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Everlight #1
Secrets Ever Green
Selected by Barnes and Noble as a Top Indie Favorite!
The secrets were buried . . . until clues began to bloom.
Ivy Rune’s only goal is to pass her final exam and become an Arborist like her late father, even though she fears she’ll never be able to uphold his legacy. Just before her big test, Ivy discovers her father’s secrets . . . and they had nothing to do with the quiet life he led.
Suddenly, clues unspool from wood carvings and old journals, leading Ivy to the outskirts of town and straight to the Count’s forbidden castle. When Ivy uncovers a hidden world of magic, she and her best friend are unexpectedly altered. As they explore their new powers, Ivy realizes she is capable of much more than the simple life her father left for her.
Now Ivy must decide between inheriting her father’s Arborist trade or continuing to uncover the mystery he kept hidden. But uprooting the past might erase her father’s legacy and change the course of Ivy’s life forever.
If you enjoyed the magic of Caraval and the mysteries of The Inheritance Games, you'll love this lush fantasy world brimming with adventure and friendship.
The secrets were buried . . . until clues began to bloom.
Ivy Rune’s only goal is to pass her final exam and become an Arborist like her late father, even though she fears she’ll never be able to uphold his legacy. Just before her big test, Ivy discovers her father’s secrets . . . and they had nothing to do with the quiet life he led.
Suddenly, clues unspool from wood carvings and old journals, leading Ivy to the outskirts of town and straight to the Count’s forbidden castle. When Ivy uncovers a hidden world of magic, she and her best friend are unexpectedly altered. As they explore their new powers, Ivy realizes she is capable of much more than the simple life her father left for her.
Now Ivy must decide between inheriting her father’s Arborist trade or continuing to uncover the mystery he kept hidden. But uprooting the past might erase her father’s legacy and change the course of Ivy’s life forever.
If you enjoyed the magic of Caraval and the mysteries of The Inheritance Games, you'll love this lush fantasy world brimming with adventure and friendship.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2024
86 people are currently reading
826 people want to read
About the author
Sara Knightly
3 books57 followersSara Knightly is the author of The Everlight Series: Secrets Ever Green, Castle Ever Dark, and Forest Ever White. Her books have been selected by Barnes & Noble as a Top Indie Favorite.
Sara lives in Idaho with her husband and two daughters. When they're not exploring, Sara spends her days dreaming up the next story idea, searching for the perfect coffee shop, or planning another trip to the Redwood Forest.
For information on upcoming releases, ARCs, giveaways, and exclusive content, join the newsletter at https://www.saraknightlybooks.com/
Instagram: @saraknightlybooks
Sara lives in Idaho with her husband and two daughters. When they're not exploring, Sara spends her days dreaming up the next story idea, searching for the perfect coffee shop, or planning another trip to the Redwood Forest.
For information on upcoming releases, ARCs, giveaways, and exclusive content, join the newsletter at https://www.saraknightlybooks.com/
Instagram: @saraknightlybooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
July 23, 2024
I finished this book a few days ago and I still find myself thinking about it, I want book 2 SO BAD.
I loved how easy the book/plot was to follow, our characters were all easy to love, and the story was really entertaining! It's a really short and fast paced fantasy that would 100% be a fantastic starter fantasy series.
overall it was a great book! Excited to read more of Sara Knightly's works.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
I loved how easy the book/plot was to follow, our characters were all easy to love, and the story was really entertaining! It's a really short and fast paced fantasy that would 100% be a fantastic starter fantasy series.
overall it was a great book! Excited to read more of Sara Knightly's works.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
July 8, 2024
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Secrets Ever Green was an interesting start to the series. In this, you will meet Ivy. At the moment, she is just trying to get by in life. And by that, I mean she is trying to pass her final exam to become an Arborist.
Sure, she should be excited that she's almost done but it doesn't really seem like she is. Why? Eh, well it doesn't really seem like she wants to be an Arborist. Or to really follow in her dad's legacy. If I'm being completely honest here, I don't think Ivy truly knows what she wants to do with her life.
If you really think about it, Ivy doesn't know her parents that well. So, it might be a coincidence that she starts to discover her father's hidden secrets when the big test is basically around the corner. Or maybe it really isn't and it's all a big distraction for her?
There's definitely some mystery to unfold along the way. Especially when it comes to the secret garden she found. I also have questions about certain things that happened throughout the book because they were never answered. Maybe we will get those in the next book?
In the end, I'm all kinds of intrigued with how this ended. I need to know what's going on with York and if he's okay. What's going to happen at this mysterious castle Ivy is going to. Oh, and will they bring her horse?
"You live in a town, among people at all times. Don't you ever get lonely?"
Secrets Ever Green was an interesting start to the series. In this, you will meet Ivy. At the moment, she is just trying to get by in life. And by that, I mean she is trying to pass her final exam to become an Arborist.
Sure, she should be excited that she's almost done but it doesn't really seem like she is. Why? Eh, well it doesn't really seem like she wants to be an Arborist. Or to really follow in her dad's legacy. If I'm being completely honest here, I don't think Ivy truly knows what she wants to do with her life.
If you really think about it, Ivy doesn't know her parents that well. So, it might be a coincidence that she starts to discover her father's hidden secrets when the big test is basically around the corner. Or maybe it really isn't and it's all a big distraction for her?
There's definitely some mystery to unfold along the way. Especially when it comes to the secret garden she found. I also have questions about certain things that happened throughout the book because they were never answered. Maybe we will get those in the next book?
In the end, I'm all kinds of intrigued with how this ended. I need to know what's going on with York and if he's okay. What's going to happen at this mysterious castle Ivy is going to. Oh, and will they bring her horse?
January 7, 2024
I chose to read this book because I thought the premise sounded interesting. The idea of buried secrets, clues appearing from wood carvings and old journals, a hidden world of magic, new powers… count me in! I have to say, I was a bit nonplussed by this book though! The world building was a bit slow but otherwise ok, although a bit more context, explanation and detail about Ivy’s life at the Taylors’ house would have been helpful to properly set the scene.
My main issue was the writing. The narrative is quite simple and a bit too obvious. There’s a lot more telling than showing going on and it feels like middle-grade fiction. There are also SO many questions. Lists and lists of questions in every chapter. I get that sometimes your MC doesn’t have all the answers but it feels a bit much. The MC’s inner monologue just came across as quite annoying and very immature. I struggled to empathise with her to be honest. “I just wanted to talk about everything I was discovering. I wanted to tell my best friend about the light I saw around the ship and speculate what it meant. But there was tension between us, and I could feel it stretching thinner.” Don’t TELL us how she is feeling, SHOW us!
The quality of writing was not brilliant either; there are frequent instances of fragmented sentences and starting sentences with conjunctions; “But I didn’t have to.”, not to mention so many spelling and grammatical errors that it negatively impacted the story, for me.
The plot isn’t particularly strong, and there seem to be events that happen that don’t have any impact on the story, and others that go nowhere. Several characters appear and then disappear completely - there isn’t enough character development for the reader to properly care about them, yet there is an assumption of closeness to the MC which isn’t explained - this is true of Adeline and Claire - and Percy, to some extent. The character of Nicholas (who I thought was intriguing and quite promising, and was looking forward to finding out who/what he was) appears in two scenes and then vanishes for the ENTIRETY of the book. Bizarre!
The switch to a different POV in chapter 34 is very odd and unexpected- it’s also not immediately clear that it’s from a different POV either which is quite confusing. It’s very unusual to do this 90% through a book. It raised a bit of a red flag for me because at this point, the story was nowhere near a conclusion and it seemed strange to be introducing new characters, and a new POV at this point - it turned out that I was justified in this feeling because there was no conclusion! Nothing actually happens at the end of this book! It just sets the scene for whatever is going to happen in book 2. It may seem harsh, but it just felt like I’d read half a book.
I’d honestly struggle to recommend this book as it is. It needs heavily editing to make it readable (I have sent a list of suggested edits to the author), and I think it really needs revising to make the plot clearer. Realistically, I think it needs a proper ending too, but I know that splitting a story across books is a bit of a fantasy cliché - so I suppose that’s why the author made that decision.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My main issue was the writing. The narrative is quite simple and a bit too obvious. There’s a lot more telling than showing going on and it feels like middle-grade fiction. There are also SO many questions. Lists and lists of questions in every chapter. I get that sometimes your MC doesn’t have all the answers but it feels a bit much. The MC’s inner monologue just came across as quite annoying and very immature. I struggled to empathise with her to be honest. “I just wanted to talk about everything I was discovering. I wanted to tell my best friend about the light I saw around the ship and speculate what it meant. But there was tension between us, and I could feel it stretching thinner.” Don’t TELL us how she is feeling, SHOW us!
The quality of writing was not brilliant either; there are frequent instances of fragmented sentences and starting sentences with conjunctions; “But I didn’t have to.”, not to mention so many spelling and grammatical errors that it negatively impacted the story, for me.
The plot isn’t particularly strong, and there seem to be events that happen that don’t have any impact on the story, and others that go nowhere. Several characters appear and then disappear completely - there isn’t enough character development for the reader to properly care about them, yet there is an assumption of closeness to the MC which isn’t explained - this is true of Adeline and Claire - and Percy, to some extent. The character of Nicholas (who I thought was intriguing and quite promising, and was looking forward to finding out who/what he was) appears in two scenes and then vanishes for the ENTIRETY of the book. Bizarre!
The switch to a different POV in chapter 34 is very odd and unexpected- it’s also not immediately clear that it’s from a different POV either which is quite confusing. It’s very unusual to do this 90% through a book. It raised a bit of a red flag for me because at this point, the story was nowhere near a conclusion and it seemed strange to be introducing new characters, and a new POV at this point - it turned out that I was justified in this feeling because there was no conclusion! Nothing actually happens at the end of this book! It just sets the scene for whatever is going to happen in book 2. It may seem harsh, but it just felt like I’d read half a book.
I’d honestly struggle to recommend this book as it is. It needs heavily editing to make it readable (I have sent a list of suggested edits to the author), and I think it really needs revising to make the plot clearer. Realistically, I think it needs a proper ending too, but I know that splitting a story across books is a bit of a fantasy cliché - so I suppose that’s why the author made that decision.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 21, 2024
Secrets Ever Green by Sara Knightley
"Secrets run in the family tree, but they do not start with me."
Forest & Fern. A wooden owl key. A missing father leaving an Arborist shop to his only daughter. Beautiful flowers & plants with the power to eat away at human skin just with a simple admiring touch.
A girl with a heart understanding people better than the greenery around her, unlike her predecessor with a gift for plants and trees alike.
Scheming botanical and florist students and suspicious teachers. A returned "misplaced" journal of her father's.
A curious castle, an even more mysterious Count. Who will win the Carver tournament? Will Ivy Rune pass the Arborist test to become just like her father?
And who are those curious three figures wandering on the path of the Count's castle?
Readers, dive into this new release to find out!
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars. Can't wait to read the next installment in this incredible world of mystery, arborists, carvers , and botanists.
"Secrets run in the family tree, but they do not start with me."
Forest & Fern. A wooden owl key. A missing father leaving an Arborist shop to his only daughter. Beautiful flowers & plants with the power to eat away at human skin just with a simple admiring touch.
A girl with a heart understanding people better than the greenery around her, unlike her predecessor with a gift for plants and trees alike.
Scheming botanical and florist students and suspicious teachers. A returned "misplaced" journal of her father's.
A curious castle, an even more mysterious Count. Who will win the Carver tournament? Will Ivy Rune pass the Arborist test to become just like her father?
And who are those curious three figures wandering on the path of the Count's castle?
Readers, dive into this new release to find out!
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars. Can't wait to read the next installment in this incredible world of mystery, arborists, carvers , and botanists.
January 28, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for sending me the advanced copy of Secrets Ever Green by Sara Knightly! This is a phenomenal coming of age story, full of mystery, and excitement! I could not put this book down, or stop thinking about it. Ivy's story so far is one that will keep any reader on their toes. In addition, Ivy's fears are captured and communicated so well. I laughed, and cried, and was entirely entranced in this read!
January 5, 2024
Rating 4.5 ☆
What a stunning book to start off 2024 with!
Reading Secrets Ever Green had me feeling like I had been transported into a secret fairytale! Knightly’s writing is so beautifully descriptive and colourful that I almost felt as though I was IN the story experiencing everything alongside the main character!
Ivy Rune was written very well. Her development throughout the story was paced steadily and I enjoyed seeing her confidence and faith in herself grow, even if only a little. It left a lot of room for further development in future works, which I’m looking forward to!
Ivy and York’s friendship had its ups and downs, but overall it was clear how strong their companionship is and how much they care for each other. I was very fond of him as a supporting character and will be eagerly waiting to see how his future unfolds in the series’s next installment.
