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Earthsinger Chronicles #3
Cry of Metal & Bone
Book 3 in the Earthsinger Chronicles
Six weeks after the fall of the Mantle, centuries-old enemies Elsira and Lagrimar struggle to unite. The will of the goddess is that the two nations become one, but while the war may be over, peace is still elusive. As desperate Lagrimari flee their barren land for a chance at a better life in Elsira, a dangerous faction opposed to the unification rises.
When a shadowy group with ties to the Elsiran government takes responsibility for the attack and promises more, an unlikely crew is assembled to investigate. Among them are Lizvette Nirall, a disgraced socialite seeking redemption for past mistakes, and Tai Summerhawk, a foreign smuggler determined to keep a promise he made to a dead man. Powerful Earthsinger Darvyn ol-Tahlyro is sent with a secret assignment, one that Queen Jasminda can’t know about. And in a prison far away, Kyara ul-Lagrimar searches for a way to escape her captors and save a family long thought dead.
It’s a race against time in this world of deadly magic, secret agendas and court intrigue to discover those responsible for the bombing before the next attack. And in another land a new enemy awakens—one that will strike terror into the hearts of gods and men.
Six weeks after the fall of the Mantle, centuries-old enemies Elsira and Lagrimar struggle to unite. The will of the goddess is that the two nations become one, but while the war may be over, peace is still elusive. As desperate Lagrimari flee their barren land for a chance at a better life in Elsira, a dangerous faction opposed to the unification rises.
When a shadowy group with ties to the Elsiran government takes responsibility for the attack and promises more, an unlikely crew is assembled to investigate. Among them are Lizvette Nirall, a disgraced socialite seeking redemption for past mistakes, and Tai Summerhawk, a foreign smuggler determined to keep a promise he made to a dead man. Powerful Earthsinger Darvyn ol-Tahlyro is sent with a secret assignment, one that Queen Jasminda can’t know about. And in a prison far away, Kyara ul-Lagrimar searches for a way to escape her captors and save a family long thought dead.
It’s a race against time in this world of deadly magic, secret agendas and court intrigue to discover those responsible for the bombing before the next attack. And in another land a new enemy awakens—one that will strike terror into the hearts of gods and men.
496 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2020
36 people are currently reading
3198 people want to read
About the author
L. Penelope
37 books1,093 followersL. Penelope (also writing as 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 fantasy and paranormal romance.
She was born in the Bronx, just after the birth of hip hop, but left before she could acquire an accent. Equally left and right-brained, she studied Film at Howard University and minored in Computer Science. This led to a graduate degree in Multimedia and a career in website development. She's also an award-winning independent filmmaker, co-founded a literary magazine, and sometimes dreams in HTML.
Leslye lives in Maryland with her husband and their furry dependents. Sign up for new release information and giveaways on her website: http://www.lpenelope.com.
She was born in the Bronx, just after the birth of hip hop, but left before she could acquire an accent. Equally left and right-brained, she studied Film at Howard University and minored in Computer Science. This led to a graduate degree in Multimedia and a career in website development. She's also an award-winning independent filmmaker, co-founded a literary magazine, and sometimes dreams in HTML.
Leslye lives in Maryland with her husband and their furry dependents. Sign up for new release information and giveaways on her website: http://www.lpenelope.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
August 16, 2020
I feel like this series just keeps getting better! Since Cry of Metal & Bone is the third book in the series, I won't go into too much detail, but I think this is my favorite installment so far. If you are looking for a smart fantasy series with a diverse cast of characters, deep thematic content, a strong dash of romance, political intrigue, and a world that blends magic and technology, then this is definitely one to try.
The author does an incredible job of weaving together plot threads from all of the different perspectives, further developing the world and magic system, creating nuanced, interesting, and diverse characters, placing plot elements in juxtaposition to create tension, and addressing bigger issues such as racism, misogyny, xenophobia and attitudes toward immigration, all from within this unique fantasy story. She's just doing so much here, even dealing with things like interracial adoption and how that can be affected by bigoted family members. And while I wouldn't quite call this a fantasy romance, it does have a strong romantic element to it. I would love to see more people pick up this series. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The author does an incredible job of weaving together plot threads from all of the different perspectives, further developing the world and magic system, creating nuanced, interesting, and diverse characters, placing plot elements in juxtaposition to create tension, and addressing bigger issues such as racism, misogyny, xenophobia and attitudes toward immigration, all from within this unique fantasy story. She's just doing so much here, even dealing with things like interracial adoption and how that can be affected by bigoted family members. And while I wouldn't quite call this a fantasy romance, it does have a strong romantic element to it. I would love to see more people pick up this series. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 1, 2020
L. Penelope’s CRY OF METAL AND BONE continues the fascinating and strife-ridden world she has created as two warring factions struggle to unite. Overcoming their old animosities isn’t easy and trust is still far off as a dangerous group opposed to unification threatens to undo any progress made.
Court intrigues, political machinations, magical powers and old traditions color each scene as strong characters come together to uncover the evil cancer in a world struggling to heal old wounds. Who can be counted on to stand for justice and unity? Who can be trusted? Can an unlikely group expose and bring down the enemy of peace?
Once again, I was drawn in by the attention to detail, the melding of magic and machine and the power of L. Penelope’s pen to weave a tale rich in diverse subplots. This is fantasy with something for everyone.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Griffin! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Earthsinger Chronicles - Book 3
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (August 11, 2020)
Publication Date: August 11, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Court intrigues, political machinations, magical powers and old traditions color each scene as strong characters come together to uncover the evil cancer in a world struggling to heal old wounds. Who can be counted on to stand for justice and unity? Who can be trusted? Can an unlikely group expose and bring down the enemy of peace?
Once again, I was drawn in by the attention to detail, the melding of magic and machine and the power of L. Penelope’s pen to weave a tale rich in diverse subplots. This is fantasy with something for everyone.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Griffin! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Earthsinger Chronicles - Book 3
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (August 11, 2020)
Publication Date: August 11, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 16, 2020
Cry of Metal & Bone by L. Penelope is the Earthsinger Chronicles, Book 3. This edition to the epic fantasy series reads well as a standalone.
The Mantle, the magical barrier which separates the countries of Lagrimar and Elsira, has fallen. Two powerful factions have formed. One wants to unite the Lagrimari and the Elsirans as one harmonious country. The other seeks to keep the countries separate and force the Lagrimari to a far off land. To further agitate the populace someone has bombed a sacred Elsiran site. The Elsiran monarchs assemble a ragtag team to investigate the bombing and other matters of state. Rich girl gone bad, Lizvette Nirall, bad boy trying to make good, Tai Summerhawk and Earthsinger, Darvyn ol-Tahlyro, embark on a mission that unearths magic and secrets that have long been buried. Magical forces align foretelling devastating events to come.
Author, L. Penelope, enhances the fascinating world of vast wonders she’s built in the Earthsinger Chronicles. Cry of Metal & Bone picks up right where Whispers of Shadow & Flame left off without losing the continuity of the series. L. Penelope expertly handles the complex intertwining of the numerous well-developed characters she’s created without confusing the reader. The plot is engrossing and held my attention from the first page to the last. The ending is a perfect lead-in for future installments. Earthsinger Chronicles Book 3, Cry of Metal & Bone, is a strong 5 out of 5 star read that I throughly enjoyed. I recommend it to those who enjoy in-depth fantasy/sci-fi.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
The Mantle, the magical barrier which separates the countries of Lagrimar and Elsira, has fallen. Two powerful factions have formed. One wants to unite the Lagrimari and the Elsirans as one harmonious country. The other seeks to keep the countries separate and force the Lagrimari to a far off land. To further agitate the populace someone has bombed a sacred Elsiran site. The Elsiran monarchs assemble a ragtag team to investigate the bombing and other matters of state. Rich girl gone bad, Lizvette Nirall, bad boy trying to make good, Tai Summerhawk and Earthsinger, Darvyn ol-Tahlyro, embark on a mission that unearths magic and secrets that have long been buried. Magical forces align foretelling devastating events to come.
