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A review by jackiehorne
Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope
2.0
2
ARC from Netgalley
The cover of this book is far more appealing than the story inside it, alas. Weak world-building, non-existent character construction, and plodding prose combined with the cheesiest elements of romance make for a less than rewarding read.
Biracial Jasminda has lived in Elsira, the land of her mother, all her life. Across the "Mantle," a magical border, is the land of her father, Lagrimari, a country ruled by the "True Father," who steals "Earthsong" magic from his citizens in order to maintain his power. In the past, the "Mantle" has been breached several times leading to war between the two countries.
At the start of the story, Jasminda lives alone, her mother long-dead, her father and twin brothers two years missing. She stumbles upon a wounded stranger on the path from town to her homestead, a man she heals with her limited stores of Earthsong. The stranger, a military man named Jack, is being pursued, though, and the two escape, hoping to shore up the Mantle border and protect Elsira via a magical stone that Jack has been given. But their quest goes woefully astray, weakening rather than strengthening the Mantle. They later encounter a group of refugees from Lagrimari, and Jasminda is given a different magical stone, one that reveals in a slow series of visions another way to save Elsira: by reviving the dormant "Queen Who Sleeps," whom prophecy says will one day awaken and defeat the True Father.
Secret identities, insta-lust romance, evil other women, and plot twists one can see coming from miles away ensue.
ARC from Netgalley
The cover of this book is far more appealing than the story inside it, alas. Weak world-building, non-existent character construction, and plodding prose combined with the cheesiest elements of romance make for a less than rewarding read.
Biracial Jasminda has lived in Elsira, the land of her mother, all her life. Across the "Mantle," a magical border, is the land of her father, Lagrimari, a country ruled by the "True Father," who steals "Earthsong" magic from his citizens in order to maintain his power. In the past, the "Mantle" has been breached several times leading to war between the two countries.
At the start of the story, Jasminda lives alone, her mother long-dead, her father and twin brothers two years missing. She stumbles upon a wounded stranger on the path from town to her homestead, a man she heals with her limited stores of Earthsong. The stranger, a military man named Jack, is being pursued, though, and the two escape, hoping to shore up the Mantle border and protect Elsira via a magical stone that Jack has been given. But their quest goes woefully astray, weakening rather than strengthening the Mantle. They later encounter a group of refugees from Lagrimari, and Jasminda is given a different magical stone, one that reveals in a slow series of visions another way to save Elsira: by reviving the dormant "Queen Who Sleeps," whom prophecy says will one day awaken and defeat the True Father.
Secret identities, insta-lust romance, evil other women, and plot twists one can see coming from miles away ensue.