In 1959 Southern Georgia, Cleo Woodbine is a reclusive painter in her 50s, spending her time foraging and jarring fruits and preserves from the land. She keeps to herself and brushes off the rumors about her. One day a man who saved her life nearly 30 years ago returns, reminding her of that fateful night in 1932. Then Frances Flood, a folklorist seeking a painting at the request of her recently deceased mother, comes to Cleo for answers. After all, her mother, Joanna Burton, was also there during the summer and left under notorious circumstances. Then local inn runner Audrey Howell shows up on her doorstep with an injured young Jimmy Walker, forcing her to get involved. While Cleo had avoided confronting the demons of her past, these visitors and an oncoming storm threaten to unearth the island’s secrets and change the natural landscape. The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock is a dual-timeline, multi-POV novel that explores how three women’s paths intertwine, and how folklore contains truths of the past.

Brock shows of her talent for lush storytelling in The Fabled Earth. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their troubled histories – with themselves and each other. Readers meet Cleo in both timelines, and it was interesting to see how her behavior and consequences of her actions changed her. And also how the other characters could pull her out of her hermit tendencies. I liked Audrey and Frances, but they weren’t very different from each other. The layers in the story and overall theme of storytelling vs. reality was fun to navigate, however the pacing was slow and I became unengaged at times. Overall I believe that those who love contemporary fiction or Southern folklore will enjoy this one.

*4.5 stars rounded up*

Off the coast of Georgia you’ll find Cumberland Island, as well as another small isle which used to be called Little Marsh Island but is now referred to as “Kingdom Come” ever since Cleo’s grandfather renamed it - and so our story begins…

We go back & forth between 1959 & 1932 (the fable of the past influencing events almost 30 years later) & see the relationship the town of Revery has with the islands. The author zooms in on several citizens, but focuses the most on Cleo (who is there in both timelines), Frances (a woman unsure of her next step in life & seeking answers about her recently deceased mother who was on Cumberland Island the summer of 1932), & Audrey (the new proprietor of an inn in Revery whose life circumstances have been turbulent as of late). The variety of characters paired with the mix of folklore, regrets, ghost stories, & the fairly new concept of integration in 1959 make for a complex tale set in a very interesting locale.

This is the first book I’ve read written by Kimberly Brock & I definitely need to track down others - I was particularly fascinated by the local legend in this story & its origins, but the in-depth look at people in & around Revery was probably the most impressive part of this novel. I would’ve appreciated a map to help visualize the different locations but very much enjoyed this trip back in time to The South.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Muse for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars rounded up. There was so much I enjoyed about this story, including the folktales and myths (loved everything with the Lorelei siren tale) and the vivid descriptions of Cumberland Island and the coast of Georgia in 1932 and 1959. I also enjoyed the stories about the "glory" and the chapters with young Cleo and Audrey, especially.

Some areas that fell flat for me were older Cleo, who I really could not connect with, and the relationship between Cleo and Tate. It's a slow burn Southern historical fiction with a bit of mystery and beautiful writing, but it's probably a bit too long (400 pgs). Overall, I would recommend it to people who like atmospheric writing, getting transported to another place and time, and slow-burn, character-driven novels with local folklore mixed in.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

No one weaves together reality and reverie quite like Kimberly Brock.

For readers who enjoy their dramas laced with historical places and events, female perspectives, dual timelines, and beautiful descriptions of coastal Georgia scenery, The Fabled Earth will not disappoint.

I liked the setting of Cumberland Island.
Brock brings a certain air of mystery, magic, and mystique to her stories and the setting.
The story unfolds in a timely fashion.
I couldn’t fathom living as isolated as Cleo had for all those years.
The book’s plot shows that you really can’t hide from your past because it will catch up with you.

Cumberland Island is off the coast of Georgia and is the setting for the book, it is a dual timeline 1932 and 1959. after a party in 1932 someone dies.. great book.

