Another book club hit here. It was easy to stay engaged with and the characters were wonderfully human. I found it a little dull in places but nothing bad enough to make me put it down. I think this one is going to be easy for a lot of people to like.

Cassandra Campbell does a great job of narrating.

This book weaves an intoxicating mix of mystery, history, and Southern folklore that kept me captivated from start to finish. Set on the hauntingly beautiful Cumberland Island, it alternates between two timelines—1932 and 1959—connecting the lives of three women, each with their own ties to a long-buried tragedy. The atmospheric descriptions of the island, the fading grandeur of the Gilded Age, and the complex characters make the story come alive. I was especially drawn to how the novel explores the idea of stories—both the ones we tell and the ones we hide—and how they shape us. It’s a beautifully written, sweeping tale of secrets, loss, and the passage of time. Fans of Southern Gothic and historical fiction will be completely swept away by this one.

Cumberland Island sounds beautiful, wild and mysterious; I want to add this to our short list of must travel locations now! Thank you @harpermusebooks for my early finished copy of THE FABLED EARTH, publishing October 1st by @kimblerlydbrock .

THE FABLED EARTH definitely gives Where the Crawdads Sing vibes with the setting and secret/mysterious events.

Kimberly Brock’s writing is an immersion in lyrically beautiful storytelling. I imagine hearing this story told at the National Storytelling Festival! There are so many great nuances, shifts and turns as the characters are developed.

Told in a dual timeline perspective between 1932 and the opulence of the Gilded Age on Cumberland Island and then 1959 where Cleo has been living in a cottage on the island as a reclusive artist.

Brock created central conflicts in the novel that are issues the South was facing during the time period (classism, racism, gender inequalities). Will’s storyline and those of several Native Americans during the story was meaningful to me.

The story is about more than an island frozen in time and wild, it is a wild storm, a reckoning metaphorically for these characters as their decisions and the subsequent events will alter their lives forever.

This is a beautifully done piece of Southern Fiction, and if you enjoy historical fiction, Georgia, women’s fiction, storytelling, and the punishments we ensure, then you will enjoy this read. There is also so much that can be discussed with this novel, it would make a great book club book (and includes questions at the end).

Speaking of the end, I loved the author’s note- definitely read it after the novel!

Loved the audio and reading it as a tandem read!

The Fabled Earth is a sweeping historical novel encompassing the history of Cumberland Island, Georgia through the voices of multiple characters and two different periods of time. The main characters are three different women – Cleo Woodbine, an eccentric artist who has lived most of her life in and around the area, Audrey, who is newly widowed and has come to the island to run the inn, and Frances Flood, a folklorist who has come to the island seeking answers. Cumberland Island offered summer refuge to the very wealthy, particularly the Carnegie family, during the 1930’s. In 1932 some of the young men of the wealthiest families come together there for a hunting party, along with a beautiful debutante, Julia, who is expecting to be engaged, and Cleo, who came to be Julia’s chaperone and believes she has ties to the wealthy hosts through her grandfather. But something happened one evening in 1932 that affected all who were there, some who will never forget.

The story unfolds in two timelines, 1932 and 1959, and unravels the mystery of how Cleo’s, Audrey’s, and Frances’ lives are all intertwined. The book is beautifully written and gives the reader a true feel for the area. Unfortunately, it was also confusing as it is told from the voices of the various characters. Listening to the audiobook, I could not keep some of the characters straight, particularly Audrey and Frances, which might reflect my listening skills as well as the narration. The story moves at a slow pace and takes a long time to unfold and reveal what truly happened to some of the people in 1932, which made it difficult to maintain concentration. It also tackled many subjects, in particular racism, misogyny, and of course, wealth.

I liked how the author included fables to help tell the story. I was not sure if they were real or truly fables and how they affected what happened to the characters. In the end, the story reveals how the three strong women characters’ lives are all intertwined and why Cleo chose the path she did.
I think people who enjoy learning about new areas and who like historical fiction will enjoy this book. For me, it was a little slow and I found it hard to be invested in any of the characters. The narration also made it difficult because Audrey and Frances sounded the same. It took me much longer than the 12 hours to listen to the audiobook because I had to rewind so often. There were times where it really did not matter if I missed something since the story moves so slowly. I think I might have enjoyed this book more if I had a physical hard copy to read.

