The Shiver Tree

The Amarra Chronicles #1

by Holly Searcy

In this sweeping fantasy adventure, an elven druid undertakes a journey of self-discovery and faces an ancient enemy that threatens to throw her world into chaos.

For millennia the land of Amarra was guarded by five Druid Orders: Jade, Ice, Spirit, Sky, and Sun. But the clans splintered long ago, and without their protection, Amarra is struggling in the face of blighted crops, monstrous aberrations, and pitiless pirate raids.

As the daughter of Amarra's High Druid, Kiana Paletine is certain that if the Orders were reestablished, peace and plenty would follow. But no one agrees--not even her own father. Tired of the politics and eager to make a difference in the world, Kiana sets out to enlist the help of her estranged sister, Ravaini.

Soon a series of visions begins to haunt her, and Kiana learns of an ancient druidic artifact called the Shiver Seed. This powerful relic has fallen into the hands of the malevolent Deep Ones, who seek to use the Seed for their own nefarious purposes. If Kiana can find the lost Ice Druids, she may be able to retake the Seed and save the clans--but if the druids fall to the Deep Ones, all of Amarra will be in danger.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Adult

328 pages, Hardcover

First published November 12, 2024

Reviews

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit]

I very much wanted to love this story, but it is not for me. It’s too disjointed, and it has an astounding amount of largely incongruent things smashed together. You’ve got elves, gnomes, druids, sorcerers, and…werewolves? Throw in some pirates, jinn and eerily Harry Potter-ish incantations for good measure. I know, let’s add “mindf**k” and “ugly-a**” in there, too, just to thoroughly jar you out of the fantastical world.

I loathe leaving negative reviews, but I have to be honest here. I did love the seed of magic growing into a mark of a tree of the left forearms of druids, with leaves fading if magic is used…that’s fascinating and totally unique. I hope that I will be in the minority with my opinion, and that others will love the book. I do think there’s a good tale in here somewhere, but as is, it’s trying to do too much and needs some…well…pruning.

I received an eARC from NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing (thank you), and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brittany Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly entertaining fantasy with a diverse cast of species and characters! It totally captures that quest feel, making it super engaging. The magic system is fascinating, and I’m eager to dive deeper into it. I really enjoyed the authors writing style and i’m hoping there will be a second book. If you're a fantasy fan, you should definitely check this one out! Thank you NetGalley and Black Stone Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upon encountering this book on Netgalley, I was immediately drawn in by its intriguing and distinctive premise. However, upon delving into the story, I found it lacking in coherence. The multitude of species introduced, including elves, druids, gnomes, sorcerers, and werewolves, contributed to a narrative that was at times difficult to follow. Additionally, while the spell casting was intriguing, I found there to be an absence of explanations for the incantations spoken which added to my confusion.

That being said, there were certain aspects of the story that stood out for their originality. For instance, the concept of magic manifesting as a "tattoo" on the forearm of druids, with leaves fading and regenerating with their magical use, was particularly fascinating.

Overall, while the story shows promise, the abundance of elements introduced resulted in a somewhat disjointed storyline.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shiver Tree was a beautifully written story. Typically I am not one to pick up a fantasy novel of my own will, but the description of the story line just pulled me in. Paired along side the magnificent cover, this book is a world of its own. From the beginning you could feel the tension and danger brewing within, but the main character, Kiana, was not about to let anything destroy the place she loved so much. Headstrong and determined, she set out on an adventure that brought her to new heights. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat and brings you deep into their world. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone that uses books to find new universes to submerge themselves in to escape the real world around them.

[Kyle Spelling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a fun book that is clearly thumbing it's nose at the current tropes in the genre. There's no overbearing romance content. There's not 500 pages of political intrigue. There doesn't seem to be a political message of any kind. It's just a fun story about friends and a quest. It reminds me of the older style fantasy stories which were more about the fun and less about trying to copy the current trend.

Really enjoyed the best friend and furry best friend. (leaving names out to avoid spoilers). If I'm not mistaken this has set the stage for a larger story which will tie up some loose threads. I hope, otherwise I'll have to revise my review.

Interesting magic system, not 100% sure of the details yet, but I'm patient and if I'm correct about more from this author I suspect more will be revealed in time.

