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A review by andreatypesbraille
Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott
4.0
Dark Earth is an incredibly captivating and unique historical fiction of two sisters living in England in 500 AD.
Isla and Blue are both feared by the rest of their community. The sisters have been exiled with their father as a result of each having a talent or born with a trait that frightens their community, Isla born with eyes of two different colors and Blue who seems destined to a path as a Wiccan. Their father retains some power as he is the last Great Smith, able to create firetongue swords. Then the Great Smith dies and the sisters must figure out how to survive in a world that seems to hate the very idea of them.
The story is told over 5 parts. I found so much of the story to be well-paced and exciting. There were some excellent action scenes and the descriptions were beautiful. But the end of the book seemed rushed. Suddenly the answer is seemingly dropped at the heroines’ feet and boom, everything is solved. I was disappointed in that aspect, but overall rated the book a 4 star for how magical the storytelling was.
I had the pleasure of both reading an electronic copy and listening to an audiobook of Dark Earth. While the book itself is wonderful, and also contains a map that is helpful in envisioning the communities, I really have to credit the audiobook for really capturing my attention. The narrator, Hannah Morris’s, does an absolute superb job in bringing to life Isla, Blue and the rest of the characters, even the nefarious Vort. I blitzed through the audiobook in 2 days while working.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Isla and Blue are both feared by the rest of their community. The sisters have been exiled with their father as a result of each having a talent or born with a trait that frightens their community, Isla born with eyes of two different colors and Blue who seems destined to a path as a Wiccan. Their father retains some power as he is the last Great Smith, able to create firetongue swords. Then the Great Smith dies and the sisters must figure out how to survive in a world that seems to hate the very idea of them.
The story is told over 5 parts. I found so much of the story to be well-paced and exciting. There were some excellent action scenes and the descriptions were beautiful. But the end of the book seemed rushed. Suddenly the answer is seemingly dropped at the heroines’ feet and boom, everything is solved. I was disappointed in that aspect, but overall rated the book a 4 star for how magical the storytelling was.
I had the pleasure of both reading an electronic copy and listening to an audiobook of Dark Earth. While the book itself is wonderful, and also contains a map that is helpful in envisioning the communities, I really have to credit the audiobook for really capturing my attention. The narrator, Hannah Morris’s, does an absolute superb job in bringing to life Isla, Blue and the rest of the characters, even the nefarious Vort. I blitzed through the audiobook in 2 days while working.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.