Wow! What a story! Kimberly Brock weaves a fantastic tale of youth, heartache, and friendship. I couldn't put this down, I had to know what actually happened that night at the bonfire that so drastically changed the lives of so many.

DNF @ 45%

I really gave this audiobook a chance and tried my best to finish it, but it’s just not for me. It’s way too slow and it doesn’t feel like anything has happened so far at almost halfway through. I also think the audio made it difficult for me to get into the story because I’m having trouble with the timeline and character transitions. I do think this is a technically strong story and I know the history and research are there, so while it’s not for me I know plenty of other people will love it!

I was luck enough to read The Fabled Earth, by Kimberly Brock. The storyline is character driven with a rich moody southern vibe that's told in two timelines. So I was excited to listen to the audio book, and it did not disappoint. The voice acting was superb. It's definitely an audio book I would want to listen to again, and again.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for an early audiobook edition of “The Fabled Earth” by Kimberly Brock, narrated by Cassandra Campbell for an honest review. This is a solid 3.5, so I rounded up.

This is the story of a group of young adults in 1932 who have a party that ends in tragedy. The backdrop is Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia, an island inhabited by the wealthy Carnegie clan. Fast-forward 27 years, and we meet Cleo Woodbine, who has lived on Kingdom Come, a strip down from Cumberland Island, used for servants back in the day. Cleo has lived there since that fateful night in 1932.
The story is a back-and-forth style, where we learn a little bit more of what happened in 1932, as the story unfolds in 1959. There are a lot of characters and several different points of view, which I found difficult to follow. The narrator did a good job of being each character. She did a good job narrating the story.

The story is the story of “normal” life, so some might find it boring. Cloe Woodbine is the main story, but there is also a story of a pregnant young woman who lost her husband; a young woman whose mother passed away and in her will asked her to return to Cumberland Island; a Native American who wants to see change, but gets caught up in the racism of the south, a special twelve-year-old, who refuses to give into the racism of the time, and a white man who works for the manufacturing plant. All of these characters’ stories are told and you learn how each relates to what happened in 1932. however, I liked it, the author did a good job of weaving a fictional story with the real history of Cumberland Island. I enjoyed the “normal” lives of these characters weaved effortlessly into the history of the area.

The characters were well-developed, and the writing was very good. The story was not on the edge of your seat, but that is OK. There was just enough environment description, mixed with the story. The author at times overdid the thought process of the characters, repeating their feelings, which is a pet peeve of mine, but it wasn’t too bad. My biggest complaint is the pronunciation of “Carnegie” by the narrator, maybe it is a southern accent thing, but being from the Northeast U.S. it irritated me.

The Fabled Earth is a wonderful novel that involves the challenges of relationships and the power of memories from the past. There are many characters in this dual timeline story that continue to draw you in even deeper into the story.

The story centers around multiple characters but focusing on Cleo and Joanna from the past and then Cleo and Joanna's daughter in the present. Joanna's daughter delves into her mothers life and secrets as she uncovers much about her own past that will shape her future. The novel involves many generations, and how the past has such impact on the present.

Kimberly Brock's writing is poetic and magical and truly brings you right into the setting of Revery and Cumblerland Island. The Fabled Earth is a beautifully written novel that offers a look at the bonds that tie us to our families and the land. This book is a wonderful and draws you in from the start. I found it hard to put down and highly recommend it.

I listened to the audo version which was wonderfully done!! I loved the narrator and loved the accents of the many characters. I felt i was truy in
South Georgia!!

“What she saw took her breath. The colors and images were so vibrant and alive with movement that she could barely take it all in. It was a puzzle and a promise at once. It was a comfort and a challenge.”

In alternating timelines the rich history and imagined folklore of Cumberland Island, Georgia is brought to life. This beautiful Southern Historical Fiction novel is my first novel by Kimberly Brock, and it will certainly not be my last!

1932 - In a Guilded Age seasonal residence owned by the Carnegies, young men from entitled families gather for a rollicking weekend filled with summer fun and possible match making. When the local folks and legendary lore enter the foray, the scene turns from carefree to deadly, setting into motion a series of secrets and coverups that will effect generations of those who survive.

