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The Amarra Chronicles #2
The Whisper Tree
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 11:01:56
25 copies available
U.S. only
The epic quest that began in The Shiver Tree continues in The Whisper Tree, book two of The Amarra Chronicles.
The continent of Amarra rests on the brink of disaster.
With the heart of druidic magic failing, the balance of nature faces destruction. At the behest of the enigmatic sage Xander, elven druid Kiana Paletine joins a new party of adventurers--including a fearsome Infernal, an axe-happy half-orc, and an unpredictable mage--to help stop the spread of evil. Their quest is to track down three magical artifacts once belonging to the long-dead royal family of Amarra. These Treasures of Rule hold the power to bring peace back to the lands--but only if an heir can also be found.
Before their mission can succeed, however, Kiana must find a way to save the Whisper Tree from corruption brought by the devils who invaded centuries ago. A monster once held in stasis now roams free, imbuing the surrounding lands with chaotic magic and sinister aberrations. Kiana and her companions must race against the hourglass sands to save the Tree and find the Treasures of Rule--before their enemies enslave all of Amarra.
The continent of Amarra rests on the brink of disaster.
With the heart of druidic magic failing, the balance of nature faces destruction. At the behest of the enigmatic sage Xander, elven druid Kiana Paletine joins a new party of adventurers--including a fearsome Infernal, an axe-happy half-orc, and an unpredictable mage--to help stop the spread of evil. Their quest is to track down three magical artifacts once belonging to the long-dead royal family of Amarra. These Treasures of Rule hold the power to bring peace back to the lands--but only if an heir can also be found.
Before their mission can succeed, however, Kiana must find a way to save the Whisper Tree from corruption brought by the devils who invaded centuries ago. A monster once held in stasis now roams free, imbuing the surrounding lands with chaotic magic and sinister aberrations. Kiana and her companions must race against the hourglass sands to save the Tree and find the Treasures of Rule--before their enemies enslave all of Amarra.
350 pages, Paperback
Expected publication May 12, 2026
3400 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 8, 2026
This story was a joy to read, from the very start until the last word!
The world building is fantastic and I was totally in awe, our writer has a very creative mind!
The multiple POV worked very well in this story, all unique characters, very different but so perfectly woven together in this story. Again all credits to the author Holly Searcy!
The story has a great pace and will work toward an ending to that won’t disappoint you at all!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. This opinion is my own and given voluntarily!
The world building is fantastic and I was totally in awe, our writer has a very creative mind!
The multiple POV worked very well in this story, all unique characters, very different but so perfectly woven together in this story. Again all credits to the author Holly Searcy!
The story has a great pace and will work toward an ending to that won’t disappoint you at all!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. This opinion is my own and given voluntarily!
November 9, 2025
*ARC read from NetGalley* Now THIS is how you continue an adventure! We picked right back up from the last book and that's just how I like it. No several years in between, because, we've got magic to save, guys! Kiana was picked up by a Sage to join a party to find 3 magical objects that can only be wielded by the bloodline they belong. Any others will fail miserably. This party is made up of the most random choices, which in the beginning just did not seem like it'd work, but they got it figured out somewhat by the end. Drama, battles, humor, a kiss or two, and reunited sisters. It flowed so well. There wasn't any strange time jumps, not empty spaces, and it was just hitting all the right notes that really drives my excitement for the next to come.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This review also features on Diary of an Ink Drinker
The battlefield never really lets you leave. Some stories fade to black after the clash, giving readers time to breathe before the next adventure begins. Holly Searcy's The Whisper Tree does the opposite. It throws you straight back into the fray, picking up at the exact moment the first book ends, dust still in the air, blood crusting on armour. The result is a seamless continuation that makes the second instalment of the Amarra Chronicles feel less like a separate book and more like turning the next, much-anticipated page of the same grand adventure.
After thoroughly enjoying the first instalment (read my review of The Shiver Tree here) , I was eager to return to this world, and The Whisper Tree wastes no time pulling you back in. Readers who come to the series later and can binge the books one after another will be particularly fortunate, as the story flows beautifully when read in quick succession, giving the series the satisfying weight of an epic narrative that invites you to keep turning pages.
Following the party's success in their initial adventure, and in order to tackle several looming threats, circumstances force them to part ways. This shift introduces a split point-of-view structure. After experiencing the first book entirely through Kiana's perspective, I initially worried that expanding the narrative lens might make the story feel disjointed. Happily, the opposite proves true. The wider perspective adds both depth and urgency, allowing readers to watch events unfold across different corners of the world. It also offers valuable insight into the motivations of several key characters. It allows us to witness important story pillars from multiple angles, creating a far richer, more complete world.
Part of this expansion comes from the new group of companions Kiana encounters as she takes the next step towards restoring the Monarch Tree. In true tabletop fashion, a fresh party forms in a tavern: a lively assortment of races and classes with very different personalities and skill sets. Managing a cast like this can be tricky. Many fantasy novels introduce a large group only to leave several members fading quietly into the background. To her credit, Holly Searcy handles the balance admirably. Each character has their moment to shine, their abilities revealed naturally through the story at just the right moment. No one feels like filler, and every addition strengthens the worldbuilding.
The introduction of these new characters may prove slightly divisive depending on the reader's familiarity with the genre. Those comfortable with fantasy, or with Dungeons & Dragons in particular, will recognise many of the archetypes immediately. For them, the author's choice to show abilities through action rather than lengthy explanations is refreshing. However, one of the more common criticisms of the first book was confusion surrounding the different magic systems. While the first instalment introduced druidic and arcane magic, The Whisper Tree expands this further with the addition of chaotic magic.
As both a D&D player and a long-time fantasy reader, I personally enjoyed the lack of dense exposition explaining every detail. The progression of characters' abilities becomes clear through context, much like watching a tabletop campaign unfold, where you can almost sense when someone has reached the limit of their spell slots or gained a new level. That said, the Amarra Chronicles are written in an accessible, easy-to-digest style that would make them an excellent gateway into the fantasy genre. For readers entirely new to fantasy, the absence of more detailed magical explanations might occasionally leave them wishing for a little more guidance.
The true strength of this book, however, lies in its personality. The characters feel wonderfully alive. They can make you laugh one moment and want to shake them the next, always a good sign that the author has succeeded in making you care about them. A very gentle romantic subplot continues from the first book, woven lightly through the narrative. It never dominates the story or pushes the novel into romantasy territory; rather, it adds warmth and colour in the background. Even readers who normally shy away from romance in their fantasy are unlikely to find it intrusive.
Alongside the character moments are plenty of the elements fantasy readers crave: twists, puzzles, tense encounters, and an epic battle that brings everything to a satisfying crescendo. If this story wasn't inspired by a D&D campaign, it certainly feels like it could have been; it would make a fantastic one.
Ultimately, The Whisper Tree is a fantasy novel written with one clear goal: to entertain. It invites the reader into a vivid world and sweeps them along on a lively adventure. The writing style is smooth and approachable, free from the heavy, self-important tone that can sometimes weigh down epic fantasy and discourage newer readers. Instead, the story flows easily, making it just as suitable for young adults as it is for seasoned fantasy fans.
In short, it's a delightful, if occasionally nerve-wracking, piece of escapism, and by the final page I found myself already impatient for the next instalment. I will certainly be waiting eagerly for book three.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the eARC - all opinions are my own
The battlefield never really lets you leave. Some stories fade to black after the clash, giving readers time to breathe before the next adventure begins. Holly Searcy's The Whisper Tree does the opposite. It throws you straight back into the fray, picking up at the exact moment the first book ends, dust still in the air, blood crusting on armour. The result is a seamless continuation that makes the second instalment of the Amarra Chronicles feel less like a separate book and more like turning the next, much-anticipated page of the same grand adventure.
After thoroughly enjoying the first instalment (read my review of The Shiver Tree here) , I was eager to return to this world, and The Whisper Tree wastes no time pulling you back in. Readers who come to the series later and can binge the books one after another will be particularly fortunate, as the story flows beautifully when read in quick succession, giving the series the satisfying weight of an epic narrative that invites you to keep turning pages.
Following the party's success in their initial adventure, and in order to tackle several looming threats, circumstances force them to part ways. This shift introduces a split point-of-view structure. After experiencing the first book entirely through Kiana's perspective, I initially worried that expanding the narrative lens might make the story feel disjointed. Happily, the opposite proves true. The wider perspective adds both depth and urgency, allowing readers to watch events unfold across different corners of the world. It also offers valuable insight into the motivations of several key characters. It allows us to witness important story pillars from multiple angles, creating a far richer, more complete world.
Part of this expansion comes from the new group of companions Kiana encounters as she takes the next step towards restoring the Monarch Tree. In true tabletop fashion, a fresh party forms in a tavern: a lively assortment of races and classes with very different personalities and skill sets. Managing a cast like this can be tricky. Many fantasy novels introduce a large group only to leave several members fading quietly into the background. To her credit, Holly Searcy handles the balance admirably. Each character has their moment to shine, their abilities revealed naturally through the story at just the right moment. No one feels like filler, and every addition strengthens the worldbuilding.
The introduction of these new characters may prove slightly divisive depending on the reader's familiarity with the genre. Those comfortable with fantasy, or with Dungeons & Dragons in particular, will recognise many of the archetypes immediately. For them, the author's choice to show abilities through action rather than lengthy explanations is refreshing. However, one of the more common criticisms of the first book was confusion surrounding the different magic systems. While the first instalment introduced druidic and arcane magic, The Whisper Tree expands this further with the addition of chaotic magic.
As both a D&D player and a long-time fantasy reader, I personally enjoyed the lack of dense exposition explaining every detail. The progression of characters' abilities becomes clear through context, much like watching a tabletop campaign unfold, where you can almost sense when someone has reached the limit of their spell slots or gained a new level. That said, the Amarra Chronicles are written in an accessible, easy-to-digest style that would make them an excellent gateway into the fantasy genre. For readers entirely new to fantasy, the absence of more detailed magical explanations might occasionally leave them wishing for a little more guidance.
The true strength of this book, however, lies in its personality. The characters feel wonderfully alive. They can make you laugh one moment and want to shake them the next, always a good sign that the author has succeeded in making you care about them. A very gentle romantic subplot continues from the first book, woven lightly through the narrative. It never dominates the story or pushes the novel into romantasy territory; rather, it adds warmth and colour in the background. Even readers who normally shy away from romance in their fantasy are unlikely to find it intrusive.
Alongside the character moments are plenty of the elements fantasy readers crave: twists, puzzles, tense encounters, and an epic battle that brings everything to a satisfying crescendo. If this story wasn't inspired by a D&D campaign, it certainly feels like it could have been; it would make a fantastic one.
Ultimately, The Whisper Tree is a fantasy novel written with one clear goal: to entertain. It invites the reader into a vivid world and sweeps them along on a lively adventure. The writing style is smooth and approachable, free from the heavy, self-important tone that can sometimes weigh down epic fantasy and discourage newer readers. Instead, the story flows easily, making it just as suitable for young adults as it is for seasoned fantasy fans.
In short, it's a delightful, if occasionally nerve-wracking, piece of escapism, and by the final page I found myself already impatient for the next instalment. I will certainly be waiting eagerly for book three.
Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the eARC - all opinions are my own
January 13, 2026
First of all i want to thank netgalley for gifting me a copy of this book.
Last year i read the first book thank to netgalley as well and i have got to say these books are fun. They are not a the best piece of literature you will ever read but it is fun.
Lets start with the characters. I liked the team more in the first book. A lot of new characters are introduced in this book and i think it was a bit to many. Because sometimes i was like who are we talking about. Some of the stuff is my own fault. I have the memory of a goldfish so all these names just go right over my head.
The characters that were present in this book were all very different and had their own personality which i found really great. I did miss the original group in this book a bit. But some of the new characters i did really like.
The multiple POV's in this book was a great add on i think.
Moving on to the world building. This was a great add on to the first book. Again i have the memory of a gold fish so i had a bit of trouble remembering the world building from the first book. So all the travelling went straight over my head (i was also to lazy to look at the map).
