I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope. It's the start of a new fantasy series called the Earthsinger Chronicles. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and L. Penelope for letting me be a part of this fun tour. I was provided a free e-arc for an honest review. As soon as I saw the cover for this book and read the synopsis, I was intrigued. I knew I had to read it. It's a beautiful cover, and the story inside is beautiful too.
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Synopsis: 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. When ruthless soldiers seek refuge in her isolated cabin, they bring with them a captive--an
injured spy who threatens to steal her heart.
Jack's mission behind enemy lines to prove that the Mantle between Elsira and Lagamiri is about to
fall nearly cost him his life, but he is saved by the healing Song of a mysterious young woman. Now
he must do whatever it takes to save Elsira and it's people from the True Father and he needs Jasminda's Earthsong to do it.
They escape their ruthless captors and together they embark on a perilous journey to save
Elsira and to uncover the secrets of The Queen Who Sleeps.
Thrust into a hostile society, Jasminda and Jack must rely on one another even as secrets jeopardize their bond. As an
ancient evil gains power, Jasminda races to unlock a mystery that promises salvation. The fates of two nations hang in
the balance as Jasminda and Jack must choose between love and duty to fulfill their destinies and end the war.
My Reading Right Now! Thoughts: The cover for this book got me right away. It drew me in with its imagery and color, I knew I had to read it. I was really psyched to get the email asking me to be on the Blog Tour. Of course my review is 100% my thoughts and 100% honest.
So far, this story is really interesting and I'm enjoying it. It's a hard one to categorize. When I first started it, it almost reminded me of the Old West time period, but the farther I got, the more fantastical it became. So this book definitely does have a historical feel to it, but it does lean a little more towards fantasy.
I also thought this book was in the YA genre for the longest time while reading it, but then I got to a scene that proved it definitely wasn't. I think the cover made me think YA, that's the only excuse I can come up with for my dumbness haha. So, I would say that this is not for the young teen reader because it does contain sexy times.
I really like the character of Jasminda. She's strong and resourceful. I also really enjoy how her race comes into play. She's mixed-race, half Lagrimari and half Elsirian, living in the outskirts of the land of Elsira. The Lagrimari are the people of her father. They have dark skin and the power of Earthsong. Her mother is Elsirian, light skinned and amber eyed. Jasminda is a mix between the two, although she looks more like her father. She's not really accepted fully by either race though. The Elsirian people think she's contaminated in some way, they don't really want anything to do with her, but she's not full Lagrimari either. She's in a weird predicament. There really is no solution to it. I like how we see the struggles of Jasminda's mixed race. We see her unsure of where she belongs. An outsider always looking in.
Jack is a pretty good character too. He's that dashing hero that is going to save everybody, and save the girl he loves.
I also enjoy the world and the magic of Earthsong, but I don't feel I understand it all fully.
I will say, the first half of the book was a little slow, but the second half was much faster paced for me.
One of the things that I did really enjoy was the Collected Folk Tales at the beginning of each chapter. They reminded me a little of Aesop's Fables. Animals were the characters giving the examples of human problems. I'm probably not expressing that right, but I always loved when I came to a new chapter and I got to read another snippet of a little tale.
One thing that I don't feel too sure of in this story is the insta-love that happened between Jack and Jasminda. I have no problem with them as a couple, but I would have liked more build up to their relationship. It's just like they were suddenly obsessed with each other. I tend to like romances more when there's a believable sort of build up to it.
I'm really thankful that I got to read Song of Blood & Stone early and I got to experience the magic of it. It's good. I'd definitely love to continue on with the series. I'd definitely recommend giving it a read.
Meet the Author:
Leslye Penelope has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in
her head. She is an award-winning author of new adult, fantasy, and paranormal romance. She
lives in Maryland with her husband and their furry dependents: an eighty-pound lap dog and an
aspiring feral cat.
Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and L. Penelope for letting me be a part of it. I'd definitely recommend giving it a read. It's out now! So pick yourself up a copy.
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