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Dark Earth
The year is 500 AD. Sisters Isla and Blue live in the shadows of the Ghost City, the abandoned ruins of the once-glorious mile-wide Roman settlement Londinium on the bank of the River Thames. But the small island they call home is also a place of exile for Isla, Blue, and their father, a legendary blacksmith accused of using dark magic to make his firetongue swords—formidable blades that cannot be broken—and cast out from the community. When he dies suddenly, the sisters find themselves facing enslavement by the local warlord and his cruel, power-hungry son. Their only option is to escape to the Ghost City, where they discover an underworld of rebel women living secretly amid the ruins. But if Isla and Blue are to survive the men who hunt them, and protect their new community, they will need to use all their skill and ingenuity—as well as the magic of their foremothers—to fight back.
With an intimate yet cinematic scope, Dark Earth re-creates an ancient world steeped in myth and folklore, and introduces us to unforgettable women who come to vibrant life on the page. A heart-in-mouth adventure full of moments of tenderness, this is a beautiful, profound novel about oppression and power that puts a female perspective on a historical period dominated by men’s stories.
With an intimate yet cinematic scope, Dark Earth re-creates an ancient world steeped in myth and folklore, and introduces us to unforgettable women who come to vibrant life on the page. A heart-in-mouth adventure full of moments of tenderness, this is a beautiful, profound novel about oppression and power that puts a female perspective on a historical period dominated by men’s stories.
344 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2022
191 people are currently reading
25122 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Stott
26 books255 followersRebecca Stott was born in Cambridge in 1964 and raised in Brighton in a large Plymouth Brethren community. She studied English and Art History at York University and then completed an MA and PhD whilst raising her son, Jacob, born in 1984.
She is the author of several academic books on Victorian literature and culture, two books of non-fiction, including a partial biography of Charles Darwin, and a cultural history of the oyster. She is now a Professor of English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. She has three children, Jacob, Hannah and Kezia and has lived in Cambridge since 1993. She has made several radio programmes for Radio Four.
Her first novel, Ghostwalk, is published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson in the UK, is the launch novel of the new fiction list of Spiegel and Grau in the US (a new division of Random House) and is being translated into 12 different languages including Russian and Chinese.
She is writing her next novel, The Coral Thief.
She is the author of several academic books on Victorian literature and culture, two books of non-fiction, including a partial biography of Charles Darwin, and a cultural history of the oyster. She is now a Professor of English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. She has three children, Jacob, Hannah and Kezia and has lived in Cambridge since 1993. She has made several radio programmes for Radio Four.
Her first novel, Ghostwalk, is published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson in the UK, is the launch novel of the new fiction list of Spiegel and Grau in the US (a new division of Random House) and is being translated into 12 different languages including Russian and Chinese.
She is writing her next novel, The Coral Thief.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 534 reviews
July 7, 2022
Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott is a beautifully written historical fiction novel with a dash of mythology and folklore.
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.
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.
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.
Thank you to Random House for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
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.
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.
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.
Thank you to Random House for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
June 13, 2022
AD 500. An island in the Thames is home to Isla and Blue. Their father was a blacksmith legendary for his swords. The local warlord kept an eye on him since he believed that those swords brought him luck. But the father just died and the girls keep it a secret for a reason. They don’t want to be enslaved.
From the backstories, we learn that Isla secretly learned her father’s trade and Blue commuted with animals and plants. But I wanted a bit more of that to help me connect with those characters.
The story is richly steeped in myth and folklore, which I like. However, the richness of those mystical believes made it challenging for me to connect with the world the girls lived in. I think, this story is probably good for those who enjoy historical fiction with a mixture of fantasy.
This story of two sisters who live in the Dark Ages and is dominated by men offers also some adventure as the young women have to forge a way for themselves. It is beautifully written, but I think it’s more for those who enjoy fantasy aspect.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From the backstories, we learn that Isla secretly learned her father’s trade and Blue commuted with animals and plants. But I wanted a bit more of that to help me connect with those characters.
The story is richly steeped in myth and folklore, which I like. However, the richness of those mystical believes made it challenging for me to connect with the world the girls lived in. I think, this story is probably good for those who enjoy historical fiction with a mixture of fantasy.
This story of two sisters who live in the Dark Ages and is dominated by men offers also some adventure as the young women have to forge a way for themselves. It is beautifully written, but I think it’s more for those who enjoy fantasy aspect.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2024
Once upon a time, in the early days when I took Latin, my class spent two sessions watching a PBS adaptation of David Macaulay's City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction. The program featured alternating segments of an animated story about early Romans building a city in Gaul while managing relations with their new Celtic neighbors, and live-action discussions about ancient architecture and Roman life. It was super basic, but it was for kids and we loved it. To this day, I remember it fondly.
Dark Earth reminded me of that program but in a bad way. Rudimentary as a children’s history, but wholly without charm. Textureless, and without a single breath of life.
Told in present tense, the story follows sisters Isla and Blue as they slowly walk the reader through life in 500 AD Britain. This is not to say the world is vivid and textured; rather, it's like an early side-scrolling game, where things and environs don't exist until you get to them.