Author, L. Penelope, enhances the fascinating world of vast wonders she’s built in the Earthsinger Chronicles. Cry of Metal & Bone picks up right where Whispers of Shadow & Flame left off without losing the continuity of the series. L. Penelope expertly handles the complex intertwining of the numerous well-developed characters she’s created without confusing the reader. The plot is engrossing and held my attention from the first page to the last. The ending is a perfect lead-in for future installments. Earthsinger Chronicles Book 3, Cry of Metal & Bone, is a strong 5 out of 5 star read that I throughly enjoyed. I recommend it to those who enjoy in-depth fantasy/sci-fi.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
June 17, 2022
This series is one of my happy places and one that I’ve come to savor and cherish every time I have the chance to read the next book.
I stand firm in my belief that this is one of the greatest fantasy series to our time and it hasn’t garnered near the attention or recognition it deserves.
Cry of Metal and Bone sees our beloved characters from the first two books come together and work tirelessly to stop threats to Elsira and Lagrimar from without and within. It sees the introduction of new and easily beloved characters. It continues the meticulously honed balance of fantasy storytelling with gripping action and fiery, angsty romance. And it continues to beg readers to think and ask questions about their own world around them and how they interact with others.
If I could lift a series on a pedestal and point to it, calling out, LOOK! THIS ONE RIGHT HERE! … it would be this series.
I look forward to reading the next novella and continuing onto the final book in the series!
I stand firm in my belief that this is one of the greatest fantasy series to our time and it hasn’t garnered near the attention or recognition it deserves.
Cry of Metal and Bone sees our beloved characters from the first two books come together and work tirelessly to stop threats to Elsira and Lagrimar from without and within. It sees the introduction of new and easily beloved characters. It continues the meticulously honed balance of fantasy storytelling with gripping action and fiery, angsty romance. And it continues to beg readers to think and ask questions about their own world around them and how they interact with others.
If I could lift a series on a pedestal and point to it, calling out, LOOK! THIS ONE RIGHT HERE! … it would be this series.
I look forward to reading the next novella and continuing onto the final book in the series!
August 12, 2020
4 stars
You can read all of my reviews at NerdGirlLovesBooks.
Once again we are treated with an exciting, action-packed book about the struggle of Elsira and Lagrimar, two nations that have been at war for centuries. The book starts fast and doesn't slow down until the satisfying cliffhanger. (I mistakenly thought this was the last book in the series, but no, we will be treated to at least one more book!)
It's been six weeks since the Mantle fell and Lagrimar refugees are fleeing their barren land and flooding into Elsira looking for a better life. Despite the Goddess wanting the countries to unite into one country as it once was, a faction of citizens in Elsira are dead set against Lagrimar citizens living in their country. This is the over arching focus of this book, with a few side story lines sprinkled throughout.
Between helping the new King and Queen set up their government, and his "errands" for the Goddess, Darvyn, the Shadow Fox, searches for his love Kyara, the Poison Flame. She was captured at the end of the last book by a group of people that want to use her Neathersong to power their inventions. Two characters that also play a big part in the book are Lizvette and Tai. Lizvette is a disgraced socialite who was charged with treason, along with her father. She ventures on a journey for redemption. Tai is a foreign smuggler that is determined to keep a promise he made to a dead man.
Darvyn, Tai and Lizvetter are sent on a mission by the King and Queen to try to find Lizvette's father and bring him to justice. Darvyn and Tai both have secret missions to also carry out. Meanwhile, a covert investigation is undertaken in Elsira to root out the group that wants to carve out a northern part of Elsira and force the refugees to live there.
This book is fast-paced and thankfully doesn't lag in the middle. We discover more information about the Goddess and her motives, and Kyara learns more about her power and how to harness it. This book is character driven and has interesting ones that I could get invested in. The villains are rather one note and their motives aren't clearly explained, but based on how the book ended, we may get into that more in the next book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next one. I recommend you get into this series. It's creative, full of action and has interesting characters.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
You can read all of my reviews at NerdGirlLovesBooks.
Once again we are treated with an exciting, action-packed book about the struggle of Elsira and Lagrimar, two nations that have been at war for centuries. The book starts fast and doesn't slow down until the satisfying cliffhanger. (I mistakenly thought this was the last book in the series, but no, we will be treated to at least one more book!)
It's been six weeks since the Mantle fell and Lagrimar refugees are fleeing their barren land and flooding into Elsira looking for a better life. Despite the Goddess wanting the countries to unite into one country as it once was, a faction of citizens in Elsira are dead set against Lagrimar citizens living in their country. This is the over arching focus of this book, with a few side story lines sprinkled throughout.
Between helping the new King and Queen set up their government, and his "errands" for the Goddess, Darvyn, the Shadow Fox, searches for his love Kyara, the Poison Flame. She was captured at the end of the last book by a group of people that want to use her Neathersong to power their inventions. Two characters that also play a big part in the book are Lizvette and Tai. Lizvette is a disgraced socialite who was charged with treason, along with her father. She ventures on a journey for redemption. Tai is a foreign smuggler that is determined to keep a promise he made to a dead man.
Darvyn, Tai and Lizvetter are sent on a mission by the King and Queen to try to find Lizvette's father and bring him to justice. Darvyn and Tai both have secret missions to also carry out. Meanwhile, a covert investigation is undertaken in Elsira to root out the group that wants to carve out a northern part of Elsira and force the refugees to live there.
This book is fast-paced and thankfully doesn't lag in the middle. We discover more information about the Goddess and her motives, and Kyara learns more about her power and how to harness it. This book is character driven and has interesting ones that I could get invested in. The villains are rather one note and their motives aren't clearly explained, but based on how the book ended, we may get into that more in the next book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next one. I recommend you get into this series. It's creative, full of action and has interesting characters.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2023
A great third installment! While book 1 was about Jasminda and Jack and book 2 centered on Darvyn and Kyara, this brings the two worlds together with a love story centering about Lizvette and Tai. It took me a bit to reorient myself to the world as it’s been two years since I read the last book. There are a lot of POVs and characters to keep track of! But then I was fully invested.
Now that Lagrimar and Elsira are ostensibly reunited, this explores the aftermath of war and the difference between justice and mercy. Elsirans are super bigoted and Jasminda and Jack have to figure out how to respond to the growing faction of bigotry without becoming fascists like the True Father was. The return of the Goddess Awoken is supposed to be a good thing but she was bringing up all my religious baggage in the worst way. I don’t think that’s going to change in the next book given how things came together toward the end (gods’ ways are not our ways!) or the cliffhanger. But I’m very interested in seeing what happens next for our intrepid crew.
Lizvette and Tai’s romance was on the rushed side. I would have liked more character development for both. There’s so much happening in the book that their love story felt like an afterthought. There’s not much transition between antagonism, lust, and love, which was a stretch given what we’re told about both. It was easy to see what Tai brings to Lizvette—she needs some livening up—but difficult to see why he’s drawn to her. How does she complement him? I’m not sure. I wish therapy existed in this world because she really needs someone to help her process the toll of her father’s emotional and verbal abuse and why she did the things she did in previous books.
Characters: Lizvette is an Elsiran (white) socialite. Tai is a Raunian (brown skin) smuggler and prince with face tattoos and blue hair.
