4.75 / 5 Stars

This book was annoyingly good. Annoyingly because I now have to wait until September to read the sequel. Let’s start with a layperson synopsis: This book felt like Hunger Games in a fae land. Kenna, our main character, has always been an outsider in her human village. With only her best friend, Anya, to rely on (Kenna’s mother passed away a few years ago and her father wasn’t ever in her life), Kenna is a survivor. In her town and surrounding towns, a sexenniel (oooooh, thesaurus told me this means every six years and I feel fancy) tradition says that humans must send four women to the bog so that these can be guided to the fae realm of Mistei and in exchange the fae’s will protect the humans (poverty runs rampant in Kenna’s village so maybe the fae’s need to do a better job). Except that usually these ladies don’t survive (Kenna has found bones in the bog) and her best friend has been selected. Kenna follows them into the bog, determined to help them survive (the first hunger games portion of the book). With the help of a sentient dagger (again, found in the bog – truly what can’t you find in the bog), Kenna makes it to Mistei. It isn’t a myth but it also isn’t what she has been told it will be.

Kenna has been taught that in Mistei, any survivors of the tradition will be showered in riches and lavished with praise. Turns out the fae don’t really like humans and view them as deeply inferior. Kenna is assigned to be the servant for a lady of the Earth House. All of the fae belong to one of five houses: Fire, Earth, Light, Void and Illusion (there was also once a Blood house but we don’t talk about them – but say it in the style of “We Don’t Talk about Bruno”). The Earth lady must compete in an immortality trail where she will face six challenges and if she passes, she will become immortal. If she doesn’t, she will lose her magic, or worse, die (the second hunger games portion of the book). Kenna is tasked with helping her lady pass these trails, while she also plots a way to escape Mistei and free herself.

This book made me love things I don’t usually love in books. I don’t love to read big, long blocks of scenery descriptions (sorry, not sorry, I’m a dialogue girlie), but everything was so well written here that I ate up every little detail like it was crumbs and I was starved. The world building is amazingly down with just enough details to be intriguing and not so much that it is overwhelming. I feel like sometimes in books I can get lost when there is just too much written especially with orientation (like wait, why do I care about the color of the carpet and did you say the desk was in the north corner while the shelf was in the east corner and why does that matter and who is standing in the southwest corner?), but each space in this book, big or small, was built with such care that I felt really taken care of. Sentences were perfectly structured with just enough information that they weren’t run-ons and therefore information flowed easily into my brain.

I also loved our heroine, Kenna. Her curiosity was the perfect device to reveal plot and information in a way that seemed natural (she’s an outsider in a new world so, of course, she is curious). She was strong and kind. She was no nonsense with a sense of humor. She survived and had a zest for life. She had some fun love interests.

I also feel like sometimes I will finish a book and think, “that could have been 50 - 100 pages shorter” and while this one was long(ish), it never felt long. The pacing felt right to me and I was drawn in the entire time. Reading until 2am. Standing in front of our TV, making my boyfriend pause Madden so I could tell him about the plot.

I’m already on the waitlist at my library for the second book (because we all know I’m not getting approved for the ARC for it - LOL). OH and speaking of, do NOT look up anything related to the second book until you are done with this one. Don’t even look up the title.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing the reading copy! All opinions are my own.

Servant of Earth was everything I hoped for and more!
Kenna is destitute and alone in the world, except for her best friend, Anaya. Life experiences have toughened, but not beaten, her. She's determined to find a way to make a better life for herself and Anya. The opportunity arises when she finds a dagger on the day of the winter solstice, the day that her town sacrifices four unwed women to the fae. Unfortunately, before Kenna can act, Anya is chosen as a sacrifice, and Kenna will do everything within her power to save her. That twist of fate leads her to the fae land of Mistei, where four noble houses rule and rebellion is quietly reaching a boiling point.

“Gifted” to Lady Lara of Earth House, Kenna must serve as her handmaiden during the upcoming immortality trials. As unrest builds due to the king's cruelty, Kenna finds herself embroiled in the trials, doing her best to help Lara succeed.

Servant of Earth is filled with secrets, lies, betrayal, and unimaginable horrors. Kenna will face extraordinary tests, question loyalties, gain unexpected friendships, and come out of the trials a different person.

I loved all the twists and turns and embraced the unexpected. I'm eagerly anticipating book two, Princess of Blood!

I devoured this story within hours. Magic, royal court, tension, female friendship, I loved it.

It was a bit predictable at times and felt similarly to other fae/faerie books available, but that brought more enjoyment to me in this instance. It wasn’t trite, it was captivating. Everything I want in a Fae inspired novel. It felt like curling up under a warm blanket, reveling in familiar comforts. A strong FMC, handsome fae that find her intriguing, she is able to accomplish more than she ever thought, and builds friendships along the way.

