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allivenger's review
4.0
“My heart was never my own. It belonged more to the ones I loved than to me.”
I bought this book during a sale around Christmas because I loved the cover and loved the blurb on the back. That didn't change when I read the book. It's slow paced and I struggled to get into it in the beginning as a result because not much happened. But once I got going the writing spoke for itself. It's wonderfully written and the story itself is unique while also being something I felt like I read before and loved and wanted to come back to.
You have this continent that is separated by different tribes, each with different attributes and skin color and sometimes magic. It echoed the world we live in, in a very wonderful way. It felt very alive. In the midst of all of that you have a love story as well. That too was very well written and not typically what I am used to. It was a slow build like the rest of the book and I want to see how these characters grow into their own in the future. It might be awhile before I come back to the series but I definitely will be coming back to it.
I bought this book during a sale around Christmas because I loved the cover and loved the blurb on the back. That didn't change when I read the book. It's slow paced and I struggled to get into it in the beginning as a result because not much happened. But once I got going the writing spoke for itself. It's wonderfully written and the story itself is unique while also being something I felt like I read before and loved and wanted to come back to.
You have this continent that is separated by different tribes, each with different attributes and skin color and sometimes magic. It echoed the world we live in, in a very wonderful way. It felt very alive. In the midst of all of that you have a love story as well. That too was very well written and not typically what I am used to. It was a slow build like the rest of the book and I want to see how these characters grow into their own in the future. It might be awhile before I come back to the series but I definitely will be coming back to it.
themothermermaid's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
czarfancypants's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
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? It's complicated
4.25
christinaatl's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
heabooknerd's review
3.0
SONG OF BLOOD & STONE was an interesting read and while I liked certain parts, overall it's just a 3 star read for me. I went into this expecting more fantasy than romance so I was really happy to see that Jack and Jasminda's romance is actually a pretty prominent part of the story. It's pretty much instalove for these two but that doesn't bother me so I enjoyed their forbidden romance. Jack is a spy, a soldier, and something more because he's keeping secrets and boy did things change up a lot in the second half once those secrets are revealed.
There were two problems that took down my rating. The first was the setting which was very fuzzy for me. I had a really hard time settling into what type of world this was. Was it completely made up? There are no recognizable countries and magic is important. Or is it an alternative version of our world? Because there are things like landline phones, airships, and vehicles, but no computers. This all made it really hard to grasp the setting though I felt like L. Penelope does a good job of creating the differences in the Lagrimar and Elsiran people. The two countries are divided by the Earthsingers (Lagrimar) and the Silent (Elsira) and while the ability to use earthsong (magic) divides them, their physical appearance also divides them. The Elsira are represented as mostly White and the Lagrimar are mostly darker-skinned/Black. Bigotry toward the Lagrimar is a pretty prominent part of the story so be warned if you're sensitive to that, but this is never an issue for Jack and how he feels about Jasminda.
My other issue was that while I liked Jasminda as our heroine, she spends most of the book having things happen to her instead of her actions moving the story forward. The first 75% is mostly just her getting dragged along by other people's wishes or missions. She has very little agency as our lead character and while some of it is because she's considered beneath the Elsiran people (she's half Lagrimar and half Elsiran but has dark skin like the Lagrimar) the rest is just that she doesn't really do anything for her own sake until the end.
Overall, I wanted to like this more but it was just average for me. However, I think that fans of romantic fantasy will probably like this one so if my problems wouldn't bother you then you'll probably be fine. It ends on a very solid HEA for Jack and Jasminda with the overarching fantasy plot continuing.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review
Content Warning: Frequent racism and bigotry directed toward Jasminda and the Lagrimar people because their skin is darker than the Elsiran people; Jack is threaten with rape; on page attempted rape of Jasminda by other character
There were two problems that took down my rating. The first was the setting which was very fuzzy for me. I had a really hard time settling into what type of world this was. Was it completely made up? There are no recognizable countries and magic is important. Or is it an alternative version of our world? Because there are things like landline phones, airships, and vehicles, but no computers. This all made it really hard to grasp the setting though I felt like L. Penelope does a good job of creating the differences in the Lagrimar and Elsiran people. The two countries are divided by the Earthsingers (Lagrimar) and the Silent (Elsira) and while the ability to use earthsong (magic) divides them, their physical appearance also divides them. The Elsira are represented as mostly White and the Lagrimar are mostly darker-skinned/Black. Bigotry toward the Lagrimar is a pretty prominent part of the story so be warned if you're sensitive to that, but this is never an issue for Jack and how he feels about Jasminda.
