Sometimes we need a break from stories of the fae that centre around how much better and more beautiful they are compared to humans. When I picked up Servant of Earth, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but what I found was an incredible world where the fae present illusions of grandeur with monstrous masks to hide behind. It is brutal, dangerous, and survival is based on how much of yourself you’re willing to give up to live another day. Most importantly, as a human, are you willing to lose your humanity to ensure your own survival in a world determined to kill you? This book loses a good chunk of the romantic vanity and glamour of the fae, and instead explores a deadly world where magic comes at a very hefty cost, and not everyone is prepared to pay.
Kenna grew up being called “half feral” in her village, but it’s that feral nature that she will have to cling to when she becomes a captive of the cruel Fae court in Mistei. Bound to the Earth house, she has to help her new mistress overcome six deadly trials in order to help her gain immortality and power. If Kenna is unable to help her mistress, the punishment is death for both of them. Armed with nothing but a mysterious dagger, Kenna will have to navigate a world filled with monsters, magic, and a rising secret rebellion against the faerie king that reigns over them all. She’s going to have to decide if her growing feelings for the rebellion leader are enough to risk her life for a small chance at happiness.
I’m going to be transparent with you. I started this book three times before I really got into it, and then finished it in one sitting. Part of that was not being in the mood to read this book, but when I finally did, I wasn’t disappointed. There’s a bit of world-building at the start that doesn’t overwhelm the reader, and has enough action to keep the book fast paced. Kenna is a flawed main character, who doesn’t truly fit in with the villagers, but has had her best friend to help keep her in line. She’s not a beauty per se. She’s never truly known much kindness and it shows in her interactions with other characters, particularly in her placement of trust. Kenna is a character that grows tremendously throughout the novel, and while I found myself disliking her at the start, I grew to love her by the end.
The fae in this novel are self-serving, vicious, and cruel. There is no sugar coating or hiding this, and readers are forced to face some brutal truths within this book. Beyond the glamour and beauty, most of the fae in this book have learned to subjugate those weaker than them to play nice with those with power. If you’re wanting to read this book, I would definitely warn readers to triggers of abuse, torture, maiming, sexual assault, death, and a few more things. This book is brutal, ripping away the veil that the fae are benevolent overlords that protect the human world from monsters.
If you read my reviews, you know that my favourite thing for a book to have is a bit of romance, maybe some spice if I’m feeling cheeky. There’s quite a lot going on in this book, the trials being at the centre of it, but we still have time for some romance. There’s quite a bit unresolved on that front, but what I will say is this: there is some major drama building up for the next book, and I am dying to find out what will happen next there. The romance ends up winding itself into part of the story in a way that makes sense, and I think readers will enjoy it without being frustrated (probably) by Kenna’s choices.
Although this book doesn’t necessarily end on a cliffhanger, there’s a lot that is unresolved by the end. I’m dying to find out what is going to happen with a lot of the loose threads that Sarah Hawley left for us to speculate upon. I cannot wait to find out what will happen next, and honestly, I hope that you choose to add this to your shelves if you’re a fantasy lover needing something with a not so huge page count to read. It’s a great palate cleanser if you’re growing tired of fae stories with a happily ever after!
Servant of Earth is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
