Song of Blood & Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles, #1)

by L. Penelope

The kingdoms of Elsira and Lagrimar have been separated for centuries by the Mantle, a magical veil that has enforced a tremulous peace between the two lands. But now, the Mantle is cracking and the True Father, ruler of Lagrimar and the most powerful Earthsinger in the world, finally sees a way into Elsira to seize power.

All Jasminda ever wanted was to live quietly on her farm, away from the prying eyes of those in the nearby town. Branded an outcast by the color of her skin and her gift of Earthsong, she’s been shunned all her life and has learned to steer clear from the townsfolk . . . until a group of Lagrimari soldiers wander into her valley with an Elsiran spy, believing they are still in Lagrimar.

Through Jack, the spy, Jasminda learns that the Mantle is weakening, allowing people to slip through without notice. And even more troubling: Lagrimar is mobilising, and if no one finds a way to restore the Mantle, it might be too late for Elsira. Their only hope lies in uncovering the secrets of the Queen Who Sleeps and Jasminda’s Earthsong is the key to unravel them.

Thrust into a hostile society and a world she doesn’t know, Jasminda and Jack race to unveil an ancient mystery that might offer salvation.

• ISBN10: 1250306892
• ISBN13: 9781250306890
• Publish Date: 1 August 2019 (first published 8 January 2015)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 5 April 2024
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Saint Martin's Griffin,U.S.
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 528
• Language: English

Reviews

[Ben Pick]

Wow. This book hooked me in early and kept going.
By the end, the story says a very strong message we could all take to heart. The journey to get there was well written. I have not often read settings that feel like an early 1900s fantasy and this one set a high bar.

[llamareads]

Trigger warnings: attempted rape, suicidal ideation (brief throwaway), human sacrifice (from POV of victim), gun violence (people being shot), racism, homophobia, incredibly nasty treatment of refugees

OK, first, can we just take a moment and squee over that gorgeous cover? I first read this book back when it came out with a traditional big publisher in 2018 and liked it, and I’m rereading the series in preparation for the third book. It’s interesting to revisit this book, especially knowing more than I did then. Besides the plot twists, the way the Elsirans treat the Lagrimari refugees especially hit a lot harder in 2020 than it did back in 2018. There’s apparently a new version out with expanded scenes, but I don’t have that one so can’t comment on the content.

“Most folks hate easy and love hard. Should be the other way around, I reckon.”

Jasminda is the daughter of a Lagrimari refugee and an Elsiran woman, she’s had a rough time, especially since her mother died and her father and twin brothers disappeared during a snowstorm. She runs the family goat farm in a remote valley by herself and tries to avoid the nearby village of prejudiced Elsirans. Though she lives near the border, speaks the language, and has inherited a little of her father’s magic, called Earthsong, she knows very little about the reclusive country ruled by a cruel dictator, the True Father. All this changes when she encounters a wounded Elsiran soldier on her mountain shortly before a storm, and her peaceful farm is invaded by the Lagrimari soldiers who’ve captured him. Jasminda must make the choice between keeping her family’s legacy safe or – just possibly – saving the country from another invasion…

“I am sorry I didn’t tell you,” he said, voice pitched low. “I wanted to. I should have. It’s inexcusable, I just . . .”
She longed to hear an excuse that would satisfy her and return things to the way they were. No words came.”

I liked Jasminda from the start. I especially liked how she wanted to solve her problems herself rather than rely on anyone else to help her. Jack, I think, was a little more one-dimensional, and I spent a good chunk of the book being annoyed at him for keeping his “secret” – look, anyone who’s read a freaking YA fantasy knows exactly what that secret is from the first time he appears on page – from Jasminda for so long. He honestly had no good reason for it, and the way it came out was extremely public and hurtful for her. While it’s solidly new adult (Jasminda is 19), there is a young adult feel to the book. There’s a lot of all-or-nothing characterization. Almost everyone in Elsira despises the Lagrimari. Almost everyone on Jack’s council is anti-Lagrimari and pretty much anti-Jack. The plot’s predictable, the romance is insta-love with a fairy tale quality, but there’s still something about it that drew me in.