Everything—whether it be characters, clothing, buildings, memories, etc.—only springs into being when the story calls for them. The present tense doesn't help any, as it makes every action and description seem arbitrary. Perhaps an engaging POV would've been useful, but Isla and Blue are so flat. They're only distinct from each other in their hobbies. They interact with each other and the world strangely, saying things embarrassingly too on the nose only because they're characters in a historical fiction book.
Examples:
- Page 272 (Blue), "There are so many different kinds of feelings in the world, and so few words for them. If I was a God, I would make more words for people to use. I’d take words from different tongues and mix them up and join them together to make hundreds of new ones, one that fit better.”
- Page 289 (Isla), “Perhaps someone will find my brooch in hundreds and hundreds of years’ time. Perhaps they will wonder who dropped it.”
Like the sisters, their villains and friends are equally one-dimensional, resulting in a historical landscape that's just staid.
There is also a supernatural element that is poorly implemented. At times, both Blue and Isla experience visions, with everyone seeming to understand that Blue in particular is a witch. There are also instances when characters see ghosts. But, as this is a story rooted in our world history, it doesn't commit to whether this is real magic or just coincidence/misunderstanding due to the time period. It ends, however, with a flash-forward where modern people see ghosts dancing at the historical site, and a "clairvoyant" sees a vision of these women’s past, which is just goofy. It makes a non-comment on why women’s history gets forgotten, but having it validated by a so-called medium isn’t the strong statement the author thinks it is…
Dark Earth reminded me of that program but in a bad way. Rudimentary as a children’s history, but wholly without charm. Textureless, and without a single breath of life.
Told in present tense, the story follows sisters Isla and Blue as they slowly walk the reader through life in 500 AD Britain. This is not to say the world is vivid and textured; rather, it's like an early side-scrolling game, where things and environs don't exist until you get to them.
Everything—whether it be characters, clothing, buildings, memories, etc.—only springs into being when the story calls for them. The present tense doesn't help any, as it makes every action and description seem arbitrary. Perhaps an engaging POV would've been useful, but Isla and Blue are so flat. They're only distinct from each other in their hobbies. They interact with each other and the world strangely, saying things embarrassingly too on the nose only because they're characters in a historical fiction book.
Examples:
- Page 272 (Blue), "There are so many different kinds of feelings in the world, and so few words for them. If I was a God, I would make more words for people to use. I’d take words from different tongues and mix them up and join them together to make hundreds of new ones, one that fit better.”
- Page 289 (Isla), “Perhaps someone will find my brooch in hundreds and hundreds of years’ time. Perhaps they will wonder who dropped it.”
Like the sisters, their villains and friends are equally one-dimensional, resulting in a historical landscape that's just staid.
There is also a supernatural element that is poorly implemented. At times, both Blue and Isla experience visions, with everyone seeming to understand that Blue in particular is a witch. There are also instances when characters see ghosts. But, as this is a story rooted in our world history, it doesn't commit to whether this is real magic or just coincidence/misunderstanding due to the time period. It ends, however, with a flash-forward where modern people see ghosts dancing at the historical site, and a "clairvoyant" sees a vision of these women’s past, which is just goofy. It makes a non-comment on why women’s history gets forgotten, but having it validated by a so-called medium isn’t the strong statement the author thinks it is…
June 26, 2022
Isla and Blue live with their father, The Great Smith, on a small island where they’ve been exiled due to accusations of using dark magic. Their father makes firetongue swords for the local warlord in exchange for food and goods, though Isla has secretly been helping her father with his tasks in the forge. But when tragedy strikes, the sisters find themselves at the mercy of the warlord and his cruel son. Will they be able to escape the dangers that await them?
This was a stunning read. The author chose a fascinating but obscure time in history for the setting of this work – post-Roman Britain. The amount of historical research that was put into this work was evident through details included about the setting, the culture, lifeways, and the interactions between the physical and spiritual worlds. Myth, legend, and lore were incorporated so thoroughly into this story in a meaningful way that added depth to the plot and the characters. I especially enjoyed the Roman (Sun King) ruins and the role they played in the world of Dark Age Britain.
Though this work didn’t have much plot, I still found it to be a compelling read based off the details of the world and the cultures. I also enjoyed the magical realism aspect of the work and how lore, myths, and spirituality affected the characters’ decisions and actions.
While the story follows two sisters, I felt that their relationship and development were a little lacking. They have very different personalities, which leads to miscommunications throughout the work; however, they were each other’s only true companion for so many years, that I felt this cheapened their relationship. Similarly, the other relationships in the work felt rushed, as if they took a backseat to the setting and its details.
I highly enjoyed this work. It was engaging and made for a quick and interesting read, with gorgeous descriptions and really well written mythology.
I received a complimentary copy of this work through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This was a stunning read. The author chose a fascinating but obscure time in history for the setting of this work – post-Roman Britain. The amount of historical research that was put into this work was evident through details included about the setting, the culture, lifeways, and the interactions between the physical and spiritual worlds. Myth, legend, and lore were incorporated so thoroughly into this story in a meaningful way that added depth to the plot and the characters. I especially enjoyed the Roman (Sun King) ruins and the role they played in the world of Dark Age Britain.
