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Whisper of Shadows and Snakes
A Shadow in the night,
A Secret so lonely,
A Cruel twist of fate...
Deep within a mystical land, a thief with the ability to shift into the animals inked upon his skin has stolen an ancient weapon, plunging the world into chaos.
Whisked away to a hidden school high in the mountains, Alek and his friends must overcome heartache and betrayal as they learn to master the magic that burns in their veins.
With danger closing in and bloodthirsty monsters emerging from the shadows, loyalties will be tested as Alek is inexplicably drawn to a mysterious boy.
Who is he? What is he hiding? And most importantly, why can’t Alek get him out of his head?
Struggling under the weight of the destiny that’s been thrust upon him, Alek must learn that the key to unlocking his powers lies in embracing who he truly is.
Before it's too late...
A Secret so lonely,
A Cruel twist of fate...
Deep within a mystical land, a thief with the ability to shift into the animals inked upon his skin has stolen an ancient weapon, plunging the world into chaos.
Whisked away to a hidden school high in the mountains, Alek and his friends must overcome heartache and betrayal as they learn to master the magic that burns in their veins.
With danger closing in and bloodthirsty monsters emerging from the shadows, loyalties will be tested as Alek is inexplicably drawn to a mysterious boy.
Who is he? What is he hiding? And most importantly, why can’t Alek get him out of his head?
Struggling under the weight of the destiny that’s been thrust upon him, Alek must learn that the key to unlocking his powers lies in embracing who he truly is.
Before it's too late...
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2022
19 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Burns
2 books25 followersJ.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
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
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 1, 2022
Captivating from the very first page!
Whisper of Shadows and Snakes delivered a fast-paced fantasy story that quickly grabbed my attention and left me on the edge of my seat. Packed with action and high stakes, this book weaved a well-balanced story full of friendship, adventure, danger, and self-acceptance.
I think the author did an amazing job when writing this book. His character development, exciting magic system, and vivid world building was absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait for more!
Whisper of Shadows and Snakes delivered a fast-paced fantasy story that quickly grabbed my attention and left me on the edge of my seat. Packed with action and high stakes, this book weaved a well-balanced story full of friendship, adventure, danger, and self-acceptance.
I think the author did an amazing job when writing this book. His character development, exciting magic system, and vivid world building was absolutely beautiful and I can’t wait for more!
August 29, 2022
Whisper of Shadows and Snakes is a riveting read from start to finish. I couldn’t put it down!
There’s ancient magic and portals to other worlds and a dark force threatening to take over the land.
Our protagonist, Alek, is deeply relatable. He struggles to believe in himself and his own abilities and grows frustrated with himself because of this, which I think is something we’re all guilty of from time to time. He’s also struggling to admit his own sexuality to himself which is a familiar struggle for a lot of the lgbt+ community.
Kai is also a fascinating character. Confident and mysterious, I found myself just as drawn to him as Alek was.
The world Burns has built in this book is beautiful and exciting and terrifying in equal measure - the perfect fantasy world. I could see so much of the valley, the school and their home vividly in my mind.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book were Sarah and Benny, Alek’s two friends. Something about them just rubbed me the wrong way. But it didn’t hamper my enjoyment of this incredible story.
There’s ancient magic and portals to other worlds and a dark force threatening to take over the land.
Our protagonist, Alek, is deeply relatable. He struggles to believe in himself and his own abilities and grows frustrated with himself because of this, which I think is something we’re all guilty of from time to time. He’s also struggling to admit his own sexuality to himself which is a familiar struggle for a lot of the lgbt+ community.
Kai is also a fascinating character. Confident and mysterious, I found myself just as drawn to him as Alek was.
The world Burns has built in this book is beautiful and exciting and terrifying in equal measure - the perfect fantasy world. I could see so much of the valley, the school and their home vividly in my mind.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book were Sarah and Benny, Alek’s two friends. Something about them just rubbed me the wrong way. But it didn’t hamper my enjoyment of this incredible story.
September 30, 2022
Actual rating 4.5 stars
I really liked this book, y’all. The way the story is told is really engaging and I was constantly wanting to know where this was going to go. I think the thing I liked the most about this is that the stakes felt very intense, a lot of YA fantasy shirks away from death even though they try to make the stakes feel that high. This book has death as a very key facet to the plot and it makes everything so much more visceral. The characters could be a bit frustrating at times, but it is to be expected and didn’t stop me from cheering for them. Super excited to keep reading this series and see more of what this author has to offer!
Thank you for the gifted copy for my honest review, all opinions are my own.
I really liked this book, y’all. The way the story is told is really engaging and I was constantly wanting to know where this was going to go. I think the thing I liked the most about this is that the stakes felt very intense, a lot of YA fantasy shirks away from death even though they try to make the stakes feel that high. This book has death as a very key facet to the plot and it makes everything so much more visceral. The characters could be a bit frustrating at times, but it is to be expected and didn’t stop me from cheering for them. Super excited to keep reading this series and see more of what this author has to offer!
Thank you for the gifted copy for my honest review, all opinions are my own.
October 22, 2022
The author generously provided a copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. I have always loved fantasy but I was struggling to find a satisfying story that combined the fantasy and lgbt genre successfully. Jake definitely managed to build a magical world and fill it with great characters and an intriguing storyline.
Alek was a great protagonist, who I felt had a much more real reaction after being thrown into a world where magic and myth are real. He had a great development arc over the course of this novel with a rich cast of supporting friends and enemies. I’m so grateful that I was given the opportunity to read this book and I only wish it could have existed when I was growing up. Definitely will be waiting for the sequel!