“Hidden corridors, cloaks, and face paint. Late-night rendezvous and secret trysts. Was there no one who would bring their acquaintance with her out into the light of day?”

What intrigued me the most about the book was its focus on secrets. Jasminda’s relationship with Jack has to be kept secret for various political reasons. Even her relationship with her aunt, a Sister who works with the refugees, has to be hidden from her grandmother. She’s judged constantly based on the color of her skin and nothing else. And while on the surface it seems like Jack gets the better half of the deal, he feels smothered by the weight of the crown and the decisions that he has to make in order to keep Elsira safe, decisions that go against his own moral code. Everything that makes him Jack – the things he was sent away as a child to the army barracks to learn – need to be shut away so that he can now be the Prince Regent. There’s also secrets in relation to the Queen Who Sleeps, the somewhat mythical queen who’s worshipped by Elsirans as practically a goddess who will return when the True Father is defeated. There’s scant details about, well, anything about her, something that Jasminda discovers when the Lagrimari Keepers – rebels who use their Earthsong to fight against the True Father – give her the caldera, a stone that holds some of the Queen Who Sleeps’ memories that are apparently only accessible to Jasminda. Everything Jasminda knows about Queen Oola comes from those particular memories, though the Queen Who Sleeps also occasionally appears in dreams to her believers. The epilogue does cast these events in a new (and sinister) light.

Overall, while I wouldn’t call this groundbreaking, the world building and characters were perfectly satisfying for the start of a new series.

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.

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Song of Blood & Stone is the first book in a series by L. Penelope. Originally published in 2015, this reformatting and expanded edition published 16th July from Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, is 528 pages and available in special paperback format. Earlier editions are available in other formats.

The thing that first struck me about this book and this world was how rich and enthralling the world building and sense of place were. I was intrigued from the first page and read the entire book in two sittings. It's not often that I find a book which literally makes me lose track of time, but this one did. On the surface, it is a coming of age story with romance and magic set against a backdrop of epic fantasy. Underneath the surface, it's a story which deals with universal themes. The author deals competently and honestly with loss, racism, xenophobia, sexism, ignorance, violence, threat, and inequity. I was unfamiliar with the author previously, and am inspired to go immediately and read all of her back catalog which I can find.

I did not have the original version of this book to compare with the updated release, so I can't speak to the differences in the manuscripts. A comparison of the page counts in the earliest and latest editions shows an approximately 200 page difference. Even allowing for typesetting and formatting differences, that is significant. The cover states that the newest version includes bonus material including new scenes.

This is a beautifully written novel. The language is relatively clean (shite, whore, etc), however there is physical abuse, sexual threat and implied rape, blatant racism, sexism, etc. All of it is used in context and despite being potentially depressing (and horrifying), after having read it, I was left hopeful, with positive feelings and a strong desire to read the next books and find out what happens.

Although there is a strong romantic subplot, it never tipped over into the maudlin for me. Protagonist Jacinda is strong and sensible and very likable. I was really rooting for her throughout.

Five stars. Looking forward to more.

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

[layawaydragon]

Content Warning: Background DV Survivor, Rape threats & attempts, Takes place in a country full of racism, xenophobia, homophobia, classism, sexism, with micro and macro aggressions.

I started Song of Blood and Stone and finished in one night. I HAD to. It was just that good.

Includes but is not limited to:
Endearing, clever characters
A genuine push-pull kind of relationship that quickly won me over. There are some explicit passages about hooking up and sex, but it's hardly erotic and I'm sure teens can handle it. Army battles and court drama.
The nebulous court of public opinion and journalism and protests.
Magic and technology.
I legit cried at one point.
Thorough world building, two hero arcs, a romance, and a quest are completed in this one book instead of being dragged out to two or three. And it's all wildly talented and impressive and done SO fucking well, it's ridiculous.
Especially that fucking ending!!
I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.


Quotes:
Perhaps he was a warrior jester--fierce one moment, jovial the next.

Her mama had been too good for this world and was needed in the World After to spread her love there.

Once upon a time, we were close as heartbeats.

"I was found, Captain."