Though this work didn’t have much plot, I still found it to be a compelling read based off the details of the world and the cultures. I also enjoyed the magical realism aspect of the work and how lore, myths, and spirituality affected the characters’ decisions and actions.
While the story follows two sisters, I felt that their relationship and development were a little lacking. They have very different personalities, which leads to miscommunications throughout the work; however, they were each other’s only true companion for so many years, that I felt this cheapened their relationship. Similarly, the other relationships in the work felt rushed, as if they took a backseat to the setting and its details.
I highly enjoyed this work. It was engaging and made for a quick and interesting read, with gorgeous descriptions and really well written mythology.
I received a complimentary copy of this work through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
July 31, 2022
Rebecca Stott’s hauntingly beautiful, mythical writing style was my favorite element of this novel. With intriguing characters, a rich historical setting, and a blend of Roman, Celtic, Norse, lore and religions, I was instantly swept away to 500 A.D. Londinium.
I think the beginning had such a powerful story and so much potential, but then the pacing slowed down, and I found myself waiting for something big, or exciting to happen. I can’t say Dark Earth was boring, but it was definitely slower paced then I usually prefer. However I did enjoy the sisterly bond shared between the main characters, every moment in the forge, and their unique sense of humor.
After reading the acknowledgements, it’s now obvious how much research went into writing this. And I love the fact real historical artifacts and dig sites helped shape this story.
Thank you to Rebecca Stott and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I think the beginning had such a powerful story and so much potential, but then the pacing slowed down, and I found myself waiting for something big, or exciting to happen. I can’t say Dark Earth was boring, but it was definitely slower paced then I usually prefer. However I did enjoy the sisterly bond shared between the main characters, every moment in the forge, and their unique sense of humor.
After reading the acknowledgements, it’s now obvious how much research went into writing this. And I love the fact real historical artifacts and dig sites helped shape this story.
Thank you to Rebecca Stott and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
June 9, 2022
3.5 stars
*ARC provided by Random House Publishing. This will be published on July 19, 2022*
I think this would have been received better as an audiobook.
Overall it was enjoyable but not memorable. For being a sister's/sibling story and having a beautiful and intriguing atmosphere of somewhere around 500 AD in England, it had aspects that were lacking. It's entirely character-driven but even with little plot, I expected more. Isla is much more 'see things for what they are' while her sister Blue is the mysterious and observing of the two. There was almost a lack of communication. Everything seemed very surface level with deeper information being sidelined or not cared for to be brought into this story and so it diminished what this could have been.
*ARC provided by Random House Publishing. This will be published on July 19, 2022*
I think this would have been received better as an audiobook.
Overall it was enjoyable but not memorable. For being a sister's/sibling story and having a beautiful and intriguing atmosphere of somewhere around 500 AD in England, it had aspects that were lacking. It's entirely character-driven but even with little plot, I expected more. Isla is much more 'see things for what they are' while her sister Blue is the mysterious and observing of the two. There was almost a lack of communication. Everything seemed very surface level with deeper information being sidelined or not cared for to be brought into this story and so it diminished what this could have been.
October 11, 2022
3.5 stars -- I should've read it, rather than listened to it. My hunch is that I would've enjoyed it more.
July 24, 2022
I didn't hate the audiobook but I just couldn't get invested in the plot or the characters. Geely like I couldn't get into the story just standing outside of it, not getting it. Perhaps it's the format that didn't work for me and I would enjoy it more as a physical book. But for now it's a more of a 2.5 stars
December 28, 2022
I have a tenuous relationship with fantasy books. I either love them or have no patience for them. This one was a joy to read, a perfect balance of both straightforward storytelling and lush prose. The style is both easygoing and captivating.
Maybe it's historical fantasy that's my jam.
Maybe it's historical fantasy that's my jam.
August 20, 2023
I honestly don’t even really know what to say about this book, but I’m really disappointed because the vibes seemed exactly like something I’d love. I don’t even know where it went wrong because I don’t think it’s objectively a bad book, it just was not for me. Starting with the positives: it was actually very well written and it had a surprise sapphic storyline at the end which I was very here for. It also contained a sister relationship that I really liked and was well executed on page. Sadly, other than that, it was a no from me.
I think my main gripe with this book is that a) I had no idea what was happening and b) I don’t even think there was anything happening. If you genuinely had me at gunpoint and asked me to give you a rundown of the plot of this book I would be in danger. It was just the two sisters sort of floating around and having conversations about nothing at all and meeting a few people here and there. There was supposedly some massive danger element throughout but I wasn’t really picking up any tension from the atmosphere of the book at all. And to top it all off, the ending was so abrupt that by the time we got the climax of all this drama we were supposedly leading up to - it ended. I genuinely don’t know what the point of this book was.
To add to this, the characters were ridiculously flat and as a result I was bored out of my mind. This book is very slow moving and with nothing in terms of an actual storyline to grip on to, you’re left in a very slow and painful freefall trying to push yourself through to finish it. The two sisters had a really sweet dynamic, but it didn’t save them from their terrible fate of not really having any personality and being extremely bland to read about. They also both had some sort of attempt at a romantic endeavour too, which was wholly unbelievable to me because there was no real chemistry or development for both of them. It was just a mess.
TLDR; boring, slow, and pointless. I think the author spent five years researching and writing the book to try and perfect each historical detail but very much neglected to actually develop on that to give a reader something to sink their teeth into. A real shame!
I think my main gripe with this book is that a) I had no idea what was happening and b) I don’t even think there was anything happening. If you genuinely had me at gunpoint and asked me to give you a rundown of the plot of this book I would be in danger. It was just the two sisters sort of floating around and having conversations about nothing at all and meeting a few people here and there. There was supposedly some massive danger element throughout but I wasn’t really picking up any tension from the atmosphere of the book at all. And to top it all off, the ending was so abrupt that by the time we got the climax of all this drama we were supposedly leading up to - it ended. I genuinely don’t know what the point of this book was.
To add to this, the characters were ridiculously flat and as a result I was bored out of my mind. This book is very slow moving and with nothing in terms of an actual storyline to grip on to, you’re left in a very slow and painful freefall trying to push yourself through to finish it. The two sisters had a really sweet dynamic, but it didn’t save them from their terrible fate of not really having any personality and being extremely bland to read about. They also both had some sort of attempt at a romantic endeavour too, which was wholly unbelievable to me because there was no real chemistry or development for both of them. It was just a mess.
TLDR; boring, slow, and pointless. I think the author spent five years researching and writing the book to try and perfect each historical detail but very much neglected to actually develop on that to give a reader something to sink their teeth into. A real shame!
November 9, 2022
DNF The writing style was strangely passive, even when describing action. Very much a novel that relies on ‘telling’ not ‘showing’, or as another reviewer put it”lots of words, little action”. Isla was insufferable and all the characters were two dimensional. Reading time is far too valuable to waste on such a frustrating book
May 5, 2022
3.5
A good character driven novel for sure, and one I wouldn't hesitate in recommending. But it never quite pulled me in enough, or impressed me as much as others in the genre.
A good character driven novel for sure, and one I wouldn't hesitate in recommending. But it never quite pulled me in enough, or impressed me as much as others in the genre.
July 1, 2024
No fault to authors but I was truly bored and couldn’t understand what the plot was supposed to be.
July 13, 2022
In theory the set up of Dark Earth was right up my street. A a feminist folk-magic post Roman London adventure, with sisters - one of whom holds the secret of forging really good swords. The idea of what Londinium after the Roman's had withdrawn forces would be like is intriguing, and this suggests pretty run down, with vagrancy and looters ruling the roost. But for some reason the mixture of hard nosed ironmongery and full moon mysticism didn't work for me. On the one hand it holds up its two anachronistic women as modern day heroines, whilst at the same time seemingly plunging them into a society which will make them outcasts almost instantly. Its also very slippery with its folklore, being as ambiguous as it can about its prophecies and dream walks. Perhaps I wanted a sense of London in a nascent form, or perhaps a larger expression of rebellion, but I found it quite hard to finish. Its not badly written but I think something in the structure or execution just didn't connect with me.
[Netgalley ARC]
[Netgalley ARC]
July 25, 2022
I couldn't get into this. I didn't care for the writing style. A lot of short, basic sentences that made the main characters sound like children.
September 27, 2022
This was a disappointing read for me and yet, the premise had been so appealing: a historical novel with a touch of fantasy is just right for me. But 'Dark Earth' proved remote and ultimately failed to engage me.
Firstly, I was put off by Stott's curt style of writing. Although there are touches of the poetic in the odd phrase or description, the writing is simplistic. Sentences are immediate; they are mostly active voice, subject-verb-object, comprising for the most part less than 10 words.
Neither did I connect with characters or plot. I would procrastinate each time I came to read this novel. The folklore and mythology prove too jarring when it comes to fostering empathy for the characters. The character dynamics themselves are somewhat lacklustre.
I can't pinpoint exactly why I felt so detached from Rebecca Stott's latest novel. It should have been such an interesting read, but unfortunately, felt uninspiring.
My thanks are due to 4th Estate at HarperCollins for an advanced copy of the book via Netgalley.
Firstly, I was put off by Stott's curt style of writing. Although there are touches of the poetic in the odd phrase or description, the writing is simplistic. Sentences are immediate; they are mostly active voice, subject-verb-object, comprising for the most part less than 10 words.
Neither did I connect with characters or plot. I would procrastinate each time I came to read this novel. The folklore and mythology prove too jarring when it comes to fostering empathy for the characters. The character dynamics themselves are somewhat lacklustre.
I can't pinpoint exactly why I felt so detached from Rebecca Stott's latest novel. It should have been such an interesting read, but unfortunately, felt uninspiring.
My thanks are due to 4th Estate at HarperCollins for an advanced copy of the book via Netgalley.
October 27, 2022
More like 3.25.
This is yet another book I overall liked, but that I didn't walk away feeling strongly about in either direction. DARK EARTH is not a bad book. You can tell that the author did her research from the impeccable world-building that you can't help but drift into. Combine with the harsh realities of women during this time period contrasted and with a slight twinge of magic, you walk away with an appreciation of the book's feminist themes. I also liked the sisterly bonds between blood sisters Blue and Isla, as well as the community in the Ghost City of women at large. All that said, I didn't resonate with Stott's writing style for some reason I am not sure of. I liked the book, but there was never that moment that hooks me like in books I rate 4 or 5 stars. I also expected there to be a larger fantasy element in this one, but to me it mostly read like historical fiction. It would have been okay for me had I expected it, but alas. So this book falls into the "okay" pile for me ultimately.
