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magpiewithpebbles's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Sexual violence, and Colonisation
hayleyvem's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Violence, Blood, Deportation, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Police brutality, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Child abuse
Minor: Abandonment
britreads's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Despite some issues I had with world-building and character motivations, I really, really, really enjoyed the first book in the Earthsinger Chronicles. Jasminda and Ella were by far my favorite characters and I hope they get to interact with each other one day. I liked Jasminda and Jack's relationship though I wish the story didn't end with them getting engaged. There are four books plus 3 novellas in this series. They can take their time with their relationship. My least favorite POV was Benn and in future novels, I hope he develops a better story.
While I did enjoy this, I felt that most of the story was meant to set the stage for future novels. Most of the plotlines feel unresolved. I'm intrigued enough where I'm willing to give the rest of the series a chance. But overall, I felt this story really only served to introduce readers to problems that will be explored in future installments. That seems obvious since this is the first in a series. But I don't think the stakes were clearly spelled out enough for me.
Song of Blood & Stone did a great job exploring race and racism. I think the discrimination the Lagrimari faced was so painfully similar to discrimination marginalized communities face in the US and around the world. I am curious to see if the series will have a more nuanced take on the magic in this world since it clearly causes so much conflict between the Lagrimari and Elsirans.
I'm always happy to read fantasy written by a Black author. I've read reviews for the other books in the series and it seems to get better with each book, so I'm excited to see what is in store for this universe.
While I did enjoy this, I felt that most of the story was meant to set the stage for future novels. Most of the plotlines feel unresolved. I'm intrigued enough where I'm willing to give the rest of the series a chance. But overall, I felt this story really only served to introduce readers to problems that will be explored in future installments. That seems obvious since this is the first in a series. But I don't think the stakes were clearly spelled out enough for me.
Song of Blood & Stone did a great job exploring race and racism. I think the discrimination the Lagrimari faced was so painfully similar to discrimination marginalized communities face in the US and around the world. I am curious to see if the series will have a more nuanced take on the magic in this world since it clearly causes so much conflict between the Lagrimari and Elsirans.
I'm always happy to read fantasy written by a Black author. I've read reviews for the other books in the series and it seems to get better with each book, so I'm excited to see what is in store for this universe.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, War, Violence, Xenophobia, and Sexual violence
clarabooksit's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Colonisation, Police brutality, War, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual violence
rorikae's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
'Song of Blood & Stone' by L. Penelope is a fantasy filled with engaging worldbuilding but I was hoping for a bit more from the writing.
The story centers on Jasminda, a farmer who has been tending her family's homestead after her mother's death and her father and brother's disappearance. She lives on the edge of the country of Elsira, which is cut off from the neighboring country of Lagrimar by a magical Mantle. Lagrimar is ruled by the True Father, who wishes to cross the mantle and conquer Elsira for his own. As the daughter of a Lagrimarian and an Elsiran, Jasminda lives on the outskirts to avoid the prejudice she receives in the Elsiran cities. When Jasminda rescues an Elsiran soldier hunted by a Lagrimarian regiment and learns that the mantle is close to failing, she gets pulled into a fight for the country and the history of the continental conflict.
Penelope does an excellent job of creating a compelling world with a layered history and folklore. She drops pieces of this folklore at the beginning of each chapter through snippets from folklore texts, which I think did a great job of expanding the world in small snippets. I came to care for Jasminda and the other characters that populate this story through the interweaving perspectives. Though the plot itself wasn't full of twists and turns, I think Penelope did a good job of setting up the different beats. Even though they weren't unexpected, they felt earned.
The piece of this story that I was hoping for more from was the writing itself. It was relatively simple and straightforward in a world that I think could have benefited from more evocative prose. It was clear that Penelope has a good idea of the world and moments that she is creating and I was hoping to be pulled into the world through the prose more than I was. Even so, I am invested in the story and will be continuing on in the series.
The story centers on Jasminda, a farmer who has been tending her family's homestead after her mother's death and her father and brother's disappearance. She lives on the edge of the country of Elsira, which is cut off from the neighboring country of Lagrimar by a magical Mantle. Lagrimar is ruled by the True Father, who wishes to cross the mantle and conquer Elsira for his own. As the daughter of a Lagrimarian and an Elsiran, Jasminda lives on the outskirts to avoid the prejudice she receives in the Elsiran cities. When Jasminda rescues an Elsiran soldier hunted by a Lagrimarian regiment and learns that the mantle is close to failing, she gets pulled into a fight for the country and the history of the continental conflict.
Penelope does an excellent job of creating a compelling world with a layered history and folklore. She drops pieces of this folklore at the beginning of each chapter through snippets from folklore texts, which I think did a great job of expanding the world in small snippets. I came to care for Jasminda and the other characters that populate this story through the interweaving perspectives. Though the plot itself wasn't full of twists and turns, I think Penelope did a good job of setting up the different beats. Even though they weren't unexpected, they felt earned.
The piece of this story that I was hoping for more from was the writing itself. It was relatively simple and straightforward in a world that I think could have benefited from more evocative prose. It was clear that Penelope has a good idea of the world and moments that she is creating and I was hoping to be pulled into the world through the prose more than I was. Even so, I am invested in the story and will be continuing on in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Medical trauma, Murder, Racism, Xenophobia, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Lesbophobia, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy
bani's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual assault
bookishdi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Kidnapping
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