Just like i said in the first book the world could be explained a bit more. The magic system is still not fully explained. There are different kind of magic groups and you read about characters using magic but you don't get the knowledge of the mechanism behind it.
I do have to say Holly did improve from her first book. She explained the new species and creatures in this book more than in the first book. Still not enough for my taste but a lot better.
The romance is a bit ordinary and cliche. Nothing special. If you read books for the romance don't read this book. It's a really small subplot and very YA.
The writing was pretty good. Holly writes very compelling and its is easy to read most of the times. She does lose me sometimes especially in fighting scenes and dialogue. There were multiple occasions where i had to read a paragraph multiple times to figure out what was happening or who is talking. There were multiple group discussion where i really fought to figure who said what. Luckily these characters have a personality so that helps a bit.
With the fighting scenes the issue i think is Holly want to show what all the characters do through the eyes of Kiana. There is a lot going on at the same time and Kiana has only two eyes so what happens is Holly throws everything on the page and it reads like a whirlwind.
But on the other hand it makes it suspenseful. You really are at the edge of your seat reading through those scenes.
Also i laughed a lot through this book. The characters are really funny.
Btw i love the plot in this book. The quests are amazing. Holly set up a plot for a of books to come. Essentially it is the same quest as the first book but with different obstacles on the way which totally changed it so it didn't feel repetitive. Also a couple of the plots twist were pretty good.
Conclusion:
Its a very fun read. Very lovable characters. Again a great quest. One tip don't be like me and read the books back to back it makes it a better experience believe me.
Last year i read the first book thank to netgalley as well and i have got to say these books are fun. They are not a the best piece of literature you will ever read but it is fun.
Lets start with the characters. I liked the team more in the first book. A lot of new characters are introduced in this book and i think it was a bit to many. Because sometimes i was like who are we talking about. Some of the stuff is my own fault. I have the memory of a goldfish so all these names just go right over my head.
The characters that were present in this book were all very different and had their own personality which i found really great. I did miss the original group in this book a bit. But some of the new characters i did really like.
The multiple POV's in this book was a great add on i think.
Moving on to the world building. This was a great add on to the first book. Again i have the memory of a gold fish so i had a bit of trouble remembering the world building from the first book. So all the travelling went straight over my head (i was also to lazy to look at the map).
Just like i said in the first book the world could be explained a bit more. The magic system is still not fully explained. There are different kind of magic groups and you read about characters using magic but you don't get the knowledge of the mechanism behind it.
I do have to say Holly did improve from her first book. She explained the new species and creatures in this book more than in the first book. Still not enough for my taste but a lot better.
The romance is a bit ordinary and cliche. Nothing special. If you read books for the romance don't read this book. It's a really small subplot and very YA.
The writing was pretty good. Holly writes very compelling and its is easy to read most of the times. She does lose me sometimes especially in fighting scenes and dialogue. There were multiple occasions where i had to read a paragraph multiple times to figure out what was happening or who is talking. There were multiple group discussion where i really fought to figure who said what. Luckily these characters have a personality so that helps a bit.
With the fighting scenes the issue i think is Holly want to show what all the characters do through the eyes of Kiana. There is a lot going on at the same time and Kiana has only two eyes so what happens is Holly throws everything on the page and it reads like a whirlwind.
But on the other hand it makes it suspenseful. You really are at the edge of your seat reading through those scenes.
Also i laughed a lot through this book. The characters are really funny.
Btw i love the plot in this book. The quests are amazing. Holly set up a plot for a of books to come. Essentially it is the same quest as the first book but with different obstacles on the way which totally changed it so it didn't feel repetitive. Also a couple of the plots twist were pretty good.
Conclusion:
Its a very fun read. Very lovable characters. Again a great quest. One tip don't be like me and read the books back to back it makes it a better experience believe me.
November 17, 2025
This book was magnificent. It took me on an adventure I didn't even know I needed. Watching everyone face their fears and conquer them was beyond amazing. Kiana is such a strong soul, and there couldn't be a better druid for the job. The world building and imagery of the book is simply spectacular. I can't wait to see what else is in store for the young druid in her quest. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews