Whisper of Shadows and Stone

by J.S. Burns

SCARED OF GETTING LOST,
AFRAID OF BEING FOUND...

The shadows are shifting. Ancient monsters stir once more... and Alek and his friends are being hunted.

With the stolen Amulet in enemy hands and the Dark Warriors closing in, Alek, Sarah, and Benny are thrust into a treacherous race to stop a war that could destroy two worlds.

But secrets run deep, and trust is wearing thin.

Alek is torn between loyalty and love, haunted by choices he can't undo. Sarah is unraveling the truth about the Portal Realm. And Benny's heart burns with betrayal that could shatter everything.

With every step forward, they're pulled deeper into a world they don't understand.

And if the shadows don't break them... the truth just might.

Genres: LGBT

491 pages, Paperback

Published February 21, 2026

About the author

J.S. Burns is an Australian author of The Whisper of Shadows Saga, an epic queer romantasy series set in the world of Balathor, where elemental magic, rebellion and forbidden love collide.

Blending heart-stopping adventure with slow-burn romance, J.S.Burns writes the kinds of stories he wished he had growing up — queer characters at the heart of epic fantasy journeys, discovering love, friendship, and power in a world that often underestimates them.

His goal is simple: to give readers books they’ll stay up too late with, hiding under the covers long after the lights are supposed to be out, swept away into a story that feels dangerous, magical, and achingly real.

Away from the page, Jake can often be found in cafés and bars, quietly planning out new realms, weaving betrayals and forbidden romances, and plotting the twists that will one day trap his characters — and his readers — in stories they won’t want to escape.

The idea of Whisper of Shadows and Snakes came to Jake in 2008, when he was just fourteen. Inspired by books such as The Lord Of The Rings and Eragon, he spent many days at the family computer typing out his story, until finally, it was complete.

​The book was then shelved, saved to a file on Jake’s computer for eleven years until 2019 when he decided to re-write it with a more mature take on the characters that had only ever existed in his mind. Fast forward a few years and multiple title changes later, and his debut novel is officially published.

Join the journey:
www.jsburnsauthor.com
@j.s.burnss

Reviews

[Keturah Sergeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging adventure in an increasing dark and desperate world. Relationships continue to crumble in the face of increasingly poor odds. The three teenagers now sent off on their mission, barely trained, with very different approaches to their mission, leading to mistrust building between them. One fiery, bad-tempered, uncommunicative and arrogant, building resentment against his friends for being out of the loop, small secrets building to major betrayal. Another lost in nightmares and failed revenge, wanting to appreciate the beauty of the world they are meant to save but unable to move past her failure and her new haunting, even as her power grows and allies increase. Finally, an insecure, secretive boy, betrayed and lost, his friends distancing from him, his powers limited, his past unclear and his future uncertain, he wants to trust his love, but they are enemies. Again, I loved having the fourth perspective, now consistent through the story, giving more insight into the shifter's history, his life and his demons, his outward persona and secret loyalties. The cliffhanger end was intense and beautifully done... Though I cannot believe that the series ends here for now!

The book is a fast-paced adventure, packed with setbacks and struggles. They seek their fourth ally, meeting friends and foes along the way, monsters new and old, dark forces and hunting parties. They find her sequestered away, untrained and hidden, under the thumb of an overprotective father king. Their mission's odds are not increased by her presence but they have no choice but to try. It goes as well as one might expect. In the end everything is falling apart, and a new enemy rises in the dark...

A brilliant, engaging, dark read, drained of hope, the world continues to fall apart along with its heroes.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cherie • bookshelvesandtealeaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to the author for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

This was a really engaging sequel. We start of right where we left off, dumped straight in the action, and there’s never a dull moment.

The quest in this book honestly gave me The Hobbit vibes so many times, and it was so much fun.

This one feels a bit more grown up than the first book, and you can tell the author’s writing has grown over that time too.

Alek is such an incredible main character. I’m really loving following his journey. There’s so many times I just wanna give him a hug and make sure he’s okay.

Where this ended has me itching to know what happens next.

[Marcos “MSMDragon” · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️

Whisper of Shadows and Stone was a good read. There were a few chapters where the pace was slower than I’d like and where the writing was a little clunky, but I still really enjoyed the story.

One area in which J.S. Burns excels is in the world-building, which is vast and vivid. Through his writing, lush jungles, dark caves, and beautiful cities are brought to life. Fun magic, creepy creatures, and intense fight scenes make for an epic fantasy story, keeping you engaged and on the edge of your seat.

