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The Callers #2
The Hidden Forest
Return to the world of the Callers in this exciting middle-grade fantasy series that explores the amazing power of summoning objects into being and the ominous consequences of doing so. Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan.
The Callers, Book 1, which Printz Honor–winning author Garret Weyr called “beautifully told and engaging and just thrilling,” set the stage for a riveting series that introduced the world of Elipsom and its inhabitants’ unique ability to Call—or summon
In Book 2, a month has passed since Quin fled his home world of Elipsom after revealing the shocking truth about that the magic ability to conjure something out of thin air actually steals resources from another place. And that other place is Evantra, a nation suffering from exploitation by the Callers. Across the country, rumors are spreading that perhaps Calling isn’t a force for good after all. Even so, Quin’s sister, Davinia, has maintained calm under the pressure of her mother, the Chief Counselor of the Callers, who is determined to keep the status quo and quash anyone who questions the rightness of Calling. But when Davinia is assigned to investigate and plant evidence in a rebellious part of the city, her loyalties begin to waver.
Meanwhile, Quin and his friend Allie are in a race against the clock to heal the Vine, the source of all growing things in Evantra, which has been slowly dying. Their search leads them to a mysterious forest that may have the answers they seek—and the truth about Quin’s past.
Arresting and thought-provoking, this story explores some of the most crucial topics of our time and shows the power of standing up and fighting for a better tomorrow.
RICH This series takes a deep, thoughtful look at complex and essential issues—including haves and have-nots, environmental exploitation, colonialism, truth, and social responsibility. In doing so, it takes after some of the best works the fantasy genre has to offer.
This easy-to-read, fast-paced page-turner will be a joy for middle-grade readers who love immersive adventure and fantasy stories.
DUAL POV Alternating between the main character and his sister’s narratives, The The Hidden Forest introduces new characters and new mysteries to unravel, along with Quin’s continuing discovery of his powers.
Perfect
Middle-grade fantasy and sci-fi readers
Teachers and librarians
Anyone interested in books with environmental themes
Readers looking for narratives told through multiple perspectives
Fans of Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember, Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, or Lois Lowry’s The Giver
The Callers, Book 1, which Printz Honor–winning author Garret Weyr called “beautifully told and engaging and just thrilling,” set the stage for a riveting series that introduced the world of Elipsom and its inhabitants’ unique ability to Call—or summon
In Book 2, a month has passed since Quin fled his home world of Elipsom after revealing the shocking truth about that the magic ability to conjure something out of thin air actually steals resources from another place. And that other place is Evantra, a nation suffering from exploitation by the Callers. Across the country, rumors are spreading that perhaps Calling isn’t a force for good after all. Even so, Quin’s sister, Davinia, has maintained calm under the pressure of her mother, the Chief Counselor of the Callers, who is determined to keep the status quo and quash anyone who questions the rightness of Calling. But when Davinia is assigned to investigate and plant evidence in a rebellious part of the city, her loyalties begin to waver.
Meanwhile, Quin and his friend Allie are in a race against the clock to heal the Vine, the source of all growing things in Evantra, which has been slowly dying. Their search leads them to a mysterious forest that may have the answers they seek—and the truth about Quin’s past.
Arresting and thought-provoking, this story explores some of the most crucial topics of our time and shows the power of standing up and fighting for a better tomorrow.
RICH This series takes a deep, thoughtful look at complex and essential issues—including haves and have-nots, environmental exploitation, colonialism, truth, and social responsibility. In doing so, it takes after some of the best works the fantasy genre has to offer.
This easy-to-read, fast-paced page-turner will be a joy for middle-grade readers who love immersive adventure and fantasy stories.
DUAL POV Alternating between the main character and his sister’s narratives, The The Hidden Forest introduces new characters and new mysteries to unravel, along with Quin’s continuing discovery of his powers.
Perfect
Middle-grade fantasy and sci-fi readers
Teachers and librarians
Anyone interested in books with environmental themes
Readers looking for narratives told through multiple perspectives
Fans of Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember, Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, or Lois Lowry’s The Giver
- GenresFantasyMiddle Grade
272 pages, Hardcover
Published May 20, 2025
27 people are currently reading
3126 people want to read
About the author
Kiah Thomas
20 books40 followersKiah Thomas started telling stories when she was a kid; reimagining the endings in books she read. She rediscovered her love of kids books when she had children of her own, and started writing beginnings as well as endings. Kiah is passionate about books that kids and adults can enjoy together. She lives in Melbourne, Victoria with her husband, three children and at least seven stuffed toy penguins.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 20, 2026
This is the second book in The Callers series, and I have grown to love this book series. I am rooting for Quin and his friends to save his content from utter destruction by Council. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the third book.
June 18, 2025
Thank you to Chronicle Books for the complimentary hardcover ARC!
Rating: ★★★★☆
The Callers: The Hidden Forest takes you right back into the richly imagined worlds of Elipsom and Evantra, where summoning magic isn’t as simple—or harmless—as it seems. Kiah Thomas pulls no punches in this one: the pace is faster, the stakes are higher, and the moral gray areas get even murkier. And I loved every bit of it.
This sequel deepens everything I found compelling about the first book, and then goes even further with dual POVs and emotional stakes that bloom like the Vine itself.
• Quin's journey feels more urgent and heroic than ever 🌿💫 His bond with Allie, his need to restore balance to Evantra, and the revelations about his own past kept me hooked.
• Davinia’s POV? Unexpectedly one of my faves 🪞💔 Watching her struggle with loyalty to her mother vs. her growing empathy made her chapters feel so raw and real.
• The Vine as a living symbol for connection and sustainability? Gorgeous and metaphor-rich 🌱🧠 It’s giving real climate allegory, and I'm here for it.
• That mysterious forest?? I need more of it. All the magical realism vibes with high-stakes, puzzle-solving energy 🌲🧩
• Love that this series doesn’t talk down to middle-grade readers. It asks real questions about power, ethics, and environmental justice 🗣️⚖️
• Also… HOW is the pacing so tight and so lush at the same time? I felt like I was racing toward the end but didn’t want it to end! ⏳📘
My only tiny complaint is that I need Book 3 like… yesterday. There’s so much potential for what happens next, and I’m already rooting for every vine, every rebellion, and every character on both sides of the divide.
If you’re a teacher, a parent, or just someone who believes books can be magical and meaningful—please put this series on your shelf.
This is environmental fantasy done right, with heart and imagination that stretches far beyond the page. 💚📚🧵
Rating: ★★★★☆
The Callers: The Hidden Forest takes you right back into the richly imagined worlds of Elipsom and Evantra, where summoning magic isn’t as simple—or harmless—as it seems. Kiah Thomas pulls no punches in this one: the pace is faster, the stakes are higher, and the moral gray areas get even murkier. And I loved every bit of it.
This sequel deepens everything I found compelling about the first book, and then goes even further with dual POVs and emotional stakes that bloom like the Vine itself.
• Quin's journey feels more urgent and heroic than ever 🌿💫 His bond with Allie, his need to restore balance to Evantra, and the revelations about his own past kept me hooked.
• Davinia’s POV? Unexpectedly one of my faves 🪞💔 Watching her struggle with loyalty to her mother vs. her growing empathy made her chapters feel so raw and real.
• The Vine as a living symbol for connection and sustainability? Gorgeous and metaphor-rich 🌱🧠 It’s giving real climate allegory, and I'm here for it.
• That mysterious forest?? I need more of it. All the magical realism vibes with high-stakes, puzzle-solving energy 🌲🧩
• Love that this series doesn’t talk down to middle-grade readers. It asks real questions about power, ethics, and environmental justice 🗣️⚖️
• Also… HOW is the pacing so tight and so lush at the same time? I felt like I was racing toward the end but didn’t want it to end! ⏳📘
My only tiny complaint is that I need Book 3 like… yesterday. There’s so much potential for what happens next, and I’m already rooting for every vine, every rebellion, and every character on both sides of the divide.
If you’re a teacher, a parent, or just someone who believes books can be magical and meaningful—please put this series on your shelf.
This is environmental fantasy done right, with heart and imagination that stretches far beyond the page. 💚📚🧵
July 23, 2025
This was an exciting continuation of the story. Quin has the ability to heal the vine and make things grow. He feels more at home and at peace in Evantra than he did while living with Davinia and Adriana. He realizes that he has a special connection to living things. While he continues to explore with Allie- he goes to a forest. Through a series of tests, he manages to make it to a village and discovers his grandmother. She is stuck in the forest and everyone else that lived there is gone. She helps Quin to heal the vine on Evantra, but in order to do so has given herself to the forest. Allie gives herself up to Adriana and is put in a prison. Quin knows he has to go back to Elipsom.
This is a great imaginative story- with people who are callers using their ability to rob others of things they have made and taking pride in doing so. They are part of a group of people that have managed to rule over the other people who are working to provide food that they just take. The young people, Quin, Davinia- Milo have all come to realize how the "callers" are ruining the vine and their ability to provide for themselves. There are other adults who are fighting to help others believe what they are doing is wrong. Maybe this story is similar to those that believe that we need to take care of the Earth rather than doing so much to destroy it through waste and destroying plants etc. Its an interesting idea and was a fun read.
This is a great imaginative story- with people who are callers using their ability to rob others of things they have made and taking pride in doing so. They are part of a group of people that have managed to rule over the other people who are working to provide food that they just take. The young people, Quin, Davinia- Milo have all come to realize how the "callers" are ruining the vine and their ability to provide for themselves. There are other adults who are fighting to help others believe what they are doing is wrong. Maybe this story is similar to those that believe that we need to take care of the Earth rather than doing so much to destroy it through waste and destroying plants etc. Its an interesting idea and was a fun read.
April 26, 2026
I really liked how the story expands beyond just adventure and starts digging into the consequences of everything. That whole concept of Calling—not actually creating, but taking from somewhere else—completely shifted the tone for me. It added this underlying tension that made every moment feel heavier, like nothing was as simple as it seemed anymore.
Getting multiple perspectives made such a difference too. It gave the story more depth and made the conflict feel real from all sides. You can feel the characters starting to question things they once accepted without hesitation, and that internal struggle added a layer I wasn’t expecting but really appreciated.
The pacing kept me engaged the entire time. It moves quickly, but still gives space for growth, and you can see how the characters are changing as the stakes rise. It doesn’t feel like a repeat of book one—it feels like everything is evolving, especially the world itself.
I also loved how everything connects back to the bigger picture—the vine, the imbalance, the impact of their actions. It made the story feel purposeful, like there’s something deeper being built underneath it all.
There were a few moments where I wanted just a little more time to sit in the emotions, but overall this was such a strong continuation. It builds on the first book in a meaningful way and definitely left me curious to see where it all goes next.
Getting multiple perspectives made such a difference too. It gave the story more depth and made the conflict feel real from all sides. You can feel the characters starting to question things they once accepted without hesitation, and that internal struggle added a layer I wasn’t expecting but really appreciated.
The pacing kept me engaged the entire time. It moves quickly, but still gives space for growth, and you can see how the characters are changing as the stakes rise. It doesn’t feel like a repeat of book one—it feels like everything is evolving, especially the world itself.
I also loved how everything connects back to the bigger picture—the vine, the imbalance, the impact of their actions. It made the story feel purposeful, like there’s something deeper being built underneath it all.
There were a few moments where I wanted just a little more time to sit in the emotions, but overall this was such a strong continuation. It builds on the first book in a meaningful way and definitely left me curious to see where it all goes next.
April 4, 2025
The Callers the Hidden Forest
This book takes place a month after the first book ends. Quin and Allie are on a mission to heal the vine, the source that connects all growing things and allows things to grow. This is important because the Eventran’s need this to grow all the food and other things they make for themselves and what the caller steal from them. They find the beginning of the vine is in a hidden forest where if Quin can past the obstacles he will find the truth about his past. Even Quin’s sister Davinia starts to see the toll it is taking on the other side and how some people have chosen to go call free and is slowly being brought over to her brothers’ way of thinking.
This is another wonderful and action packed book. With suspense galore, this is the kind of book that will have you up past your bedtime to find out what happens next. This is a great series that will make readers stop to think of the many topics that can be talked about and all that the book teaches, even though one might not realize it when reading the book. My biggest wish is that when the next book comes out, it will hopefully be soon, that I will be privileged enough to be able to review it as well.
This review copy was supplied by Edelweiss
April 22, 2026
“The Hidden Forest” by Kiah Thomas is the second book in the middle grade series The Callers. The story picks up shortly after the end of the first book, after the harsh truth behind Calling has been revealed. Rather than Calling being a gift to summon resources out of nowhere, the resources that are called are actually stolen from another place named Evantra. Quin, who fled his home in Elipsom after revealing the facts about the true nature of Calling, and his sister Davinia, are the main characters in this story. Quin is trying to heal the source of all things that grow in Evantra. Meanwhile, Davinia has been asked to do some questionable things by their mother, the Chief Counselor of the Callers. Both siblings are tested in this quickly moving action adventure story. Lots of complex topics are tackled here, including environmental concerns, colonialism, truth, and moral responsibility. The publisher shares that fans of “City of Ember”, “A Wrinkle in Time”, and “The Giver” will like this series, and those recommendations feel accurate.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a chance to read an ARC of this book. I enjoyed it!
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a chance to read an ARC of this book. I enjoyed it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I started reading this book immediately after finishing the first one. And, I've gotta say, this sequel was just as entertaining and compelling! I was completely captivated by it!
I enjoyed seeing Quin’s character growth, and I loved seeing him embrace the truth of who he was. I also enjoyed seeing the friendship between him and Allie grow. They’re a great duo! I really enjoyed getting Davinia’s POV. She was wrestling with some things, and I was very curious to see how that would turn out.
This story ends on an even bigger cliffhanger than the first one, so I’m very anxious for the next book. It can’t come out soon enough!
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
I enjoyed seeing Quin’s character growth, and I loved seeing him embrace the truth of who he was. I also enjoyed seeing the friendship between him and Allie grow. They’re a great duo! I really enjoyed getting Davinia’s POV. She was wrestling with some things, and I was very curious to see how that would turn out.
This story ends on an even bigger cliffhanger than the first one, so I’m very anxious for the next book. It can’t come out soon enough!
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
April 19, 2025
I did not know what was going to happen, so my attention was engaged until the very last word. I loved this book and can understand why it is part of the NSW curriculum. A must read for every primary school teacher, every adult and young adult. When I was gardening yesterday and removing masses of feral vines from some native coastal sage, I related to the ideas in the book about the vine and felt like the sage in my garden was thanking me. How do authors come up with these original ideas? Brilliant Kiah Thomas.
November 9, 2025
Rounding up from 3.5
Good continuation - the characters all grow (like the vine!) and it's generally exciting.
The only part I didn't buy into was meeting Quin's grandmother - it was a resolution to the mystery of his parents (in a way) but it wasn't monumental. Mix together trapped by yourself for 12 years and kids appearing, it just didn't land right for me personally.
Otherwise loved Davina's parts. Quin and Allie's were moving the story more than anything, but it was important.
Good continuation - the characters all grow (like the vine!) and it's generally exciting.
The only part I didn't buy into was meeting Quin's grandmother - it was a resolution to the mystery of his parents (in a way) but it wasn't monumental. Mix together trapped by yourself for 12 years and kids appearing, it just didn't land right for me personally.
Otherwise loved Davina's parts. Quin and Allie's were moving the story more than anything, but it was important.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2025
I read this right after the first book, but didn’t finish before my library loan was due back & had to wait another 2 months to finish. When I finally got the book back I finished it immediately. It is a good story & I enjoyed it, but it seemed to move slower than the first and didn’t have an ending which I’m hoping leads to another book in the series. It is a Sunshine State Young Readers Award book for this school year for grades 3-5 and I know the kids will enjoy it.
July 17, 2025
Another great story! At times it was a little slow but the climax and resolution was really good! Can't wait for book 3!
September 1, 2025
4.5 stars. Well done for ending on another cliffhanger. I loved the development of Dav's character and how the story wove together like the vine. Can't wait to share this sequel with my class.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a great book 2 in this series, and it starts off a month after the end of the first book. Plenty of action, and my middle-grader loved it.
December 10, 2025
This series is just phenomenal. I'm so impressed with the writing and can't wait for book 3!
October 1, 2025
I read this straight after the first book and I enjoyed it, but it had a completely different feel to the first book. I hope there is a third as it is built up in a way that there should be another book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews