In 1959 Southern Georgia, Cleo Woodbine is a reclusive painter in her 50s, spending her time foraging and jarring fruits and preserves from the land. She keeps to herself and brushes off the rumors about her. One day a man who saved her life nearly 30 years ago returns, reminding her of that fateful night in 1932. Then Frances Flood, a folklorist seeking a painting at the request of her recently deceased mother, comes to Cleo for answers. After all, her mother, Joanna Burton, was also there during the summer and left under notorious circumstances. Then local inn runner Audrey Howell shows up on her doorstep with an injured young Jimmy Walker, forcing her to get involved. While Cleo had avoided confronting the demons of her past, these visitors and an oncoming storm threaten to unearth the island’s secrets and change the natural landscape. The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock is a dual-timeline, multi-POV novel that explores how three women’s paths intertwine, and how folklore contains truths of the past.
Book
The residents of Cumberland Island have a long-standing feud. Families who have lived on the island for generations find themselves in turf and poaching wars with those who purchased the land and built newer properties on it. Incidentally, these conflicts harden the lines between poverty and wealth, and race. And back in 1932, Cleo was well aware of what was expected of her and who she could befriend. She was to be Joanna’s companion during her stay, since they would be the only two girls among a group of young boys who visit the island for hunting, folktales by the bonfire, and other activities. One of those boys, in fact, was to become Joanna’s fiancé. But young Cleo wished for more. She wanted the fame and desire that seemed to come so easily to Joanna. So she took matters into her own hands. And changed lives forever.
Nearly 30 years later in 1959, Frances’s appearance brings those memories flooding back in The Fabled Earth. She has no idea why her mother wanted Cleo to create a painting for her. And Cleo hadn’t expected a visit from Joanna’s daughter after her death. But when she meets one of the locals and begins working with him, she learns more about her mother and the impact she left on Cumberland Island. Meanwhile, Audrey takes up photography to help bring in business. In one of the photos, she believes she sees the ghost of someone who hasn’t been seen since that same night in 1932. And it’s only a matter of time that those coincidental discoveries lead to uncovered secrets.
Review
Brock shows of her talent for lush storytelling in The Fabled Earth. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their troubled histories – with themselves and each other. Readers meet Cleo in both timelines, and it was interesting to see how her behavior and consequences of her actions changed her. And also how the other characters could pull her out of her hermit tendencies. I liked Audrey and Frances, but they weren’t very different from each other. The layers in the story and overall theme of storytelling vs. reality was fun to navigate, however the pacing was slow and I became unengaged at times. Overall I believe that those who love contemporary fiction or Southern folklore will enjoy this one.
Kimberly Brock joins the Cantina Book Club Podcast to talk about how she came up with the story and her characters. Keep an ear out for the interview and pick up a copy of The Fabled Earth, available now.