There was also clearly a great deal of research done in terms of alchemy and holidays and it brought so much life and realism to the story.

I cannot wait to get my hands on the second one and drink it in like Caedo.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for granting me the ARC.

Servant of Earth was a fantasy that completely swept me away. The world was fascinating, the characters were multifaceted and kept us on our toes, and the storyline played out beautifully! This is a book I’ll definitely be re-reading down the road, because I couldn’t put this one down! With a heroine we could respect, morally gray Fae princes that captured our heart, and political intrigue with games abound, this book was so easy to love!

Kenna Heron became trapped in the underground kingdom of Mistei surrounded by the Fae. She found herself forced to help her new mistress pass trials to gain her immortality and became the new heir of Earth House. Right from the start, Kenna became an instant favorite. She was brave and I loved her ability to dive into any situation no matter how terrifying. Plus, she was smart and had such a good heart. Also I loved that she didn’t think twice about stabbing someone! Yet the world Kenna knew wasn’t as black and white as she thought it was. As new things and horrors became known, Kenna found herself in the middle of a rebellion that she couldn’t walk away from.

While there were multiple morally gray Fae princes in the pages, two of them captured my attention. I have extremely strong opinions on them, but I don’t want to say what they are because of spoilers. Just know that you should trust your heart and gut. Because it led me to screaming, I knew it!. And I was left excited to see what will happen next!

One of my favorite aspects about this story were the tests. And how Kenna had such an intricate role with helping Laura. I was fascinated and so nervous for them. I hung onto their every word. And as the story unfolded, I loved all that we learned. Rules became broken. Alliances formed and others became unknown. And those you thought you could trust seemed to hang on a precipice. This book was absolutely fascinating! Plus I loved how a certain object seemed to become its own character!

With secrets, murder, traitors, kisses, betrayal, twists, and tests, Servant of Earth was a romantasy book that was so easy to love! The ending left us in the perfect holding pattern, and I’m eagerly counting down till that next book releases. I listened to the audiobook of this, and it was beautifully done!

Kenna Heron longs for a better life, and while trying to save her best friend from a deadly ritual, she becomes enslaved in the underground fae kingdom of Mistei. There, she must help her mistress survive six deadly magical trials—each tied to a different element—or face death. With only a mysterious, sentient dagger as an ally, Kenna is drawn into a secret rebellion against a cruel faerie king. As danger and desire collide, she must choose between survival and the chance to fight for a better world.

The book is a mix of The Cruel Prince, ACOTAR, and The Hunger Games. The story is decent, well-written, and has a stunning cover—which was one of the deciding factors for picking it up. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite resonate with me emotionally; I found the plot predictable and guessed most of the twists in advance.

I did enjoy the main character’s loyalty to her best friend, Lara, and the world-building. I just hope that in the next book, she makes a better choice when it comes to her love interest.

Tropes:
— fae magic
— morally gray heroes
— deadly trials
— secret rebellion
— elemental magic
— single POV

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A tremendously entertaining and complex fantasy with a dash of romance. Kenna is a skeptical and determined human who unexpectedly enters the world of the Fae while trying to save her best friend. She is immediately drawn into the intrigues and divides of the world and must navigate interactions with deadly fae while trying to guide her new mistress through her coming of age trials. I can’t wait for book 2!

4.75 stars on StoryGraph

I loved this book! I’ve enjoyed Sarah Hawley’s other books so I was excited to pick this one up. I really enjoyed the world building in this book, the magic system and lore was varied, detailed, and there were enough complexities to keep things interesting leading into the sequel.

The plot kept me reading, I wouldn’t say that I was surprised by the way things played out in the story, but I still found myself eagerly waiting to see what was going to happen next.

I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book, I think it’s going to be a lot twistier now that we’ve established the rules of the world and the main players.

The characters were interesting, but I’m looking forward to a little more depth in them now that some of the main motivations have been revealed. Especially with the romance! I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next there!

Any chance I could read the second one now?!

Oh my god this book was so good!!! It was a little predictable but I was excited for what I assumed (correctly) would happen! I’m 100000% going to read the next book! I was completely enthralled and read it so quickly. It was the sort of book I was looking for and I loved every minute of it!!

This book has been on my radar for a bit but because the series isn't complete I was going to hold off on reading it. Well, that didn't happen and here we are and I'm happy to say that I thought this book was great! Predictable? Yes, for sure. I am definitely interested to see what will happen next and cannot wait to read the next book in the series. I am still unsure how I feel about Drustan and Kallen and I'm not sure if I'm leaning one way or another as to one of them being Kenna's final love interest. I guess time will tell. I also want to see more of the Blood House and what it's all about as I think it will be very intriguing.

Thank you Netgallley and to Berkley Publishing Group for letting me review Servant of Earth! Overall, the book was an entertaining read, full of twists and schemes, characters that drew you in and a rich world. The first few chapters of Servant of Earth were a bit disjointed and it was difficult to immerse in the story. After first trial was when things kicked into play.