My only gripe is I don't feel like I know enough about the BBEG (This seems to be a DND inspired) and why what happens happens...but again, I think more is coming?

Super happy to have received an ARC and I look forward to seeing what else comes from the book. Joined GR to post this. Now I have about a million more reviews to write.

[Ashley (andtheniwasbookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it! It was a bit outside of my normal type of book. I read a lot of Romantasy and this is more high fantasy with just a little sprinkling of romance.

Once I got past that difference, I really enjoyed this storyline. Kiana is awesome, and I love how smart she is. Not only that, but she was a great communicator (a really easy way to my heart), and was mature enough to vocalize what she was trying to do.

This adventure was really cool and I love where this story is going. This was a good set up, and I think I'd enjoy the sequel even more than the first.

Overall: would recommend if you are into high fantasy adventure

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review also features on Diary of an Ink Drinker

Initially, I was hesitant when I dived into Holly Searcy's debut novel, The Shiver Tree. There are so many new fantasy authors that just rehash old tropes or that try to build a world on a scale larger than their capabilities. The reviews I’d read previously didn’t lead me to believe that this would be any different, however, I was pleasantly surprised. This fantasy world teeming with magic, monsters, and thrilling adventures captivated me from the very first page.
The Shiver Tree follows the journey of Kiana, a young and sheltered druid being groomed to follow in her father's political footsteps and eventually become the high druid. Haunted by visions, Kiana decides to heed their call and see where the adventure leads her.

The story has that classic Dungeons and Dragons vibe, which the author acknowledges as one of her inspirations. The party forms, the story hook set and, along the way, there are plenty of misadventures and side quests. It's a fun ride and what's great is that none of these side adventures detract from the main storyline. The pacing is just right, keeping you engaged without feeling rushed.

Holly's writing style reminded me a lot of Eragon, and that’s definitely a good thing. The story seems geared towards a young adult audience, with a readability that makes it accessible for mid-teens. The world-building is complex with a rich variety of races, but it doesn’t get bogged down in excessive detail like some Tolkien-esque novels. Instead, it sets the scene nicely and leaves room for the reader’s imagination. Plus it introduces some fresh concepts to the fantasy genre, which is always a treat.

There’s a mild romantic subplot, but unlike many fantasy novels, it doesn’t overshadow the main story. It’s also refreshingly clean, making it suitable for younger readers.

I’ve seen some comments about the book’s portrayal of different races – elves, humans, gnomes, dwarves, etc. Some feel the author doesn’t delve deeply enough into these races, but I think that’s okay. Most fantasy readers are already familiar with these archetypes, so detailed descriptions aren’t necessary. It keeps the story from feeling stale or stalling and lets the action and plot take centre stage.

The ending leaves a few threads hanging, hinting at a sequel, but not so many that you feel frustrated. All in all, I think The Shiver Tree is a fantastic debut. I would highly recommend it to younger readers, those new to the fantasy genre, or anyone who enjoys lighter storytelling without the hefty depth of The Lord of the Rings.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an e-arc - all opinions are my own

[Jameson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got thoroughly swept away in the elegant prose of this high fantasy captivated by the beautiful world building and perfectly paced quest!

I often find it difficult to listen to audiobooks if I haven’t read the book first but I was pleasantly surprised at the pacing, inflection, broad range of tones and accents the narrator was able to bring to the cast of characters.
—
🌲Debut novel
🦊High fantasy
🌲Quest
🦊Animal companion
🌲Magical trees
🦊A bit of romance
🌲Druids
🦊Elves
🌲Pirates
🦊Warewolves
🌲Dragons
🦊Magical thralls
—
Story by Holly Searcy: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration by Teralyn Davis: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
—
Thank you Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review! 📚
Publishers release date 11/12/2024

[Tawny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book. There was so much happening. Kiana embarks on a quest with her friends to gain experience for herself and become stronger with her magic. Only her quest because a race to find and save the Shiver Tree. Which has its own secrets that I don’t want to spoil. But basically… this book was full of adventure. Lots of characters and fantasy species. The author even mentioned in her acknowledgment that she gained some inspiration from her brother’s D&D characters. And that’s what it felt like just a solid adventure book. I do wish I felt a bit more “found family” with in the friend group but that’s just me being picky.

