Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott is a beautifully written historical fiction novel with a dash of mythology and folklore.
Synopsis
Isla and Blue live with their father, the Great Smith, on a small island in exile. The area was once a Roman settlement known as Londinium. Hundreds of years later, it lays as abandoned ruins called the Ghost City.
Five years ago, Lord Osric exiled the Great Smith after accusations that he was using dark magic to craft his firetongue swords. Now, the Great Smith makes the swords solely for the Lord and, in exchange, receives supplies and protection.
The girls have adjusted to their life in exile. Blue loves the outdoors and has a pet crow to keep her company. Meanwhile, Isla’s father trained her in secret to assist him in making the firetongue swords.
When their father suddenly dies, Isla and Blue scramble to devise a plan to keep themselves safe in a world that doesn’t care about unprotected young women.
Review of Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott
This lyrically written novel weaves together history with myth and folklore. The author uses an archeological artifact dating from A.D. 450 – 550 as an element of this story.
There’s a certain distance in the writing style that made me feel slightly removed from the story. Although, the beautiful writing and high stakes kept me glued to the pages.
I’m more familiar with the Roman Empire than I am with post-Roman rule, so it was interesting reading about this time.
So, I recommend this book if you enjoy character-driven historical fiction with a light touch of fantasy. I’ll definitely read future books by the author.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Expected Publication: 19 July 2022
Thank you to Random House for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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