Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope

For centuries, a magical veil has separated the lands of Elsira and Lagrimar, allowing the two kingdoms to exist in peace. Jasminda lives in isolation on the border but technically resides in Elsira, where she’s an outcast due to her healing gift of Earthsong. When a group of soldiers from Lagrimar end up in her valley, unaware they’ve left their kingdom, everything changes for Jasminda. They’ve got a captive named Jack, an Elsiran spy, who tells Jasminda that there are cracks in the veil, putting the control of Elsira at stake. Together, they embark on an engrossing and dangerous quest to save society—and develop feelings for each other along the way. The romance is fresh and fun to read, and L. Penelope’s world-building is a feat to watch develop throughout the book, particularly in her evocative descriptions of Jasminda’s powers. “By itself, her Song was nothing but raw potential, a match waiting for a strike,” Penelope writes. “But when the rush of Earthsong swept over her, the match caught fire, burning bright.” —Annabel Gutterman

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