1959 - Frances Flood, is directed by her recently deceased mother, to visit Cumberland in search of the truth. There she meets Cleo Woodbine, and artist who has lived alone in a tiny cottage since the fateful night decades ago. Cleo knows her mother and was there during that tragic summer, but will she share a history she fights to keep long buried?

An ode to story telling, imagination and the power of connections, the timelines share themes of privilege, racism, community and the search for hope against the backdrop of a lush and captivating setting. The narration of the audiobook is in good hands with Cassandra Campbell’s wide range of dialect in her lovely performance.

If you enjoyed Delia Owen’s Where the Crawdads Sing and/or Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen this might just be the perfect fall read.

Many thanks to Harper Muse Publishing and Macmillan Audio for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

1932 and 1959 Georgia

The setting and characters are vividly described and both come alive in the pages. I could feel the humidity and visualize the opulence of the 1932 timeline.

The tale is told from the perspective of multiple characters which adds depth. The way the story unfolds is well done. Readers get to better know what motivates present day and past actions. At the end, there is a feeling of hope that emerges from the pages. While life can deliver difficulties, there are reasons to press on.

Nice job by narrator Cassandra Campbell.

There were a lot of quotes in this book that I felt in my soul. Mostly I loved narration though. This was pretty good. I felt for our protagonists. I loved the setting too.

Set on a remote island off the coast of Georgia, this novel deals with a set of young friends who met there in the 1930's and have never come to terms with "what happened" during their youth. The main character is an older woman who lives by herself and works as an artist on a spit of land off Cumberland Island. She had stayed there as a young girl to be a companion to a young guest of a wealthy family living on the island. Years later, the daughter of this guest appears out of the blue, along with other descendants of the group of friends from decades ago. The plot of the novel keeps you guessing as to "what really happened" all those years ago.

The novel has a nice, slow pace and is a relaxing read. The prose is beautifully written, and the characters well drawn and authentic to the South. This would be a good novel for those interested in fairly recent American historical fiction and/or interested in novels set in the Southeast.

The Fabled Earth is a novel that has a very beautiful story to tell. Set in the enchanting town of Cumberland Island located in the State of Georgie, it follows the story of three women –eccentric Cleo Woodbine, newly widowed Audrey, and answer-seeking Frances Flood – whose lives are unexpectedly intertwined due to past events that directly involved the now elderly Cleo Woodbine. While the story is confusing at first since it was told from different POVs and alternating timelines between 1932 and 1959, everything came beautifully once you get the hang of it. I think it has something to do with the narration because the voices were almost the same, hence, it took me a while to distinguish who was talking. In fairness, I’m a non-English speaker so my English listening skill is not that strong.

What I really love about Fabled Earth is that its story seemed so simplistic and yet, you can feel the magic in every word the author has written. The fables told during the bonfire party felt so real that it was easy to be ensnared with the local culture of Cumberland Island. The three women who I initially found annoyingly boring grew on me as they revealed their true characters chapter by chapter. Their different strengths gradually revealed as they tackled the challenges thrown at them. For me, Cleo Woodbine is the most interesting of all. A woman with no privileged background but ambitious enough to better her life. She’s desperate to change her life so she did all that she can, even the despicable and unspoken things, and I hated her for some of it. Ultimately, she managed to fully redeem herself despite the time that it took. The drama in this book was kept to a minimum but nonetheless, the events that surround the women and the other characters were as moving as if I’m watching a drama TV series.

The folklores told are also interesting and keeps you wondering whether they’re really just folklores or it actually happened a long time ago. Whether the tragedy that happened to the two young boys were just pure drowning incidents or the fabled mermaid was real. How the island fables were presented in the book certainly gave off an eerie and magical feel to a historical fiction story.

