The Fabled Earth unfolds as a historical mystery steeped in Southern gothic charm and set on Cumberland Island spanning two timelines—1932 and 1959. The 1932 storyline offers glimpses of a glamorous and dark original gathering, while the 1959 narrative introduces a folklorist seeking answers and a widow who is forced to reckon with her past.

While the plot doesn’t have the gripping pace of a thriller, the intrigue lies in the question: what led this sociable debutante to become a reclusive artist? This central mystery, combined with a dual timeline structure, gradually draws the reader into the secrets that haunt her life. The story has a subtle allure, capturing the faded elegance of old-school photography, Southern folklore, and the weight of carrying the past forward.

“Everyone of us has a library we’re carrying around right inside us. All those stories just waiting…”

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for the ARC audiobook.

Just an okay dual historical timeline read by a new to me author if I'm completely honest. I was intrigued by the book's description and its recommendation for fans of Where the crawdads sings but I struggled to fully get invested in the characters and found it just okay on audio. Not one I would go out of my way to recommend unfortunately. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

The Fabled Earth
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my Heavens I didn't want the book to end. It was absolutely 💯 Fantastic! Kimberly is the Queen of the Marsh. You will cheer on & totally fall for Cleo, Francis and Audrey. Kimberly is a master storyteller. I read the book & listened to the Audio. I LOVED both!!
GOOOO run out & buy this book.
Thank you NetGalley!

I put the link to my review on Friends and Fiction below.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendsandFiction/permalink/1284719222806388/

The AUDIO BOOK of THE FABLED EARTH is narrated by Cassandra Campbell who is a personal favorite and she did another excellent job with this story; evoking Southern drawls and a sense of place, time, and even social class. I highly recommend the audio book version.

THE FABLED EARTH by Kimberly Brock is a work of historical fiction set on Cumberland Island off the coast of Southern Georgia. Events in the story take place in two time periods: 1932 when a young debutante (Joanna Burton), an aspiring artist (wonderfully named Cleo Woodbine), and wealthy young men are staying at a Carnegie family retreat named Plum Orchard. One evening, too much alcohol and scary storytelling results in death and transformed lives. The other time period is 1959 amidst the struggle for civil rights and integration. Cleo, now older and reclusive, still lives near the island and is visited by Joanna's daughter, Frances Flood, a folklorist, who forms a friendship with young Audrey Howell, newly widowed and running the local inn. History still resonates, and tensions exist between local families, including questions of class and race. Attraction and romance simmers, too, for all three women, as Brock includes a former railroad man (Tate Walker), a ghost tour guide (Rosey Devane) and an activist with native American roots (Will Tremmons). The publisher describes the book by saying, "Southern mythology and personal reckoning collide in this sweeping story..." – for me, the start was almost too slow (languid, like our stereotypes of the rural South), but I came to appreciate the haunting atmosphere and to care for the varied characters; plus, the audio book is fantastic.

I recently listened to “The Fabled Earth,” and I really enjoyed it. Both the author and narrator did a great job moving between timelines without making it confusing for the listener, which can easily happen in my experience with audiobooks.

One of the things I liked most was how well the book captured life on and around Cumberland Island. Growing up near there, I appreciated the vivid descriptions of the flora, fauna, and local culture. The author made it easy to visualize and feel connected to the setting. The characters are well-developed and interesting.

The narrator’s performance is great. It was easy to follow character transitions. I also listen to audiobooks 1.5-2.0x faster than normal speed and it was still easy to follow and not jarring.

Overall, “The Fabled Earth” is a well crafted audiobook. I recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting storyline with flawed, realistic characters set against the beautiful backdrop which is Cumberland Island.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio copy of “The Fabled Earth” by Kimberly Brock in exchange for a review.

This one was…tough for me. I’ll generally listen to audiobooks when I’m cleaning, walking the dog, doing laundry, etc. This is NOT one of those novels you can multitask through. There were a lot of characters that jumped from past to present, and it was difficult to track.

Overall, I’d give it a 2.5 ⭐️

Rating reasons:
-Too many characters for only one narrator
-Timelines of past and present were not called out and confused me
-I got the gist of the story, but there were a lot of scenes that, while atmospheric and beautifully written, didn’t add to the plot
-I’m not a fan of character driven novels, so unfortunately that didn’t play in my favor either

Full of mystery and folklore, this story set on an island off the coast of Southern Georgia is strongly reminiscent of Kate Morton novels.

I had a hard time following the dual timelines and keeping the female characters straight in my mind while listening to the audiobook. I think I would have enjoyed this more in physical form. I don't fault the author one bit, just wish I had read it instead of listened to it. The narrator was a bit bland, with not enough inflection and emotion.

I might revisit this book at a later date if I can get my hands on it.

Stumbled on this book because of the narrator, Cassandra Campbell. I enjoy her narrations (the drawl in her voice makes the Deep South come alive) and portrayal of all the characters in the story. I particularly enjoy Cleo. How she constantly tried to do the right thing but nobody was listening to her.

The book started out a little slow but once the characters and their stories developed I couldn't put it down. This story tells tales of the monied south 75 years ago; their entitlement. It also brings to the light all the black hate that existed.

I recommend this book if you enjoy Historical Fiction and stories about old time famous families.

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.

I enjoyed the audio of this one. It helped me devour it much faster having both the audio and physical copy. Cassandra did a good job differentiating between characters and helped me feel more connected to the women.

