Servant of Earth (The Shards of Magic, #1)

Servant of Earth (The Shards of Magic, #1)

Sarah Hawley

Enjoyment: 4.33Quality: 3.67Characters: 3.5Plot: 4.0
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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.


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  • jay80tee
    Mar 02, 2025
    Enjoyment: 4.0Quality: 3.5Characters: 3.0Plot: 3.5

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  • sams.little.corner
    Mar 11, 2025
    Enjoyment: 4.0Quality: 3.0Characters: 3.0Plot: 3.5

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  • literaryhomebody
    Mar 30, 2025
    Enjoyment: 5.0Quality: 4.5Characters: 4.5Plot: 5.0
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    Perhaps the cruelest and kindest thing a good book does is make you believe you live inside it for the space of a few hundred pages. That you’re not merely an observer but a part of its pulse and rhythm, seamlessly entwined with its world. And then it ends, the spell breaks, like a candle snuffed out and you find yourself stranded, aching for the warmth and light that only moments ago felt infinite. From the opening line, Servant of Earth sweeps you into its realm teeming with fae intrigue, fierce friendships, rebellion, monstrous threats, and harrowing trials. Its lush world-building and indomitable heroine make this book utterly impossible to put down. 
     
    Sarah Hawley’s writing is wholly immersive and hooked me with vivid imagery, the kind that conjuring scenes that leap from the page and settle deep into your mind. Yet, what sets this story apart the most was the emotional core of the story. It’s a tale of violence and hope, magic and jaw dropping action, all generously peppered with wtf moments. 
    It’s a perfect balance of moments that will make you laugh and moments that will make you gasp. And yes, there is spice that is perfectly timed and deliciously charged. Lastly, the ending. That ending left me both traumatized and extremely gratified, and I’m ready for more pain in the next book. I’m already bracing myself for the heartbreak and triumph sure to come. 
     
    Servant of Earth is a journey that stays with you long after the final page, a rare gem that doesn’t just ask for your attention but demands it. 

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