As for the narration, the voice is lovely but as I have said earlier, the narrator has to up her game when switching voices because this book has a lot of characters to remember. There are a lot of times that I had to rewind just to distinguish the one character from the other. I sometimes find myself confused whether it was the young Cleo, Audrey, or Frances talking because the difference in their voices are not that nuanced. On the other hand, I find Amber Rose’s (Rosie) voice grating to the ears and gives me a vision that he’s a dwarf because his voice sounded like one. Like he’s described to be this handsome young lad but his voice gives me some off-putting vibes. ☹

Anyway, what I can recommend is that this book would have been so much enjoyable if I have opted to get and read the physical copy instead of the Audiobook. Listening to the Audibobook for 12 hours with lots of rewind just to get reoriented about who’s talking can certainly give you lots of frustration. But all in all, I still enjoyed this book particularly if you are in a mood for solitude and warm cups of cocoa. 😀

In the early 1930's one discovers a cast of characters set in the South of Georgia on an Island just off the coast, called Cumberland Island. Told from the viewpoint of multiple characters the story unfolds and tells of local lore, racism, hope, love, despair, friendship and community. The author does an amazing job of capturing the time period and place through her characters and their stories.

The Fabled Earth is a beautifully written dual timeline historical fiction novel set on Cumberland Island. Filled with complex characters and beautiful imagery, this book is an absolute gem.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration done by Cassandra Campbell, but I will be purchasing the hardcover when it is released. This is an exquisite novel to be savored slowly and I believe I will enjoy it even more when read on the page.

This is the first Kimberly Brock book that I have listened to and it definitely won’t be my last.

I would recommend this title to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, great southern writers and stunningly gorgeous prose.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Focus and Kimberly Brock for this most enjoyable ALC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse books for this ARC for review. This was a beautiful and enchanting novel that sweeps back in forth in time between what happens in 1932 and what happens in 1959. As the story weaves itself together, you find out how Cleo has come to where she is and what happened to her and around her to make her the recluse she is now. This story was both beautiful and heartbreaking as secrets are revealed and lives were lost. This was my first Kimberly Brock novel, but it will not be my last.

1932 and 1959 Cumberland Island, GA

Frances comes to Cumberland Island to understand some of the legends of this mysterious island's history as well as to find out more about her mother. The Carnegie family left a big footprint here from the Gilded Age with their mansions. In 1959 Cleo, a reclusive painter living the old servant's quarters, just wants to be left alone yet Frances wants to talk to her to ask some questions.

The premise of the story intrigued me. And the writing is beautifully descriptive, yet so much description in a character driven book of 400 pages with little plot in the story line left me wanting more. The narration was well done but it still did not keep me engaged.

My thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins Focus for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

A beautiful dual time line story telling us about Cleo Woodbine.
In 1932 something happened which made Cleo a recluse. That night changed for many. Someone knew comes to town and the mystery of that night will be revealed. Brock a way of weaving a beautiful, heartfelt novel. Cumberland Island in Georgia is on my bucket list. The characters are complex and the area sounds gorgeous.

Narrated by Cassandra Campbell
Presented by Harper Collins Focus

A sprawling, tangled weave of lives and stories.

I enjoyed it, but I did tune out a couple of times.

This is a historical fiction that follows three different women in two different times - Cleo in 1932, then again in 1959 alongside Frances and Audrey. They've all found themselves on Cumberland Island for different reasons, but their paths inextricably intertwine.

I enjoyed the flicking between times, and meeting Cleo at two very different points in life. It was fascinating to see how the times and events had changed her, and our first meeting left quite an impact that echoed well throughout the story.

Frances and Audrey were equally interesting characters, though admittedly not quite as fascinating to me.

There's a mystery and dead boys looming over everything, so there's a drive to get to the bottom of things there and work out what happened. Once it was solved, however, I felt the story dragged on a little. I think part of that may be because I tuned out a little, so had no burning desire to see what became of everyone afterwards.

The narration was decent and eloquent, but never particularly inspiring. The characters sounded similar, and nothing in the narration really stood out for me. It was okay, but I think it was part of the reason I found myself tuning out.

With that in mind, I think this would make a really excellent physical read. I think there's a lot of substance in the details here, so reading physically would really draw out that pleasure.

For fans of historical fiction, this is an excellent read. The characters are well rounded, and the writing will thoroughly drag you in. The fables were a little lacking for my tastes, but the story was entertaining enough to survive it and I found myself getting caught up in events easily.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC