The one who can make you happy ... isn't me or Fuji. It's you."

First, what a beautiful cover! As far as book presentation, I am impressed. The little folktales before each chapter are fun and not distracting. I even like the size of the hardcover book, the way it fits in my hands, and the slightly and purposely jagged edges.

STORY:

"...They battled forces much more powerful than themselves. She could only hope those forces wouldn't win" (pg 244).

In Song of Blood & Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles #1) by L. Penelope (372 pages), Jasminda is half-Lagrimari from her father and half-Elsiran from her mother, who was disowned by her family. Lagramari are treated like dirt with pronounced distaste. Jasminda, living a quiet farm life, manages to avoid most of the country people's scrutiny until a fateful day. After going to the post office, a relatively-dying soldier in the enemy's clothes, Jack, needs her help. This chance meeting sets many events into motion and unveils a powerful past.

Heads up. There's an attempted sexual assault moment around pg 60. It's really unnecessary and serves no purpose but to point out the bad guys. Also, it's never mentioned again and has no long-lasting effects on the character who experienced it. 

The story's told through Jasminda and Jack's alternating perspectives, which is cool. In the background, Jasminda can see visions of a past earthsong couple and her songless twin.

Of course, the songless twin goes mad for power after a taste. who didn't see that coming? *sarcasm*

Unfortunately, I wondered when did the visions become more compelling than the actual story. On a side note, you can notice some real-life parallels fairly easy.

Also, okay, there's a teensy amount of cringe/ultra dramatic-ness in Jasminda and Jack's interactions.

"With great effort, she pulled away from the impossible temptation of his body" (pg 40).

"The intensity in his expression dissolved her creeping sorrow, bringing instead a pang of yearning."

 

Concerning the romance, I'll admit maybe Jack and Jasminda's attraction happened rather quickly. But they're not proclaiming their undying love, so it's cool, right? They respect each other and think the other is very attractive. Also, some onesided dry- humping ensures until later. 

"Molten longing pooled between her legs" (pg 211).

Lose his sanity? devoured his mouth? her scent driving him crazy? his hardness? is this a fanfiction!?!




jk... Okay, I'm just poking harmless fun. I know I can't write love scenes and it stops being cringy after a while. xD If the love scenes were hardcore with all the real names of the reproductive organs, I would be acting like a total shy kid. 

CHARACTERS:

"Do what you think you can't" (pg 24).

I understand that Jasminda's been pretty beaten up in life dealing with prejudiced country and city folk, but she's a little bland. It's like she just reacts to her surroundings but doesn't have strong feelings about it. (ex: oh, I have to protect myself? pull out knife. we can't be friends? cries...)

Jack is okay. Just okay.

My favorite characters had to be Yllis and Oola.

You know who was really interesting that I wanted to see more of? Grandad! Vanesse and the other Elsiran family members too. I also want to know more about Jasminda's family, her daddy and the twins. 

OVERALL:

I don't know.  Everything just wrapped together too nicely.

You're telling me everyone's just going to accept Jack and Jasminda together?

Not a lot transpired in this book for the longest. The bulk of the story is world-building, Jack and Jasminda, and some visions. Of course, it's understandable being the first book of a trilogy (?).

Yes, insta-love is present. He's her whole heart after a week and two sex sessions. I'm assuming more relationship development happens offscreen since Jack knew about her aunt, and I don't remember that conversation (possibly forgot or skimmed over it).

BUT if the next book shows their married life that would be interesting. Many fictional books don't touch on the characters after marriage unless there's going to be problems like infidelity or estrangement. I'm definitely interested in seeing how Jack and Jasminda progress.

The entire earthsong story and power is my absolute favorite part, so I muddled through the star-crossed lovers drama and whatnot. The female deity and folklore are equally interesting parts as well. If you're into fantasy in general, I recommend it. If you're seeking action or slow-burn romance, look elsewhere.

STILL, I'mma rock with it to book 2. Somehow I think since all the expository, world-building writing's out of the way, we can get into the real meat of the story. ^^

2.5 stars out of 5, but let's round it up to 3!

Thanks for reading!

Black people in fantasy settings?


STORY:

“I peered up to him now, knowing my eyes were moons, swallowed in the reflection of his. I’d only kissed a boy named Benjamin in the sandbox in kindergarten, but this wouldn’t be a sandbox kiss” (pg 208).

In The Blazing Star by Imani Josey (286 pg), initially, everything starts normally. Portia White, the main character, is tired of coordinating her entire life to match her academic twin sister, Alex. She has a crush on a half Afro-Cuban boy, Jaden, who unfortunately only sees her as a friend. During a series of events and one persistent high school freshman, Portia, Alex, and Selene, the freshman, get transported to Ancient Egypt.

These girls took being transported to ancient Egypt too well with minimum to no freaking out, which is not very realistic but I am thankful for that. I would’ve just skipped the filler pages anyway. Okay, I’m going to be nit-picky. I always feel like characters ate stupid-flakes when it takes them forever to realize they are in the past/future.

