the intro and first decent chunk of this book was absolutely enchanting, as was the world building itself.
While the core of the novel, as well as the start of the book are wonderful, it somehow loses something the further you read. I can’t quite place my finger on it – perhaps it lost its mystique edge, and that was enough? Though I suspect it’s because the romance took the focus, forcing us away from the plot and further development towards it – which is a shame, because the plot itself actually had so much potential.
If it sounds like I didn’t enjoy this novel, please don’t take it that way. It was actually a really enjoyable read, and I can promise you I’ll read the rest of the series. It just had a few flaws that are preventing me from rating it any higher than I have already done so.
There was actually quite a lot I loved about this novel, and I hope the books following will continue to focus on these elements. The world building has been outstanding – you could actually feel the tension between the different cultures (at times it even felt a little too real and close to real world problems we’re seeing today, but I think that was the point).
The magic system was fascinating to me. I sincerely hope that we can learn even more about the songs in the next novel or two, because I have so many questions about it. It’ll also be interesting to see how the two different cultures (magic versus no magic) integrate, now that they’re more or less being forced to deal with each other again. Their early interactions did not go well, so I’ll admit I’m curious.
I loved Jasminda’s character in particular. She had pretty much everything set up against her; she was a child of two worlds, but didn’t really belong in either. She’d lost her mother, father, and siblings, and her extended family are worse than vile. The town and laws are against her, and so much more. And yet, Jasminda keeps pushing forward, never really giving up hope. It’s hard not to be impressed by her character. The fact that she was able to open herself up to love after all of that speaks volumes about her.
Overall I really enjoyed the world that L. Penelope has written for us. I’m more than a little curious about what is going to happen next, so hopefully the next novel will be out sooner rather than later (sorry, I’m so greedy when it comes to books!).

Song of Blood and Stone was at times difficult to read because of the themes it explores. I'm not going to lie some of those themes set my blood to boiling, not because of the execution mind you but because I've experienced varying degrees of it.

Despite getting my hackles up I found it to be quite an enjoyable read. I loved the romance and that it was thought provoking.

I also loved the world it's set in which is different yet very much reminiscent of this world we live as it highlights issues currently plaguing us.

I liked this author's voice and I'm definitely looking forward to not only reading the next book in the series but also more of her work.

I recommend this book to lovers of Fantasy.

The cover is gorgeous and I guess I'm shallow because that's why I jumped at the chance to review this book. The blurb was compelling too. But, yeah, that cover. As far as the story goes, there were things I loved, and things I was less crazy about.

I loved Jasminda's character. And I loved Jack's character, but I wasn't so excited about their POVs. Which probably doesn't make sense, but... but... but... Okay, so most of this story is told in close 3rd person from Jasminda and Jack's POVs, but I felt like I was still too far away from the narrative. There's another POV here (no spoilers) told in 1st person, and those were my favorite parts of this book. Personally, I think the entire story could have been told better in 1st person. But that's just one opinion.

The pacing had some issues too. The beginning was action-packed and then the story slowed down. A lot. It seemed like the "action" in the middle of the book was just for the sake of something happening as it didn't really move the plot forward. And Jasminda is the "chosen one." She's the only person who can do all these important things, and, sure, that's a common trope and I'm usually on-board with it, but then it was never explained.

The action picked up a lot toward the end, which I liked, but the scenes didn't feel very developed to me. Instead of being immersed in the story, I felt like I was being told what happened.

My favorite parts of this book were the chapter openings, the parts told in 1st person, and the developing romance. I LOVED how the relationship was allowed to build slowly. No insta-love. Yay. I really liked the steamier scenes too. Not sure if this is a stand-alone, but I'd read more to see where this story goes.

I had high expectations for Song of Blood and Stone because I enjoy fantasy and the concept sounded really interesting. Unfortunately the book was a big disappointment. It was very slow paced, confusing, and boring. In the beginning, I couldn't keep straight who was Elsirian and who was Lagrimari (two nations at war), and for the whole time I was reading, I found the politics boring. I didn’t really care about any of the characters or really anything that happened in the book. I tried hard to finish Song of Blood and Stone but, in the end, decided not to torture myself. I DNF'ed it at about 75%.

An interesting read about. Girl in the middle of two lands warring. The book deals with race issues, and has a plot filled with, magic or (earthsong), romance, and adventure!

How many reviews have I started with “I really wanted to like this story, but…” over the last few years? And here I am again, adding another one to the category. To make matters worse, I started out by liking this book. I tried signing up for the upcoming blog tour, but missed the deadline by mere hours. Nevertheless, I emailed the PR person ensuring them I would post a review on various sites. I was so enthusiastic and optimistic about this story. I will try not to get too caught up in my review, but please bear with me.
The characters were inconsistent at best. The protagonist, a young woman, started out as a strong female lead, with a good head on her shoulders until a pair of pants comes along and turns her into an emotional mess. Every other character only seemed to serve the purpose of throwing tangents and red herrings into the story. Flat, predictable and two dimensional, they lacked any depth that would encourage the reader to make connections with them.
The plot, or rather plots were all over the place. The night before I finished the book I sat up in bed, getting increasingly frustrated with it all and counted how many plot tangents I had encountered…I stopped at 10. What was going on? Why so many attempts to confuse the reader? And why, oh why were there no explanations of anything important happening in the story? All the good parts were glossed over. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
The writing and narration were the cherry on top of this confusing mess. I assume the author wanted to maintain a sense of mystery by keeping the reader at arm’s length, instead all that was achieved was glorious confusion sprinkled with a great amount of frustration. I wondered why the reader had to read two full sex scenes, in detail, spanning most of two chapters, when other parts of the story that actually mattered were completely skipped over.
Overall, this story felt like it was meant for a reader who has some inside knowledge or who was privileged enough to receive all the details. It wasn’t for me and I can’t recommend it.