Title: Song of Blood and Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles #1)
Author: L. Penelope
Rating: ★★★

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

There were parts about Song of Blood and Stone that I liked, and there were parts about it that I didn’t like. The intriguing synopsis (and the gorgeous cover, I’m shallow like that) is what first piqued my interest, and I was excited to be approved for an advanced copy. As I began reading, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this is actually a New Adult novel in the Fantasy Romance genre, not a Young Adult Fantasy. I keep saying there needs to be more NA Fantasy books!

One of the better aspects of the book was the plot; it was straightforward, with no unnecessary drama added. The story was not entirely unique, however, and loosely followed the same formula as many other fantasy books. But even with that being said, I was still entertained enough to want to continue reading to see how everything would be resolved by the end. Another really part of the story were the diverse characters and the relationship between Jasminda and Jack. The author casts a very realistic portrayal of their relationship and the hardships they had to face to be together.

My biggest struggle with Song of Blood and Stone had to do with the world-building. I spent a majority of the time confused about the setting and the world. At first, it reads like a typical historical fantasy, and then suddenly there are mentions of electricity, phones, trucks, and airships. Every time a more modern invention was mentioned, it completely threw me off. I think the world-building needed to be developed more fully. I also wish there had been a better explanation of the magic system and Earthsingers’ abilities. I finished the book and still wasn’t sure what they could actually do and how.

Because of the combination of an unremarkable plot and undeveloped world-building, I didn’t enjoy this as much as I had been hoping. Had there been either a really unique and gripping plot, or stronger world-building, I would have enjoyed the story a bit more.