SPORTOCHICK’S MUSINGS: The author Sarah Hawley’s beautiful descriptions and vivid imagination creates a spectacular read. Her characters are richly designed and intriguing in nature.

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Servant of Earth
The Shards of Magic #1
by Sarah Hawley

Pub Date Nov 12 2024
Berkley Publishing Group

DESCRIPTION

In the underground Fae realm, only the strongest and most ruthless have power—but a young human woman forced into a life of servitude is about to change everything.

Kenna Heron is best known in her village for being a little wild—some say half feral—but she’ll need every ounce of that ferocity to survive captivity in the cruel Fae court.

Trapped as a servant in the faeries’ underground kingdom of Mistei, Kenna must help her new mistress undertake six deadly trials, one for each branch of magic: Fire, Earth, Light, Void, Illusion, and Blood. If she succeeds, her mistress will gain immortality and become the heir to Earth House. If she doesn’t, the punishment is death—for both mistress and servant.

With no ally but a sentient dagger of mysterious origins, Kenna must face monsters, magic, and grueling physical tests. But worse dangers wait underground, and soon Kenna gets caught up in a secret rebellion against the inventively sadistic faerie king. When her feelings for the rebellion’s leader turn passionate, Kenna must decide if she’s willing to risk her life for a better world and a chance at happiness.

Surviving the trials and overthrowing a tyrant king will take cunning, courage, and an iron will… but even that may not be enough.

REVIEW

This is a riveting storyline from page one and the fast momentum took me on quite a ride. I enjoy well written stories that stay in my mind after reading them and it was hard to put this book down for this reason. There is so much I want to say about it but that would give away the storyline. Let’s just say it is in the top 50 books I’ve ever read, and I have reviewed over 400 books and audio books combined.

The author Sarah Hawley’s beautiful descriptions and vivid imagination creates a spectacular read. Her characters are richly designed and intriguing in nature.

Main character Kenna Heron goes through a huge transformation in her desire to escape Mistei and stay alive. From spending her time being mostly alone to now being in large dangerous crowds avoiding death.

There are two main male characters, who I immediately matched as possible love interests for Kenna. Prince Drustan of the Fire House and Lord Kallen, the King’s Vengeance, from the Void House. The ending of this book proves that the author wants to keep the reader guessing as she thickens the plot for book two of the series.

I can’t wait to read the next book and give this 5 STARS.

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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