Cry of Metal & Bone by L. Penelope
Rating: ★★★★☆

Cry of Metal & Bone by L. Penelope continues to enchant with its rich tapestry of magic and adventure. Set against a backdrop where ancient prophecies and destinies collide, the story plunges readers deeper into a world brimming with intrigue and danger. Penelope’s world-building remains immersive, vividly depicting landscapes teeming with mystical creatures and the clash of powerful forces that shape destinies.

The lore surrounding the mystical artifacts and their pivotal role in the fate of kingdoms adds layers of depth to the narrative, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The characters in Cry of Metal & Bone are once again vibrant and multifaceted, each grappling with their own desires and dilemmas. The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and resilience unfolds amidst treacherous alliances and profound revelations, drawing readers into a web of tension and emotional resonance.

Penelope’s descriptive prose effortlessly draws readers into the heart of the story, balancing intense action with introspective moments that delve into the characters’ inner conflicts. The pacing is well-crafted, ensuring a gripping narrative that builds momentum with every chapter. Overall, Cry of Metal & Bone is a captivating continuation of the series, offering fans of epic fantasy another spellbinding adventure filled with magic, intrigue, and the eternal struggle between darkness and light.

A fantastic end to one of my favorite fantasy series in years! It features: a diverse cast of characters; world-building that deftly mixes science and fantasy; political intrigue and resistance against the forces of oppression; and a touch of romance! L. Penelope is such a skillful storyteller!

This series is perfect for fans of N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season!

This series is one of my happy places and one that I’ve come to savor and cherish every time I have the chance to read the next book.

I stand firm in my belief that this is one of the greatest fantasy series to our time and it hasn’t garnered near the attention or recognition it deserves.

Cry of Metal and Bone sees our beloved characters from the first two books come together and work tirelessly to stop threats to Elsira and Lagrimar from without and within. It sees the introduction of new and easily beloved characters. It continues the meticulously honed balance of fantasy storytelling with gripping action and fiery, angsty romance. And it continues to beg readers to think and ask questions about their own world around them and how they interact with others.

If I could lift a series on a pedestal and point to it, calling out, LOOK! THIS ONE RIGHT HERE! … it would be this series.

I look forward to reading the next novella and continuing onto the final book in the series!

This is the third book in the Earthsinger Chroniclers. Overall, this novel is very well-written! The world-building was very magical and enchanting. The only thing I did not like about it was the multiple characters’ perspectives. I would have liked it if there was focus only on a single character! Still, this novel ending with a cliffhanger that makes readers eager for more! I recommend this for fans of Justina Ireland, Roseanne A. Brown, and Kalynn Bayron!

Unfortunately, I DNFed this book. What I read had really intriguing writing, but I didn't realize that it was the third novel in a series. I will most definitely check out L. Penelope's other novels and am very grateful to the publisher for giving me the chance to read this novel.

While it may have taken me quite a while to get to “Whispers of Shadow and Flame” after reading “Song of Blood and Stone” over a year earlier, I was much more prompt in my continuance of the series this time. It took reading the second story to really remind me how fantastic this series really is! The fact that each book centers around a new set of characters while continuing the overall plot of two countries needing to come together in a new world just adds to the appeal. And not for nothing, but I also really like the cover on this one. Let’s dive in!

After so long kept separate by the magical barrier known as the Mantle, it’s no wonder that the countries of Elsira and Lagrimar have struggled to come together. Thing only get worse when there’s an attack on an Elsiran holy site. The King and Queen, desperate to hold their country together and with a shared vision of the prosperous land that could be these two countries united, bring together a small group of individuals to seek out the culprits. Darvyn, still working to find Kyara, his love who has been captured, joins a smuggler and an ex-socialite. For her part, Kyara works to begin to understand and control her powerful magical abilities.

This series seems to just get better and better! Like I mentioned already, one of the things I’ve liked so far has been that each book has introduced a new set of characters/romantic pairing. But as the series continues, this also becomes a more challenging task to undertake as the previous, now four, other characters still exist in the story, some with active storylines playing out. Darvyn and Kyara, for example, from the previous book, ended their story on somewhat of a cliffhanger. They were separated, and Kyara was still learning how to manage her magic. So I was thrilled to see them given the time and page count needed to continue their stories in a satisfying way.

At the same time, these characters can’t outshine the new characters introduced. I really like both of the new character we got here. They each had distinct voices and backgrounds that set them apart from the characters we’ve seen before. I also really liked the romance that developed between them (I’ve really liked all the romances in these books, another feat!). I was perhaps a bit, a bit, less interested than in others just because I was still very distracted by Darvyn and Kyara’s drama that was still unfolding. But that is barely a complaint at all.

