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kylieqrada'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
3.5
I enjoyed my time with this one! I think I read it in its original format, but I remember nothing from that. The lore was developed really well and I liked the social commentary. Not sure if I will continue, but I'm open to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, and War
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Lesbophobia
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
motypeandroid's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I only finished this because I paid 10 of my hard earned dollars for it, but it was bad. It’s just fantasy racism centering on a biracial girl with like no nuance whatsoever. Black ppl only suffer all the time and white ppl hate them bc they have magic and are “dangerous” and dark like…girl you couldn’t come up with nothing else. But don’t worry the white prince is good and him and the main girl are gonna end racism w their love. Like I have to laugh.
On top of that, the magic system is so underdeveloped it’s not even funny. Earthsong does whatever you want it to: healing, earthquakes, empathic powers, flying, giant storm, etc. just stupid.
dumbest of all is that after they kill the bad guy the goddess lady just…gives jasminda the full magical capacity of a powerful monoracial earthsinger because…she earned it?? But 5 days ago she was fine to get special treatment over all her fellow black ppl as they were huddled together getting macroagressed and threatened by soldiers. Okay.
On top of that, the magic system is so underdeveloped it’s not even funny. Earthsong does whatever you want it to: healing, earthquakes, empathic powers, flying, giant storm, etc. just stupid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia
novella42's review against another edition
Too many of my PTSD triggers. Even with just 3% left of the book, I just couldn't force myself through it.
I was too frustrated by the way the author seemed to use a broken bones as if to add emphasis to the character's experience, but it was low stakes because it would all just be healed away repeatedly when it was convenient for the author. I get it, it's a choice plenty of fantasy authors make, but it wasn't for me.
I meant to come back to it when I had more energy and resilient mental health, but the audiobook returned to the library and I am not that motivated.
I meant to come back to it when I had more energy and resilient mental health, but the audiobook returned to the library and I am not that motivated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Slavery, War, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Rape, Confinement, Deportation, Gore, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Classism
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
kennadis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
e_flah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Song of Blood & Stone hooked me for the first 150 pages, lost me a bit in the middle, and managed to pull me right back in with an emotional, rollercoaster third act. The romance element of this fantasy romance was incredibly well done. The connection between Jack and Jasminda leapt off the page from their first meeting. Watching them learn to trust each other in the midst of a looming war kept me reading this book even as I got frustrated with the long second act. I really, really loved their romance.
The world of Song of Blood & Stone was absolutely fascinating. It's almost but not quite an alternate 1920s -- think telegrams and old-school roadsters. The magical border of the Mantle between Elsira and Lagrimar was both a fascinating piece of world-building and a great plot device. The prolonged conflict between the two warring nations was woven into the story in a way that felt completely natural. I kept hoping for a bit more world-building as there was a lot I wanted to know but I guess I'll just have to keep reading the Earthsinger Chronicles for that.
If you're looking for a fast-paced fantasy novel with a compelling romance, I'd definitely recommend Song of Blood & Stone.
The world of Song of Blood & Stone was absolutely fascinating. It's almost but not quite an alternate 1920s -- think telegrams and old-school roadsters. The magical border of the Mantle between Elsira and Lagrimar was both a fascinating piece of world-building and a great plot device. The prolonged conflict between the two warring nations was woven into the story in a way that felt completely natural. I kept hoping for a bit more world-building as there was a lot I wanted to know but I guess I'll just have to keep reading the Earthsinger Chronicles for that.
If you're looking for a fast-paced fantasy novel with a compelling romance, I'd definitely recommend Song of Blood & Stone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Racism, and Sexual assault
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
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.0
This busy series starter kicks off a fantasy romance saga that holds a lot of promise. Our protagonists are Jasminda and Jack. Jasminda's a brave, no-nonsense farm girl with no family left in the world and one foot each in two warring countries. Her father was a magic-wielder from Lagrimar, her mother disowned from her Elsiran family for who she loves. Jasminda has experienced fear and ridicule in Elsira for her Lagrimari magic and appearance. On the verge of losing the family farm, she rescues Jack, an Elsiran soldier wounded and captured by Lagrimari who assume she will be on their side by looking at her. Sparks fly between Jasminda and Jack from the start, even though there are even more barriers to keep them apart than Jasminda knows.
Although I was a bit overwhelmed at first, I was firmly settled into the world by the end of the book. It has a historical vibe with technology like airships, radios, and cars. The book largely avoids info dumps. Each chapter kicks off with an adage from the world's legends, and Jasminda explores an important moment in history, the schism between Elsira and Lagrimar, firsthand through a magical object. I enjoyed how even though the 1920s/30s accoutrements made the world a bit familiar, it still feels fresh and intriguing.
In terms of romance, since that's the main engine for the plot, you can expect a star-crossed, us against the world feel with some open door steam. It's a bit instalove or at least a whirlwind, but the intensity of their experiences together made it slightly less perplexing to me.
I will warn readers that in addition to the fun sexual content on the page, there are some violent near-misses in terms of sexual assault for both leads. There is also copious sexual harassment directed Jasminda's way. Wartime violence extends to the attack of unarmed or underpowered refugees on multiple occasions. It is a hard book in those respects.
While the particular central romance was nice but not amazing for this reader, I feel very invested in the world and its trajectory by the end of this book. Now that world-building is established, I am excited to pick up the sequel and see if its romantic tropes are more to my taste because I think the series has a lot to offer.
Although I was a bit overwhelmed at first, I was firmly settled into the world by the end of the book. It has a historical vibe with technology like airships, radios, and cars. The book largely avoids info dumps. Each chapter kicks off with an adage from the world's legends, and Jasminda explores an important moment in history, the schism between Elsira and Lagrimar, firsthand through a magical object. I enjoyed how even though the 1920s/30s accoutrements made the world a bit familiar, it still feels fresh and intriguing.
In terms of romance, since that's the main engine for the plot, you can expect a star-crossed, us against the world feel with some open door steam. It's a bit instalove or at least a whirlwind, but the intensity of their experiences together made it slightly less perplexing to me.
I will warn readers that in addition to the fun sexual content on the page, there are some violent near-misses in terms of sexual assault for both leads. There is also copious sexual harassment directed Jasminda's way. Wartime violence extends to the attack of unarmed or underpowered refugees on multiple occasions. It is a hard book in those respects.
While the particular central romance was nice but not amazing for this reader, I feel very invested in the world and its trajectory by the end of this book. Now that world-building is established, I am excited to pick up the sequel and see if its romantic tropes are more to my taste because I think the series has a lot to offer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Gun violence, Physical abuse, War, and Violence
Minor: Lesbophobia, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
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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