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

Excellent story and beautiful writing. I was caught up in the womens journey.

I've just finished the copy I purchased, because the audio download was problematic.

Full review to come.

A fascinating story spanning decades, told from the alternating viewpoints of three very different women. First there is Cleo, starting when she first arrives on Cumberland Island in 1932. There, the sheltered Cleo, is immersed in a vastly different world of wealth and men with power. Fast forward years later to the end of the 50s, where Audrey is the new innkeeper in town, escaping a haunting past of her own. And then, as there are threats of a storm of the century, Frances Flood arrives looking for answers about her mother, who once upon a time knew Cleo, the now reclusive artist living on a tiny bit of land called Kingdom Come. These women and their stories intertwine throughout the novel, answering questions and shedding mysteries.

I listened to this on audio and it did not immerse me in the story as much as I would have hoped. Overall, an intriguing premise that fell a bit flat on delivery.

The Fabled Earth ( Audiobook) by Kimberly Brock
In a dual timeline between 1932 and 1959 the opulence of the Guilded Age is celebrated on Cumberland Island by the Carnegies and other islanders. A party of young men from America’s finest families ends in tragedy after a night of revelry and story telling goes wrong in 1932.
In 1959, Cleo Woodbine has lived on a sliver of the island called “Kingdom Come” for decades. Frances Flood shows up looking for identity and answers that Chloe may hold. A double exposure photograph and an old news article change everything they thought they knew. Has Frances raised a ghost from that night in 1932, or are there more secrets to unfold?
I love the Georgia Coast and the author does a beautiful job of taking you there with detailed descriptions of the place and the culture on the island. This book was beautifully written. It is a wonderfully imaginative tale of finding a place to call home and using art and story telling to carry you through the good and the bad. I loved it!

The narrator did an excellent job of telling the story and making the listener a comfortable part of the story. The mellow voice and calm reading style made for an enjoyable experience!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harper Muse for the pleasure of reviewing the ARC of this audiobook version of the story.
I give it 4.5/5 ⭐️

4 Stars
This book was rich in history, plot and characters. it was captivating to listen to with wonderful narration. If you love a good historical fiction this one is for you.

Thank you to Harper collins focus and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook

Thanks to NetGalley I was able to enjoy this title before it was released. What can I say besides this novel is full of detail and a story rich in character development. So rich in detail you think the characters are standing next you are experiencing the story. The story weaves back and forth between the years 1959 and 1932 to unravel a family mystery shrouded in love and shame. Like every great story a family's past has to unlocked by someone willing to wonder. If that is your kind of novel, please pick this one up you will not disappointed.

Let me start with the good news — The Fabled Earth is beautifully written with strong character development. It's likely to hit a good note with those who are patient with slow-burn, character driven novels. The dual timeline helps bring two eras to life on Cumberland Island: 1932, in the days of prohibition when the famous Carnegie family still summered on the island, and 1959, when a former guest of the Carnegies continues to live on the portion of the island formerly inhabited by servants. Something terrible happened on the island back in 1932, and the book slowly reveals the secrets of that day.

The not so great news — for me, this book was difficult to engage with and while I desperately wanted to be swept away, I often found myself a bit reluctant to pick it back up. There are a lot of different characters, and I found it challenging to follow at times, whether from the complexity of the character list or my failure to connect with it, I'm not sure. I listened to this on audio and may try again in print, where the flow of the story may be easier to absorb.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Kimberly Brock for an advance copy for honest review.

I picked up The Fabled Earth, knowing Brock’s popularity and after finishing it, I can see why! I really liked the alternating timelines both being outside the current times in this one and found both of them compelling. The mystery aspect was balanced by the other by everything else. I was definitely reminded by Kate Morton and Sarah Addison Allen while reading this one. Cassandra Campbell (who has also narrated Where The Crawdad’s Sing) felt like a very fitting narrator for this story. While there is a rich cast of characters, I thought the audio was easy to follow.

This is definitely a book that leaves you thinking

So many amazing characters that will have you immersed in the story.

It’s a historical fiction with amazing quotes and the plot
Is amazing.

So well written.

I love the descriptions of the scenes, people, locations.

Sorry to say this was a miss for me.

It started out strong-ish, and I found myself comparing it to “Crawdads”, which I loved! However, the multiple main characters, as well as the bouncing back and forth between two timelines left me totally lost. And, I did not find myself particularly caring for any of the main characters. (And there were A LOT of characters to follow!!)

As I saw in another review, I found myself drifting off multiple times, and that is not a good sign. Especially since I already found it confusing. 🫤

Maybe if I read it instead of listening I may have had a different opinion? Not sure. And the narrator was good too! But for some reason, this was just not for me…sorry to say.

The descriptions of this beautiful Georgia Island were intriguing, but not enough for me to love it.

Thanks to #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsFocus and #HarperMuse for an ARC of the audiobook which was released today, 10/1/24.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.

#TheFabledEarth by #KimberlyBrock and narrated nicely by #CassandraCampbell.

I’m surprised, as I usually love historical fiction…but as I mentioned, it might just be me! I seem to be in the minority here…

As this is not one of my great reviews, I’ll limit it to here and NetGalley.

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I love this book. It’s lush and atmospheric, engaging and exciting. It’s a true treat and beautifully written.