This story confused me because so much happened. Honestly, I was lost 75% of the time. The barrage of characters throughout the story is a lot. Although the names are beautiful, they are hard to remember and referenced very little. I kept forgetting who was talking.

I cannot vouch for how accurate any of the Egyptian setting and info are in the book. If it’s not Pharaoh and Moses, Queen Cleopatra, or Anubis I don’t know.

CHARACTERS:

Nothing about Portia sticks out to me. She’s sharp-tongued and wanted to be independent apart from her sister but not much else. Portia also irks me with her modern-day references. I guess it’s a running gag but I wish she would stop.

“The electric slide,” I said unable to contain the laughter anymore. “We like it for special occasions: weddings, birthdays, anytime Just Like Candy by Cameo plays” (pg 205).

Portia, what is this foolery!?! Why are you mentioning Cameo (I love their candy song by the way)? Girl, you not in 2017, so get your junk together.


Concerning Alex, she doesn’t fare much better in making me actually care about her. She’s brainy and takes over too much. The end.

But, Selene I adore her! She’s cheeky, soft, and adorable albeit a little annoying like a sister. Maybe the book would've been better from her point of view with the White sisters as side characters.

I like Seti. He’s smug without being a jerk, which is not easily done. Even though Seti is handsome, funny, and laid back, he is a flat character. I want a little more character development centered on something besides his royalty. His feelings for Portia are insta-love. It would’ve been better for him to be intrigued by Portia and gradually begin to like her. It took THREE encounters for them to do intimate slow dancing. Don’t get me wrong. Again, I like Seti and his insta-love with Portia. I should not because neither he or his love is fleshed out enough but I do.

“I turned from him, disappearing as Cinderella would, but with both slippers in tow” (pg 209).

"All day I was light, feminine, as if whatever I touched would turn to sighing flowers" (pg 13).
I like those lines!

OVERALL:

The Blazing Star was just okay, but I’m interested in reading the sequel. Hopefully, a lot of confusion and characters will respectively be made clear and developed. This book gets like a 2.5 out of 5 or 3 out of 5 from me.

Still, I absolutely adored the ending conversation Portia had with that boy. It made me stop to giggle.

Give this book a try. You won’t be blown away but you might enjoy yourself. Completely unrelated but the author is so pretty.

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The Sun Is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon (348 pages) gets 4.5 stars out of 5 for me, but let's just round that up to 5, okay?

I've heard raving reviews for Nicola Yoon's work, so I decided to check it out for myself. First, the multiple narratives surprised me because I thought it would be Natasha and Daniel's perspectives at the most. Yoon does a phenomenal job "showing" and not telling, and that made me really enjoy the descriptions in this book.

STORY:

"Yes, it's obnoxious. But I have a good reason for this behavior that involves a completely empty train one night at two a.m. (way past curfew) and a man with a big-ass snake wrapped around his neck who chose to sit next to me despite there being one thousand (give or take) empty seats" (pg 43).

There are some parts in this book that made me giggle and smile like a delirious loon. Then there's that part where Natasha meets Charlie, Daniel's brother, and his Dad. I really can not believe how nonchalant she was! I could not deal with no racist in-laws. No one has time for that! Also, I love how this book addressed the history and politics of why Korean hair stores are always in black neighborhoods.

Oh yeah, the karaoke/ norebang scene... Girl... Hormones galore!

CHARACTERS:

I love the two main characters, Daniel and Natasha. I even love the one-off characters like Joe, the Chopsticks lady, and the religious bus driver. Some of the characters are pretty zany, but the story is set in New York City.

"Observable Fact: I don't believe in magic.

Observable Fact: We are magic" (pg 170).

Natasha reminds me a bit of myself, although not as cynical, scientifically-minded, and opposed to love. She's very realistic like someone you know and not a character in a book.

Daniel is what those tumblr kids call a sweet cinnamon roll. Dude is a decent guy who is in touch with his emotions! *GASP* Yeah, he's not the brooding, emo bad boy love interest (even though I like those too) readers have come to know in YA fictions.

I like the emphasis on parental relationships as well. In so many books, it's easy to forget the main characters are teens who have parents. I feel slighted that there was no chapter from Daniel's mom's perspective, and I would have like another one from Patricia, Natasha's mom. Samuel Kingsley, the reason Natasha's in this mess, was so infuriating but believable.

I kind of want to see Jeremy Fitzgerald fall down a flight of stairs into incoming traffic. Yeah.

OVERALL:

"I try to give her a look that says don't argue with the old security guard with the lung problem, otherwise he won't let us stay here and makeout, but even if she interpreted my facial expression correctly, she ignores me" (pg 264).

So many good quotes and that ending! Guys, I can not... I can't. It's a little bittersweet but optimistic enough. I felt my heart drop.

Okay, if you can get over the "fall-in-love-in-a-day" heavy chick-lit tone then you will really like this book. Even if you're not a romantic like me, you will at least be entertained. For me, the hype was justified, and I gotta add this to my bookshelf. I will probably be reading "Everything, Everything" soon too.

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