I also really liked the continue exploration into the magic of this world and the various powerful players working behind the scenes. The history of the land also continues to unfold in new and surprising ways, keeping you constantly guessing at who was in the wrong or the right. I really like this type of nebulous story-telling that reflects history so well: it’s often told by the winners and so much is lost to time. My only real criticism here is that the villains in all of the books, including this one, have felt rather one dimensional with unclear motivations.

Fans of the series should definitely check this one out. Each book can technically be read as a stand-alone, but I think this one, even more than the second, would suffer as a first entry for new readers. There’s too much of Darvyns and Kyara’s story that would be lost. I’m excited to see where the story will go from here.

Rating 8: Another great entry with a new set of compelling characters and a sweet romance.

Interesting and great story.

I liked the flow and the characters. There was a great amount of conflict and interest to keep page turning.

Recommend.

I love this whole world, the world building is just amazing and the author builds these characters that are so intricate, I cannot wait for a new series from her.

Once again, I am blown away by the world-building and storytelling of this author. I keep wanting to come back to this world that is so cleverly dripping in metaphor and political intrigue.

I really enjoyed the third book, the characters were great and I really liked going on the journey. I hope there is more from the author and this series.

Cry of Metal & Bone is the third book in the Earthsinger Chronicles by L. Penelope. Released 11th Aug 2020 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Griffin imprint, it's 496 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Even though it's the third book in the series (there's also a novella in addition), I think it would work reasonably well as a standalone (I've read the previous two books but not the novella). I had no trouble following the plot or the wonderfully complex and rich world building and magical systems. It's a hybrid high fantasy with some nods to steampunk/technology. The author is quite gifted, especially with her descriptive prose and dialogue. I wasn't yanked out of the story one single time by clunky or unbelievable dialogue.

There is a romance theme, so readers who are only in it for the swords will probably skip the kissing bits. There's also quite a lot of violence. I liked that the books have strong female representation who are practical, resourceful, and intelligent. For readers who prefer their speculative fiction romance-free, this book does include a significant romance subplot. The writing is superlative however, and the included romance element wasn't cringe-worthy or badly written at all. I would classify it as mature YA/NA but I didn't find it juvenile in any way (I would say 'adult' but that conjures a different demographic).

Four stars. This is a gifted author with an intelligent and immersive story to tell.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I can't wait for the next book. Is the awakened queen good or bad? Will all of our beloved characters survive? This series is so well done that waiting for them is pure torture. Her world is so detailed and thought out that I almost feel like I could visit it. There were very little mistakes making this a very enjoyable read.

I ran across this installment of the series before I was familiar with the other books. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I was able to enjoy Cry of Metal & Bone without reading the previous books. However, it is my suggestion to take in the previous books in the series. for a better understanding and enjoyable experience,

If you enjoy a good fantasy, you will want to pick this up. Great read!

Cry of Metal and Bone is a true epic fantasy. The world building Is fantastic. The reader is transported into a world of intrigue, magic and flying machines.
This book though fantasy is timely in that is addresses several of the issues we are dealing with today — prejudice and xenophobia. Circumstances make the character face their bias as they are forced to work together for goal , which includes a quest which challenges them and draw them together.

Ok. Can we just start off with how gorgeous this cover is! 5 stars for the cover art.

I feel like this series just keeps getting better! This might my favorite installment so far. If you are looking for a smart fantasy series with a great cast of characters, political intrigue, great worlding building and plot, then this is definitely one to try.

The author not only examines important themes that readers will see reflected in the real world (and perhaps even their own lives), but she does such a great job creating a strong magic system that honestly becomes more and more entertaining with each book.

Definitely give these books a try!

Rating closer to a 3.5

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review*

I'm sorry to say that this was my first DNF this year (very very rare for me). I really tried but I had to give up at around 60%. L. Penelope's writing was lush and skilled as always and I still adore the magic system in this world, I just found myself really dreading when the narrative switched to certain characters (there are MANY pov's in this book, and naturally some where more compelling than others).

While there were parts that were very engaging and characters that I really enjoyed, I found my attention drifting every time the story switched to certain characters and I spent over a week trying to push past and finish. I'll return and try again in a few weeks, maybe I'll have better luck.

This book was a great third entry in the Earthsinger Chronicles. I'm looking forward to reading the last book in the quartet when it's released.

Title: Cry of Metal & Bone
Author: L. Penelope
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Six weeks after the fall of the Mantle, centuries-old enemies Elsira and Lagrimar struggle to unite. The will of the goddess is that the two nations become one, but while the war may be over, peace is still elusive. As desperate Lagrimari flee their barren land for a chance at a better life in Elsira, a dangerous faction opposed to the unification rises.