The characters, for the most part, are all interesting and well-written. There were some moments and character interactions that felt a little repetitive, but overall they’re all unique characters that you can’t help but become invested in.

And that ending!! I want to know what happens next!

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“…to show the truth would be to surrender everything.”

“Whisper of Shadows and Stone,” by J. S. Burns

This series has been a wild ride. I thought the first book felt more YA than I was expecting but this one did not give me nearly as many YA vibes. The betrayal and fighting between all the characters kept the turmoil of the journey going beyond just the external fighting conflict with the bad guys. I loved the flawed characters and how they navigated through all the emotions. It has a journey narrative for readers who love epic style long game plot. I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars, so good.

-M/M
-Magic
-Prophecy
-Dual/ Multi POV
-Shifters, Elves, Fae
-Journey Narrative

Thank you for the ARC, Booksirens.

“…the familiar smell of icy snow, of wild places unexplored, of adventure. The scent was home, and heartbreak, temptation and torment.”

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author generously provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was eager to dive back into the world of Balathor after the first book and see where this story would go.
After a grave betrayal, Alek has to navigate his growing self doubt and the lasting impacts on his relationships with his friends. All while on a quest to retrieve the stolen amulet from a dark warlord bent on total domination.
Alek is a great protagonist and his reactions and emotions come across as reasonable in his current circumstances. He does seem to be the most lost out of everyone in this book, but I have a feeling his journey is far from over.
The story overall seems to have matured in this book with deeper emotions, higher stakes, and some steamier interactions. I enjoyed the expansion of the world throughout their journey, discovering new people, creatures, and lore.
I encourage any lover of fantasy to check out this series and I am so glad that books like this are out in the world for readers to enjoy. Eagerly awaiting the next in the series, especially after that cliffhanger

[Jameson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, J.S. Burns, for the eARC! I’m honored to have been chosen to read this before its publication and provide a review. I absolutely adore this series, and I’m eagerly anticipating its future. However, I have some thoughts on the character development, and these are entirely my own.

One character that particularly annoyed me is Benny. His whiny attitude became increasingly grating at certain points, and I felt a bit let down that he didn’t grow as much as the other characters.

Another issue I had with the book was the way the other characters kept looking to Alek as the leader. They were frustrated when he refused to take on that role and make decisions, yet they persisted in forcing it on him. It seemed strange that they were so determined to have him in that position, especially since he wasn’t the one who wanted to be there in the first place.

Overall, I believe there’s significant potential for this series. I can envision many different directions the story could take, and I’m eagerly looking forward to reading the next book.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part two of a beautiful ongoing series. Alek, Sarah, and Benny have all sorts of battles and struggles to try to fulfil a quest in a fantastical world they don't understand and are still unprepared for. Kai/Kisho is stuck back with the evil warlord who had "saved" him in the past, now with his eyes open and determined to help Alek. The whole story felt more grown up than the first book, although still fitting well into a YA story. Uncertain Alek is still by far my favourite, and I really hope that he will soon have a happier time after the cliffhanger they have ended in.
Thanks for the advance copy, I am happy to leave a voluntary review.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good. I loved how the MCs aren’t perfect, aren’t all of a sudden the most amazing, incredible heroes ever, but they grow into their roles, they grow to become who they want to be. And it’s so good to see their struggles and internal battles, how their issues affect and change their friendship, and how they see each other as well as themselves. And Kisho… it’s fantastic to see how things developed from “both sides” so to speak. I really liked how flawed the characters were, but also enjoyed how they grew into themselves as well, and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

*no spoiler*
And he’s done it again! The second book to Whisper of shadows and snakes, this book was a ‘can’t put it down’ for me! The action and adventure is go go go right from the first page. Inner turmoil and trust issues, secrets and lies, not knowing what’s coming next in this grand adventure of legends. Monsters and creatures galore, treasures and new found abilities. Multiple POV’s with a beautiful flow, this series is one to add to your TBR! Especially if you’re a fan of The Hobbit/LOTR❤️
I cannot wait to see what comes next! You should be proud J.S Burns
5⭐️

[tre.wandereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into the series because the cover attracted me. Yes, I judge books by their cover. And I am very very happy for it catching my eye! It was a really nice read. I like the adventure of it and the characters were able to really get me into the story. I confess I started reading book 2 before 1 so I had to pause and read one first just to get a better flow Can't wait for the next book!