He stood on a tightrope with doom on one side and failure on the other, but in only a handful of days Jasminda had become the bar he gripped to balance him.

He'd thought the war was against a foreign enemy, when really he just may have to save his land from itself.

The clerk pronounced the words as if speaking around marbles in her cheeks.

"It must be hard living in a land with so much sameness that any deviation at all stands out."

Sympathy and sentimentality are like quicksand. I cannot allow them to pull him under as they did me.

[kalventure]

Happy book birthday, Song of Blood & Stone!!! 🎂🎉

This is a powerful book that sucks you in its first page. Song of Blood & Stone is really well written and delves into very important topics of race, privilege, power, corruption, and a refugee crisis without over burdening the fantasy story.

[b:Song of Blood & Stone|36347830|Song of Blood & Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles, #1)|L. Penelope|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1507052043s/36347830.jpg|43199764] is set in a fantasy mountain region where two enemy countries border one another. The people of Lagrimar have dark skin and magic, whereas those that live in Elsira are fair skinned and are without magic. The Mantle is a magical and invisible wall that separates the two lands, erected five hundred years prior and keeps (for the most part) the people with Earthsong on the Lagrimar side and those without on the Elsira side. There have been breaches in the past which resulted in war and a limited number of Lagrimari stay in refugee camps in Elsira; but the refugees are not well regarded. They are judged by the color of their skin and feared due to their place of origin.

Jasminda is an orphan living in the mountainous and isolated area near the Mantle in Elsira. She lives an isolated life because she does not find a lot of kindness due to the color of her skin: her mother was Elsiran and her father Lagrimari. Jack is a soldier that went behind enemy lines to gain vital information to save his country but nearly dies. Their paths cross by happenstance and Jasminda heals him with her Song. The book is told through their alternating points of views as they together try to save their country before it is too late.

The worldbuilding develops both all at once and slowly. The reader is thrust right into this world, but at first I was incredibly confused. Even after the end of this amazing book I do not really have much of a mental picture what the world looks like. While the description of the physical world left much more open to interpretation, the backstory and mythology is vast. Each chapter begins with a brief folktale reminiscent to Aesop's Fables, which I LOVED, and through dreams the reader gains a better understanding of how the world got to its present state. I really enjoyed this method of storytelling and its pacing was good.

I adored the characters and their budding romance. Jasminda and Jack are both well developed, haunted by guilt but strong in the face of it. Jack also witnesses the way that Jasminda is treated and begins to use his privilege. The only thing is that the circumstances of their romance seemed a little... fairy tale? I don't know, they just started making googly eyes at each other and longing to touch them without much of an internal dialog to lead up to it? It felt a bit sudden and forward for them to be overly affectionate with one another. But barring the circumstances of how the romance budded, I am here for it!

Magic is called the Earthsong, and it appears to be both the manipulation of the Earth as well as oneself. It can heal, it can change one's appearance. I wish that this were explained a little better, especially how it is practiced and cultivated.

cw: attempted rape, racism, war

I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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[Quirky Cat]

3 1/2 Stars

I received a copy of Song of Blood & Stone in exchange for a fair and honest review.

There are a couple of reasons I really wanted to read this series, one of which (if I’m being totally honest here) was the absolutely striking cover. It’s beautiful and evocative, and bonus, it’s got a lot of purple hues in it (something I’m particularly fond of). The other reason this novel was brought to my attention was the fact that it was highly reviewed by an author I love and respect. Seriously, if you’re ever looking for good book recommendations, check out what your favorite authors have been reading.
Song of Blood & Stone is the first novel in a new series titled the Earthsinger Chronicles. It’s described as an epic fantasy, but honestly it’s more of a romance with a fantasy setting and subplot (which is totally fine, I just know I prefer to have a better idea of what I’m about to dive into).



