The Hidden Forest

The Callers #2

by Kiah Thomas

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

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2025

About the author

Kiah 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.

Reviews

[Indra · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. 💚📚🧵

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Julie Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jennifer H · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Cristina Mrozek · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Dusty Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story! At times it was a little slow but the climax and resolution was really good! Can't wait for book 3!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.