REVIEW: Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley

In Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley, Kenna Heron has always had to work hard in order to survive in her small human village. Being poor and living off of what she can harvest or fish out of the nearby bog is a much safer life than being in Mistei, the underground home of the Fae. But when Kenna finds herself taken to the Fae world and forced to become a servant to Princess Lara in the Earth House, her first thought is to escape. If only it were that easy. Heavily guarded and warded, Mistei is a prison that looks beautiful but is deadly–especially to a young human woman like Kenna who has an inquisitive mind and a magic dagger just spoiling for a fight.

‘My own mission was simple: stay alive long enough to escape or see a new king rise.’

Kenna’s main job, she soon finds out, is to help Lara through the six trials the princess must complete in order to gain her immortality and full Fae powers. The biggest problem? No one knows what each trial will consist of or how to truly prepare for them. Kenna tries her best to keep Lara on the right path in each test. But it hasn’t gone unnoticed by powerful Fae how unexpectedly well the princess is doing. And it puts Kenna in a tough position when she is blackmailed by a Noble to become a spy. Her target is a handsome but dangerous Prince. One who has shown her kindness when others treat her like the servant she has become. It’s soon clear why Kenna has been tasked with learning all she can about him as she hears of a secret rebellion he’s leading against cruel King Osric. Her best option is to give the Noble the information he wants. But Kenna isn’t sure she can betray the prince’s trust.

‘My anger wouldn’t let me back down, and the dagger on my arm reveled in that rage, rippling against my skin.’

Incredible world building, multidimensional characters–most of whom were morally gray–and an intricate plot made SERVANT OF EARTH a romantasy that captured and held my attention from page one.

‘Magic thrived in the hidden places of the world.’

CW: View Spoiler »Forced servitude, kidnapping, torture, murder « Hide Spoiler

If you’re a fan of Romantasies with strong, intelligent, kind heroines as well as a storyline filled with dynamic power plays and deceit, then SERVANT OF EARTH will be a must-read. Author Sarah Hawley created a sometimes beautiful, sometimes harsh and chaotic world for our heroine Kenna to navigate as she was ripped from her human world and forced into becoming a servant to Noble Fae. Back-to-back losses in her meager above-ground life had already worn her down. But Kenna was a fighter. And her spunk, wit, and moral compass were what got her through a new life underground surrounded by Fae and other creatures whom she couldn’t and shouldn’t trust.

There were so many interesting aspects to this fantasy romance. I thought Hawley did a wonderful job creating friction between not only Kenna and the Fae around her–particularly with a certain handsome prince–but also amongst the Fae and other creatures themselves. The different houses (groups of Fae) might not have technically been at war with each other, but none of them fully trusted any of their competitors during the six immortality trials. And with Kenna being the handmaiden of Princess Lara from Earth House, it tied her fate to that of the princess being able to complete all of those trials successfully. Otherwise, Lara and Kenna could be subject to death.

What I think will also keep readers engrossed in Kenna’s plight is how she was able to make allies and form friendships with unlikely beings. She was pushed into the middle of a somewhat secret rebellion against King Osric, with Noble Fae–both good and evil–using Kenna as a spy of sorts. It was oh so complicated. But she held her own while fighting for what was right, for freedom, and to keep the more vulnerable beings in Mistei safe.

QOTD: If you were a romantasy heroine, what element would you want to be able to wield as a weapon: fire, water, light, illusions, air, or something else?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: November 12th, 2024 | Ace | The Shards of Magic #1

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 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.