When a shadowy group with ties to the Elsiran government takes responsibility for a fatal attack and promises more, an unlikely crew is assembled to investigate. Among them are Lizvette Nirall, a disgraced socialite seeking redemption for past mistakes, and Tai Summerhawk, a foreign smuggler determined to keep a promise he made to a dead man. Powerful Earthsinger Darvyn ol-Tahlyro is sent with a secret assignment, one that Queen Jasminda can’t know about. And in a prison far away, Kyara ul-Lagrimar searches for a way to escape her captors and save a family long thought dead.

It’s a race against time in this world of deadly magic, secret agendas and court intrigue to discover those responsible for the bombing before the next attack. And in another land a new enemy awakens—one that will strike terror into the hearts of gods and men.

I’ve enjoyed all the Earthsinger Chronicles books, and this one is no exception. The characters are the best part of this series, all of them being diverse and vividly realized. No cookie cutter characters here. Tai was probably my favorite character in this, although Lizvette was great, too.

The cultures in this series are very distinct, and I enjoy reading about them and feeling like I’m exploring the lands themselves. All the settings are detailed enough to get lost in, but not so overly detailed that there’s no room for the reader’s imagination to fill in the blanks. I love the continuing saga of these characters.

Leslye Penelope lives in Maryland. Cry of Metal & Bone is the third book in the Earthsinger Chronicles.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Wow, what a ride! This book takes the foundation laid in the previous books and novellas and starts tying together many of the threads. I would strongly not recommend reading this without reading the previous books, and most certainly the previous novella.

“Listen,” she said, “if someone doesn’t try to kill you at least once in your life, then maybe you’re not making a big enough impact in the world.”


Unlike the previous books which focused mainly on one couple, this book starts tying together multiple plot lines. In practice, this means there are multiple POV characters, from previous book’s characters like Jasminda, Kyara and Darvyn as well as new ones. My personal favorites among the new viewpoints were Tai and Lizvette and the romance between them, with a romance that verged on insta-love but was still enjoyable in its execution. Others, like Ella’s with her clumsy investigation of the bombing and adoption of the two Lagrimari orphans, slowed down the pace for me, though it did show the day to day issues with integrating the Lagrimari population with the Elsirans. And, at first, I thought that’s what this book would be about, but what’s happening in Elsira is just a small cog in a larger machine.

“Do we not have a responsibility to serve and help those weaker than we are? Isn’t that why we have this power?”
She turned away again, Her voice growing oddly hollow as She spoke. “My power was not unusual in my time. I was as everyone else was. It is only now that it sets me apart.”


I’ve had my suspicions about Oola ever since the first book (“Oh hey, yeah I’m back, but lemme just make this big proclamation and then abdicate all responsibility for actually doing anything about it”) and while each book has revealed a little more of her motives, what exactly she’s trying to accomplish is still unclear. What is clear, though, is the Yalyan Physickers’ endgame and how they hope to accomplish it, and it’s just as horrifying as you’d expect. Much of the book takes place in Yalya, whether it’s the experiences of the imprisoned Roshon, his family, and Kyara or from the team, including Darvyn, Tai and Lizvette, sent to investigate Lizvette’s father’s connection to the unrest in Elsira, and, in a secret known only to a few of them, the possible rescue of Jasminda’s family. Of all the characters in this series so far, Darvyn and Kyara remain my favorites, and their viewpoints were the highlight of the book for me. Watching the sheltered and angry Lizvette shed the shell her parents built around her was also quite enjoyable, especially her interactions with Tai, who can’t resist yanking her chain. I have to say, though, coming off reading the previous novella, that I especially missed Ani in this one, though I would agree that adding in one more POV wouldn’t have been prudent. The Yalyan portions of the book are very action-packed, so much so that in comparison the parts of the book set in Elsira drag. The worldbuilding continues to be excellent, and I loved the stark comparisons between Yalya and the much more agricultural and “backwards” Elsira.

“She knew he felt the need to make this right. Isn’t that what the Shadowfox did? He’d spent his whole life saving people he didn’t even know, and she loved him all the more for his determination to rescue her, even when she didn’t deserve it.”


While the book ends on quite a cliffhanger, there’s also a clearer idea of what Jasminda and crew will be facing down in the next book. I’m especially looking forward to all the hints pointing to more Kyara in the next one! So, overall, while I enjoyed the book – especially how it upped the stakes – all the POVs never quite meshed for me, so I’d give this 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. I will definitely be looking forward to the next book next year, and hoping for another novella in the meantime!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This is probably my favorite adult fantasy series. L. Penelope is an auto-buy author for me. Even if I get approved for the ARC, I always end up buying the e-books because I want this series to last FOREVER.