I think I was initially drawn in by the book cover art! The story of two sisters in 500 A.D. London was another draw, as I seem to be drawn to all things British.

Since there are no written records from this time in history, the story leans heavily toward fantasy. The author did a lot of research to hang her story on, but ultimately it is a fantasy with an unsatisfactory ending. What happened? Ultimately, unsatisfying read. Wouldn't recommend. ( )

Five stars for atmosphere and description and world-building, but three stars for plotting, plausibility, and resolution. This is a beautifully told book about two sisters in post-Roman Britain who have to navigate the violent and dangerous world of Saxon warlords after their father dies. Eventually they end up in a woman-dominated commune that scavenges the resources remaining in the abandoned Roman city of Londinium. There's a real "Last of Us" vibe to the scenes of the foragers traversing the overgrown, wild city that I really vibed with. Both the main characters, Isla and Blue, are well fleshed out, but the other characters' motivations are a little unclear, and the queer love story is nice to include but feels really uneven (though it's heartening to think that maybe these badass 6th century ladies thought it was NBD). This is a novel with an exquisite sense of place, but I found the plot a little too outlandish and the ending made little sense/deus ex machine/wishful thinking. Now I am HUNGRY for more novels of the "dark ages." I should reread Kazuo Ishiguro's The Buried Giant and may finally get around to Nicola Griffith's Hild. ( )

Descriptions of the abandoned London are kind of fun, but plot and character otherwise are kind of dull. After about 50 pages I just skimmed to the end ( )

Dark Earth is an incredibly captivating and unique historical fiction of two sisters living in England in 500 AD.
Isla and Blue are both feared by the rest of their community. The sisters have been exiled with their father as a result of each having a talent or born with a trait that frightens their community, Isla born with eyes of two different colors and Blue who seems destined to a path as a Wiccan. Their father retains some power as he is the last Great Smith, able to create firetongue swords. Then the Great Smith dies and the sisters must figure out how to survive in a world that seems to hate the very idea of them.
The story is told over 5 parts. I found so much of the story to be well-paced and exciting. There were some excellent action scenes and the descriptions were beautiful. But the end of the book seemed rushed. Suddenly the answer is seemingly dropped at the heroines’ feet and boom, everything is solved. I was disappointed in that aspect, but overall rated the book a 4 star for how magical the storytelling was.
I had the pleasure of both reading an electronic copy and listening to an audiobook of Dark Earth. While the book itself is wonderful, and also contains a map that is helpful in envisioning the communities, I really have to credit the audiobook for really capturing my attention. The narrator, Hannah Morris’s, does an absolute superb job in bringing to life Isla, Blue and the rest of the characters, even the nefarious Vort. I blitzed through the audiobook in 2 days while working.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Isla and Blue live on an island in the River Thames. Their father is a master blacksmith and has taught Isla his skills, even though as a women it is forbidden. When their father dies the two sisters must rejoin their kinfolk who had rejected them before but it is not so easy. The Chief discovers Isla's skills and his son determines that she must stay in their camp, the only refuge seems to be the abandoned Roman city. however even here the sisters are not safe.
This was a surprise to me and I did not expect to like the book as much as I did as reviews seem to indicate that it might be a little fey. However this was not the case, there is a lot of suspicion and mysticism throughout the book but it is linked with the beliefs of the people so feels right. This imagining of the fifth century is vibrant and yet profound ( )