The introduction of magic made me so excited to discover Ivy’s father’s cryptic notes, the hidden-away Count and the secrets of Windermere. The intensity and uncertainty of the final few chapters had me on the edge of my seat, and the cliffhanger that ended them left me with so many questions and theories. I’m really looking forward to seeing where the author takes this captivating world with its sequel in the future!
All in all, Secrets Ever Green is a wonderfully engaging and captivating story for anyone who loves mystery, adventure and of course, magic.
(I received an Advance Review Copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
What a stunning book to start off 2024 with!
Reading Secrets Ever Green had me feeling like I had been transported into a secret fairytale! Knightly’s writing is so beautifully descriptive and colourful that I almost felt as though I was IN the story experiencing everything alongside the main character!
Ivy Rune was written very well. Her development throughout the story was paced steadily and I enjoyed seeing her confidence and faith in herself grow, even if only a little. It left a lot of room for further development in future works, which I’m looking forward to!
Ivy and York’s friendship had its ups and downs, but overall it was clear how strong their companionship is and how much they care for each other. I was very fond of him as a supporting character and will be eagerly waiting to see how his future unfolds in the series’s next installment.
The introduction of magic made me so excited to discover Ivy’s father’s cryptic notes, the hidden-away Count and the secrets of Windermere. The intensity and uncertainty of the final few chapters had me on the edge of my seat, and the cliffhanger that ended them left me with so many questions and theories. I’m really looking forward to seeing where the author takes this captivating world with its sequel in the future!
All in all, Secrets Ever Green is a wonderfully engaging and captivating story for anyone who loves mystery, adventure and of course, magic.
(I received an Advance Review Copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
January 30, 2024
“Secrets Ever Green by Sara Knightly. I loved this book and totally added it to my favourite series list! The secrets were buried… until clues began to bloom.
I must start off by saying I have just started reading fantasy YA books again after years of only mysteries. I read this story today and couldn’t put it down as I wanted to know what would happen to Ivy and I anxiously wait for book two Castle Ever Dark!
It was a coming of age story, about friendship, and the unknown of becoming an adult, with a little mystery and magic thrown in. I could feel and relate to Ivy's fears as they were portrayed in such a realistic way.
Highly recommend this debut fantasy novel to all my book loving friends, I know I will be adding Sara Knightly to my favorite author list.
I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I must start off by saying I have just started reading fantasy YA books again after years of only mysteries. I read this story today and couldn’t put it down as I wanted to know what would happen to Ivy and I anxiously wait for book two Castle Ever Dark!
It was a coming of age story, about friendship, and the unknown of becoming an adult, with a little mystery and magic thrown in. I could feel and relate to Ivy's fears as they were portrayed in such a realistic way.
Highly recommend this debut fantasy novel to all my book loving friends, I know I will be adding Sara Knightly to my favorite author list.
I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 18, 2024
Secrets Ever Green by @saraknightlybooks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Firstly, how stunning is this cover?! It immediately drew me in when I was scanning @netgalley & the description intrigued me.
Reading Secrets Ever Green feels like you've entered a fairytale. From 'unique' trees to 'unusual' boats to the sweet smelling bakery, it all sounds like a dream. The descriptions are brilliant and make you want to visit Windermere!
The book description mentions exploring new powers but I don't feel we heard much in depth about them, so I'm really looking forward to reading more about them in the next book!
I guessed pretty early on where Ivy's story was heading, but it was a lovely, easy read & I'm intrigued to see what happens next to Ivy (& York!). The cliffhanger was a brilliant way to finish the book and sets book 2 up perfectly!!
It was a fine change to read a book that focused on the story & world building rather than romance.
My review will be posted on Goodreads, Instagram (maggie_books92) & Amazon.
Thank you to Netgalley, Portal Publishing & Sara Knightly for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Sinner's Sacrifice by @authorjulierowe 🧛♂️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Firstly, how stunning is this cover?! It immediately drew me in when I was scanning @netgalley & the description intrigued me.
Reading Secrets Ever Green feels like you've entered a fairytale. From 'unique' trees to 'unusual' boats to the sweet smelling bakery, it all sounds like a dream. The descriptions are brilliant and make you want to visit Windermere!
The book description mentions exploring new powers but I don't feel we heard much in depth about them, so I'm really looking forward to reading more about them in the next book!
I guessed pretty early on where Ivy's story was heading, but it was a lovely, easy read & I'm intrigued to see what happens next to Ivy (& York!). The cliffhanger was a brilliant way to finish the book and sets book 2 up perfectly!!
It was a fine change to read a book that focused on the story & world building rather than romance.
My review will be posted on Goodreads, Instagram (maggie_books92) & Amazon.
Thank you to Netgalley, Portal Publishing & Sara Knightly for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review! Sinner's Sacrifice by @authorjulierowe 🧛♂️
July 23, 2024
Wow. I couldn’t put this down! I began listening to this as something to fill the time while I walked around the neighborhood with my sleeping baby and it turned into a much longer walk and I just couldn’t stop! When I did put it down I found myself just thinking about what could be coming next. I need book 2.
The plot was easy to follow, the characters were all easy to love, and the story was quite entertaining! It's short and fast paced fantasy that makes it a great starter series for someone looking to try or get into the genre.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
June 3, 2024
What a great read! I love that this is a different take on a fantasy novel. This book has a wonderful fairytale feel.
This had a cozy fantasy vibe and would be excellent for younger readers.
Great first book, I am interested to see where this series goes!
This had a cozy fantasy vibe and would be excellent for younger readers.
Great first book, I am interested to see where this series goes!
June 23, 2024
Secrets Ever Green is a fantastic start to a fast paced fantasy series. I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the second one! Ivy is studying to become an arborist like her late father. As the fears and doubts mount up, she meets a mysterious man in the woods. Telling her her father has left her one last secret, Ivy is determined to find out what it is. Work factions, magical trees, secrets, mysteries, best friend potential romance, this book has it all! I could not put it down! I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in trade for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.
July 26, 2024
This book was not as exciting as it sounded in its synopsis for me. The story starts strong with a young woman who lost her parents and fights for her old house with her future career path that everyone thinks is inherited from her father. This reminded me of 'A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking' and I was eager to read through which did not go well.
The issue I had with this book was too naive main character who repeats her life problems over and over throughout the story. It felt like the author made her hungry for attention from everyone else around her in different forms. I have problems with characters who are too self-centred. And the twist with finding things from her father's past was somewhat insane & felt unnecessary. The mystery related to the story was never connected with the main character's story. But it felt that there was some setting up for the next book which I didn't really care for.
The writing style was 'okay' for me, but I don't think I have the urge to continue the series. Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with this ARC copy, but I understand this book was not for me.
The issue I had with this book was too naive main character who repeats her life problems over and over throughout the story. It felt like the author made her hungry for attention from everyone else around her in different forms. I have problems with characters who are too self-centred. And the twist with finding things from her father's past was somewhat insane & felt unnecessary. The mystery related to the story was never connected with the main character's story. But it felt that there was some setting up for the next book which I didn't really care for.
The writing style was 'okay' for me, but I don't think I have the urge to continue the series. Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with this ARC copy, but I understand this book was not for me.
July 2, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Portal Publishing for the advance listeners' copy.
It's okay as a ya fantasy, but it all felt like one big prologue to a larger book. Most of the plot that was in the summary happens at the very end. And some characters weren't as fully fleshed out like I expected them to be. Nicholas serves his role as the one to start Ivy off on her journey into her father's secrets, I expected to see more off him... but we don't really hear from him after that. There were other teens Ivy's age that really existed to move the plot forward, and were also just dropped as soon as they did so. I'm not expecting them to be her new sidekick or anything, just a more well-rounded character. The other thing that stuck out was the one chapter near the end that's not in Ivy's pov. I've seen other books do this same thing but better executed than this, it just feels unnecessary. On the plus side, I loved the worldbuilding here, the society based on trades is interesting, and I want to know more about the magic system in place.
It's okay as a ya fantasy, but it all felt like one big prologue to a larger book. Most of the plot that was in the summary happens at the very end. And some characters weren't as fully fleshed out like I expected them to be. Nicholas serves his role as the one to start Ivy off on her journey into her father's secrets, I expected to see more off him... but we don't really hear from him after that. There were other teens Ivy's age that really existed to move the plot forward, and were also just dropped as soon as they did so. I'm not expecting them to be her new sidekick or anything, just a more well-rounded character. The other thing that stuck out was the one chapter near the end that's not in Ivy's pov. I've seen other books do this same thing but better executed than this, it just feels unnecessary. On the plus side, I loved the worldbuilding here, the society based on trades is interesting, and I want to know more about the magic system in place.
March 10, 2025
This is a true marvel - a YA fantasy that is truly for young adults! That isn't centered around a romance!
Even as an old adult, this was a delight - the world-building is so well-done that you're able to really understand and are able to consider the choices that Ivy makes...many of which are strikingly similar to real-world young adults' attempts to balance family tradition, school expectations, their own changing interests, etc. Ivy is smart and thoughtful, but refreshingly honest in her awareness that she's operating without all of the relevant facts.
To avoid spoilers, I won't include names...but a male character develops a crush on a longtime female friend, and when she explains that she doesn't see him that way...he lets himself pout for a few days then accepts her decision and resumes their friendship! That this so so rare in YA generally and even more so in fantasy is a sad commentary, but it's another example of how the author holds her characters to a higher standard than most.
I will note that this a true series starter, so very few threads are resolved - the point is setting the scene and providing the backstory for what will hopefully be many more installments to come.
An extremely belated thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Even as an old adult, this was a delight - the world-building is so well-done that you're able to really understand and are able to consider the choices that Ivy makes...many of which are strikingly similar to real-world young adults' attempts to balance family tradition, school expectations, their own changing interests, etc. Ivy is smart and thoughtful, but refreshingly honest in her awareness that she's operating without all of the relevant facts.
To avoid spoilers, I won't include names...but a male character develops a crush on a longtime female friend, and when she explains that she doesn't see him that way...he lets himself pout for a few days then accepts her decision and resumes their friendship! That this so so rare in YA generally and even more so in fantasy is a sad commentary, but it's another example of how the author holds her characters to a higher standard than most.
I will note that this a true series starter, so very few threads are resolved - the point is setting the scene and providing the backstory for what will hopefully be many more installments to come.
An extremely belated thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
June 29, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audio version in return for my honest opinion.
Secrets Ever Green is the tale of Ivy, we meet her as she prepares for her final exam. In this case we aren't looking your average senior levels, Ivy is working towards becoming an Arborist. We learn her late father is her motivation for this pathway. The only problem with this? She's just not good at being an Arborist- eek.
In the meantime, Ivy stumbles upon clues left from her father leading her to believe there are some big secrets in this sleepy little town. This sparks the mystery and adventure section of this book.
What I struggled with was the structure of this book. Everything felt like it was being explained after the fact rather than living in the moment. With that said, I still listened to it straight through today while doing chores- so it obviously held my attention.
VERY YA, zero spice, almost no violence, this seems geared toward a crowd of 12-16 year olds.
Secrets Ever Green is the tale of Ivy, we meet her as she prepares for her final exam. In this case we aren't looking your average senior levels, Ivy is working towards becoming an Arborist. We learn her late father is her motivation for this pathway. The only problem with this? She's just not good at being an Arborist- eek.
In the meantime, Ivy stumbles upon clues left from her father leading her to believe there are some big secrets in this sleepy little town. This sparks the mystery and adventure section of this book.
What I struggled with was the structure of this book. Everything felt like it was being explained after the fact rather than living in the moment. With that said, I still listened to it straight through today while doing chores- so it obviously held my attention.
VERY YA, zero spice, almost no violence, this seems geared toward a crowd of 12-16 year olds.
January 5, 2024
I received a copy of this book as an ARC from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t know what to expect from this story, but from the first page I found it hard to put down. The cozy, whimsical feeling permeates each page. I find the main character, Ivy, to be a fantastic study in someone who knows her own flaws but still has an air of confidence. I also loved York, her best friend, and how their friendship navigated through twists and turns throughout the book.
The author did a fantastic job with detailing the town of Windermere. It made me want to visit the town to eat at the bakery or see the plants in Forest and Fern.
The entire plot I found to be incredibly unique and interesting and it kept me completely immersed. I’m very glad this is a series as I am invested in knowing what is next for Ivy and York, and the history of Ivy’s family and what is next in this journey for her.
I didn’t know what to expect from this story, but from the first page I found it hard to put down. The cozy, whimsical feeling permeates each page. I find the main character, Ivy, to be a fantastic study in someone who knows her own flaws but still has an air of confidence. I also loved York, her best friend, and how their friendship navigated through twists and turns throughout the book.
The author did a fantastic job with detailing the town of Windermere. It made me want to visit the town to eat at the bakery or see the plants in Forest and Fern.
The entire plot I found to be incredibly unique and interesting and it kept me completely immersed. I’m very glad this is a series as I am invested in knowing what is next for Ivy and York, and the history of Ivy’s family and what is next in this journey for her.
July 11, 2024
I got this at a NetGalley ARC.
I will say this was a 4.5 star read. I wish we can do half stars.
I enjoyed the story. It was different than what I’m used to. It was similar to Divergent, to where you pick your profession for your life and how it’s a big deal. But the fact the job categories were very different — One that deals with plants and one that deals with carving.
The story is about a girl who is taking a test to be an Arborist. Her father was a famous one and she felt the need to live up to his legacy. She ends up meeting a man in the forest that reveals some secrets that she didn’t know about her father and her world.
She then has to navigate learning the trade to become an arborist or find out more about these new secrets.
The only thing that annoyed me in the book (and not terribly) was how much she questioned things but didn’t talk to anyone. This is definitely a YA book. The main character has a very YA mentality. But overall it was a cool story.
I do believe, based on how it ended, that there will be a second book. I would like to continue the series for sure.
I will say this was a 4.5 star read. I wish we can do half stars.
I enjoyed the story. It was different than what I’m used to. It was similar to Divergent, to where you pick your profession for your life and how it’s a big deal. But the fact the job categories were very different — One that deals with plants and one that deals with carving.
The story is about a girl who is taking a test to be an Arborist. Her father was a famous one and she felt the need to live up to his legacy. She ends up meeting a man in the forest that reveals some secrets that she didn’t know about her father and her world.
She then has to navigate learning the trade to become an arborist or find out more about these new secrets.
The only thing that annoyed me in the book (and not terribly) was how much she questioned things but didn’t talk to anyone. This is definitely a YA book. The main character has a very YA mentality. But overall it was a cool story.
I do believe, based on how it ended, that there will be a second book. I would like to continue the series for sure.
July 2, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No spice/YA
4⭐️ Narrator
I had such a fun time reading this book! It was a great coming of age story with cozy mystery vibes.
The FMC was really relatable and so lost in the beginning of the book. I felt very connected to her and it was sad to see inside her mind in the beginning when she feels suffocated and like she has no place in the world. Watching her grow into herself and start to find the place as the book goes on was really great.
The friendship between her and York was great as well. They have a lot of ups and downs and feels like a very realistic teenage friendship.
I normally read romance books, but I really liked the plot of this and couldn’t put it down, I didn’t even realize that there wasn’t a romance plot because there was so much more interesting things going on.
There were so many mysteries and questions I had during the entire book. I couldn’t put it down and listened in one sitting because I needed answers. The ending was the perfect amount of questions answered while still leaving more and setting up book 2 really well.
Overall I loved the book and am definitely gonna be starting the second one immediately because I still need answers!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No spice/YA
4⭐️ Narrator
I had such a fun time reading this book! It was a great coming of age story with cozy mystery vibes.
The FMC was really relatable and so lost in the beginning of the book. I felt very connected to her and it was sad to see inside her mind in the beginning when she feels suffocated and like she has no place in the world. Watching her grow into herself and start to find the place as the book goes on was really great.
The friendship between her and York was great as well. They have a lot of ups and downs and feels like a very realistic teenage friendship.
I normally read romance books, but I really liked the plot of this and couldn’t put it down, I didn’t even realize that there wasn’t a romance plot because there was so much more interesting things going on.
There were so many mysteries and questions I had during the entire book. I couldn’t put it down and listened in one sitting because I needed answers. The ending was the perfect amount of questions answered while still leaving more and setting up book 2 really well.
Overall I loved the book and am definitely gonna be starting the second one immediately because I still need answers!
January 15, 2024
I LOVED the premise of this book. The world building felt wonderful and I truly began to escape into it. Training to be an arborist sounds like an absolute dream to me.
The way the mystery unfolded was excellent too. However I was so frustrated at the lack of answers in this book. I appreciate that it gives the reader really strong reasons to read the follow up, but I felt like I needed some answers in order to feel even slightly satisfied.
Nevertheless, this was a good fun read and I will probably read the follow up.
~I received an advanced review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily~
The way the mystery unfolded was excellent too. However I was so frustrated at the lack of answers in this book. I appreciate that it gives the reader really strong reasons to read the follow up, but I felt like I needed some answers in order to feel even slightly satisfied.
Nevertheless, this was a good fun read and I will probably read the follow up.
~I received an advanced review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily~
February 17, 2024
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the pleasure of reading this novel. I was starting to think that I was just not a fantasy reader, but this book made me change my mind completely, it was so atmospheric and magical and not complicated in the least. It sucked me in from start to finish and the mystery aspect was the cherry on top. Plus, I love when books have a cool castle. This fantasy has aspects of academia, with the tests, as well as a not so common magic (arborists), brings a refreshing twist to the genre. I can't wait for the final product to come out, and this is a series, so we'll eventually get to see the world fleshed out even more and see what Ivy gets herself into in the future.
May 31, 2024
The Beginning
I didn't realize this was just the start to a very interesting story. Ivy is preparing for the beginning of her adult life, but things end up working differently from what she was preparing for in the story. This has been a great fantasy story and leaves you wanting to determine what happens next, and I can't wait to start the next book.
I didn't realize this was just the start to a very interesting story. Ivy is preparing for the beginning of her adult life, but things end up working differently from what she was preparing for in the story. This has been a great fantasy story and leaves you wanting to determine what happens next, and I can't wait to start the next book.
March 27, 2024
Some of the wording was a hair off but the ideas within were gorgeous. Fantasy lovers this def deserves a read.
June 28, 2024
Ivy Rune is on a journey to follow in her late father’s footsteps and become an Arborist, or so she thought. When she begins to find hidden clues, everything she thought she knew about her father’s quiet life begins to unravel.
This book beautifully sets the stage for what we can expect in book two while also being an enjoyable and entertaining read on its own. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions for Ivy, and we, the readers, are riding along with her.
There is so much to explore in book 2, Castle Ever Dark! I cannot wait for its release. Get started on the journey and add this to your TBR.
4.25/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Thank you, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for the Audio ARC of Secrets Ever Green by Sara Knightly. #NetGalley #SecretsEverGreen
This book beautifully sets the stage for what we can expect in book two while also being an enjoyable and entertaining read on its own. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions for Ivy, and we, the readers, are riding along with her.
There is so much to explore in book 2, Castle Ever Dark! I cannot wait for its release. Get started on the journey and add this to your TBR.
4.25/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Thank you, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for the Audio ARC of Secrets Ever Green by Sara Knightly. #NetGalley #SecretsEverGreen
January 19, 2024
ARC review: 3/5 stars
This book had a promising premise, and I was looking forward to all the promised intrigue. But this one fell rather flat.
We meet Ivy who is in the midst of the first part of her final exam to become an Arborist and join the trade of her father. Through a disjointed series of short events, we learn things from Ivy’s past may not be what they seem and that there are things going on around Windermere that all but a few citizens are aware of.
This book was a lot of world building, but instead of showing us and building the world through experiences and events, it was just a lot of repetitive descriptions from Ivy’s musings. The whole town works largely on the premise of trades, and children begin at a young age learning trades to eventually take a test that determines if they have the skill to enter their trade or if they wash out and become a menial worker around town. And one minute Ivy is anxious and believes her entire life revolves around passing her Arborist test, but then the next minute she says she doesn’t feel like it fits her and she’s a square peg trying to fit in a round whole. It gives the reader whiplash the way Ivy goes back and forth so fast, and I understand as a teen/young adult the pressure to figure out life…but instead of pulling the reader in and making us feel what Ivy felt, we were told how she felt.
I wish the author had been less repetitive about things like how Carvers were THE trade of Windermere, and instead of constantly telling us…show us. I wanted to badly for this book to blow me away.
I’ll probably read book 2 when it comes out just because it’s going to bother me not having really been given any answers in book one. I didn’t expect a ton of answers, but literally none of the questions posed in the book are answered at all by the end of the book.
This book had a promising premise, and I was looking forward to all the promised intrigue. But this one fell rather flat.
We meet Ivy who is in the midst of the first part of her final exam to become an Arborist and join the trade of her father. Through a disjointed series of short events, we learn things from Ivy’s past may not be what they seem and that there are things going on around Windermere that all but a few citizens are aware of.
This book was a lot of world building, but instead of showing us and building the world through experiences and events, it was just a lot of repetitive descriptions from Ivy’s musings. The whole town works largely on the premise of trades, and children begin at a young age learning trades to eventually take a test that determines if they have the skill to enter their trade or if they wash out and become a menial worker around town. And one minute Ivy is anxious and believes her entire life revolves around passing her Arborist test, but then the next minute she says she doesn’t feel like it fits her and she’s a square peg trying to fit in a round whole. It gives the reader whiplash the way Ivy goes back and forth so fast, and I understand as a teen/young adult the pressure to figure out life…but instead of pulling the reader in and making us feel what Ivy felt, we were told how she felt.
I wish the author had been less repetitive about things like how Carvers were THE trade of Windermere, and instead of constantly telling us…show us. I wanted to badly for this book to blow me away.
I’ll probably read book 2 when it comes out just because it’s going to bother me not having really been given any answers in book one. I didn’t expect a ton of answers, but literally none of the questions posed in the book are answered at all by the end of the book.
July 9, 2024
Ivy Rune is working to pass her Arborist exam and follow in the footsteps of her father’s trade. But, a meeting with a stranger in the woods, brings secrets to life that her father had been hiding, outside of the quiet life he led. Now Ivy must unravel her father’s clues, try to pass her exam and navigate the relationship with her best friend York. As Ivy and York discover a hidden world of magic, they must find out more about the mysterious Count who controls the different trades in Ivy’s town and the changes happening in their lives.
Secrets Ever Green has a beautiful fairy tale feel. I really love the descriptions of the different trades, and how the young people must pass an exam to enter into their desired trade. I thought the relationship between Ivy and York was done really well, and I liked seeing their friendship evolve through trials and arguments. The search to discern her father’s clues adds a mysterious element to the story, and I’m hoping to learn more about Ivy’s father and mother’s pasts in the second book.
The question of who the Count is and what goes on in his forbidden castle adds an intriguing element to the book. We don’t know much about him, but I felt like he still looms as an important character to the story. I am really interested to see how he plays into the magic that Ivy is discovering and what her ability to see light around anything that has to do with the Count, means in the upcoming story line.
If you love mystery, magic and secrets then Secrets Ever Green is the perfect, fun read!
Secrets Ever Green has a beautiful fairy tale feel. I really love the descriptions of the different trades, and how the young people must pass an exam to enter into their desired trade. I thought the relationship between Ivy and York was done really well, and I liked seeing their friendship evolve through trials and arguments. The search to discern her father’s clues adds a mysterious element to the story, and I’m hoping to learn more about Ivy’s father and mother’s pasts in the second book.
The question of who the Count is and what goes on in his forbidden castle adds an intriguing element to the book. We don’t know much about him, but I felt like he still looms as an important character to the story. I am really interested to see how he plays into the magic that Ivy is discovering and what her ability to see light around anything that has to do with the Count, means in the upcoming story line.
If you love mystery, magic and secrets then Secrets Ever Green is the perfect, fun read!
September 2, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book just wasn’t it for me. First of all, if you’re not a green thumb…. This book is not for you. It was so hard to be interested in the story at all because I don’t like gardening, I am not a plant person and I don’t know much about plants. I think it was creative and it works as someone’s first fantasy book they’ve ever written but I just didn’t care for it and it didn’t wow me.
This book just wasn’t it for me. First of all, if you’re not a green thumb…. This book is not for you. It was so hard to be interested in the story at all because I don’t like gardening, I am not a plant person and I don’t know much about plants. I think it was creative and it works as someone’s first fantasy book they’ve ever written but I just didn’t care for it and it didn’t wow me.
January 13, 2024
Sara Knightly, Secrets Ever Green (Portal Publishing, 2024) 252p
The Everlight Series begins with this novel. It is written from the main character’s point of view. Highlighting the inner struggles of a daughter of a notorious Arborist who just passed away. Adeline should have been the protégé of her father. The first chapter of the encompasses the expectations of the society about her. The name of Ivy’s deceased father, Philip Rune will forever haunt her. Loon, who is the friend of Philip asks Ivy a deep troubling personal question. That is, if the remains of her father has been found. Ivy believes what they have told her when she was seven years old. This personal belief of Ivy is questioned by Loon. He gives Ivy what her father was supposed to have upon reaching a certain age. Ivy takes a deep breathe as she sees an unfamiliar young girl who stood outside the door of the carving class, peeking in. Ivy gets lost in a class for Carvers. The preconception of Ivy has been shattered when she figures out that she needs to learn more about the Carvers. Things take a different turn when Ivy was in Forest and Fern and was trapped on the stairs with a stranger. Ivy was handed a key in order to open a certain cube. It will be the first year York and Percy could enter the Tournament as Carvers, and I was sure one of them would win. In addition to the final test, each student will also need to identify each specimen and know an important fact about it. Ivy convinces herself that there is no connection between her father’s drawings to the Count’s crest. Or is there a connection? Ivy tops and examines a strange tree. Someone made it in that manner. It has her father’s note. “Evergreen”. There is more to the said note. “Secrets run in the family tree, but they did not start with me.” At the end of the said chapter, Ivy was inside a ring of trees. Just like the image that her father had drawn. Ivy steps into anther world, a time before people existed. This time, it is her mother’s presence that she can connect with. The relationship of Ivy and the Count Regent develops. At the middle of the novel, the journal of Ivy’s father beckons her. Ivy needs to decide if she should reveal the existence of the Tree of Garden and the very real tree ring within it. Such action will leave a terrible consequence. It will throw into question all of his father’s research, and his reputation.
If you are looking for a novel that has series of magic and adventure, this is a highly recommended book. It is also a very unique book in my own opinion. It is my first time reading about Arborists.
This section of my book review pertains to the things that could be developed. Particularly, it would have been more interesting if Ivy did not wish to win the said competition. It goes against her persona in the first chapter of the book. Consistency of the persona of the main character is highly more advisable. Also, several chapters pertain to the said test which they would partake in. It feels dragging, losing its adventure nature which I truly enjoyed at the beginning of the book.
A unique book filled with magic.
The Everlight Series begins with this novel. It is written from the main character’s point of view. Highlighting the inner struggles of a daughter of a notorious Arborist who just passed away. Adeline should have been the protégé of her father. The first chapter of the encompasses the expectations of the society about her. The name of Ivy’s deceased father, Philip Rune will forever haunt her. Loon, who is the friend of Philip asks Ivy a deep troubling personal question. That is, if the remains of her father has been found. Ivy believes what they have told her when she was seven years old. This personal belief of Ivy is questioned by Loon. He gives Ivy what her father was supposed to have upon reaching a certain age. Ivy takes a deep breathe as she sees an unfamiliar young girl who stood outside the door of the carving class, peeking in. Ivy gets lost in a class for Carvers. The preconception of Ivy has been shattered when she figures out that she needs to learn more about the Carvers. Things take a different turn when Ivy was in Forest and Fern and was trapped on the stairs with a stranger. Ivy was handed a key in order to open a certain cube. It will be the first year York and Percy could enter the Tournament as Carvers, and I was sure one of them would win. In addition to the final test, each student will also need to identify each specimen and know an important fact about it. Ivy convinces herself that there is no connection between her father’s drawings to the Count’s crest. Or is there a connection? Ivy tops and examines a strange tree. Someone made it in that manner. It has her father’s note. “Evergreen”. There is more to the said note. “Secrets run in the family tree, but they did not start with me.” At the end of the said chapter, Ivy was inside a ring of trees. Just like the image that her father had drawn. Ivy steps into anther world, a time before people existed. This time, it is her mother’s presence that she can connect with. The relationship of Ivy and the Count Regent develops. At the middle of the novel, the journal of Ivy’s father beckons her. Ivy needs to decide if she should reveal the existence of the Tree of Garden and the very real tree ring within it. Such action will leave a terrible consequence. It will throw into question all of his father’s research, and his reputation.
If you are looking for a novel that has series of magic and adventure, this is a highly recommended book. It is also a very unique book in my own opinion. It is my first time reading about Arborists.
This section of my book review pertains to the things that could be developed. Particularly, it would have been more interesting if Ivy did not wish to win the said competition. It goes against her persona in the first chapter of the book. Consistency of the persona of the main character is highly more advisable. Also, several chapters pertain to the said test which they would partake in. It feels dragging, losing its adventure nature which I truly enjoyed at the beginning of the book.
A unique book filled with magic.
February 5, 2024
Between the time that I requested this book from Book Sirens and the time I read it, I forgot it was book one in a series and might end on a cliffhanger. And it did. Although I don’t like cliffhangers, I really enjoyed this book, and the ending is not unbearable, as cliffhangers go. It’s simply the end of one chapter in Ivy’s life and the beginning of a new one.
The world-building in this book is very well done, with many similarities to this world, and the characters are compelling. Ivy, in particular, the MC is relatable and it’s easy to feel her fears, her frustrations, her desires, and her loves. Surrounded by people who’ve cared about her since the loss of her parents when she was only six years old, she nevertheless feels alone and relies heavily on her best friend York. And, of course, her horse Loon.
Ivy is expected to follow in the footsteps of her acclaimed father, an arborist. York is training to be a carver, but his father discourages him in this endeavor, preferring he helps with the family shipping business. Ivy feels like she will never understand all she needs to know to be an arborist, but it is expected of her, so she goes along with the training. She spends the bulk of the story dreading the final test because if she doesn’t pass, she will lose the shop her father ran and the home she lived in as a child. Meanwhile, York wants nothing more than to be a carver, and he is probably the most talented carver there is. There is never any question he will pass his test; the only question is whether he will win the tournament and become a “master carver.”
Ivy encounters a stranger who reveals information about her father that sends her on a quest to uncover the mystery of his death (or disappearance). This is where the magic comes in—because she discovers a hidden garden that requires a supernatural key to enter it. And after finding one of her father’s journals and inhaling some kind of pollen contained therein, she suddenly begins to see magic around her—in the form of golden or silver shimmers around people and things.
It’s an adventure and coming-of-age story for a young orphaned girl trying to figure out her place in society. With the help of York and various challenges, she builds faith in herself and prepares herself to take on even bigger challenges. But this time, she must face them alone. I can hardly wait to read book two!
The world-building in this book is very well done, with many similarities to this world, and the characters are compelling. Ivy, in particular, the MC is relatable and it’s easy to feel her fears, her frustrations, her desires, and her loves. Surrounded by people who’ve cared about her since the loss of her parents when she was only six years old, she nevertheless feels alone and relies heavily on her best friend York. And, of course, her horse Loon.
Ivy is expected to follow in the footsteps of her acclaimed father, an arborist. York is training to be a carver, but his father discourages him in this endeavor, preferring he helps with the family shipping business. Ivy feels like she will never understand all she needs to know to be an arborist, but it is expected of her, so she goes along with the training. She spends the bulk of the story dreading the final test because if she doesn’t pass, she will lose the shop her father ran and the home she lived in as a child. Meanwhile, York wants nothing more than to be a carver, and he is probably the most talented carver there is. There is never any question he will pass his test; the only question is whether he will win the tournament and become a “master carver.”
Ivy encounters a stranger who reveals information about her father that sends her on a quest to uncover the mystery of his death (or disappearance). This is where the magic comes in—because she discovers a hidden garden that requires a supernatural key to enter it. And after finding one of her father’s journals and inhaling some kind of pollen contained therein, she suddenly begins to see magic around her—in the form of golden or silver shimmers around people and things.
It’s an adventure and coming-of-age story for a young orphaned girl trying to figure out her place in society. With the help of York and various challenges, she builds faith in herself and prepares herself to take on even bigger challenges. But this time, she must face them alone. I can hardly wait to read book two!
January 22, 2025
🌿Secrets Ever Green by Sara Knightly is a whimsical and cozy YA fantasy full of botanical fairytale vibes and a mystery to unravel! If you loved Evergreen Academy by Heather Schneider then you need to read Sara Knightly's The Everlight Series next!
✨”The secrets were buried . . . until clues began to bloom.
Ivy Rune’s only goal is to pass her final exam and become an Arborist like her late father, even though she fears she’ll never be able to truly uphold his legacy. Just before her big test, Ivy discovers her father’s secrets . . . and they had nothing to do with the quiet life he led.
Suddenly, clues unspool from wood carvings and old journals, leading Ivy to the outskirts of town and straight to the Count’s forbidden castle. When Ivy uncovers a hidden world of magic, she and her best friend are unexpectedly altered. As they explore their new powers, Ivy realizes she is capable of much more than the simple life her father left for her.
Now Ivy must decide between inheriting her father’s Arborist trade or continuing to uncover the mystery he kept hidden. But uprooting the past might erase her father’s legacy and change the course of Ivy’s life forever.”✨
🌿This book was a wonderful introduction to Sara’s series, and was a short n sweet read, making it perfect for the weekend! This story is very YA, full of adventure, mystery, and a sweet no-spice friendship which may become something more special..But there's a lot more focus on Ivy's adventures than on romance!
🌿I loved how creative and original this story was! There were so many unique details, and the world building was beautifully done, full of lush imagery and lovely atmospheric descriptions that were mesmerizing and immersive! It made me wish Sara's town of Windermere and the enchanted forest beyond were a real place!
♥️Thank you Sara Knightly for the honor of being able to read your wonderful book as an arc! I loved this story and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves no-spice YA Fantasy Adventures!
✨🌿♥️🌿✨
✨”The secrets were buried . . . until clues began to bloom.
Ivy Rune’s only goal is to pass her final exam and become an Arborist like her late father, even though she fears she’ll never be able to truly uphold his legacy. Just before her big test, Ivy discovers her father’s secrets . . . and they had nothing to do with the quiet life he led.
Suddenly, clues unspool from wood carvings and old journals, leading Ivy to the outskirts of town and straight to the Count’s forbidden castle. When Ivy uncovers a hidden world of magic, she and her best friend are unexpectedly altered. As they explore their new powers, Ivy realizes she is capable of much more than the simple life her father left for her.
Now Ivy must decide between inheriting her father’s Arborist trade or continuing to uncover the mystery he kept hidden. But uprooting the past might erase her father’s legacy and change the course of Ivy’s life forever.”✨
🌿This book was a wonderful introduction to Sara’s series, and was a short n sweet read, making it perfect for the weekend! This story is very YA, full of adventure, mystery, and a sweet no-spice friendship which may become something more special..But there's a lot more focus on Ivy's adventures than on romance!
🌿I loved how creative and original this story was! There were so many unique details, and the world building was beautifully done, full of lush imagery and lovely atmospheric descriptions that were mesmerizing and immersive! It made me wish Sara's town of Windermere and the enchanted forest beyond were a real place!
♥️Thank you Sara Knightly for the honor of being able to read your wonderful book as an arc! I loved this story and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves no-spice YA Fantasy Adventures!
✨🌿♥️🌿✨
January 22, 2024
A solid 4 ⭐ with 0 🌶️
Characters: The FMC is smart, brave and dealing with a lot emotionally. I enjoyed how her reactions to situations were written - I was fully immersed and riding those emotions with her! The MMC was a little annoying for me, but he comes off as just a young boy, which he is. I wish we got to find out more about Nicholas - maybe in book 2?! I felt a lot of love towards some of the side characters with how they treated the younger ones and looked out for them as one large family! I hate Bryn haha!
World: The world in this story is so well written that I could easily imagine it as I read. From the bakery, Forest & Fern, to the Tree Garden and the castle. It reads like a fairytale with an underlying dark secret.The world reads all happy and light on the surface, but you can tell there is something else there.
Plot: I honestly wasn't too sure where this book was going at first. I know some other reviewers guessed early on, but not me! There's no shocking twists, but the way the book flows is fantastic. The FMC was trying to find out who her and her family really were. I'm intrigued to see where book 2 is going to go!
Ending: A great cliff hanger, I'm excited for Book 2! And with the new characters that have been introduced ... I'm hoping I spy a little romance!
Emotions: I spent the entire book just overwhelmed with curiosity!! I was absorbed into what the characters were feeling, which for me, means their experiences were well written.
Recommend: Most definitely! It was a nice, pleasant read, with a mysterious fairytale feeling.
I received an ARC of this book (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
Characters: The FMC is smart, brave and dealing with a lot emotionally. I enjoyed how her reactions to situations were written - I was fully immersed and riding those emotions with her! The MMC was a little annoying for me, but he comes off as just a young boy, which he is. I wish we got to find out more about Nicholas - maybe in book 2?! I felt a lot of love towards some of the side characters with how they treated the younger ones and looked out for them as one large family! I hate Bryn haha!
World: The world in this story is so well written that I could easily imagine it as I read. From the bakery, Forest & Fern, to the Tree Garden and the castle. It reads like a fairytale with an underlying dark secret.The world reads all happy and light on the surface, but you can tell there is something else there.
Plot: I honestly wasn't too sure where this book was going at first. I know some other reviewers guessed early on, but not me! There's no shocking twists, but the way the book flows is fantastic. The FMC was trying to find out who her and her family really were. I'm intrigued to see where book 2 is going to go!
Ending: A great cliff hanger, I'm excited for Book 2! And with the new characters that have been introduced ... I'm hoping I spy a little romance!
Emotions: I spent the entire book just overwhelmed with curiosity!! I was absorbed into what the characters were feeling, which for me, means their experiences were well written.
Recommend: Most definitely! It was a nice, pleasant read, with a mysterious fairytale feeling.
I received an ARC of this book (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
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