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.

1932, entering the Gilded Age in southern Georgia. After a lively party, lives are lost. Then in 1959, a reclusive painter is visited by a man who saved her life. Another finds a photo from 1932 that opens up the mystery. Pay attention, the twists and turns took me for quite a ride.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Fabled Earth, by Kimberly Brock, is a luxuriant historical novel about Cumberland Island, Georgia, and the relationship between its residents and the landscape. The book moves seamlessly between 1932 and 1959 and explores how the stories we tell impact generations. The characters - including the landscape - are rendered beautifully. What an enchanting novel!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC; all opinions are my own.

Wow. Kimberly Brock has such a lyrical, beautiful voice - she created shimmering threads and wove them together into a gorgeous story. It reminds me of many things: ghost stories and The Great Gatsby, and fairy tales and epic Southern Fiction.

There are a lot of characters, and skips back and forth in time, but hang in with it - you'll be as entranced as I was!

The Fabled Earth is a compelling novel that intertwines themes of family, memory, and redemption. Brock, known for her rich, lyrical prose and deep character development, weaves a narrative that captures the complexities of human relationships and the haunting power of the past.

The story centers around a woman who returns to her childhood home after the death of her estranged mother. As she delves into the remnants of her mother's life and the secrets buried within, she uncovers truths that challenge her understanding of her family and herself. The novel spans multiple generations, revealing how the past continuously shapes the present.

Kimberly Brock's writing is evocative and immersive. Her ability to create a strong sense of place and time draws readers into the world of the novel. The writing is heartfelt and poetic, capturing the beauty and pain of the characters' experiences.

The Fabled Earth is a beautifully written novel that offers a profound look at the bonds that tie us to our families and the land. It’s a story of healing and hope, perfect for readers who enjoy deep, emotional narratives with richly developed characters and settings. This book is a memorable and impactful read that I recommend for everyone.

I was completely immersed in this rich and glorious novel. The Fabled Earth is so rich, with numerous layers that reveal the complexity of its characters and the tales that weave them all together. This is true southern fiction, with its folklores and legends, history and suspense, secrets and betrayals. The story switches between two timelines, both historical, which come together in a way that is breathtaking in its honesty. We are introduced to a wide range of characters, each one of them an important cog in this revolving story that explores the changing world and its repercussions on this small community. Readers will be captivated by the legends of Cumberland Island, and enthralled by the folks who have lived, loved, and survived all of its storms.

I very much enjoyed this book. Folklore, mystery, history...it had everything a good historical novel needs. A very talented author

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy for an unbiased review. The Fabled Earth was a piece of literature that is meant to be savored, chewed and digested. It is just that good.

The novel is set in two timelines in a backwater town off of the southern Georgia coast - Cumberland Island. It takes place in 1932 and then in 1957. It deals with a specific group of people - some family, some friends, some neighbors and some descendants from 1932 in a quaint small town named Revery.

The events of 1932 remain important in 1959 just as the town is getting ready to integrate their schools.

I woke up during the night and started to think about the characters in this book and how their lives were entwined with each other. I had trouble falling back to sleep. It has left such an impression that I just sought out another book by Kimberly Brock dealing with the lost colony of Roanoke.
This is my favorite book of the year - congratulations, Kimberly Brock!

The Fabled Earth is a book to savor on a long, redolent afternoon, with a glass of sweet tea and time to fully immerse yourself in the wondrous atmosphere of historic Cumberland Island. Kimberly Brock's lush, lyrical prose is transportive, and her cast of colorful, memorable characters will entrance readers craving an authentically Southern story with a touch of melancholic, earthy fabulism. Spanning generations, this hypnotic tale delights with an exquisitely poignant reverance for the places and people of coastal Georgia. Highly, highly recommend!

Kimberly Brock writes a gorgeous story and The Fabled Earth is her latest book. The story is told in dual timelines of 1932 and 1959 and tells the story of Cleo Woodbine. In 1959 she has lived pretty much as a recluse since the happenings on a night in 1932 changed the lives of all involved forever. When Frances comes to town all of the secrets and mysteries start to be uncovered.

5 huge stars for another Kimberly Brock masterpiece. Thank you Netgalley and Harper Muse for the honor to read and review this book!