Very YA - if you have a kid who is an advanced reader who loves fantasy - this would be a great option! There’s only 1 kiss very PG ;)

I loved it and def will be continuing the series! Check it out when it publishes November 12, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing for this ARC!

[F.J. Akkerman]

“...I’d rather enter into this armed with as much information as possible. We’re not going after some brainless bog giants you could trick with a little prestidigitation.”

The Shiver Tree is a fantasy story about a young Druid called Kiana who embarks on a quest with two buddies to prevent a great Terror from being awakened. The problem? They have no idea what the Terror is or where it’s been secretly imprisoned all these years. But if they don’t figure it out in time, many other Terrors may be released in a deadly domino effect which would bring slaughter to the realm.

Tonally, the prose reads quite “young”, like it was written by a young teen—the prevailing adjective being “magical” and the overall stylisation coloured with sentences such as “The question held a note of devilish intent” and “She shook off the unpleasant encounter and took in her surroundings, filled with the faces of other potential antagonists”. And in that case, perhaps I’m not the right audience. (Although there are several F bombs, which seemed to age it up a tad, and, if I might add, seemed a little lazy—why use 21st century English expletives in place of what could’ve been juicy in-world expletives?)

The Shiver Tree isn’t trying to be sweeping epic fantasy, and I could appreciate its lack of pretentiousness and self-importance which are often the blight of books in this genre. I haven’t experienced D&D tabletop RPGs, but I imagine this was its origin—and indeed, the author alludes to something along those lines in the acknowledgments. (Also, I thought I could detect video game influences, especially how the setting, magic system, and overall descriptive prose rely largely on visuals instead of a combination of senses.)

Because The Shiver Tree isn’t aiming for immersive worldbuilding, its setting feels a little lacklustre and generic.

The narrative uses a lot of telling rather than showing, which in my opinion is fine as long as the telling is voicy and distinctive.

The quest archetype is always going to limit plot complexity simply because “anything can happen” going from A to B, so conflict rises from chance encounters rather than from characters with conflicting goals acting in opposition to each other. So while as an archetype the quest is as straightforward as “A to B but with obstacles thrown in”, it’s perhaps more difficult to do well because one has to work harder to make it surprising or internally compelling. Or serve a character arc in any way beyond getting toned calves and putting up with your travel buddies.

The ending wasn’t a bad showdown, especially the setting where it took place, but the narrative seemed like it wanted to be open-ended for a sequel and then changed its mind. I wondered why the characters were celebrating as if they’d defeated the Terror but she was clearly on the loose? But I’ll confess I skim read the closing pages and may have been too distracted while doing so.

In summary, this book feels like a practice run which the author opted to publish instead of quietly putting away in a drawer, and I applaud them for the confidence if not the execution. If your goal is to publish a book, why not? But if your goal is to write a solid book, I’d call this part of the learning process.

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review (thanks Blackstone Publishing). Respect to the author for putting in the hard work; I wish them all the best.

[Tycho Janssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book.

This book was really good people. Can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy. I gave it 4 stars.

Characters:
The characters were all lovable in their own way. They all fitted just right in the group. They all had their own knowledge that helped in their quest. Also they all had their own distinct personality which I truly loved.

Plot:
It was pretty good. The story was a typical quest story but fairly original with all the elements in their. It also wasn’t very predictable. You knew as much as the main character so you couldn’t really play out wat was going to happen.

World building:
I think the world was a bit to big for this fist book. A lot of things that were mentioned weren’t explained. For example their are to many creatures to count in this book. A lot of them are mentioned like oooh there lives that creature we shouldn’t go that way. But then there is no explanation what kind of creature that is and why you shouldn’t go through their piece of land. Also the magic systems are explained but I would like a bit more. Like what is the language for the spells and why is it that and where does it come from. Also what is arcane magic exactly and how does that work. For the rest the world building was fine en really well done. I think it was just to much for one book to take on. Loved everything about the Druid’s and their history.

Romance:
Just an ordinary romance. Nothing special. Fairly cute. Also a bit out of nowhere. Love at first sight sort of trope.

Writing:
Very good. Beautifully written. The sentence structuring is just so well done. The only thing i can say about holly her writing is she loses me sometimes. I have trouble following her writing. Especially in action scenes. A lot happens at once and she writes it down like that. That is the only criticism i have about the writing

Conclusion:
Very good book and I can’t wait for book 2. I also want a hardcover of that beautiful cover.

[Amanda Harbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holly Searcy’s The Shiver Tree presents a complex and richly detailed world that balances the accessibility of YA fantasy with the depth of high fantasy. While the blend sometimes creates an enjoyable and digestible introduction to an intricate setting, it also leads to an uneven tone. The high-fantasy elements occasionally feel diminished by a more simplistic, YA-style approach, making the narrative come across as slightly disjointed. This duality might appeal to some readers as a bridge between the genres but could frustrate those seeking consistency.

The characters are plentiful, and their development, while intriguing, can feel overwhelming as they are introduced alongside numerous world-building elements. The romantic subplot between the protagonist and her love interest stands out as refreshingly grounded. While much of their relationship’s history takes place off-page, it avoids the overdone “instalove” trope common in YA, lending their dynamic a layer of authenticity despite the somewhat basic banter between them.

Teralyn Davis’s narration is a highlight, showcasing her talent in bringing characters to life through distinct voices and accents. However, the decision to incorporate a wide range of dialects—spanning from American southern drawls to high English accents—was a mixed bag. While Davis performed these accents well, their stark differences felt jarring and out of place within the same fantastical world. The juxtaposition of a southern farmer and a highborn British elf, for example, was difficult to reconcile and occasionally broke immersion. That said, this creative choice may not bother most listeners and might even add charm for those who enjoy varied character portrayals.

Overall, The Shiver Tree offers an ambitious story that may appeal to readers looking for a lighter take on high fantasy, paired with a skilled narration that adds personality to its cast. However, the tonal inconsistencies and the unusual mix of accents may leave some listeners feeling more puzzled than enchanted.

[tinynightingales · Rating 3 out of 5]

In *The Shiver Tree* by Holly Searcy, the land of Amarra is on the brink of ruin. For centuries, the world was safeguarded by five powerful Druid Orders—Jade, Ice, Spirit, Sky, and Sun—but these once-unified clans have splintered, leaving Amarra vulnerable to blighted crops, monstrous creatures, and pirate raids. Kiana Paletine, a young woman with dreams of becoming High Druid, believes that restoring the Orders could bring peace and stability to the land. Determined to make a real difference, she sets out to reunite with her estranged sister, Ravaini, and bring the fractured Orders back together.

However, as Kiana embarks on her quest, a series of troubling visions lead her to the discovery of an ancient druidic artifact known as the Shiver Seed. This powerful relic has fallen into the hands of the malevolent Deep Ones, who plan to use it to throw the world into chaos. Kiana realizes that to save Amarra, she must locate the lost Ice Druids and reclaim the Shiver Seed before it’s too late—if the Deep Ones succeed, all hope for the land will be lost.

---

While I was captivated by the sweeping fantasy adventure and the rich, complex world-building in *The Shiver Tree*, I ultimately decided to DNF. I struggled to emotionally invest in the characters or their motivations, which made it difficult for me to fully connect with the story. Despite the intriguing premise and high stakes, I just couldn't find the depth I needed to stay engaged.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Holly Searcy, and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across my socials under the username @tinynightingales, check out my GoodReads profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6...
my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightin...
and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightinga...

[Victoria Roe (Reading Addict) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to listen to audiobooks. Now that NetGalley offer this I am more excited to be a part of the reviewers.
The high and epic nature of this fantasy story, gives me Lord of the rings vibes, what with the different species of creatures. This gives it a very classic feel. It feels like this plot will age well and be enjoyed for years to come.
The narrator of this story is Teralyn Davis. I don’t always enjoy female narrators for fantasy stories but Teralyn did a great job. It’s an interesting plot to bring to life as a solo narrator but I believe Teralyn’s character interpretations are very nicely done. There was a great deal of passion in her voice. I get the sense that she is enjoying the experience of reading this story. There were clear differentiations between characters, whilst cleverly switching between characters dialogue and prose narration. Her ability to turn an accent cleanly and accurately really helped to keep each character individual. I am an immersion reader so having such a clean audio experience was delightful.
This story is not something that strikes me as 100% original. In my opinion it follows a template of a basic fantasy plot line. However that does not mean it was not done well. Its soft and gentle approach to the world building makes it easy to slide in and out of the story without loosing its flow.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this review.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is very much a ‘fantasy adventure’ that takes place in the land of Amarra, which is on the brink of ruin. The land used to be guarded by the five druid orders, but now they are struggling with crops, monsters, and pirate raids. The daughter of the High King, Kiana, wants to help to re-establish the orders and solve the problems that Amarra has been facing. Her father doesn’t agree with her, but she decides to go on a quest to restore the order.

Honestly, this book really fell flat for me. I had a really hard time connecting with the characters and found the world building to be awkward at times. I read the excerpt and had really high hopes because I am definitely here for an epic quest. I decided to stick this book out and finish it because I really believed that it had a lot of potential and I think that the book deserves an honest review. The magic system was definitely pretty neat; especially the tattoos.

I personally would choose not to read any additional books if this is a series because it didn’t really stand out to me. With that being said, everyone has different likes and dislikes, so if this type of book appeals to you I would definitely give it a try.

I want to thank Holly Searcy, NetGalley, and Blackstone Publishing for the Audio ARC of this book. I really appreciate the chance to give a review.

Audiobook Narrator- Clear and easy to understand

[Emily Guest · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you to author, NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review*

The Shiver Tree by Holly Searcy

3⭐️

The Shiver Tree seems to be a Dungeons & Dragons inspired story that follows a group of adventurers trying to uncover the truth behind an attack of ships that left an ice druid calling to their aid.

The story follows our main character, an elf druid, who is trying to become more acquainted with the world around her and train her magic to become more powerful as she’s the next in line to become head of her colony.

This reminded me a lot of my D&D days with the use of specific potions to aid them in their adventure, spells, races, classes and the monsters that were fought. It almost was on the cusp of being a cozy fantasy in my opinion and was a fun read.

I found myself having trouble getting super into the story as the pacing was sometimes weird and I felt like the characters were a little bit predictable & taken at face value. The pacing was almost like a pattern where an encounter would take place, characters get wounded and heal, then the same thing would happen multiple times in that order. I suppose I wanted a bit more depth into the characters as well.

Overall, I didn’t DNF and I feel like D&D fans would like the story and find it enjoyable!

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book! I’ve been reading sci-fi / fantasy since the 80s and have covered the gamut of styles, tropes, etc. what I like now is book that takes me out of the real world and into another realm which The Shiver Tree does.

I can’t stand characters making idiotic decisions that can be solved with one line of dialogue or that run counter to the established norms of the character just to advance the plot. The author doesn’t allow that to happen in her book. If there’s an issue the characters solve it quickly instead of letting it drag out for the entirety of the story.

The characters are well realized, the story tracks like a dnd campaign (which I believe this to be based off of) and there’s enough world building to set the stage for my imagination but not so much that I feel like I’m reading Ivanhoe which takes a million pages to say “the knight in shiny armor got on his horse”

This is an adventure through a fantasy world with a setup for future books. If you’re looking for the next GoT this ain’t it. If you’re looking for a well written and fun fantasy story this will be your jam.

Oh, and there’s a friendly fox… so that’s actually 6 stars.

Thanks for the ARC, I’m looking forward to grabbing a final version!

[Casey Densmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shiver Tree is a very sweet fantasy, adventure story about a girl named Kiana who is trying to stop the curses that are threatening her land, and put order back to Amarra. When she realizes a dark group, called the Deep Ones, has stolen something that could help save Amarra, she knows she must go on a journey to get it back. Along the way she discovers herself and makes some great friendships. This book is filled with fantasy, magic, adventure, bad guys, and hope that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a happy, easy read. It had mild, clean content so could be easily enjoyed by a younger teen audience. I loved the way the elven Druids got their magic and thought it was really unique! I like how Kiana always stayed positive through all of her challenges and used her friends as a team. Even when bad things happened, they always worked through them. There were a lot of very unique elements in this book, that I haven't seen used before. This book also had a lot of great world building, but wasn't so full of detail that it took away from the plot.
The only thing I found challenging with this book was that sometimes it could be difficult to follow. I ended up taking notes and highlighting a lot so I could come back to make sense of some of the details. There were a lot of different characters like elves, werewolves, pirates, druids, sorcerers, dragons, and gnomes that sometimes seemed unnecessary. There were some loose ends and hints to a sequel, so maybe some of these things will help with the future plot.
Overall, I liked this story and thought it was a nice, pleasant read. If a second book was written, I would definitely read it!

Thank you Blackstone Publishing, Inc for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Spoodly · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ARC!

I'm not sure what I expected going into this, but it fell a bit flat. There's a lot going on in this book, and nothing really stood out as new or overly exciting. I'd say it's interesting enough, and I like the characters and the D&D influence, but this feels like a story that's been told time and time again. The world also felt a bit overly complex at times, and if this was intended to be a series, the worldbuilding should've been spread out a bit more to not overwhelm the reader (especially as this appears to be geared more towards a YA audience).

Something I did like, however, was the magic system and how we saw the differences between different kinds of users. And even though I did say the worldbuilding was a bit much at times, it was clear the author took the time to build a rich world that I'd enjoy learning more about.

I'm also not sure if this was an issue with the ARC but the formatting was all over the place and made reading a bit difficult at times. I'm not docking any points off for that given this is an advanced copy, but I do hope that all gets addressed in final editing. Would I read further books in the series? I think so. It was definitely interesting enough to keep going.

[Christopher Roblodowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Blackstone for providing a digital copy of this novel. Kiana is a young Druid and the daughter of the Amarra kingdom's High Druid. Hoping to restore the five druid orders, Kiana leaves her kingdom to join with her sister Ravainy. They are joined by Reyan, Aravel, and Tash in search of an artifact known as the Shiver Seed. They must find it before the Deep Ones gain access to it and use it for their own personal gain.
There were some good moments in this story. I enjoyed the interactions between Kiana and her dad at the beginning and conclusion of the story. Kiana's motivations were well intentioned and as the reader, I wanted her to be successful. I commended her for wanting to earn her way to a high standing among her people rather than merely inheriting that good standing due to who her dad is. The novel does a decent job of worldbuilding. Mentions of the original five druid orders and existence of corresponding trees helped move the story along and did not feel out of place. The relationships between the main characters felt pretty organic for the most part. In the end, this is a hopeful, fun fantasy read.

[Corallie Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

First of all, this was an enjoyable story once I got into it. I must admit though, there was a LOT of detail in this story and it was possible to sometimes get lost in it. The book could benefit from a list of characters and creatures in the beginning of the book, along with an explanation as to what some of the creatures were. Sometimes, an enemy creature was introduced with no warning and very little explanation, it felt like the creatures were somewhat “thrown” suddenly into the story (example..the brain-like creatures).. they seemed somewhat out of place with the rest of the beings in the book. Might I suggest changing what these creatures are, to fit in more with the vibe of the book. Elves, magic, fantasy… brain-like creatures just doesn’t seem to fit that vibe and feels out of place. The story telling and the imaginary world of the book was good though, I just felt the book was bogged down in a lot of extra details that sometimes lost me. Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC (advanced readers copy)

[Bebo Saucier Carrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What a fun fantasy romp this book was. Did it read exactly like a DnD campaign? Absolutely. Was I mad about it? Not in the slightest. In fact, I was delighted by this party-based adventure with elven druids, an elven sorcerer and a human ranger okay, actually a werewolf ranger where the group had potions, spells, and even a sort of leveling up system. The characters were also quite lovable and I enjoyed their banter back and forth.

The pacing while they were traveling was a little funky. The story frequently used phrases like "two weeks passed..." to describe the passing of time on their journey, which did take me out of the narrative a bit. I think it would actually have been nice to include some of their day-to-day travel instead of glossing over the events of a few weeks in favor of skipping to a destination.

However, all in all, I greatly enjoyed this novel and look forward to the next installment in this story!

[Kerryiscurrentlyreading · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Shiver Tree" had the potential to be a captivating read, but unfortunately, it fell short of the mark for me. While the premise held a certain intrigue, the story itself lacked substance. I found myself wanting more depth from the characters and a more developed plot. Too often, promising threads were left dangling, and the narrative felt somewhat superficial.
Beyond the story itself, the book could have benefited from a good edit. There were instances of repetitive phrasing and awkward sentence structures that disrupted the flow of reading. While these weren't glaring errors, they were noticeable enough to detract from the overall experience.
Perhaps the most damning critique, however, is that "The Shiver Tree" was ultimately inoffensive. It didn't do anything particularly wrong, but it also didn't do anything particularly memorable. It was a perfectly adequate way to pass a few hours, but it lacked the spark or originality that would make it stand out in a crowded field. Two stars feels appropriate – it wasn't a terrible book, but it wasn't a particularly good one either.

[Emily Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the premise and world-building have potential, I found The Shiver Tree to lack coherence, particularly in its execution. The story introduces a dizzying array of species—elves, druids, gnomes, sorcerers, and werewolves—which at times made the narrative feel overcrowded and difficult to follow. Rather than immersing me in the world, the sheer volume of characters and species felt overwhelming, pulling me out of the story.

The spell-casting scenes, while initially intriguing, suffered from a lack of explanation or context. Incantations were spoken, but their meanings or effects were rarely clarified, leaving me confused and disengaged. Instead of heightening the magic and tension, these moments created a barrier to fully understanding the stakes or the characters' actions.

Additionally, the narrative’s pacing often caused me to lose connection with both the characters and the building tension. There were moments of promise—Kiana’s visions and the lore surrounding the Shiver Seed were compelling—but they were often overshadowed by an overcomplicated plot and too many narrative threads.

Ultimately, while The Shiver Tree has flashes of originality and ambition, its lack of focus and clarity made it difficult for me to fully engage with the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Black Stone Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

[Rune · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given an copy of this work in ebook format free of charge from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

this was an odd read for me . I was drawn to the book frist off by the cover deep ice blue and a white tree that seemed surrounded by a silver mist. it was striking and and I couldnt look away. I had to know what the story was So I read the blurb and was hooked.

The world building of the story seems very hit and miss. You would think the religious leaders would know the history given how closely they are tied to the land but that doesnt seem to be the case and so lore wise the story is jarring and janky.

That being said the characters are wonderful and very human and I and others can find something in each of them to identify with. I really thought that the interactions between all of them were very well done and we see alot of character development and growth as the story progresses which is lovely.

all in all not a bad story for a rainy weekend.

[Briar Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book; the cover is lovely, the blurb sounded interesting, and it’s in a genre I usually enjoy. Unfortunately it turned out to not be quite my thing, though it does have its good aspects (I particularly enjoyed some of the details around how the druids’ magic worked). The world seemed unfocused and overstuffed to me, with not enough time to truly explore all of its threads and storylines. The prose was wordy and sometimes a bit overwrought, and often told the audience information when showing might work better.

Ultimately, I would describe this as a first offering by an author who shows a lot of promise, but may need more experience and editing to better polish future works.

(I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

[Maria Calamita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this. If you're a fan of DnD or World of Warcraft style worlds this will be such a fun read. Cast of characters is cute, and the story is a good ol' adventure! The FMC can come off a bit YA ish at times, but I read YA all the time and didn't mind. It's also super refreshing and cool to see a druid FMC. There are a lot of epic, heroic moments and I'm very interested to see more work by the author since I believe this is a debut novel.

[Emily Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shiver tree is a high fantasy novel featuring MFC Kiana and her quest to save the place she loves. With a diverse character and magical creature cast and a well thought out magic system, Shiver Tree was a fantastic read! As someone who usually reads romantasy, I really enjoyed that this book had a sprinkling of romance but not enough to distract from/over throw the main quest of the plot.
Excited to grab a physical copy and await the next instalment for the series.

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah this was a really good read. It was a page turner from start to finish. I was worried with how it started that it was going to be the typical fantasy book. I was pleasantly surprised as the new events kept popping up. All the characters were well thought out and had great depth. I can’t wait to reread this one and get into the next book. I listened to the audiobook and this narrator was at a good pace and really fit with the book, overall a very good choice.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, #TheShiverTree #NetGalley, for this ARC audiobook opportunity. This story was fun and adventurous. I enjoyed the diversity of characters, places and creatures. I like that the author ended in a way that set up for their next adventure and I’ll listen to that one when it comes out too. Personally I would have enjoyed a little more romance mixed in with the adventure, but that’s just a personal preference.