I picked this up because the awesome book description and the very, very beautiful cover. And I was hooked, for all of a chapter or so. After which the book started throwing characters at me I didn't expect, tossed in elements of world building with no apparent rhyme or reason (is it a magical version of the 40s? Earlier?) There are telegraphs and busses running right along with a magical wall that separates one country from another and there's no sign that the existence of magic has impacted tech. Or the other way around. What looked like some good initial conflict dragged on for several chapters, turning things from possible action/adventure to the early stages of a romance fairly quickly. There is a second POV character I don't remember being in the book description, who comes off as naive and far too trusting for the country she is in.

I really, really, REALLY wanted to like this book. And I am very sad that I didn't make it more than a few chapters in before giving up in disgust.

Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: This was one of the most beautiful written books I have read in a while.

Check out author's other books? Yes
Recommend this book? Yes


My Review: This was one of the most beautiful written books I have read in a while. This expanded version is even better! This book had a lot of good things like the characters and the world building but then it also had a few bad things like missing characters. (Where we hear about them but don't see them) I really wished we could have met her brothers as well as a few other people that were talked about but not seen.

This book was beautiful written and the world building was some of the best that I have read. The forfront of this title is love. This book is a romance and the magic although it is here it is not the main aspect of this story. And to tell you the truth I really enjoyed that.

The characters that we did get to see were wonderful and I just couldn't put this one down. The cover is even more fantastic and the story is as well. Jasminda (love the name btw) was just beautiful and a wonderful character to read about.

Go Into This One Knowing: Fantasy, Romance

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of *Song of Blood and Stone* in exchange for an honest review. *Song of Blood and Stone* is the first installment of the fantasy-based Earthsinger Chronicles. From Goodreads, "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." The premise was promising. Unfortunately, the mix of fantasy world building and real world props made for a difficult read. In the first chapter, Jasminda both demonstrated her fantastical skill (not explained very well) and used a payphone. I couldn't reconcile the differences and was unable to finish the novel.

This is a wonderful story, set in a well developed fantasy world of magic and beauty. It switches from one point of view/ narrator to another. At first I couldn’t wait to pick up the previous thread of one of the main characters (Jasmines). However, I grew just as attached to Ella! And it took absolutely no time. This story really hooks you, and it does in its own unique way! At no point did I question the authenticity or creativity of the author. Really recommend this for anyone who enjoys adventure, romance, and magic. What set this apart for me is how easy of a read it was, but with themes of prejudice and isolation that felt like very mature content indeed.

Things I enjoyed about this book:

↠ the characters ↠

The author absolutely nailed it with the characterization in Song of Blood & Stone. They were all unique, all interesting, and (most importantly if you ask me) all three dimensional. The story focuses on 4 characters: Jasminda, Jack, Ella, and Benn. They all had distinct voices and back stories, with diversity all across the board. I know everyone in the reviews was crazy about Jasminda, but I think Ella stole my heart in this story more.

“Ella was just a hairdresser. A failed printmaker and taxi driver and a dozen other things. She was not important. Then again, Syllene was the daughter of a potato farmer. And she had helped kill a prince. People could change."

Ella knew what she wanted, was clear headed, stubborn as fuck, and all around kick ass, honestly.

↠ the setting ↠

While this is set in a very medieval, historical, kings & queens setting, it is very unique to other fantasies because it starts dipping its toes in electronic feats. It's like the story is right on the brink of a technological revolution; not quite there yet, but starting to introduce phones and electricity to the wealthier families. I thought it was an interesting twist to the usual fantasy stories, and I thought the author was very brave to have set the story in this turbulent timeline. L. Penelope could have easily just stuck to a classic, medieval setting, but she instead chose to take a risk. And I respect that, and it was a part of the story I very much enjoyed.

↠ the plot ↠

The plot of the book blurs the lines between fantasy and political thriller. We're handed a lot of things on our plate: on one side, we're dealing with Bloodstones and Mantles and Sleeping Queens, and magical powers. On the other, we have a turbulent Regent Prince, immigration issues, race issues, power issues. This book definitely transcends the two genres and even sometimes clicks very close to home with issues that are happening today. Immigration in the US is a huge conversation, and the distrust of people who don't look or act like you are just now starting to fade but it's still a process of growing. The "sending the Lagrimari refugees back" part of the plot line definitely tugged at my heart strings because today in the US there are hundreds of Latino families being deported back to their countries. I thought the author did an amazing job somehow taking this fantastical fantasy plot & setting and somehow connecting it with our world issues.


Things I didn't like about this book:

↝ the writing style was poor ↝

While this isn't the worst writing style there is, I felt this story could have been a million times better if the author had indulged in the scenes and settings a bit more. I'm definitely a metaphor typa girl; I'm definitely a "pretty words and pretty descriptions" make me happy type of girl. I felt the writing was lacking beauty. It told the story alright, it let me follow through the characters' actions and gave me a few emotions here and there, but it's missing something. It's missing that OOMPH. It's missing a kabank, something that sets it apart from all the other stories on the market. I wish we could have digged into the minds of the characters more, I wish I could have digged into this setting more. I just almost feel disconnected from the book, like I hadn't really been a apart of the adventures, just a heard a retelling of them.

Which is sadly why this book isn't landing in my Favorites shelves. As cool as the characters, plot, and setting were I feel the author has a lot of room to grow for her writing. I would like to be apart of the story--to be enticed in and feel like I'm rolling around in the grass of Elsira. It was a nice read, with a lot of potential, but I dearly hope the sequel makes up for what this first installment lacks: substance. Life. Vibrancy.

The more Penelope revises this novel the better it gets. The story and characters seem more structured and you feel what there going through. This 1920's esque takes on what were facing in our own time right now. Immigration, sexism, racism, and much more and the author handles it all very well. Penelope is just a wonderful storyteller and I can't wait to read the next books in this series.

Enjoyed the characters and the magic system was different but it began to drag in the middle and I completely lost interest.

But I did like the talk of race and could completely relate to Jasminda, who is essentially biracial. I am also mixed with a white mother and a black father so I understood her struggles with being from two races who do like one another.

I would recommend if you want a light, quick read.

I was super excited when I received this in the mail. 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.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley. Song of Blood and Stone is a YA Fantasy Romance - be aware that sexual situations do occur in the book in some detail, if you're a parent and you want to monitor what your kids read. There is also the threat of rape near the beginning of the book.

Set in an alternate 1920's, with alternating POV's between the main characters, this book deals with racism, prejudice, immigrant/refugee issues, and social stratification, and the world building sets all of this up very well. Our two MC's, Jack and Jasminda, are from two different people's separated by a magical wall. They have different magic and different skin colors (white/black). The writing is excellent, but this book might take you a little time to get into. It sets up much like an epic fantasy with the alternating viewpoints and a lot of world building in the front of the book. Not that this was boring - it wasn't. It was all handled amidst some action and the characters getting to know each other. But I often find it takes me some time to really get into a book when every time you're REALLY getting immersed, you either switch POV characters or wait, here's a world building explanation.

Jasminda is the daughter of a refugee from one side of the wall, stranded after one of the many wars that have occurred. Her family is all gone now, and it's just her, a black girl with magic living amongst white people who have none. Jack is white, a soldier and a spy, returning from a mission and being hunted by a truly reprehensible group of soldiers. This is when the two cross paths, and the story begins.

The romance is pretty front and center between the two MCs, making this very much a Fantasy Romance, but it's handled really well, with each character growing and the reader learning new depths and layers to them as the story, and their love for each other, progresses. Although the first in a series, this book is complete on its own with no cliffhangers, and could be read as a standalone book. For me, it doesn't rate as high up there as Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes, but it's very good and in the same genre, if a very different world/setting. It also deals with some of the same social issues. I think if you're a fan of Sabaa's books, this one might appeal to you as well.

Really enjoyed the beginning but the book began to drag in the middle. The magical was a little confusing but I found the little stories at the beginning of each chapter to be interesting.