This novel had so much potential; I don’t even know where to begin. The cover is stunning (I mentioned that already, woops) the description is captivating, and the characters engaging. Even the intro and first decent chunk of this book was absolutely enchanting, as was the world building itself.
While the core of the novel, as well as the start of the book are wonderful, it somehow loses something the further you read. I can’t quite place my finger on it – perhaps it lost its mystique edge, and that was enough? Though I suspect it’s because the romance took the focus, forcing us away from the plot and further development towards it – which is a shame, because the plot itself actually had so much potential.
If it sounds like I didn’t enjoy this novel, please don’t take it that way. It was actually a really enjoyable read, and I can promise you I’ll read the rest of the series. It just had a few flaws that are preventing me from rating it any higher than I have already done so.
There was actually quite a lot I loved about this novel, and I hope the books following will continue to focus on these elements. The world building has been outstanding – you could actually feel the tension between the different cultures (at times it even felt a little too real and close to real world problems we’re seeing today, but I think that was the point).
The magic system was fascinating to me. I sincerely hope that we can learn even more about the songs in the next novel or two, because I have so many questions about it. It’ll also be interesting to see how the two different cultures (magic versus no magic) integrate, now that they’re more or less being forced to deal with each other again. Their early interactions did not go well, so I’ll admit I’m curious.
I loved Jasminda’s character in particular. She had pretty much everything set up against her; she was a child of two worlds, but didn’t really belong in either. She’d lost her mother, father, and siblings, and her extended family are worse than vile. The town and laws are against her, and so much more. And yet, Jasminda keeps pushing forward, never really giving up hope. It’s hard not to be impressed by her character. The fact that she was able to open herself up to love after all of that speaks volumes about her.
Overall I really enjoyed the world that L. Penelope has written for us. I’m more than a little curious about what is going to happen next, so hopefully the next novel will be out sooner rather than later (sorry, I’m so greedy when it comes to books!).


For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[chymerra]

I like fantasy. I like New Adult/Young Adult fantasy. I like romance. Why is it so hard to find a book that can focus on all three of those genres equally? I have had issues with books that combine the three genres together. I can’t find a book that competently blends all 3 of those genres. Don’t get me wrong, Song of Blood & Stone does a great job at attempting to combine them. But it didn’t click for me.

I thought that Song of Blood & Stone got off to a fantastic start. The author set the tone for the entire book perfectly. But, by the middle of the book, when Jasminda was in Elsira’s capital, the book started to falter. By the end of the book, I wasn’t engaged with the characters anymore and the storyline annoyed me. I am hoping that the second book will draw me back in because this book had so much potential.

I thought that Jasminda got the raw end of the deal. She was hated by the village because of her Earthsong. Her maternal grandfather wanted her to disown her family if she wanted help. To top it off, she ends up getting put in the middle of a looming war. A war that Jack tried to stop but didn’t succeed. Hatred of her other heritage, the Lagamiri ran deep in Elsira. Even in the castle, Jasminda wasn’t exempt from the hatred of the Elsiran people. I felt awful for her. It was a wonder that she didn’t crack sooner.

Jack got under my skin. I did think he was going to be a temporary character, at first. So when the twist in his storyline came, I was not ready for it. The author did a great job of portraying him as a tortured man. He was torn between the love of his country and the love for a woman that was half of the enemy. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the stress he was under. But, saying that, I found his actions later in the book awful. He did not stand up for Jasminda. He wanted to hide what they had. He did what he thought was right at the time (even though I thought it was wrong, wrong, wrong). Not going to say what it was but if I was Jasminda, I would have told him to take a hike or punched him in the face. Probably both.

The storyline of the Earthbenders of old was fascinating. This is one part of the book that I correctly guessed at what was going to happen who those people ended up being. It was still a surprise when it came out at the end of the book.

The storyline of the refugees touched my heart. I did liken it in ways to the waves of people coming out of Syria. People displaced because of who they are. They can’t go back because they will be put in harm’s way or killed. And they can’t stay where they are because people don’t understand and fear them.

There was chemistry between Jack and Jasminda. From the minute they met each other, sparks flew. The author kept those sparks keep fanning until they did the deed. Then I felt that the relationship went flat. But, considering what was going on at the time, I now wonder if that was the author’s plan. If it was, it was ingenious of her to do that.

What I didn’t like was that there were a couple of dropped storylines. The one that sticks out in my mind was the man who gave Jack the cornerstone that he thought was a map. It was speculated who he was. Then the storyline was dropped. Also, the mystery woman who the guard was talking to in Jasminda’s cottage. She was mentioned once in the book and then that was it.

The end of Song of Blood & Stone felt a bit anticlimactic. I kept waiting to see if there was anything more to Jack and Jasminda’s storyline once the Queen said what she said. I did like the small twist at the end considering how the True Father and The Queen Who Sleeps looked like. I laughed at that because those bigoted, ignorant people were fools. It was the end of the book that made me want to read the second book. I need to see where this story is going. And I am hoping that it will be better than this book.

What I liked about Song of Blood & Stone:

A) Great world building

B) Interesting storyline in the beginning

C) 3D characters

What I disliked about Song of Blood & Stone:

A) Storyline faltered towards the middle of the book

B) Jack’s treatment of Jasminda towards the end of the book

C) Dropped storylines

I would give Song of Blood & Stone a rating of Older Teen. There is violence. There are sexual situations and sex. The sex is not graphic and actually seemed rushed through. No language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

There are trigger warnings in Song of Blood & Stone. They are: extreme racial prejudice and talk of rape.

I am on the fence about recommending Song of Blood & Stone to family and friends. If I did, I would include a warning of the triggers. While I would not reread this book, I am open to reading other books by the author.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Song of Blood & Stone.

All opinions stated in this review of Song of Blood & Stone are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

[Linda]

Song of Blood & Stone is a very good fantasy. The world-building made things a little bit slow at times, but the overall story, as well as the main plot were well done.

[Angie]

Song of Blood & Stone was just as exciting, dangerous, and magical as I hoped it would be! It also had a very steamy romance, which was quite the pleasant surprise! Jasminda is half Elsiran and half Lagrimari, and residing in the borderlands between both countries. While she is an Elsiran citizen, the dark color of her skin is all that anyone sees, so she faces discrimination. As a Lagrimari, she has access to Earthsong, which is a type of magic that cannot be used to harm directly. And yet, people still fear her. One night some soldiers appear on her doorstep with a hostage, and Jasminda's life changes forever. She must leave her home, go into the heart of the city where she is not welcome, and save the world from an upcoming war of epic proportions.

Song of Blood & Stone did start off really confusing for me. It was mostly the setting that threw me off, since I thought Jasminda was in Elsira, but other characters think they're in Lagrimar, but they are on the border of the two places and there are apparently holes in the magical border than can be crossed without knowing. It took awhile for me to understand that and really get a feel for the setting, and which country the characters are actually from. However, once the plot got going, it really was going! I was completely swept away in Jasminda and Jack's story, since it's nonstop action!

While Song of Blood & Stone is listed as YA, I feel like it fits better as NA due to the ages of the characters and some of the content. Jasminda and Jack are 19 and 22, respectively, and are out in the world on their own. They're not facing any of the trials of growing up as teens do, rather Jasminda is learning to live on her own after her father and brothers died, and Jack is...well, that's a spoiler! Also, their relationship is way steamier than anything I've read in YA! There are a few sex scenes, which aren't graphic, but certainly are much more detailed. And very sexy but tasteful. So if you're wondering about a NA Fantasy, I'd say look no further!

The second half of Song of Blood & Stone is seriously amazing! I did really enjoy the first part, too, but everything really gets started when Jasminda and Jack arrive at the palace. This is where the romance blossoms despite them not being able to be together in public. This is also when the conflict between the two cultures can really be seen. The True Father is the tyrant leader of Lagrimar and he's doing everything he can to break down the barrier and invade Elsira. Meanwhile, Elsira's queen has been asleep for centuries and no one has been able to awaken her to fight this threat! Of course, Jasminda is the chosen one, and I really liked how she was able to piece things together.

Song of Blood & Stone certainly did not disappoint! It did get off to a rough start, but soon enough, I was completely invested in the story and couldn't get to the end fast enough! I loved how the author handled Jasminda not really fitting in to either culture. She's not enough for one, but too much for the other, and simply doesn't fit. There is a happy ending, but the war is not over and I can't wait for more!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.