3.5 stars. There are a number of things I enjoyed about this story. The tender portrayal of the characters and the central mystery of why Cleo began as outgoing and adventurous, then became reclusive. The setting of Cumberland island was like a character in itself - it was fascinating reading about it both visually and historically, the book made me want to know more about it. Cleo was an interesting if somewhat gruff character who stayed true to herself. The 1932 timeline was more engaging than the one in 1959 because it was atmospheric and evocative of a more innocent time, yet one that had darker undercurrents of racism and misogyny. I found some of the other characters less interesting than Cleo and there were a lot of subplots to keep track of that slowed the momentum. There were times when I found the story too slow, especially in the last half. I was hoping for more drama before the narrative wound up. But overall, an enjoyable read with lovely visuals conveying the importance storytelling and place. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins Focus for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
This story is written beautifully, it has a musical feel to it.
The story is told in two timelines, 1932 and 1959. The three main characters are women, Audrey Howell who runs the local inn, recently married and newly widowed. Frances Flood has studied folklore, she is a visitor staying at the inn, her mother has recently died and she is searching for information about her mother’s past. Then there is Cleo, the recluse, she is also an artist. All three women are strong interesting characters and they keep the story alive.
For me it was a slow read but I am so glad I persevered. The story is filled with intrigue and mystery, it also include race, class and prejudice.
A interesting and different read well deserving of 4 stars.

1932. Cumberland Island off the coast of Southern Georgia is a strange place to encounter the opulence of the Gilded Age, but the last vestiges of the famed philanthropic Carnegie family still take up brief seasonal residence in their grand mansions there.

1959. Reclusive painter Cleo Woodbine has lived alone for decades on Kingdom Come, a tiny strip of land once occupied by the servants for the great houses on nearby Cumberland. When she is visited by the man who saved her life nearly thirty years earlier, a tempest is unleashed as the stories of the past gather and begin to regain their strength.

I enjoyed Cleo. She is talented, stubborn and eccentric. Cleo is a force to be reckoned with!

This story has some very pretty prose. It is just very slow and a bit wordy in places. I loved the setting of Cumberland Island. I learned a great deal about its history. I had no idea about Carnegie mansions there.

I also enjoyed some of the folklore. But, to me, and I am in the minority, this story could have some more action and less description. As I always say, read it for yourself and form your own opinion.

Need a historical fiction tale on Cumberland Island…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This is a story about people of privilege in the 1930's and how their actions affect members of the community well into the future. It is a well-written book and an excellent story. The writing presents imagery for me that is unforgettable.

"...but she'd forgotten about that, about how glory could eat a man up..."

I was excited to finally get to this one! I got to attend a workshop with a folklorist and folk art curriculum over my Fall Break, so the nod to folklore seemed like something I would be into. However, I think maybe this one just wasn't for me.

There are very few books where I read a line - and read it again, and read it again - just to think and absorb the words. Kimberly Brock is an author of these type of books, and I was swept away to Cumberland Island and the adjacent sliver of land Kingdom Come in her latest book The Fabled Earth. With a dual timeline, the story begins in 1932. Cumberland Island is the playground for the rich of the Gilded age - the Carnegies built their mansion Plum Orchard there and others followed suit. Cleo Woodbine is hoping to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps there and become a painter, and is thrilled when she’s offered a position as a ladies’s companion to Joanna Burton, who will be there for a few weeks as a guest. However, Cleo quickly realizes she is nothing like the young people there; the young men are interested solely in hunting and drinking, and her companion Joanna is a free spirit who seems to only want to tease the young men. When a late night gathering turns tragic, Cleo retreats to Woodbine Cottage, at nearby Kingdom Come. She becomes a recluse, and her paintings and the figures from therm - her “tagalongs” - are her only friends.

But everything changes in 1959 when Frances Flood, the daughter of Joanna Burton, shows up at Cleo’s doorstep, wanting answers to things her mother said on her deathbed. Woven around the present day is the story of the town of Revery, which seems to be on its last legs, but townspeople are hoping for a rebirth. Set during the segregation era, this story explores race relations, family we have and family we gain by friendships. At its heart, it’s a story of friendship, secrets kept, secrets told, and while the past shapes our future, it doesn’t have to define it. Highly recommend this one - I will be reading it again! Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Muse for an ARC of this book; all opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I found this book to be overly descriptive and rather confusing. It was difficult to follow and ultimately, exhausting. I love southern fiction, yet this one just did not engage.