Content notes: cutting for blood magic, bloodletting, FMC’s father is verbally and emotionally abusive, physical abuse, terrorism, temple bombing, race purity, racism, xenophobia, anti-refugee bigotry, character with non-healing wound (blood spell carved in chest), sick child (plague, coughs up blood ), Mentally Ill Villain trope, POV character sentenced to death, poisoning/assassination attempt , murder, physical assault, possession, ghosts/spirits, house arrest (due to FMC arranging for secondary character to be kidnapped), imprisonment, practice of indenturing/enslavement (secondary characters), religious abuse, medical abuse (denying care), medical experiments on prisoners, toxic mother-in-law, societal homophobia, misogyny, past death of loved ones, orphans, adoption, ill mother (possibly faking), past prison labor, past parental gambling addiction, vomit, facial scar (secondary character), on page sex, alcohol, inebriation, gendered pejoratives, casual slut-shaming, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mention of MMC’s sister losing her hand in a blast (past)
Now that Lagrimar and Elsira are ostensibly reunited, this explores the aftermath of war and the difference between justice and mercy. Elsirans are super bigoted and Jasminda and Jack have to figure out how to respond to the growing faction of bigotry without becoming fascists like the True Father was. The return of the Goddess Awoken is supposed to be a good thing but she was bringing up all my religious baggage in the worst way. I don’t think that’s going to change in the next book given how things came together toward the end (gods’ ways are not our ways!) or the cliffhanger. But I’m very interested in seeing what happens next for our intrepid crew.
Lizvette and Tai’s romance was on the rushed side. I would have liked more character development for both. There’s so much happening in the book that their love story felt like an afterthought. There’s not much transition between antagonism, lust, and love, which was a stretch given what we’re told about both. It was easy to see what Tai brings to Lizvette—she needs some livening up—but difficult to see why he’s drawn to her. How does she complement him? I’m not sure. I wish therapy existed in this world because she really needs someone to help her process the toll of her father’s emotional and verbal abuse and why she did the things she did in previous books.
Characters: Lizvette is an Elsiran (white) socialite. Tai is a Raunian (brown skin) smuggler and prince with face tattoos and blue hair.
Content notes: cutting for blood magic, bloodletting, FMC’s father is verbally and emotionally abusive, physical abuse, terrorism, temple bombing, race purity, racism, xenophobia, anti-refugee bigotry, character with non-healing wound (blood spell carved in chest), sick child (plague, coughs up blood ), Mentally Ill Villain trope, POV character sentenced to death, poisoning/assassination attempt , murder, physical assault, possession, ghosts/spirits, house arrest (due to FMC arranging for secondary character to be kidnapped), imprisonment, practice of indenturing/enslavement (secondary characters), religious abuse, medical abuse (denying care), medical experiments on prisoners, toxic mother-in-law, societal homophobia, misogyny, past death of loved ones, orphans, adoption, ill mother (possibly faking), past prison labor, past parental gambling addiction, vomit, facial scar (secondary character), on page sex, alcohol, inebriation, gendered pejoratives, casual slut-shaming, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mention of MMC’s sister losing her hand in a blast (past)
July 14, 2020
3.5 stars
Lots of POV characters but I think Penelope did a pretty good job of making them all interesting! I do think some of the plotlines were more compelling than others (there's one in particular that kind of felt like we were just killing time until some other characters could show up to help) but overall I liked the cast of characters.
The worldbuilding felt very thoughtful and detailed, and I'm really happy that this is one of those books where they tell you it can be read as a standalone and it actually CAN (seeing that advertised is the only time I read and review books in the middle of a series!). I think there were possibly some reveals or developments that would have felt more significant if I had read the previous books, but understanding- and enjoyment-wise I don't think this suffered for being read alone.
Some of the character/relationship development happened a little quickly or unevenly for my taste, but again, I mostly liked the characters and their relationships (and it helped that certain tropes I like were present to balance out the things that felt rushed) so I don't feel like that was too big of an issue.
And one of my favorite things was the way social issues were explored in this fantasy setting, particularly immigration, xenophobia, and justice vs. mercy. I also liked the book's focus on all the messy parts that come AFTER the characters have defeated the bad guy/won the war/etc. (which I assume happened on-page in previous books in the series.)
Bottom line: a solid fantasy romance with interesting characters and plenty of deeper topics explored.
CW: Torture, racism, xenophobia, intolerance
*I received a free ARC through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
Lots of POV characters but I think Penelope did a pretty good job of making them all interesting! I do think some of the plotlines were more compelling than others (there's one in particular that kind of felt like we were just killing time until some other characters could show up to help) but overall I liked the cast of characters.
The worldbuilding felt very thoughtful and detailed, and I'm really happy that this is one of those books where they tell you it can be read as a standalone and it actually CAN (seeing that advertised is the only time I read and review books in the middle of a series!). I think there were possibly some reveals or developments that would have felt more significant if I had read the previous books, but understanding- and enjoyment-wise I don't think this suffered for being read alone.
Some of the character/relationship development happened a little quickly or unevenly for my taste, but again, I mostly liked the characters and their relationships (and it helped that certain tropes I like were present to balance out the things that felt rushed) so I don't feel like that was too big of an issue.
And one of my favorite things was the way social issues were explored in this fantasy setting, particularly immigration, xenophobia, and justice vs. mercy. I also liked the book's focus on all the messy parts that come AFTER the characters have defeated the bad guy/won the war/etc. (which I assume happened on-page in previous books in the series.)
Bottom line: a solid fantasy romance with interesting characters and plenty of deeper topics explored.
CW: Torture, racism, xenophobia, intolerance
*I received a free ARC through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2020
I adored this third instalment of the Earthsinger Chronicles. It continued the stories of the previous two books, while giving me some new characters to fall in love with. Even more than that the politics, the shifting ground of who is the good guy and who is the bad guy was fantastic, and had me devouring this book in just a couple of days.
Currently reading
August 12, 2020Goodreads Giveaway
pub date August 11, 2020
won Feb. 26, 2020
pub date August 11, 2020
won Feb. 26, 2020
September 20, 2020
I am SO EXCITED to have received this ARC! This has been one of my favorite fantasy series in recent years, and I cannot wait to see how it concludes!
December 13, 2022
This book has 357 reviews…. THATS A HUGE PROBLEM …..
Because these are so fantastic, amazing, wonderful, show stopping like…… WOWWWWWW. The author is so talented at weaving all of these stories lines together into the major conflict and the way I love each main character is so great. They are all so fleshed out and real and their relationships are 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭.
Please read these you guys, I’ll do a better review when I write the review for the final book!
Because these are so fantastic, amazing, wonderful, show stopping like…… WOWWWWWW. The author is so talented at weaving all of these stories lines together into the major conflict and the way I love each main character is so great. They are all so fleshed out and real and their relationships are 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭.
Please read these you guys, I’ll do a better review when I write the review for the final book!
Currently reading
June 2, 2020Good so far. Haven't had a chance to finish it yet
Want to read
January 26, 2020I usually find writing these things before the book comes out the most annoying thing ever, but I can't help myself. So excited for this!
April 17, 2020
After reading the first two novels in the series, I expect nothing but excellence from L. Penelope, and she definitely delivers that in CRY OF METAL & BONE. It seems unfair to only give this book five stars when it is definitely a ten star read.
The allegory in this the third novel in the Earthsinger Chronicles is more overt than it was in books one and two, yet it remains excellent escapist fantasy. There is a believable marriage of magic and technology that could put this book into the category of steampunk. Along with this, the often flawed characters complement each other's abilities to form the more perfect whole. This yin and yang sometimes allows the reader to begin to figure out where the action is going, but even the best surmise may turn into a surprise.
There are no cliffhangers. Each book could stand alone but to fully appreciate the epic nature of the story you should begin at the beginning. I definitely recommend that you start with the first book and work your way through them all. In addition to the three novels, there are two novellas that I definitely plan on reading.
The allegory in this the third novel in the Earthsinger Chronicles is more overt than it was in books one and two, yet it remains excellent escapist fantasy. There is a believable marriage of magic and technology that could put this book into the category of steampunk. Along with this, the often flawed characters complement each other's abilities to form the more perfect whole. This yin and yang sometimes allows the reader to begin to figure out where the action is going, but even the best surmise may turn into a surprise.