Kenna Heron: a human girl- turned - servant in a dangerous land. I liked Kenna, and thought her 'feral' side could have been fleshed out more. Her relationship with Anya would have benefited from more of a slower draw.

Durstan: the Fire prince scheming his way to gain power.

Kallen: a confusing dark entity, supposed killer for a tyrant king.


I honestly liked Durstan despite his flaws. It would show growth and improvement (and change the romantasy trop) if he does improve and still be a contender for Kenna. Kallen.... I thought he felt a bit creepy. His interactions with Kenna felt forced, and I just felt bad for him.
Overall, 3.5/5. I would like to see improvements in writing (show things, less predictable, etc).

I look forward to the next book and I am excited about Kenna's rise to power!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

So, to rescue her best friend from being a sacrifice to the Fae, Kenna goes on a wild trek across the bog to their land, which is super cruel and violent. She ends up as a handmaiden for the heir of the Earth house, helping her navigate some seriously dangerous trials to unlock her powers.

I really liked the vibe and the writing style wasn’t bad, but honestly, it felt kind of predictable for me, and I guessed a lot of the twists.

The romance? It was mostly lust, and I didn't like the prince, but there was another guy...

This isn't your typical fairytale land; it's a brutal place packed with secrets, conspiracies, and deaths.

One thing I totally loved was the talking dagger! It reminded me of a moment from another series I read.

Kenna's clever, but I felt like she trusted some of the fae a bit too easily (first rule of the forest: trust no one), even if they seemed good.

I liked how she made new friends. Her bond with Lara started off rocky but eventually turned sisterly, which was sweet.

Heads up, this book dives into some dark and disturbing stuff, like fae brothels, slaves, torture, and executions...

• Fae Royalty
• Evil Tyrannical King
• Human Among Fae
• Forbidden Romance
• Sentient Dagger
• Deadly Fae Coming of Age Trials
• Fae Rebellion
• Elemental Magic
• Strong & Resilient FMC
• First Person POV

My ratings:
- Idea: 3/5 (nothing too exciting for me)
- Writing Style: 4/5
- Plot: 3.5/5
- Characters: 3.5/5
- Emotions: 3.5/5

Average: 3,5/5⭐️

While this book was a bit slow on the upswing, the more I learned about the characters, the more invested I was. For those who are looking for another world to explore after reading ACOTAR, this is a great place to be!

Absolutely! Here’s a raving review for Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley:

⸻

A Wild, Wickedly Funny, and Wonderfully Witchy Read!

Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley is pure magical chaos—in the best possible way. From the very first page, Hawley pulls you into a world brimming with charm, snark, and swoon-worthy chemistry. If you loved A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, then prepare to be absolutely enchanted by this next installment.

The heroine is delightfully grounded (pun fully intended), balancing elemental powers with real emotional depth. The love interest? Let’s just say he brings a broody, reluctant spice that had me grinning like a fool. Together, their banter is electric, their chemistry undeniable, and their journey—from reluctant allies to something much more—is satisfying on every level.

What sets this book apart is Hawley’s signature blend of laugh-out-loud humor, whip-smart dialogue, and unexpected heart. She writes magic and mayhem like no other, and the world she’s built feels both wildly fantastical and deeply human. Themes of self-worth, healing, and embracing power are woven seamlessly into a story that’s as hilarious as it is heartfelt.

Bottom line: Servant of Earth is a fresh, fierce romantic fantasy that will have you cackling one minute and clutching your chest the next. Sarah Hawley is a rising queen of witchy rom-coms, and this book proves it. Five out of five enchanted stars!

⸻

Want a shorter version or something more snarky/sassy?

This was a really good introduction novel to the world! I loved the trial aspects, the magic system, and the mytery and intrigue behind it all. I am really excited to see where it goes next and can't wait to pick up the next book this year.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.

4.5 Stars

Gather round, readers. Let me introduce you to your next fantasy obsession. It’s this book right here. Puny human girl gets transported (abducted? Ish?) to the big bad faerie realm and gets reluctantly drawn into their shenanigans. What follows is a messy, dark, thrilling story of a girl so out of her depth in a tyrannical Fae kingdom, but she’s a survivor nonetheless, and she ain’t taking no shit from anyone. Especially no man. Ooh, and there are trials! And infinity stones! And orgies! Idek what else you’d need to be convinced.

Kenna is a mousy and half feral (in her own words) orphan when she first steps into Mistei, but that means she knows a thing or two about taking care of herself. She’s also bold and smart and sometimes a tad too reckless. Scary for her fun for us though. Born to be an adventurer, forced into Fae slavery. Okay sorry too far. I was cheering her on every step of the way, whether it was for her sass with the Fae or her sexual awakening. Anything I say about the love interest would be spoilery so I’m not going to. Just know I have a lot of ✨ opinions ✨ and it’s messy and juicy and forbidden. It’s a ✨ journey ✨ that took me through the entire range of emotions. Yelling, throwing things and all.