My other issue was that while I liked Jasminda as our heroine, she spends most of the book having things happen to her instead of her actions moving the story forward. The first 75% is mostly just her getting dragged along by other people's wishes or missions. She has very little agency as our lead character and while some of it is because she's considered beneath the Elsiran people (she's half Lagrimar and half Elsiran but has dark skin like the Lagrimar) the rest is just that she doesn't really do anything for her own sake until the end.
Overall, I wanted to like this more but it was just average for me. However, I think that fans of romantic fantasy will probably like this one so if my problems wouldn't bother you then you'll probably be fine. It ends on a very solid HEA for Jack and Jasminda with the overarching fantasy plot continuing.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review
Content Warning: Frequent racism and bigotry directed toward Jasminda and the Lagrimar people because their skin is darker than the Elsiran people; Jack is threaten with rape; on page attempted rape of Jasminda by other character
tatyanavogt's review against another edition
4.0
So, I just finished this book and went through a whole range of emotions during it. I don't think it is necessarily an amazing book but I enjoyed it a lot. It made me smile, it made me sob, it gave me hope, and it made me want more. It does play on the idea of race and discrimination quite a bit and because of that it messed with my already bruised emotions. Keep that in mind if you decide to pick it up.
There were a few things that bothered me and perhaps if I read it again, maybe I would give it a lower rating. But right now, having just finished it, I couldn't imagine. Great book.
For some spoilery thoughts:
So, I did feel like the romance portion of the story did happen a little too quickly. But like most romances in novels I was able to get past that and still enjoy it.
I'm surprised that I didn't realize that the twins from the dreams/visions were the bad king and the sleeping queen of the opposing areas sooner. But when I DID realize it, I had one of those satisfying "Aha" moments that I feel like don't happen as often as they used to for me and it was very satisfying.
The refugees being deported hit me in a way that I didn't expect and I found myself crying a few times over the struggles that this outcasted group experienced all based off of the color of their skin and the gifts they were born with. It hit a little too close to home. And then when the soldiers were trying to get the stone from the refugees and they started to kill them until someone would come forward with it. I sobbed. Loud, messy, painful sobs.
And then, after all that having the sleeping queen wake up and give the miss matched couple a blessing, believing them to be a symbol to hopefully unite the people... It gave me hope.
I realize that one of the reasons I loved this book so much is because I put a lot of my own thoughts a feeling into it. I related it to the world we live in today and I felt intense feeling for the people who are still suffering. I loved this book because it gave me a glimmer of hope for the real world... I don't know..
I'm still feeling pretty emotional so I don't really know what I am saying
There were a few things that bothered me and perhaps if I read it again, maybe I would give it a lower rating. But right now, having just finished it, I couldn't imagine. Great book.
For some spoilery thoughts:
Spoiler
So, I did feel like the romance portion of the story did happen a little too quickly. But like most romances in novels I was able to get past that and still enjoy it.
I'm surprised that I didn't realize that the twins from the dreams/visions were the bad king and the sleeping queen of the opposing areas sooner. But when I DID realize it, I had one of those satisfying "Aha" moments that I feel like don't happen as often as they used to for me and it was very satisfying.
The refugees being deported hit me in a way that I didn't expect and I found myself crying a few times over the struggles that this outcasted group experienced all based off of the color of their skin and the gifts they were born with. It hit a little too close to home. And then when the soldiers were trying to get the stone from the refugees and they started to kill them until someone would come forward with it. I sobbed. Loud, messy, painful sobs.
And then, after all that having the sleeping queen wake up and give the miss matched couple a blessing, believing them to be a symbol to hopefully unite the people... It gave me hope.
I realize that one of the reasons I loved this book so much is because I put a lot of my own thoughts a feeling into it. I related it to the world we live in today and I felt intense feeling for the people who are still suffering. I loved this book because it gave me a glimmer of hope for the real world... I don't know..
I'm still feeling pretty emotional so I don't really know what I am saying
winterreader40's review
DNF on page 46 for general disinterest this was recommended as similar to another series I love but nothing about this is giving those vibes, I may try this again someday if I can get past my original expectations.
tmjmack12's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
5.0
louielouie24's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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