I had really high hopes for this one, and I think the overall set up was great. However, the timelines and POVs got jumbled together and it was really difficult for me to keep track of what was going on for the first half. By the second half, I better understood the POVs/timelines, but I didn’t feel like the story was cohesive and just didn’t keep me interested.
Overall, while I didn’t completely mesh with this one, it was beautifully written and I’d definitely pick up another from this author.

The writing and setting for this novel are absolutely beautiful. I felt completely transported to Cumberland Island. I did, however, find the actual story to drag a bit. The flashbacks were usually my favorite part, but the many differing POVs made it difficult to truly connect with the characters and I felt myself wanting to know so much more about almost every character. Overall, a beautiful work of lyrical writing but with a slow middle that drags a bit and characters that need a bit more development. Thanks you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the digital ARC.

Kimberly Brock’s THE FABLED EARTH is a beautiful, dual timeline story, weaving together two different timelines around Cumberland Island tied together by myths, folklore, and interesting characters. In 1932, a house party ended after the events of a bonfire. Cleo Woodbine exiles herself to a cottage on an eroding island and has no plans to leave until Frances arrives in 1959 looking for answers after her mother’s death leaves her with questions. Audrey is newly widowed with a secret; she’s taken over the bed & breakfast that was her mother’s childhood home. The women’s lives become intertwined as their friendship grows and the past shapes their future and the futures of those they touch. Full of stories and mysteries to uncover, Brock has created a novel that will wrap itself around you from the beginning until you read the last word.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.

In 1959, Frances Flood arrives on Georgia’s Cumberland Island at the behest of her recently deceased mother, Joanna Burton. She has lived her life in the shadow of family secrets, and by fulfilling her mother’s dying wish to commission a painting from the reclusive artist, Cleo Woodbine, she hopes to put to rest questions about her own origins, and discover why Cleo has kept Joanna’s heirloom pearl necklace since the terrible events at Plum Orchard in 1932. As a folklore researcher, Frances is fascinated by the mystery of the siren-sighting in the East River, and how that connects to the two boys who drowned that fateful night.

Seen from the point of view of three women, Frances, Cleo and Audrey, a young widow who runs the local inn, Brock weaves her saga through the myths and legends of the 1930s, the rapidly changing times, and the chancy randomness of life. On the eve of a predicted mega-storm, the island is ushering out old ways to make way for a new world, one which Cleo has shunned for thirty years. Her patronage from the Carnegie family in 1932, to reside permanently at Kingdom Come studio to pursue her art, means she must now face her culpability in Joanna’s fate, as it was Cleo who was tasked with chaperoning the young ingenue to ensure her safety at Plum Orchard. This poignant tale is wonderfully redolent of a bygone era, with its timeless setting in which the waves of history come crashing upon Cleo’s quiet shore, in the wake of Joanna’s death. As Cumberland past and present comes alive for Frances, she begins to rewrite her own story about who she really is. This engaging novel sent me searching for more information about the Carnegies, Cumberland, and its historic houses and stately ruins; always a good sign of a fulfilling read.

I don’t read a lot of southern fiction, but I really enjoyed this book. I connected with the female main characters right away. I enjoyed the multiple POVs. We get the past tense during the Fable chapters, but the majority of the story is told in the ‘present’ (the late 1950’s) with Cleo, Audrey and Frances’ POVs. From the minute Frances comes to Cumberland Island you can get the feeling she belongs there. Audrey and Frances’ friendship is my favorite part of the story. I love how they bond so easily and Frances is ready to have Audrey’s back after such a short time.

Thank you Harper Collins Focus for my digital copy of this book.

The Fabled Earth
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I LOVED the book so much that I listened to the Audio also. I didn't want either one to end. It was absolutely 💯 Fantastic!! You will cheer on & totally fall for Cleo, Francis and Audrey. You do not want to miss out on this GREAT BOOK! Kimberly is the Queen of the Marsh and a great storyteller. The Marsh will come to life right in front of your eyes.
Thank U NetGalley for letting me do both. I could start all over again. I LOVED BOTH!

The Fabled Earth is a beautifully written story filled with Southern charm, ghosts, family, and forgiveness. I love the dual time lines, the richly drawn characters, and the fully immersive story line. This is an author I will definitely be watching out for!