There are no cliffhangers. Each book could stand alone but to fully appreciate the epic nature of the story you should begin at the beginning. I definitely recommend that you start with the first book and work your way through them all. In addition to the three novels, there are two novellas that I definitely plan on reading.
April 17, 2020
Cry of Metal and Bone is an engrossing fantasy novel. It has strong female and male characters — some of whom have magic like Earthsong, Nethersong, blood magic, Physic amalgam — and is set in a richly developed world. Airships and mechanical trinkets feel like a little nod to steampunk but are used organically in the story. Missing people are revealed, lovers are united, plots and politics unfold and unfurl, and overall this is a fresh but not too bizarre fantasy. By the age of the all the main characters and the tasteful but physical romance, I’d call the audience young adult and new adult and it’s definitely a romance as well as fantasy. Really lovely story and well-written. I haven’t read the previous novels in the series, but I’m intrigued by these people and need to find out how the king and queen met, how the stone was found, and how the war played out and ended, so I’ll be tracking them down. I’m grateful to Netgalley for a chance to read this and to introduce me to L. Penelope.
May 10, 2020
Obligatory I haven’t read the preceding books, but won this one in a giveaway.
It took me a bit to figure out who everyone was in this book, but once I did I could hardly put it down. This book is extremely well written and very enjoyable. The characters are compelling and the plot is driven forward at a good pace without any seeming holes. I was interested in Kyara. Oola: is she good or something else? Tai and Lizvette have a steamy relationship. And you’re left wondering what’s going to happen with the death stone??
I didn’t care for Darvyn much or Dansig and the twins. Jasminda and Jack were kind of ho hum as were Vanesse and Clove, although I did appreciate the addition of a lesbian relationship. I thought the idea of “song” kind of odd. The Hand of the Reaper, though, interesting. It feels like a 4th book might be on the way!
It took me a bit to figure out who everyone was in this book, but once I did I could hardly put it down. This book is extremely well written and very enjoyable. The characters are compelling and the plot is driven forward at a good pace without any seeming holes. I was interested in Kyara. Oola: is she good or something else? Tai and Lizvette have a steamy relationship. And you’re left wondering what’s going to happen with the death stone??
I didn’t care for Darvyn much or Dansig and the twins. Jasminda and Jack were kind of ho hum as were Vanesse and Clove, although I did appreciate the addition of a lesbian relationship. I thought the idea of “song” kind of odd. The Hand of the Reaper, though, interesting. It feels like a 4th book might be on the way!
June 18, 2020
I really enjoyed coming back to these characters. I felt that the plot had some interesting developments. I really liked some of the "magic" elements that were almost technologically based. It sort of had a steampunk feel to it, which was really different than what I pictured in book two. I also liked the romance elements. They didn't feel forced or overbearing; I thought they were natural. I really hope that Kyara and Darvyn get their happy ending.
I was given an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley, but these opinions are my own.
I was given an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley, but these opinions are my own.
April 12, 2020
Five stars! What a fantastic installment in this already fantastic series. I cannot get enough of L. Penelope's work, and this book might just be my favorite. I think it can be difficult to write fantasy romance with super compelling, super relatable characters, but this book handles it perfectly and beautifully. I can't wait to tell all of my friends about this one.
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November 3, 2023
Trigger & Content Warnings
Racism
Verbal & emotional child abuse
Self-injury for magic & bloodletting
Parent with gambling addiction
Alcohol consumption
Physical injury & illness
Emesis
Medical experimentation
Attempted assassination by poisoning
Torture
Terrorism (bombing of a religious institution)
Kidnapping
Loss of autonomy (possession)
Racism
Verbal & emotional child abuse
Self-injury for magic & bloodletting
Parent with gambling addiction
Alcohol consumption
Physical injury & illness
Emesis
Medical experimentation
Attempted assassination by poisoning
Torture
Terrorism (bombing of a religious institution)
Kidnapping
Loss of autonomy (possession)
August 18, 2020
Content warnings:
Wow, what a ride! This book takes the foundation laid in the previous books and novellas and starts tying together many of the threads. I would strongly not recommend reading this without reading the previous books, and most certainly the previous novella.
Unlike the previous books which focused mainly on one couple, this book starts tying together multiple plot lines. In practice, this means there are multiple POV characters, from previous book’s characters like Jasminda, Kyara and Darvyn as well as new ones. My personal favorites among the new viewpoints were Tai and Lizvette and the romance between them, with a romance that verged on insta-love but was still enjoyable in its execution. Others, like Ella’s with her clumsy investigation of the bombing and adoption of the two Lagrimari orphans, slowed down the pace for me, though it did show the day to day issues with integrating the Lagrimari population with the Elsirans. And, at first, I thought that’s what this book would be about, but what’s happening in Elsira is just a small cog in a larger machine.
I’ve had my suspicions about Oola ever since the first book (“Oh hey, yeah I’m back, but lemme just make this big proclamation and then abdicate all responsibility for actually doing anything about it”) and while each book has revealed a little more of her motives, what exactly she’s trying to accomplish is still unclear. What is clear, though, is the Yalyan Physickers’ endgame and how they hope to accomplish it, and it’s just as horrifying as you’d expect. Much of the book takes place in Yalya, whether it’s the experiences of the imprisoned Roshon, his family, and Kyara or from the team, including Darvyn, Tai and Lizvette, sent to investigate Lizvette’s father’s connection to the unrest in Elsira, and, in a secret known only to a few of them, the possible rescue of Jasminda’s family. Of all the characters in this series so far, Darvyn and Kyara remain my favorites, and their viewpoints were the highlight of the book for me. Watching the sheltered and angry Lizvette shed the shell her parents built around her was also quite enjoyable, especially her interactions with Tai, who can’t resist yanking her chain. I have to say, though, coming off reading the previous novella, that I especially missed Ani in this one, though I would agree that adding in one more POV wouldn’t have been prudent. The Yalyan portions of the book are very action-packed, so much so that in comparison the parts of the book set in Elsira drag. The worldbuilding continues to be excellent, and I loved the stark comparisons between Yalya and the much more agricultural and “backwards” Elsira.
While the book ends on quite a cliffhanger, there’s also a clearer idea of what Jasminda and crew will be facing down in the next book. I’m especially looking forward to all the hints pointing to more Kyara in the next one! So, overall, while I enjoyed the book – especially how it upped the stakes – all the POVs never quite meshed for me, so I’d give this 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. I will definitely be looking forward to the next book next year, and hoping for another novella in the meantime!
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.
Wow, what a ride! This book takes the foundation laid in the previous books and novellas and starts tying together many of the threads. I would strongly not recommend reading this without reading the previous books, and most certainly the previous novella.
“Listen,” she said, “if someone doesn’t try to kill you at least once in your life, then maybe you’re not making a big enough impact in the world.”
Unlike the previous books which focused mainly on one couple, this book starts tying together multiple plot lines. In practice, this means there are multiple POV characters, from previous book’s characters like Jasminda, Kyara and Darvyn as well as new ones. My personal favorites among the new viewpoints were Tai and Lizvette and the romance between them, with a romance that verged on insta-love but was still enjoyable in its execution. Others, like Ella’s with her clumsy investigation of the bombing and adoption of the two Lagrimari orphans, slowed down the pace for me, though it did show the day to day issues with integrating the Lagrimari population with the Elsirans. And, at first, I thought that’s what this book would be about, but what’s happening in Elsira is just a small cog in a larger machine.
“Do we not have a responsibility to serve and help those weaker than we are? Isn’t that why we have this power?”
She turned away again, Her voice growing oddly hollow as She spoke. “My power was not unusual in my time. I was as everyone else was. It is only now that it sets me apart.”