One of the most beautiful parts of the story is the friendships Kenna finds along the way, as she’s coming into her own. They’re not perfect, but they’re the most heartwarming parts of what is a cruel, lonely world otherwise. And my other favorite part is the sentient dagger, aka the best dagger. Who you just need to meet to truly appreciate. The villains are a perfect mix of loathsome big bad and some more complex, grey variety. The political intrigue is complex and stressful, but the true test of my blood pressure was the trials and the sheer intensity of it all. Not to toot my own horn, a lot of my predictions were dead on (pun not intended). I say this as a compliment to the author’s ability to leave the right breadcrumbs one can follow throughout the story if only one is looking.

Speaking of which, the writing is wholly immersive and the writer hooked me with the vivid imagery and lush world building, but what captured me most was the emotional core of the story. The violence and the magic and the love and the hope of it all, generously peppered with wtf moments and spicy times and jaw dropping action. That ending left me both traumatized and extremely gratified, and I’m ready for more pain in the next chapter.

In short, Servant of Earth is fierce, fantastical, and deeply human. It’s perfect for fans of morally complex characters, rich magic systems, and high-stakes fantasy that balances action with emotional resonance. A phenomenal start to what promises to be a standout series.

Honestly a really good read. It gives me acotar vibes combined with hunger games. I will say I was disappointed that it was mainly fantasy and like 5% romance. I understand the worldbuilding is important but since it’s being advertised as a romantasy I expected more romance. It did have some spicy scenes but it was spice not romance. Overall I can’t wait for the next book though and I am hoping to see more Kallen :)

This book was so good! Kenna is the heroine I’ve been waiting for, and I cannot wait to see what comes next. I don’t want to reveal any of the surprises at the end, but suffice to say that my hunches were right.

I’m not quite sure what to say, other than I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the second to come out.
I absolutely adored this book. Though I had a few false starts with this book (largely because I kept starting other ones), once I got going, I kept going. I’m pretty good at speeding through a book, but the two nights I spent reading this felt like a curtain was drawn back and I was witnessing a fully fleshed out other world. Though Kenna did disregard what I have learned is the primary rule in romantasy (if the MMC doesn’t have dark hair, keep going, because he’s not it)—though that’s not exactly her fault—her journey to survive felt visceral.
The characters were vivid and interesting, but there was enough mystery that I still want more after finishing it. The world building was subtle and not overly explained, but the descriptions were such that I could still feel myself in the spaces, especially throughout scenes in Earth House.
The court intrigue (and tyrannical horrors) were excellently done, showing how different people can react to abuse of power, whether that be to confront, conform, or remain insular to protect themselves. The exploration of classicism may not be overt, but it still wends its way throughout and sort of nudges the reader to recognize that there's a lot more work to be done.
I love the magic system here. The lore, I’m sure, is only going to expand to new territories in the new book (I can hope!), and though the power twist at the end was a bit predictable, the payoff was deliciously worth it.
Also, the cover is completely stunning. I can’t get over it, as it's what initially made me notice the book, and I'm so incredibly glad it did.
So excited for what’s to come next!

Thank you NetGalley for providing the eARC.

I loved this book. It was everything I wanted from The Cruel Prince by Holly Black with the political intrigue and actions following through, for the characters to be likable, and the relationships developed. So if you liked that book or if you were also disappointed with it like I was, you’ll like this one. We don’t get the bullying like we saw in The Cruel Prince, but we get wicked fae and different elemental fractions of them, as well as the seelie and unseelie.

Kenna is a human forced into the cruelty of the fae world as a slave. She witnesses the cruelty of the dictating king of the remaining 5 houses: Light, Void, Illusion, Earth, and Fire. She is part of the neutral house Earth and is forced to help the heir of Earth house pass trials to gain immortality and power. Kenna gets involved with the Prince of Fire house and his plot to kill the king, as well as the king’s right hand man and reports to him as a spy.

Kenna was such a strong FML. Her character and her struggles were so real especially in this sort of situation. Her grief over her friend, her blooming friendship with the heir of Earth and those she met throughout the book, and wanting justice for those wronged made her likeable to me. I was rooting for her the whole time.

There are two possible love interests but it’s pretty obvious which is a stronger contender, especially near the end. But her relationship with both of them was well done. They are two sides of the same coin and I enjoyed the scenes where she would interact with them.

The political intrigue and history of the fae enriched the story and world building. It made it difficult to put down the book. We learn about the fractions and traditions through the trials, which was such an interesting concept to fae gaining their immortality and powers through these trials.

I’m looking forward to the sequel.