This Southern Historical story follows three strong women, Cleo, Audrey, and Francis in the lush setting of Cumberland Island off the coast of Southern Georgia. The novel shifts point of view by time periods of 1932 and 1959 showcasing the three unique perspectives on this interesting life and rich location which frames the narrative of a woman’s search to uncover the mysteries and secrets of her mother.
I greatly appreciated the beautiful writing and the obvious research Ms. Brock put into the story, bringing both the elements of Cumberland Island and the time periods to life. I had a special fondness Cleo who is the opening point of view, and especially was interested in the house party at Plum Orchard and how all the intriguing elements would resolve. My pages turned quickly, as I wanted to see how Cleo’s story unfolded with the parallel narratives reflecting the happenings which changed lives through the years.
A delightful and engaging read.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse for allowing me to read this advanced copy for an unbiased review

Beautifully written, this was a book I savored for the plot, the characters and the writing itself. Thank you to a Netgalley and the publisher.

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 were revealed and lives were lost. This was my first Kimberly Brock novel, but it will not be my last.

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.

I really enjoyed this book. Set on the coast of Georgia, the book goes back and forth between the present and the past. I thought the characters were well developed and I liked the way the mysteries were revealed. When I finished the book, I it felt like I’d traveled down south and become part of their community. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

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.

The Fabled Earth is truly a lush, gorgeous novel. Some may deem it a “quiet” book, dwelling in character, emotion, and description rather than high stakes action. But the voices and characters populating this mysterious Southern landscape captivated me throughout. The 1932 timeline also drove my keen interest, with eagerness to know what transpired on the dramatic summer evening that altered the course of so many promising young lives. This is definitely a recommended, atmospheric read. Thank you for the complimentary copy!

The Fabled Earth,by Kimberly Brock is a wonderful character driven story. It's delicious, moody, and rich, and I enjoyed every page. If you like dual timelines, historical fiction, or women's fiction then this is your book.

What an interesting story centered around Cumberland Island. These characters are so wonderful and entertaining. I can’t even pick a favorite. This has a wonderful story line, which takes place in two separate time frames. I felt like I was right there with these folks. I loved it!! I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Brock’s writing is like slowly slipping into the waters of coastal Southern Georgia, one toe at a time, bit by bit, until you’re fully submerged in an entirely different time and place.

Mesmerizing, rich with mystery, and rooted not in the past but in truths as old as time . . . that myths and legends and monsters far worse than the ones found in fables roam the earth and that disaster can become our salvation if we allow it.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Oh my, Kimberly Brock has written another amazing and unbelievable story. She will take you to a place filled with fable, truth, love, hate, despair, sadness, history, and mystery. You will meet and get to know all of these well written characters, as you will become part of their story. You will meet the Buie family, Harl, Nan, Amanda, and Archie, along with Will Tremmons, Glenn & Jimmy Walker, Ambrose Devane or Rosey, Frances Flood, Audrey Howell, Cleo Woodbine, Tate Walker, Joanna Burton, Lumas Gray, Ellis Piedmont, Dr. Johnston & Morrie, grandaddy Dooley, and so many more amazing characters.

There are so many parts in the story that will have you holding your breath in what you witness unfolding in disbelief. The aftermath at Marvel movie theater outside with Will, Audrey and the Buie's, wow. What happens in June 1932 with Joanna on the rings at the Dungeness pool was shocking. The fable story of Lorelei and her pearls. The mystery of what happens to Lumas Gray & Ellis Piedmont. Cleo getting shot. The fire 🔥at Dungeness Mansion. Many more events, some true some not.

I love the friendship that happens between Frances and Audrey. The love in the old & new friendship between Cleo & Tate and Frances & Rosey. The relationship that Cleo has with the tagalongs, Little Hannah, making faces at her in the window, the fiddler that kept her up at nights, Grim the black dog 🐕, scratching at her door, and there's the giant, the Timucuan, all truly unforgettable.

I highly recommend this beautiful tale of The Fabled Earth, a 5 ⭐ read.

I enjoyed discovering this new place and hope to one day visit Cumberland Island.
https://www.nps.gov/cuis/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Muse Books, and Kimberly Brock for the e-book advance reader copy.

Kimberly Brock's new book, her third, THE FABLED EARTH, is a beautifully written, compelling story that will grab you from page one!

This is my first book by Kimberly Brock. I almost didn't read/listen to it. I'm so very happy that I did. It was so good. A bit of magic mixed in with history. Descriptions that took my breath away. This book had so many feelings. It kept me turning the pages. Even a couple of things that I was afraid would not be cleared up certainly were. In the best way.

