The Fabled Earth

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for the opportunity to read The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock.

Cumberland Island is a mysterious, magical place. Kimberly Brock, in her very distinctive voice, has captured it perfectly. Bravo!!

Thank you @harpermusebooks and @netgalley for the eARC of The Fabled Earth by @kimberlydbrock in exchange for an honest review.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 On an island off the coast of Georgia, southern charm meets with lore of Appalachia and Ireland for a beautiful cultural richness that seems almost magical. Kimberly Brock writes an immersive novel where both the characters and their surrounding environment comes alive and encompasses the reader, you can almost hear the sound of the water that brings life to Cumberland Island. Even on land that became a playground for some of the wealthiest people, there is a rich connection to the earth. The story weaves flawlessly from 1959 back to 1932, creating an intricately woven and captivating story. The Fabled Earth is an enchanting, beautifully written book that resonates deep in the soul.

5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date.

This is an immersive story where the author puts the reader into the landscape -- and what a landscape it is. Scenic and rustic, dripping with myth and legend, Cumberland Island practically comes alive in Brock's hands. The story is somewhat complicated -- there's a lot going on - but the storytelling is lovely. For the most part, the 1932 and 1959 timelines work well together. The pacing is somewhat leisurely so this is not recommended for readers looking for a page turner. Readers who delight in sensory details and rich scenery will find much to love here.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinions in this review are 100% my own.

If you enjoy immersing yourself in a story and a landscape the blurs the lines between real and imagined, history and dream, you'll love THE FABLED EARTH by Kimberly Brock! Brock masterfully weaves past and present timelines together through her cast of endearing, unique characters reckoning with the ghosts of their past and the changing tides of the future. Set against the lush, austere backdrop of 1930s and 1950s Cumberland Island, THE FABLED EARTH introduces us to Cleo, Frances, and Audrey, who are each coming to terms with their histories and finding their way forward in a swiftly changing world.

Beautifully written and touching til the end, this should be on your must-read list for fall!

This is the kind of book I am always hoping to discover, an engrossing story with poetic passages I want to write down and remember. There is a large cast of memorable characters to root for, and the setting is painted vividly enough to seem like a character itself. Housing the remains of the once opulent homes of the ultra-wealthy, Cumberland Island is a place where magic, lore, meaning, and memories are layered into the river, woods, and pathways. In addition to beautiful nature writing, The Fabled Earth has so many of the elements I love in a book. These include the use of a character’s art and imagination to enhance the narrative. There are also secrets uncovered from the past, bringing transformation. The narrative moves smoothly between two timelines, connecting the events of the thirties and the fifties in a compelling way that makes you eager to read more. I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of the book, and I highly recommend immersing yourself in the world of The Fabled Earth.