This is yet another book I overall liked, but that I didn't walk away feeling strongly about in either direction. DARK EARTH is not a bad book. You can tell that the author did her research from the impeccable world-building that you can't help but drift into. Combine with the harsh realities of women during this time period contrasted and with a slight twinge of magic, you walk away with an appreciation of the book's feminist themes. I also liked the sisterly bonds between blood sisters Blue and Isla, as well as the community in the Ghost City of women at large. All that said, I didn't resonate with Stott's writing style for some reason I am not sure of. I liked the book, but there was never that moment that hooks me like in books I rate 4 or 5 stars. I also expected there to be a larger fantasy element in this one, but to me it mostly read like historical fiction. It would have been okay for me had I expected it, but alas. So this book falls into the "okay" pile for me ultimately.
January 29, 2023
(2.5)
Rep: lesbian mc
CWs: gore, misogynistic violence
Rep: lesbian mc
CWs: gore, misogynistic violence
June 27, 2022
4am review so get ready for some long rant because I LOVED THIS BOOK!
“… so many studies of this period, even now, and historical novels of the period too, focus almost entirely on men.”
‘Dark Earth’ is the kind of historical fiction that is set in a time you think you know all about, but you delve into it only to find yourself utterly in the dark. I have been studying Classics and the historical records of the Ancient Greeks and Romans with keen interest for some time now, along with a customary interest in Norse myths. When I started this novel, this knowledge helped me greatly. But Stott doesn’t dwell amidst the times of history when everything was recorded. Instead, she takes one of those eras that remains shrouded in mystery, lacking written records or tales of certainty. She takes the tales that do survive, monuments that archeologists have excavated, and the myths that happened because of the crossing of a number of cultures, and weaves a story of women and their space in this society.
Londinium in 500AD is a perfect place to set up a story that constructs history from bits and pieces of records, wrought with magic and superstitions and stereotypes whose standing is questioned. Isla and Blue are the central characters, but they are also part of the wide spectrum of experiences that women have gone through, always in the background. It is the story of the growth from innocence to self-discovery for the two sisters. And it is woven beautifully with threads of the lives of everyone they come across, and every place they live in.
Stott displays a great knowledge of Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Germanic people, the occupation of England by the Romans and what remained when they left. The creative construction of localised terms was impressive enough, but the concluding section where the modern muddles with the ancient truly completes the book as one of the best of this year.
I must say, I picked up this book mostly because I liked the blurb, but it was nothing compared to the treasure the novel held. In three hundred pages we have a story that would otherwise be called an epic if it was sung by bards of ancient times, with two brothers instead of sisters. In fact, the story became a legend, only with the vanquishers becoming men.
I loved the tug of war between that what has been taught and that which the heart and destiny lead the girls to. Isla struggles with the taboo of being a female blacksmith and a lesbian, while Blue lives with secrets that break people. Their love for each other and their final reconciliation with love as a multifaceted entity felt a great incorporation. The story blurs the line between true mystic and magic, and senseless rules. The shrouding of a slowly-collapsing Londinium in mythical and historical adds to the effect, and the way characters like Blue and Crowther are constructed fit right in. The novel also perfectly captures the politically disturbed climate of the time. The subtle references to the various ancient English and Roman monuments that barely survive now makes the it a pleasure to read.
Stott is also brilliant at creating the environ of her novel. At times it felt I was myself in the same place, looking at a disembowelled head of a Roman god, or hearing the sharp tong of a Firetongue sword being made. The arc of loss and gradually finding humanises the story despite its magical elements. Most importantly, it goes back to the message that the ancient myths constantly convey: It is not the gods and their temperament that decide our path to fate, it is our own choices. We forge our lives.
This has been a truly pleasurable read, and a cherishable piece of work that can be studied over and over, with all its references to history, myths and archeology.
“… so many studies of this period, even now, and historical novels of the period too, focus almost entirely on men.”
‘Dark Earth’ is the kind of historical fiction that is set in a time you think you know all about, but you delve into it only to find yourself utterly in the dark. I have been studying Classics and the historical records of the Ancient Greeks and Romans with keen interest for some time now, along with a customary interest in Norse myths. When I started this novel, this knowledge helped me greatly. But Stott doesn’t dwell amidst the times of history when everything was recorded. Instead, she takes one of those eras that remains shrouded in mystery, lacking written records or tales of certainty. She takes the tales that do survive, monuments that archeologists have excavated, and the myths that happened because of the crossing of a number of cultures, and weaves a story of women and their space in this society.
Londinium in 500AD is a perfect place to set up a story that constructs history from bits and pieces of records, wrought with magic and superstitions and stereotypes whose standing is questioned. Isla and Blue are the central characters, but they are also part of the wide spectrum of experiences that women have gone through, always in the background. It is the story of the growth from innocence to self-discovery for the two sisters. And it is woven beautifully with threads of the lives of everyone they come across, and every place they live in.
Stott displays a great knowledge of Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Germanic people, the occupation of England by the Romans and what remained when they left. The creative construction of localised terms was impressive enough, but the concluding section where the modern muddles with the ancient truly completes the book as one of the best of this year.
I must say, I picked up this book mostly because I liked the blurb, but it was nothing compared to the treasure the novel held. In three hundred pages we have a story that would otherwise be called an epic if it was sung by bards of ancient times, with two brothers instead of sisters. In fact, the story became a legend, only with the vanquishers becoming men.
I loved the tug of war between that what has been taught and that which the heart and destiny lead the girls to. Isla struggles with the taboo of being a female blacksmith and a lesbian, while Blue lives with secrets that break people. Their love for each other and their final reconciliation with love as a multifaceted entity felt a great incorporation. The story blurs the line between true mystic and magic, and senseless rules. The shrouding of a slowly-collapsing Londinium in mythical and historical adds to the effect, and the way characters like Blue and Crowther are constructed fit right in. The novel also perfectly captures the politically disturbed climate of the time. The subtle references to the various ancient English and Roman monuments that barely survive now makes the it a pleasure to read.
Stott is also brilliant at creating the environ of her novel. At times it felt I was myself in the same place, looking at a disembowelled head of a Roman god, or hearing the sharp tong of a Firetongue sword being made. The arc of loss and gradually finding humanises the story despite its magical elements. Most importantly, it goes back to the message that the ancient myths constantly convey: It is not the gods and their temperament that decide our path to fate, it is our own choices. We forge our lives.
This has been a truly pleasurable read, and a cherishable piece of work that can be studied over and over, with all its references to history, myths and archeology.
June 1, 2022
This book follows Isla and Blue (fantastic names!), who are sisters trying to survive in the early Middle Ages after their father dies. While most of this book takes place during Isla and Blue's present (year 500 AD/CE), some scenes jump back to when they were younger. To me, this felt random and unnecessary, almost as a way to lengthen the book.
A lot of this book's lore depends on the reader being lightly educated in the early Middle Ages. I am a self-proclaimed Medievalist, but plenty of readers will struggle with understanding medieval geography, conflicts, and general terminology.
Adjacently, sometimes using context clues to understand the world-building in fantasy books can work really well, but since this book is low fantasy, and takes place in a real historic empire, it might confuse the reader. I think the use of context clues to guide a reader to understand the world-building implies a high fantasy novel. Someone not well versed in history might not understand that this book is a historical fantasy, and might assume that Rebecca Stott invented the regions and religions. I still don't know if the Sun Kings are a reference to the Roman Kingdom, or if it's Stott's own mythology. It is hard to distinguish fantasy, inspired-by, and history in this book. (After reading the acknowledgments, I have a little bit of respect for this vagueness, but I'm still not sold) The world-building is just horrendous. I know this is a historical fantasy, but the author should not assume that everyone knows what was going on in the early Middle Ages.
Similarly, I have a hard time believing the MCs are gifted in leechcraft, dueling, and smithing. These talents are displayed once or twice, and then never mentioned. With this, the action happened so quickly that I didn't get enough time to really understand the characters. I feel like this book could have been split into two, with more time before the island, on the island, and the journey to the mainland. I really like the idea of this book, but I think it could have been significantly longer. Some of the relationships felt underdeveloped and rushed (I was really hyped for a main sapphic relationship!!) and I just could not connect to them.
Finally, and most artificially, LOOK AT THAT COVER! It's so beautiful! It captures medieval art while also having a pretty modern twist on it. Massive props to the artist!!!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
A lot of this book's lore depends on the reader being lightly educated in the early Middle Ages. I am a self-proclaimed Medievalist, but plenty of readers will struggle with understanding medieval geography, conflicts, and general terminology.
Adjacently, sometimes using context clues to understand the world-building in fantasy books can work really well, but since this book is low fantasy, and takes place in a real historic empire, it might confuse the reader. I think the use of context clues to guide a reader to understand the world-building implies a high fantasy novel. Someone not well versed in history might not understand that this book is a historical fantasy, and might assume that Rebecca Stott invented the regions and religions. I still don't know if the Sun Kings are a reference to the Roman Kingdom, or if it's Stott's own mythology. It is hard to distinguish fantasy, inspired-by, and history in this book. (After reading the acknowledgments, I have a little bit of respect for this vagueness, but I'm still not sold) The world-building is just horrendous. I know this is a historical fantasy, but the author should not assume that everyone knows what was going on in the early Middle Ages.
Similarly, I have a hard time believing the MCs are gifted in leechcraft, dueling, and smithing. These talents are displayed once or twice, and then never mentioned. With this, the action happened so quickly that I didn't get enough time to really understand the characters. I feel like this book could have been split into two, with more time before the island, on the island, and the journey to the mainland. I really like the idea of this book, but I think it could have been significantly longer. Some of the relationships felt underdeveloped and rushed (I was really hyped for a main sapphic relationship!!) and I just could not connect to them.
Finally, and most artificially, LOOK AT THAT COVER! It's so beautiful! It captures medieval art while also having a pretty modern twist on it. Massive props to the artist!!!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 10, 2023
First, I feel obligated to say what a feat of a research project. Truly impressive and imaginative historian work. Definitely one of the better myth retellings out there.
As a novel, it's beautifully written, with an engaging plot and fully fleshed-out characters. I'm also someone who always likes to imagine the daily lives of people who lived a long time ago, so this really scratched this itch. The only criticism I have is that at times, you could really feel this intention, and it could seem a little clumsy or slightly forced in pivotal moments, which kind of took me out of the novel and made me aware that I was reading an imagined past.
All in all, I did really love this and highly recommend it!
As a novel, it's beautifully written, with an engaging plot and fully fleshed-out characters. I'm also someone who always likes to imagine the daily lives of people who lived a long time ago, so this really scratched this itch. The only criticism I have is that at times, you could really feel this intention, and it could seem a little clumsy or slightly forced in pivotal moments, which kind of took me out of the novel and made me aware that I was reading an imagined past.
All in all, I did really love this and highly recommend it!
July 29, 2022
Was totally in the mood for good fantasy and this didnt disappoint.
May 6, 2022
Thank you to Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott is an outstanding work of historical fantasy that will appeal to fans of Outlander or Madeleine Miller's Circe. The story is about two sisters in Britain during the Dark Ages. When their father, a blacksmith accused of sorcery, dies, the sisters run away to a city of ruins where women live together secretly. Can the sisters escape the men who are hunting them down?
Here is an enchanting excerpt from Chapter 1, which takes place on an island in the Thames, c. A.D. 500:
"Isla and Blue are sitting up on the mound watching the river creep up on the wrecks and over the black stubs of the old jetties out on the mudflats, waiting for Father to finish his work in the forge. Along the far riverbank, the Ghost City, the great line of a long-abandoned river wall, its crumbling gates and towers, is making its upside-down face in the river again.
"Something's coming, sister," Blue says. "Look."
Isla looks. The wind has picked up. It scatters the birds wading on the mudflats. It catches at the creepers that grow along the Ghost City wall. It lifts and rustles them like feathers.
"Could be rain," Isla says. "The wind's turned."
Overall, Dark Earth is a lovely historical fantasy about the bond between sisters. One highlight of this book is how it sheds light on a historical era that very little is known about. It's clear that the author did a lot of research into the time period and did her best to convey the settings accurately. I did take off 1 star, because I wish there had been a bit more "fantasy" elements as opposed to historical elements. That's just my personal preference though. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of historical fantasy, I recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in July!
Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott is an outstanding work of historical fantasy that will appeal to fans of Outlander or Madeleine Miller's Circe. The story is about two sisters in Britain during the Dark Ages. When their father, a blacksmith accused of sorcery, dies, the sisters run away to a city of ruins where women live together secretly. Can the sisters escape the men who are hunting them down?
Here is an enchanting excerpt from Chapter 1, which takes place on an island in the Thames, c. A.D. 500:
"Isla and Blue are sitting up on the mound watching the river creep up on the wrecks and over the black stubs of the old jetties out on the mudflats, waiting for Father to finish his work in the forge. Along the far riverbank, the Ghost City, the great line of a long-abandoned river wall, its crumbling gates and towers, is making its upside-down face in the river again.
"Something's coming, sister," Blue says. "Look."
Isla looks. The wind has picked up. It scatters the birds wading on the mudflats. It catches at the creepers that grow along the Ghost City wall. It lifts and rustles them like feathers.
"Could be rain," Isla says. "The wind's turned."
Overall, Dark Earth is a lovely historical fantasy about the bond between sisters. One highlight of this book is how it sheds light on a historical era that very little is known about. It's clear that the author did a lot of research into the time period and did her best to convey the settings accurately. I did take off 1 star, because I wish there had been a bit more "fantasy" elements as opposed to historical elements. That's just my personal preference though. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of historical fantasy, I recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in July!
July 28, 2022
After learning about a brooch from roughly 500AD that had been found in the River Thames and the subsequent dearth of information about the people who lived during this era - especially the women - Rebecca Stott sought to learn as much as possible about the people and developed the story that became Dark Earth. It reads a bit like a cross between historical fiction and mythology-making.
The story centers on two sisters who live along the river, near the ruins of Londinium during these presumably tumultuous times. Although Isla is presented as the more reasonable of the two sisters, I found her to be narrow-minded and it felt like she constantly had the urge to behave in ways that were contrary to the best interests of her and her sister. She didn't feel reasonable or rational at all and I grew rather frustrated with her. I rather liked Blue, who is presented as the free-spirit of the duo. She seems wise beyond her years, but is often ridiculed and discounted because of her quirkiness - being the daughter of an exiled smith just makes her even less trustworthy and valuable to those she encounters.
Beyond the two sisters, I never really felt like the story gained a strong foothold. It felt like the scene was being set throughout the entire book, but we never arrived at a point where the story was thoroughly put together. I was really drawn to the idea of this book, but the final product was a bit flat for me. It wasn't a bad book, by any means, but I didn't feel very satisfied by it. It did, however, make me quite curious about this time in history.
Despite my misgivings, I actually think this could be a really interesting movie.
The story centers on two sisters who live along the river, near the ruins of Londinium during these presumably tumultuous times. Although Isla is presented as the more reasonable of the two sisters, I found her to be narrow-minded and it felt like she constantly had the urge to behave in ways that were contrary to the best interests of her and her sister. She didn't feel reasonable or rational at all and I grew rather frustrated with her. I rather liked Blue, who is presented as the free-spirit of the duo. She seems wise beyond her years, but is often ridiculed and discounted because of her quirkiness - being the daughter of an exiled smith just makes her even less trustworthy and valuable to those she encounters.
Beyond the two sisters, I never really felt like the story gained a strong foothold. It felt like the scene was being set throughout the entire book, but we never arrived at a point where the story was thoroughly put together. I was really drawn to the idea of this book, but the final product was a bit flat for me. It wasn't a bad book, by any means, but I didn't feel very satisfied by it. It did, however, make me quite curious about this time in history.
Despite my misgivings, I actually think this could be a really interesting movie.
August 1, 2022
I would rate this at 3.5 stars. I think the beginning of the book showed so much potential, but after the first part the story just really slowed down. I just felt like I couldn’t really get into the book, like I was on the outside looking in for this book. It was a slower paced book and I feel like the ending was so quick.
I did love the setting of the book and you can tell that the author really did her research for this book. She used real historical artifacts and dig sites to help create this story. It was a beautifully written story about the live of two sister and the struggles they faced in 500 A.D. Londinium.
I did love the setting of the book and you can tell that the author really did her research for this book. She used real historical artifacts and dig sites to help create this story. It was a beautifully written story about the live of two sister and the struggles they faced in 500 A.D. Londinium.
May 25, 2023
I've seen with the other reviews that I'm kind of an outlier here, but I enjoyed the book a lot. I listened to the audiobook which was narrated in a soothing voice that wonderfully fit the slightly distant often dreamlike tone of the writing. What others complained about was a plus for me. The mystic tale set in the historically little known era after the Romans left Britain benefitted in my opinion from this distance to the characters.
This slow paced tale was perfect for my taste for sure.
This slow paced tale was perfect for my taste for sure.
March 20, 2023
Such an intresting and different historical fantasy book. Takes place in the pre-Britan times, when the capital (London) is know to be a "ghost city" and is yet to became the great city that we know. And have two strong female characters that will do everything to survive and do not lose each other. Really love that the book was centre in the sister love, Isla and Blue are different but they not stop fighting to be together.
Isla can build swords and Blue have visons. The sisters lived all her live isoled in a island with her father, when their father died they need to ask the king for shelter. But the court is dangerous, so the sisters will have to escape for the "ghost city". Their they will found not a place hunted but a sanctuary in which they will finally be accepted.
Although in this story there are many mysterious parts, especialy the ending, it is still a book about woman power and their revenge aganist the men who hunted them down.
Isla can build swords and Blue have visons. The sisters lived all her live isoled in a island with her father, when their father died they need to ask the king for shelter. But the court is dangerous, so the sisters will have to escape for the "ghost city". Their they will found not a place hunted but a sanctuary in which they will finally be accepted.
Although in this story there are many mysterious parts, especialy the ending, it is still a book about woman power and their revenge aganist the men who hunted them down.
February 6, 2023
i picked this one up thinking it would be an interesting narrative-take on Norse Mythology, much like Madeline Miller's work. However, i soon came to realize that the story itself was confusing and drawn out. while the plot was interesting and the book wrapped up nicely, i did put it down for about 3 months before finishing it.
August 4, 2023
3.5 stars
I just stumbled upon this book searching for a book with the word Earth in the title, for one of the readathons I'm participating in. And I'm happy I did! This is a historical fiction with hints of mythology. I felt invested in the two sisters and their bond. About halfway the pace dropped a bit, losing my focus, but all in all a beautiful story beautifully written.
Characters 8
Atmosphere 8
Writing Style 7
Setup 7
Plot 7
Intrigue 7
Logic 7
Enjoyment 7
Narration 8
I just stumbled upon this book searching for a book with the word Earth in the title, for one of the readathons I'm participating in. And I'm happy I did! This is a historical fiction with hints of mythology. I felt invested in the two sisters and their bond. About halfway the pace dropped a bit, losing my focus, but all in all a beautiful story beautifully written.
Characters 8
Atmosphere 8
Writing Style 7
Setup 7
Plot 7
Intrigue 7
Logic 7
Enjoyment 7
Narration 8
May 6, 2022
The writing wasn't good for me-- a little woo-woo, a little trippy, maybe it was supposed to be mystical but came off as more unplanned and winging it. After one of the primary characters is drugged midway through the book, the writing style feels like a little better fit but there needed to be a demarcation between undrugged, drugged, and slowly sobering narration.
The setting is interesting, but readers picking it up for historical detail will get very little. I always like the day-to-day detail, so it worked for me, but historical fiction readers who want a touch of historical politics and power will be disappointed.
A strictly optional purchase. NetGalley ARC.
The setting is interesting, but readers picking it up for historical detail will get very little. I always like the day-to-day detail, so it worked for me, but historical fiction readers who want a touch of historical politics and power will be disappointed.
A strictly optional purchase. NetGalley ARC.
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