This is about three women. More but mostly three. Cleo, Audrey, and Frances. A few secondary characters that you will love. Maybe a couple you won't like but they may grow on you. But the story is about a town and a small island. About things that happened in the past that shaped how the future of the town would be. Back when people were discriminated against for the color of their skin and ethnic makeup. Be it Black or Indian.

You learn a lot about each women throughout. Each chapter is told from or about each one with Fables written in at times to keep you knowing what happened back when Cleo was young and had first come to the island. The friendships that some made. How the boys/men pretty much did what they wanted. They didn't have many cares. They drank and pretended to hunt. Had parties and bonfires. You get to know a few of the boys better.

The magic of the water. The tunnels that run under some buildings. The library. And the theatre. I loved reading about these things. It makes you feel like you are right there. The boarding house and the boy named Jimmy. I adored him.

This book is well researched. I listened to that Author's notes at the end of the audio and it was very interesting. I think she did a great job with this book. It's a wonderful story.

Thank you #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsFocus, #HarperMuse, for this ARC. This is my true thoughts about this book.

Five big stars.

A master of Southern storytelling, Kimberly Brock, returns with her latest masterpiece, THE FABLED EARTH, following the success of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare. Her unique storytelling style, blending Southern charm, historical fiction, mystery, and a touch of magic, will surely captivate readers.

From the striking front cover that evokes the Southern landscape to the picturesque haunted setting and the dual timelines that weave through the region's rich history—THE FABLED EARTH is a journey that will immerse readers in the unique culture and landscape of the South from beginning to end.

About...

Cumberland Island —Georgia Coast

1932. The Carnegie family comes seasonally to visit the island with the grand mansions, wealth, luxury, and America's finest families. Young men come to hunt. There are parties with debutantes hoping to be engaged to the next rich young man. A party at Plum Orchard turns deadly. A young heiress and a young female artist (her chaperone). By the end of the stay, two are dead.

1959. The reclusive artist Cleo Woodbine has lived for decades on a tiny strip of land (Kingdom Come) once occupied by servants for the rich near Cumberland. She is visited by a man who saved her life 30 years earlier.

Frances Flood is a folklorist who visits Cumberland Island to seek the source of a legend and information about her mother, who was among the guests at a long-ago hunting party.

Audrey Howell, a newlywed/now newly widowed, is running a local inn. When she develops an eerie double-exposure photograph, some believe a ghost—who hasn't been seen since that fateful night in 1932.

From the perspectives of three women and two timelines, their lives connect. A folktale meets reality when this rich, complex, and lyrical Southern tale unveils hidden truths of the past.

My thoughts...

MESMERIZING! Rich in history and character—Southern storytelling at its finest! Exquisite and lyrical, infused with mystery and intrigue, Kimberly DAZZLES! Top Books of 2024.

THE FABLED EARTH is an evocative, rich Southern folklore and mythology tapestry. Brock weaves a hauntingly beautiful, all-encompassing narrative, as is the Southern landscape itself, making it a must-read for fans of these themes.

Brock captivates in this lush, rich, fully immersive, enthralling magical tale as the characters come alive on the page with their depth and complexity.

Come and meet the characters and strong women who survived the storms in Kimberly Brock's latest masterpiece, full of mystery, twists, and intrigue. THE FABLED EARTH is a perfect selection for book clubs and further discussions. Topics: race, class, prejudice, and the power of stories.

Audiobook...

The audiobook, narrated by the dazzling Cassandra Campbell (a favorite), is a must-listen! Brock and Campbell are a perfect match! Her voice, a favorite among many, was perfect for the three women, and I highly recommend it for an enhanced reading experience.

Recs...

Cleverly crafted and beautifully written—for fans of the author and those who enjoy works of Sarah Addison Allen, Alice Hoffman, Kate Morton, Delia Owens, and Patti Callahan Henry.

#AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A...

Sign up for my newsletter for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A ride with Kimberly, where we delve behind THE FABLED EARTH and explore the mind of this multi-talented author. Don't miss this exciting opportunity on Oct 1.

Special thanks to HarperCollins Focus and Harper Muse for an advanced review copy (e-book) and listening copy (audio) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Oct 1, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
Oct 2024 Must-Read Books
Oct #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A
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Actions have consequences that can last a lifetime as they resonant through the lives of every witness to an event in 1932. The circles will still be expanding in 1959 when an ousider questions the fables that have grown for the last 27 years. Each story started with a grain of truth, then grew to fit the needs of the person who owns that fable. Celine has lived here her whole adult life and knows how much truth has been told and how much is still hidden. When a young woman comes looking for her mother's truth, Celine will pull away the curtains to finally tell the whole truth.
Kimberly Brock has done an excellent job of building the stories and the charcters into a believable mix of every extreme you'd find in a Southern tourist laden town such as Cumberland Island. Both timelines bear the weight of the lives of those who'd never left the island and those who'd left the first chance they had. When you mix the back stories with the individual fables, you'll heave a long sigh when done. A book to be savored.

📖 Book Review: the Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock 📖


Kimberly Brock has fashioned an enchanting Southern fiction set off the coast of Georgia. It’s 1959, Cleo Woodbine, a reclusive artist, has lived alone for over 30 years on a tiny patch of land, called Kingdom Come off Cumberland Island. Cleo is both admired for her paintings of the fantastical characters found in a famed book of folktales written by her grandfather, and feared for the “Glory” she is thought to concoct to make people see and believe what she wants.” One day a letter arrives, unleashing ghosts from the past. Cleo is transported to 1932, to a party on Plum Orchard, she and a group of young people set off for a night of revelry and storytelling around a bonfire. A series of unexpected events unfold - passions flare, lives are lost, reputations ruined, and the myth of the Revery river siren is born.

I was thoroughly taken in by this emersive tale about the messy ties that bind us to the past, loss, redemption, and the slippery fish that is memory. The Fabled Earth would make a perfect book club selection. Brock gives the reader an ensemble of richly drawn characters, some you will love and some you will love to hate. A story with a strong sense of place and the changing tides of time, and where stories blur the line between reality and myth. And no Southern tale would be complete without a long string of secrets to untangle.

Many thanks to the author @KimberlyBrock, @HarperMuse and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Kimberly Brock's Fabled Earth is a beautiful story that sweeps readers into Cumberland Island, Georgia's hauntingly beautiful and mysterious landscape. This dual-timeline novel, set in 1932 and 1959, masterfully intertwines Southern mythology, historical fiction, and personal reckonings, offering a deeply immersive reading experience.

Brock's vivid prose immerses you in Cumberland Island's unique and dangerous atmosphere, making the setting a central character in the novel. You can almost feel the island's untamed wilderness, the fading grandeur of the Carnegie mansions, and the tension between past and present.

At the heart of Fabled Earth are three compelling women—Cleo, Frances, and Audrey—whose lives are intricately connected across time. Brock weaves their narratives with an expert hand, revealing the complexities of their inner worlds while exploring broader themes of loss, legacy, and the weight of untold stories. Each woman faces her own reckoning, shaped by the island's mythology and the real tragedies that haunt its shores. Cleo, in particular, is a fascinating character, her reclusive life as a painter hiding a past filled with secrets. At the same time, Frances' search for truth and Audrey's eerie, ghostly photograph add mystery and intrigue to the story.

What makes Fabled Earth genuinely remarkable is how Brock blends Southern folklore with historical fact, creating a timeless story rooted in the land itself. Much like the characters, the island's secrets are revealed slowly, as the truth of what happened in 1932 is unraveled piece by piece. The result is a captivating mystery that keeps readers hooked until the final, breathtaking revelation.

In short, Fabled Earth is a beautifully told, atmospheric novel that offers a richly immersive escape and a thoughtful meditation on history, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of the past. Kimberly Brock has crafted a book that will linger with readers long after the last page is turned—an unforgettable journey into the heart of the American South. This book is a must-read for fans of Southern Gothic.

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harpermusebooks for the review copy of The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock.

What type of setting would you like to see more of? I love books set in the South and would love to see and read more of them.
In 1932 on Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia, Cleo Woodbine has come to work as a companion to a visitor of the Carnagie family who still maintain an estate on the island. She also wants to explore the island that inspired her grandfather who wrote a classic book of fables as the resident artist of the Carnegies. What dramatic events will occur that will change the lives of so many?

In 1959, Cleo Woodbine is a famous artist and recluse who lives alone on Kingdom Come, a tiny strip of land where the servants from Cumberland Island once lived. Frances Flood has come to visit and find out the truth of what happened to her mother in 1932. Will she uncover secrets from the past?

My thoughts on this novel:
• This story is told in a very interesting way. There are three points of view in 1959 – Cleo, Frances, and Aubrey, a young widow that runs a local inn. The viewpoint told in 1932 is that of “Fable.” It was a great story, but I always wondered how much of it was true, and how much it was a “fable” told through Cleo’s eyes. 1932 was also the story of what happened when Cleo told a “fable” that impacted many lives.

• I enjoyed both the 1932 and 1959 stories equally.

• I loved the main characters and the stories of Cleo, Frances, and Aubrey. The secondary characters were also full-bodied and interesting as well.

• I liked how the mountain lion eludes hunters in both timelines and has lived for thirty years.

• The mystery of 1939 and what exactly happened intrigued me, but the richness of the rest of the story and characters also made me savor the story.

• I loved the setting. I am ready to visit Cumberland Island now. I looked up pictures of the island and both the natural setting and historic buildings are beautiful.

• A great author’s note at the end describes the author’s research into Cumberland Island and its history.

• I enjoyed how a circus train was brought into the story.

• It was interesting how the book goes through societal changes that are occurring and how they impact this community.

Favorite Quotes:
“She let herself recall the days when it had seemed their whole lives waiting beyond the horizon. But their story had turned out to be a fable, a cautionary tale.”

“I thought about Korea. Troops were integrated there. I saw what they could be like and what it should be. I figured it was maybe a place to start. But there’s some that just can’t stop fighting an old battle.”

“What did she know about any of this? Only that fear and blame ended up making monsters out of shadows, and fools out of even the most well-meaning men.”

Overall, The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock was a compelling well written story, with fascinating characters and a great historical mystery.

I loved this. What an enchanting gem overflowing with Southern lore, mythology, ghosts from the past, and all the feels of a book within a book. It’s about stories of lives told, real or not, where folktale meets the truth revealing mysteries and hidden secrets of the island. Of stories that need to be told, especially of one night in 1932 (which currently still lives on in 1959). There’s so many things I enjoyed starting with the atmospheric setting in and around Cumberland Island, strong female influences, the mystery aspect and a once-in-a-century storm. This is a great example of conflicts relating to the South at the time; -racism, classism and gender inequality. The dual timelines of 1932 and 1959 and multiple POVs tell the fascinating stories of Cleo, Audrey and Francis, and of decisions made that have a reckoning that follows them to the end of their days. This has to be my favorite historical of the year. Bravo to Brock for writing this incredibly immersive, escapist novel. 5 stars — Pub. 10/1/24

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

The Fabled Earth is a historical novel set on Cumberland Island, Georgia. In 1932, a hunting party goes out of control and lives are irreparably changed. In 1959, three women (a painter, a folklorist, and an innkeeper) look into what happened at that faithful party.

I wanted to read this novel because I'm a Georgia native and the Cumberland Island setting was intriguing. I also love historical fiction and found the dual timeline story interesting.

This is an engrossing and well written novel with exceptional period details. The author does a wonderful job at depicting another time and place. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend The Fabled Earth to other historical fiction readers!

I adored THE LOST BOOK OF ELEANOR DARE so when I heard that Kimberly Brock had a new book coming out, I couldn't wait. It's safe to say, she didn't disappoint. THE FABLED EARTH is one of the best books I've read this year.

This intricate, multi-textured book touches on so many themes: Death and Rebirth, Forgiveness, Mothers and Daughters, Change, Letting go the Past, Racism, and of course, the Power of Story. Brock weaves them together like a spider web and the result is an atmospheric, gothic tale.

In 1932, tragedy struck Cumberland Island, Georgia. Two men died and a young woman was sent home in shame. Now, twenty-seven years later, that past comes roaring back to upset the lives of three women: Cleo Woodbine, a reclusive artist; Frances Flood, a folklore scholar with ties to the island; and Audrey Howell, a twenty-year-old widow who runs the local in. The women's lives intersect as little by little, they uncover the true story behind what happened in 1932. In doing so, not only do they learn who they are, but they discover that the stories we tell ourselves aren't always the truth.

Brock has a true gift for language. Like in her previous work, THE FABLED EARTH is chock full of imagery and subtext. It's a book you should savor as you read it. The only problem is, the plot has enough twists to keep you reading all night.

Can you tell I adored it? Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.

Kimberly Brock is a master story teller! I've been there since the beginning with The River Witch and then The Lost Book Of Eleanor Dare. She writes place like few others do or can. The Fabled Earth takes us on another unforgettable journey,

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!

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.

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.