I’ve had my suspicions about Oola ever since the first book (“Oh hey, yeah I’m back, but lemme just make this big proclamation and then abdicate all responsibility for actually doing anything about it”) and while each book has revealed a little more of her motives, what exactly she’s trying to accomplish is still unclear. What is clear, though, is the Yalyan Physickers’ endgame and how they hope to accomplish it, and it’s just as horrifying as you’d expect. Much of the book takes place in Yalya, whether it’s the experiences of the imprisoned Roshon, his family, and Kyara or from the team, including Darvyn, Tai and Lizvette, sent to investigate Lizvette’s father’s connection to the unrest in Elsira, and, in a secret known only to a few of them, the possible rescue of Jasminda’s family. Of all the characters in this series so far, Darvyn and Kyara remain my favorites, and their viewpoints were the highlight of the book for me. Watching the sheltered and angry Lizvette shed the shell her parents built around her was also quite enjoyable, especially her interactions with Tai, who can’t resist yanking her chain. I have to say, though, coming off reading the previous novella, that I especially missed Ani in this one, though I would agree that adding in one more POV wouldn’t have been prudent. The Yalyan portions of the book are very action-packed, so much so that in comparison the parts of the book set in Elsira drag. The worldbuilding continues to be excellent, and I loved the stark comparisons between Yalya and the much more agricultural and “backwards” Elsira.
“She knew he felt the need to make this right. Isn’t that what the Shadowfox did? He’d spent his whole life saving people he didn’t even know, and she loved him all the more for his determination to rescue her, even when she didn’t deserve it.”
While the book ends on quite a cliffhanger, there’s also a clearer idea of what Jasminda and crew will be facing down in the next book. I’m especially looking forward to all the hints pointing to more Kyara in the next one! So, overall, while I enjoyed the book – especially how it upped the stakes – all the POVs never quite meshed for me, so I’d give this 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. I will definitely be looking forward to the next book next year, and hoping for another novella in the meantime!
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.
September 20, 2023
(originally reviewed at
thelibraryladies.com
)
While it may have taken me quite a while to get to “Whispers of Shadow and Flame” after reading “Song of Blood and Stone” over a year earlier, I was much more prompt in my continuance of the series this time. It took reading the second story to really remind me how fantastic this series really is! The fact that each book centers around a new set of characters while continuing the overall plot of two countries needing to come together in a new world just adds to the appeal. And not for nothing, but I also really like the cover on this one. Let’s dive in!
After so long kept separate by the magical barrier known as the Mantle, it’s no wonder that the countries of Elsira and Lagrimar have struggled to come together. Thing only get worse when there’s an attack on an Elsiran holy site. The King and Queen, desperate to hold their country together and with a shared vision of the prosperous land that could be these two countries united, bring together a small group of individuals to seek out the culprits. Darvyn, still working to find Kyara, his love who has been captured, joins a smuggler and an ex-socialite. For her part, Kyara works to begin to understand and control her powerful magical abilities.
This series seems to just get better and better! Like I mentioned already, one of the things I’ve liked so far has been that each book has introduced a new set of characters/romantic pairing. But as the series continues, this also becomes a more challenging task to undertake as the previous, now four, other characters still exist in the story, some with active storylines playing out. Darvyn and Kyara, for example, from the previous book, ended their story on somewhat of a cliffhanger. They were separated, and Kyara was still learning how to manage her magic. So I was thrilled to see them given the time and page count needed to continue their stories in a satisfying way.
At the same time, these characters can’t outshine the new characters introduced. I really like both of the new character we got here. They each had distinct voices and backgrounds that set them apart from the characters we’ve seen before. I also really liked the romance that developed between them (I’ve really liked all the romances in these books, another feat!). I was perhaps a bit, a bit, less interested than in others just because I was still very distracted by Darvyn and Kyara’s drama that was still unfolding. But that is barely a complaint at all.
I also really liked the continue exploration into the magic of this world and the various powerful players working behind the scenes. The history of the land also continues to unfold in new and surprising ways, keeping you constantly guessing at who was in the wrong or the right. I really like this type of nebulous story-telling that reflects history so well: it’s often told by the winners and so much is lost to time. My only real criticism here is that the villains in all of the books, including this one, have felt rather one dimensional with unclear motivations.
Fans of the series should definitely check this one out. Each book can technically be read as a stand-alone, but I think this one, even more than the second, would suffer as a first entry for new readers. There’s too much of Darvyns and Kyara’s story that would be lost. I’m excited to see where the story will go from here.
Rating 8: Another great entry with a new set of compelling characters and a sweet romance.
While it may have taken me quite a while to get to “Whispers of Shadow and Flame” after reading “Song of Blood and Stone” over a year earlier, I was much more prompt in my continuance of the series this time. It took reading the second story to really remind me how fantastic this series really is! The fact that each book centers around a new set of characters while continuing the overall plot of two countries needing to come together in a new world just adds to the appeal. And not for nothing, but I also really like the cover on this one. Let’s dive in!
After so long kept separate by the magical barrier known as the Mantle, it’s no wonder that the countries of Elsira and Lagrimar have struggled to come together. Thing only get worse when there’s an attack on an Elsiran holy site. The King and Queen, desperate to hold their country together and with a shared vision of the prosperous land that could be these two countries united, bring together a small group of individuals to seek out the culprits. Darvyn, still working to find Kyara, his love who has been captured, joins a smuggler and an ex-socialite. For her part, Kyara works to begin to understand and control her powerful magical abilities.
This series seems to just get better and better! Like I mentioned already, one of the things I’ve liked so far has been that each book has introduced a new set of characters/romantic pairing. But as the series continues, this also becomes a more challenging task to undertake as the previous, now four, other characters still exist in the story, some with active storylines playing out. Darvyn and Kyara, for example, from the previous book, ended their story on somewhat of a cliffhanger. They were separated, and Kyara was still learning how to manage her magic. So I was thrilled to see them given the time and page count needed to continue their stories in a satisfying way.
At the same time, these characters can’t outshine the new characters introduced. I really like both of the new character we got here. They each had distinct voices and backgrounds that set them apart from the characters we’ve seen before. I also really liked the romance that developed between them (I’ve really liked all the romances in these books, another feat!). I was perhaps a bit, a bit, less interested than in others just because I was still very distracted by Darvyn and Kyara’s drama that was still unfolding. But that is barely a complaint at all.
I also really liked the continue exploration into the magic of this world and the various powerful players working behind the scenes. The history of the land also continues to unfold in new and surprising ways, keeping you constantly guessing at who was in the wrong or the right. I really like this type of nebulous story-telling that reflects history so well: it’s often told by the winners and so much is lost to time. My only real criticism here is that the villains in all of the books, including this one, have felt rather one dimensional with unclear motivations.
Fans of the series should definitely check this one out. Each book can technically be read as a stand-alone, but I think this one, even more than the second, would suffer as a first entry for new readers. There’s too much of Darvyns and Kyara’s story that would be lost. I’m excited to see where the story will go from here.
Rating 8: Another great entry with a new set of compelling characters and a sweet romance.
May 14, 2020
I won an advance reader copy of the book from St. Martin's Griffin, and I am glad to have received it. I was pleasantly surprised, as the cover illustration was a bit off-putting, reminding one of one the mass-produced romance novels that you see. But I thought better of the book. This was my first introduction to the author and to the book series, so I knew nothing of the back story, the characters, or the mythology of the world in which this book is set. I have not read up on the prior books in the series, or otherwise prepared for this review, other than read the book, which was an uncorrected paperback proof -- so take these comments as the unfiltered reactions of someone jumping into the series in midstream as I did.
Even knowing nothing about this world, I managed to pick up the setting, theme and conflict in the story well enough, unusual though they were. The world constructed by Penelope is interesting in that it is technologically advanced to 20th century Earth standards, but still has an almost steampunk feel with its lifting-gas airships, and electric-powered ships with fish-skin solar cells. Some customs, like curtseying and forms of address, also have an 18th- or 19th-century feel to them; while some religious practices seem almost medieval.
Mixed in with the odd technological setting is the existence of magic in this world, widely practiced by a certain ethnic group, the Lagrimari, who until recently had been under the despotic rule of a mad immortal king, the True Father. Their magic is called "Earthsong", but there is also a rarer dark magic called "Nethersong", possessed by Kyara, who was forced by another kind of magic to become the assassin of the True Father. Other magics are practiced by Mages in a country called Yaly, where magic is combined with technology to create magically-enhanced items called Amalgams.
The True Father is the twin brother to the Goddess Awoken who is de facto ruler of the Elsirans, although not their de jure queen, having given the crown to Jasminda and Jaqros in the previous book. The True Father is now a prisoner, after the last war between the Lagrimari and Elsirans, when the Goddess apparently woke up from a centuries-long slumber. The Lagrimari are free and united with the Elsirans at the behest of the Goddess; and now the trouble begins because some people are unhappy with the new state of things.
The book begins with a terrorist bombing of one of the Goddess's temples in the Elsiran capital and the arrival of a Reunion ship captain, Tai Summerhawk, who bears the magical Death Stone which was given to him by Queen Jasminda's dead (he thinks) father. Tai and a disgraced aristocrat, Lizvette Niral, become involved in a secret undercover mission to uncover the plot behind the terrorist attackers, along with others; while Tai and Earthsinger Darvyn (Kyara's lover) have another secret task assigned by the Goddess herself.
There is a separate story arc involving a hair dresser, Ella, and her husband Benn, who is the trusted guardsman of King Jaqros. They get involved in their own investigation of the bombings, and their story gets into prejudice against Lagrimari refugees in Elsira, prejudice against magic, and the underlying political grievances that led to the terrorist organization.
The story is rich and complex, and the characters I found to be rather delightful, even the Goddess, whose actions sometimes seem heartless and unfeeling. They simply reflect what an omnipotent being would behave like, I suppose. The book ends with a suitably intriguing cliff-hanger ending, with some story arcs closed, but some open, and a dramatic new one created. I would recommend the series to new readers, and will go back and take a look a the earlier books myself.
Even knowing nothing about this world, I managed to pick up the setting, theme and conflict in the story well enough, unusual though they were. The world constructed by Penelope is interesting in that it is technologically advanced to 20th century Earth standards, but still has an almost steampunk feel with its lifting-gas airships, and electric-powered ships with fish-skin solar cells. Some customs, like curtseying and forms of address, also have an 18th- or 19th-century feel to them; while some religious practices seem almost medieval.
Mixed in with the odd technological setting is the existence of magic in this world, widely practiced by a certain ethnic group, the Lagrimari, who until recently had been under the despotic rule of a mad immortal king, the True Father. Their magic is called "Earthsong", but there is also a rarer dark magic called "Nethersong", possessed by Kyara, who was forced by another kind of magic to become the assassin of the True Father. Other magics are practiced by Mages in a country called Yaly, where magic is combined with technology to create magically-enhanced items called Amalgams.
The True Father is the twin brother to the Goddess Awoken who is de facto ruler of the Elsirans, although not their de jure queen, having given the crown to Jasminda and Jaqros in the previous book. The True Father is now a prisoner, after the last war between the Lagrimari and Elsirans, when the Goddess apparently woke up from a centuries-long slumber. The Lagrimari are free and united with the Elsirans at the behest of the Goddess; and now the trouble begins because some people are unhappy with the new state of things.
The book begins with a terrorist bombing of one of the Goddess's temples in the Elsiran capital and the arrival of a Reunion ship captain, Tai Summerhawk, who bears the magical Death Stone which was given to him by Queen Jasminda's dead (he thinks) father. Tai and a disgraced aristocrat, Lizvette Niral, become involved in a secret undercover mission to uncover the plot behind the terrorist attackers, along with others; while Tai and Earthsinger Darvyn (Kyara's lover) have another secret task assigned by the Goddess herself.
There is a separate story arc involving a hair dresser, Ella, and her husband Benn, who is the trusted guardsman of King Jaqros. They get involved in their own investigation of the bombings, and their story gets into prejudice against Lagrimari refugees in Elsira, prejudice against magic, and the underlying political grievances that led to the terrorist organization.
The story is rich and complex, and the characters I found to be rather delightful, even the Goddess, whose actions sometimes seem heartless and unfeeling. They simply reflect what an omnipotent being would behave like, I suppose. The book ends with a suitably intriguing cliff-hanger ending, with some story arcs closed, but some open, and a dramatic new one created. I would recommend the series to new readers, and will go back and take a look a the earlier books myself.
July 15, 2020
The two kingdoms of Elsira and Lagrimar have been united after the barrier known as the Mantle has fallen; however, all is not joyous in Elsira where many refugees have taken up residence. The deep prejudices and xenophobia of the people including the wealthy, aristocratic Elsira upper echelon has caused discord and even some deadly protesting. The new king and queen, Jack and Jasminda, have a lot of work to do in order to rule with the help, if it can be called that, of their newly awoken goddess,Oola.
This story has several protagonists, most of whom were introduced in the first book, which makes it a complex read. Lizvette thought she was destined to be queen of Elsira; however, after the failure of plans with her scheming father, disgrace has replaced all hopes and dreams. Lizette is determined to redeem herself with the help of Tai Summerhawk, a Raunian pirate who is enlisted to assist in finding out the identity of the leaders running the subversive groups.
Also prominent in this story, are Daryn, Kyara, Benn and Ella, as well as several other characters introduced in SONG OF BLOOD AND STONE. The multiple POVS flow reasonably well while making this story a multifaceted read although all the characters are working towards the same goal of trying to unify the two disparate kingdoms as well as some of the characters trying to rescue those taken by one of the groups who seek to overthrow the new government. Besides Lizvette's plans for redemption, another reviled person Kyara wants to make up for all the evil she has done when working for the True Father who is currently in prison. There much work to do to foment the unification between people who are very different especially since the Lagrimari have magical talents that the Elsirians do not causing fear and prejudice in Elsira.
It is really essential to have read the first book in the series to understand all that is going on and understand who the major players are in order to make sense of all the disparate groups and their backgrounds. Ms. Penelope’s story is deeply imbued with the ideas of pride, prejudice, and the courage of those trying to bring light out of the darkness while fighting injustices and protecting the most vulnerable in their society.
This story has several protagonists, most of whom were introduced in the first book, which makes it a complex read. Lizvette thought she was destined to be queen of Elsira; however, after the failure of plans with her scheming father, disgrace has replaced all hopes and dreams. Lizette is determined to redeem herself with the help of Tai Summerhawk, a Raunian pirate who is enlisted to assist in finding out the identity of the leaders running the subversive groups.
Also prominent in this story, are Daryn, Kyara, Benn and Ella, as well as several other characters introduced in SONG OF BLOOD AND STONE. The multiple POVS flow reasonably well while making this story a multifaceted read although all the characters are working towards the same goal of trying to unify the two disparate kingdoms as well as some of the characters trying to rescue those taken by one of the groups who seek to overthrow the new government. Besides Lizvette's plans for redemption, another reviled person Kyara wants to make up for all the evil she has done when working for the True Father who is currently in prison. There much work to do to foment the unification between people who are very different especially since the Lagrimari have magical talents that the Elsirians do not causing fear and prejudice in Elsira.
It is really essential to have read the first book in the series to understand all that is going on and understand who the major players are in order to make sense of all the disparate groups and their backgrounds. Ms. Penelope’s story is deeply imbued with the ideas of pride, prejudice, and the courage of those trying to bring light out of the darkness while fighting injustices and protecting the most vulnerable in their society.
September 24, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Cry of Metal & Bone is the third book in the Earthsinger Chronicles by L. Penelope. Released 11th Aug 2020 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Griffin imprint, it's 496 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Even though it's the third book in the series (there's also a novella in addition), I think it would work reasonably well as a standalone (I've read the previous two books but not the novellas). I had no trouble following the plot or the wonderfully complex and rich world building and magical systems. It's a hybrid high fantasy with some nods to steampunk/technology. The author is quite gifted, especially with her descriptive prose and dialogue. I wasn't yanked out of the story one single time by clunky or unbelievable dialogue.
There is a romance theme, so readers who are only in it for the swords will probably skip the kissing bits. There's also quite a lot of violence. I liked that the books have strong female representation who are practical, resourceful, and intelligent. For readers who prefer their speculative fiction romance-free, this book does include a significant romance subplot. The writing is superlative however, and the included romance element wasn't cringe-worthy or badly written at all. I would classify it as mature YA/NA but I didn't find it juvenile in any way (I would say 'adult' but that conjures a different demographic).
Four stars. This is a gifted author with an intelligent and immersive story to tell.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Cry of Metal & Bone is the third book in the Earthsinger Chronicles by L. Penelope. Released 11th Aug 2020 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Griffin imprint, it's 496 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Even though it's the third book in the series (there's also a novella in addition), I think it would work reasonably well as a standalone (I've read the previous two books but not the novellas). I had no trouble following the plot or the wonderfully complex and rich world building and magical systems. It's a hybrid high fantasy with some nods to steampunk/technology. The author is quite gifted, especially with her descriptive prose and dialogue. I wasn't yanked out of the story one single time by clunky or unbelievable dialogue.
There is a romance theme, so readers who are only in it for the swords will probably skip the kissing bits. There's also quite a lot of violence. I liked that the books have strong female representation who are practical, resourceful, and intelligent. For readers who prefer their speculative fiction romance-free, this book does include a significant romance subplot. The writing is superlative however, and the included romance element wasn't cringe-worthy or badly written at all. I would classify it as mature YA/NA but I didn't find it juvenile in any way (I would say 'adult' but that conjures a different demographic).
Four stars. This is a gifted author with an intelligent and immersive story to tell.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 28, 2020
Actual Rating 3.8
So first...the shopkeeping items, I recieved this book in a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Though if we're being honest I read the first two books in this series and had EVERY intention of getting this one. Now with that out of the way lets get into the review.
Being that I started this book shortly after I finished the second installment of the series I was very eager to find out what happened to Kyara and Darvyn. To my dismay the first quarter of this book did nothing to calm my excitement. I think that may be why it took me so long to finish, the book just starts out pretty slow. Don't let that dissuade you from picking this book up though, because once the plot gets going, it gets going!
While the previous books have been written from multiple POVs, I felt this book had a bit more of that than the previous book. Here, we are focused on Mr. Tai Summerhawk and Lizvette Nirall, Kyara and Darvyn, Ella, Tani and Ilsni, and a little bit of Jasminda and Jack. There is a reason for that. This book has a lot of moving parts and in order to explain everything that's going on you need all of the information. I think Penelope does a great job weaving all of the individual stories together in a way that makes sense for the reader while still maintaining the integrity of the big picture.
Okay, so big pictute. Unification never comes without a cost right? Centuries of hatred and bigotry doesn't just go away because the Goddess that Awoken is awake. There are forces at play that want to maintain the old wayand they're willing to do whatever it takes to do it.
Also, can we talk about the Goddess Awoken? At times she is annoying and unlikable, always playing with people's emotions. Hell at times I felt like she was playing with mine the way she was manipulating everyone's actions without letting make decisions for themselves. Sis isn't even omniscient. Anyway I've devolved into a rant. Ummm... buy this book ... then read this book... and don't take 2 months to do it like I did. You won't regret it.
So first...the shopkeeping items, I recieved this book in a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Though if we're being honest I read the first two books in this series and had EVERY intention of getting this one. Now with that out of the way lets get into the review.
Being that I started this book shortly after I finished the second installment of the series I was very eager to find out what happened to Kyara and Darvyn. To my dismay the first quarter of this book did nothing to calm my excitement. I think that may be why it took me so long to finish, the book just starts out pretty slow. Don't let that dissuade you from picking this book up though, because once the plot gets going, it gets going!
While the previous books have been written from multiple POVs, I felt this book had a bit more of that than the previous book. Here, we are focused on Mr. Tai Summerhawk and Lizvette Nirall, Kyara and Darvyn, Ella, Tani and Ilsni, and a little bit of Jasminda and Jack. There is a reason for that. This book has a lot of moving parts and in order to explain everything that's going on you need all of the information. I think Penelope does a great job weaving all of the individual stories together in a way that makes sense for the reader while still maintaining the integrity of the big picture.
Okay, so big pictute. Unification never comes without a cost right? Centuries of hatred and bigotry doesn't just go away because the Goddess that Awoken is awake. There are forces at play that want to maintain the old wayand they're willing to do whatever it takes to do it.
Also, can we talk about the Goddess Awoken? At times she is annoying and unlikable, always playing with people's emotions. Hell at times I felt like she was playing with mine the way she was manipulating everyone's actions without letting make decisions for themselves. Sis isn't even omniscient. Anyway I've devolved into a rant. Ummm... buy this book ... then read this book... and don't take 2 months to do it like I did. You won't regret it.
August 3, 2020
CRY OF METAL & BONE is a great third book in the EARTHSINGER CHRONICLES series. This book launches us forward, whereas the last two took place at the same time, this one takes place after and combines all the characters we know and love, while diving deeper on some characters we knew a bit from the earlier books. There are a lot of well-constructed characters in this series, and this book does a great job of reminding us who everyone is when it begins.
The Mantle has fallen and Elsira and Lagrimar are struggling to become one nation. People are protesting their unification, sometimes violently, and the refugees are struggling to make their way in this difficult new world. There is a lot of fear over refugees and immigration that reflect the current times.
A group has been given a mission thought to lead them to the head of the violent protest group that bombed a temple- and some of the group have a side mission bestowed on them by the awoken goddess to find Jasminda's family and bring them home safely. They venture into the world of the dangerous Physicks and their religious fanaticism of forged magic. Lizvette takes a more leading role here as she navigates her future separate from her family, trying to decide who to trust and to make herself trustworthy. I really appreciated her character growth.
There are some really interesting themes here of human nature, the cost of blind goal-seeking, politics, and fear of strangers among others. It's a faster-paced book that really takes us on an action-filled ride through the new world created after the mantle fell. I love the characters, and I appreciated the insight into those we know from the past, as well as the new stars of this book who I would love to see again (Lizvette and Tai, the Raunian). The romance is built well, and I love every second spent in this world of danger and magic- which still manages to parallel our own.
Overall, this is a great fantasy read that I would highly recommend. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
The Mantle has fallen and Elsira and Lagrimar are struggling to become one nation. People are protesting their unification, sometimes violently, and the refugees are struggling to make their way in this difficult new world. There is a lot of fear over refugees and immigration that reflect the current times.
A group has been given a mission thought to lead them to the head of the violent protest group that bombed a temple- and some of the group have a side mission bestowed on them by the awoken goddess to find Jasminda's family and bring them home safely. They venture into the world of the dangerous Physicks and their religious fanaticism of forged magic. Lizvette takes a more leading role here as she navigates her future separate from her family, trying to decide who to trust and to make herself trustworthy. I really appreciated her character growth.
There are some really interesting themes here of human nature, the cost of blind goal-seeking, politics, and fear of strangers among others. It's a faster-paced book that really takes us on an action-filled ride through the new world created after the mantle fell. I love the characters, and I appreciated the insight into those we know from the past, as well as the new stars of this book who I would love to see again (Lizvette and Tai, the Raunian). The romance is built well, and I love every second spent in this world of danger and magic- which still manages to parallel our own.
Overall, this is a great fantasy read that I would highly recommend. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
December 22, 2024
This was a case of way, way, way too much being packed into one book. Here we had not only the quasi-resolution of the Darvyn/Kyara romance from the previous book (still feels like there’s more to be said for those two), but the complete romance of another new couple, catching up with Jasminda and Jack in an ancillary fashion, following Ella and Benn from book one as they move to adopt Ulani and Tana from book two, Zann Biddel as a returning villain, introducing and expanding upon whole new magic and faith systems, new countries, setup for what seems like it will be the climactic showdown between good and evil in the last book … it was exhausting, and with rare exceptions, not much of it truly grabbed me. I still don’t care about Darvyn and Kyara, and the new couple, Lizvette and Tai, had a lady-and-the-tramp vibe which might have been interesting, but didn’t get nearly enough screentime to grab me. The most engaging aspect of the book was the Ella-Benn-Ulani-Tana situation, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a subplot that should have been cut entirely to focus on other, more important things.
It's not uncommon for epic fantasy to juggle multiple plotlines and character POVs per book, but I just can’t bring myself to think of this series as epic fantasy of that level. If I had to compare it to anything, I’d compare it to T. Kingfisher’s Saint of Steel series, only inasmuch in that the main driving force of each book is—or should be—a romance, with the fantasy and bigger-picture stuff coming in a distant second. It feels flipped in the Earthsinger books, yet I don’t feel like I’m interpreting it wrong and it really IS epic fantasy first and romance second. I feel like the tone and focus of this series has shifted so far from where it started that it almost doesn’t know what it is anymore. Granted, “Song of Blood and Stone” was Penelope’s first novel, she’s arguably grown as a writer past where that first book left off, and she’s clearly attached enough to this story to want to finish it out rather than drop it and start anew somewhere else. But it’s never really worked super well for me, and this was definitely the weakest book so far.
It's not uncommon for epic fantasy to juggle multiple plotlines and character POVs per book, but I just can’t bring myself to think of this series as epic fantasy of that level. If I had to compare it to anything, I’d compare it to T. Kingfisher’s Saint of Steel series, only inasmuch in that the main driving force of each book is—or should be—a romance, with the fantasy and bigger-picture stuff coming in a distant second. It feels flipped in the Earthsinger books, yet I don’t feel like I’m interpreting it wrong and it really IS epic fantasy first and romance second. I feel like the tone and focus of this series has shifted so far from where it started that it almost doesn’t know what it is anymore. Granted, “Song of Blood and Stone” was Penelope’s first novel, she’s arguably grown as a writer past where that first book left off, and she’s clearly attached enough to this story to want to finish it out rather than drop it and start anew somewhere else. But it’s never really worked super well for me, and this was definitely the weakest book so far.
August 9, 2020
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Cry of Metal & Bone represents a bit of a switch in style for the series to a larger cast, epic fantasy feel, compared to the first two books, where things were fairly contained to the main couple and their central issue within the larger world. As a result, while those two could stand alone, I do recommend picking up the previous two books (and the novellas if you can) prior to picking up this one, as it will provide more insight into who all of the characters are, especially the ones who were protagonists in the previous two books.
And while I was initially taken aback by this shift, even being more or less familiar with everyone, I soon found myself engrossed in the story and following each of the characters.
The new lead characters, Lizvette and Tai, were both interesting. I found Lizvette’s arc fascinating due to her story being that of a defeated claimant to the throne, and working to redeem herself following this failure, with smuggler Tai’s help.
But they also share the spotlight very well with major characters from the previous books. I wasn’t the biggest Jasminda/Jack fan upon finishing Song of Blood and Stone, but what I’ve seen here of them as rulers has made me appreciate them more, both as characters (although I already really liked Jasminda, I had more issues with Jack) and as a couple.
I also love that the book (and the series as a whole) sees its characters tackling real world issues like racism and bigotry, and the complexity of world politics. I like how, while the story in general tries to provide a hopeful tone, it also shows that oppression isn’t an easy thing to solve.
I’m really enjoying the series so far, and I’m excited to see where it goes next. If you love immersive, fast-paced, culturally rich fantasy romance, then I recommend this highly.
Cry of Metal & Bone represents a bit of a switch in style for the series to a larger cast, epic fantasy feel, compared to the first two books, where things were fairly contained to the main couple and their central issue within the larger world. As a result, while those two could stand alone, I do recommend picking up the previous two books (and the novellas if you can) prior to picking up this one, as it will provide more insight into who all of the characters are, especially the ones who were protagonists in the previous two books.
And while I was initially taken aback by this shift, even being more or less familiar with everyone, I soon found myself engrossed in the story and following each of the characters.
The new lead characters, Lizvette and Tai, were both interesting. I found Lizvette’s arc fascinating due to her story being that of a defeated claimant to the throne, and working to redeem herself following this failure, with smuggler Tai’s help.
But they also share the spotlight very well with major characters from the previous books. I wasn’t the biggest Jasminda/Jack fan upon finishing Song of Blood and Stone, but what I’ve seen here of them as rulers has made me appreciate them more, both as characters (although I already really liked Jasminda, I had more issues with Jack) and as a couple.
I also love that the book (and the series as a whole) sees its characters tackling real world issues like racism and bigotry, and the complexity of world politics. I like how, while the story in general tries to provide a hopeful tone, it also shows that oppression isn’t an easy thing to solve.
I’m really enjoying the series so far, and I’m excited to see where it goes next. If you love immersive, fast-paced, culturally rich fantasy romance, then I recommend this highly.
September 13, 2022
This book suffers a bit from middle book syndrome. It's a lot of set-up for the finale, pieces being moved into place quite obviously, both in narrative and outside. It was very interesting to watch Oola put everybody where they needed to be for specific things to happen, for sure. Still, aside from those pieces being placed, not a lot really happens. Not to say nothing happens, because there are still things that happen, but again, it feels like it's prep work for the finale. Mostly, this book was nice to see old characters, such as Jasminda, Jack, Ella, Kyara, and Darvyn.
The other thing that kept me from liking this book more was Tai and Lizvette's romance, unfortunately, but specifically Tai. I liked Lizvette plenty; it was interesting to see her perspective and how she redeemed herself. I wasn't a huge fan of Tai. He's interested in Lizvette far too quickly and I just didn't really buy it. I could understand him being physically attracted to her, sure, but I didn't really buy their chemistry. I didn't really think they had chemistry at all, to be honest. Most of their early relationship is him being a bit overly flirty with her and then making her jealous on purpose. I just did not really feel any believable connection between them, which is kind of a surprise as I deeply love Jasminda and Jack, and Kyara and Darvyn. Penelope did such an amazing job with these two couples, that it was kind of a surprise that I felt nothing for Lizvette and Tai. Their chapters were my least favorite, and I wanted so badly to get back to what was going on with Ella and Kyara, whose stories felt far more pressing.
I know it sounds like I mostly had negative things to say but I still enjoyed this book and am excited to see how the series ends. This installment just felt a tad weaker in part because there was a lot of set-up necessary, which is perfectly fine and understandable. It did what it needed to do, even if Lizvette and Tai's romance fell a bit flat for me.
The other thing that kept me from liking this book more was Tai and Lizvette's romance, unfortunately, but specifically Tai. I liked Lizvette plenty; it was interesting to see her perspective and how she redeemed herself. I wasn't a huge fan of Tai. He's interested in Lizvette far too quickly and I just didn't really buy it. I could understand him being physically attracted to her, sure, but I didn't really buy their chemistry. I didn't really think they had chemistry at all, to be honest. Most of their early relationship is him being a bit overly flirty with her and then making her jealous on purpose. I just did not really feel any believable connection between them, which is kind of a surprise as I deeply love Jasminda and Jack, and Kyara and Darvyn. Penelope did such an amazing job with these two couples, that it was kind of a surprise that I felt nothing for Lizvette and Tai. Their chapters were my least favorite, and I wanted so badly to get back to what was going on with Ella and Kyara, whose stories felt far more pressing.
I know it sounds like I mostly had negative things to say but I still enjoyed this book and am excited to see how the series ends. This installment just felt a tad weaker in part because there was a lot of set-up necessary, which is perfectly fine and understandable. It did what it needed to do, even if Lizvette and Tai's romance fell a bit flat for me.
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