December 19, 2025
This was… I like this author, but the blurb was a little disappointing, it felt like another fantasy book, with the usual tropes of best friends going into a world of magic and adventure that is new and unexpected, and then… we have adventure, magic, friends, but it isn’t your usual tropes, it isn’t what you expect. For some reason, it reminds me of “The Princess Bride” opening scene in the movie, expecting something cliché and finding instead this incredible treasure. I was torn about Kai from the beginning, and at its end, I’m still torn. He’s a complex character that evokes complicated emotions, and I’m just wondering what is going to happen next, and hoping I can finally figure out if I should be team Kai or not. This is an incredible story of friendship, magical adventures, figuring out who you are, and what you can do., what your choices mean for yourself and others, and it’s a great journey to be in. I felt for Alek and the hard choices he has to make, and what they might mean in the future. Very interesting story, better than I expected from the blurb, and I recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 31, 2022
I was a bit stuck when I came to reviewing this book as it definitely has its merits, but there were also things that took me out of the story.
I’d like to start with the positives.
One thing I particularly enjoyed was the description when introducing characters and places. The description is thorough enough that you can picture the characters and settings in your head which is a sign of a talented writer.
The shapeshifting aspect with the tattoos was super intriguing for me, it’s not something I’ve seen in a book before and the uniqueness is an appealing quality of this read.
I think the best aspect of this read is it being an own voices novel, you can tell the genuinity of the character Alek, you can feel the emotions and the inner turmoil he experiences as he makes his journey.
Now the drawbacks.
Although the writing style is good, often the author begins sentences with character names and it comes across clunky and stops you being able to fully immerse in the story.
Another aspect that confused me slightly is that we are introduced to a character at the very beginning, and then there is a long while before we see that character again. While he did come back to merge with the story eventually, at first it felt like I was reading two different books merged into one as I didn’t understand what the importance of this original character was.
Overall, an intriguing debut. Although this read wasn’t for me I can honestly say I am excited to see what comes next from this author.
I’d like to start with the positives.
One thing I particularly enjoyed was the description when introducing characters and places. The description is thorough enough that you can picture the characters and settings in your head which is a sign of a talented writer.
The shapeshifting aspect with the tattoos was super intriguing for me, it’s not something I’ve seen in a book before and the uniqueness is an appealing quality of this read.
I think the best aspect of this read is it being an own voices novel, you can tell the genuinity of the character Alek, you can feel the emotions and the inner turmoil he experiences as he makes his journey.
Now the drawbacks.
Although the writing style is good, often the author begins sentences with character names and it comes across clunky and stops you being able to fully immerse in the story.
Another aspect that confused me slightly is that we are introduced to a character at the very beginning, and then there is a long while before we see that character again. While he did come back to merge with the story eventually, at first it felt like I was reading two different books merged into one as I didn’t understand what the importance of this original character was.
Overall, an intriguing debut. Although this read wasn’t for me I can honestly say I am excited to see what comes next from this author.
August 28, 2022
This book!!! So beautifully written, the world described is easy to grasp and makes you feel like your there plus the characters you can't help but love and want to root along for (and hate) Romance was amazing with so much chemistry and tension, couldn't stop reading. Will be running to the next one the moment I can, Perfect ending, leaving me heartbroken and begging for the next one 🙇
Recommend for anyone looking for a queer fantasy with lovable characters going on an adventure to a new world, with unlikely heros prepared to sacrifice everything.
Recommend for anyone looking for a queer fantasy with lovable characters going on an adventure to a new world, with unlikely heros prepared to sacrifice everything.
November 15, 2022
A great fantasy/sci-fi read from a new author filling the pages with secrets, Magic and new worlds. The storyline kept me eager to see what would happen to the characters, and I’m eager to see what happens next with Alek and his friends.
I enjoyed the prologue setting up the story from a different point of view and bringing it back into the fold later on. I’m hopeful for more development for Sarah and Benny as the story continues and to see how Alek continues to grow.
I enjoyed the prologue setting up the story from a different point of view and bringing it back into the fold later on. I’m hopeful for more development for Sarah and Benny as the story continues and to see how Alek continues to grow.
October 19, 2022
Would give it even more stars if I could!! The story that’s been created is absolutely amazing, Jake makes it so easy to imagine the world for yourself and had me rooting for Alek from the start! Very excited to see where this story goes.
October 21, 2022
amazing
A tender coming of age story filled with magic. Eager for the next installment. This story had me at hello.
A tender coming of age story filled with magic. Eager for the next installment. This story had me at hello.
January 12, 2023
Ok. I loved this book. I loved the relationships, the drama was on point!
This author’s descriptions had me feeling like I was in the book.
This author’s descriptions had me feeling like I was in the book.
September 26, 2022
𝗔 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗪 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧, 𝗔 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗧 𝗦𝗢 𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗬, 𝗔 𝗖𝗥𝗨𝗘𝗟 𝗧𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗔𝗧𝗘.
If you're looking for a quick and engrossing (or a starter) queer YA fantasy read, I have the perfect book for you! I was given the opportuntity to read Whisper of Shadows and Snakes, a debut novel from J.S. Burns, in advance and it was magical!
Whisper of Shadows and Snakes follows Alek, Benny, and Sarah as they learn how to harness the magic running in their veins after being whisked away in a deep mystical land filled with monsters, a stolen ancient weapon, and shapeshifters who can turn into animals inked on their skin.
I love a good YA fantasy book and this is one of them! Jake is a storyteller who has the power to make his readers see how he sees the world inside his books. I got drawn to the characters and how complex some of them are and I gotta admit that I formed a deep connection with Alek. Though I'm not a fan of long narrations, it did not knock some points off the level of enjoyment I had when I finished it. I really hope there's a sequel because the end made me want more, and I know now that I will read whatever Jake writes in the future!
Read this if you're into:
✨ Elemental Magic
🌳 Enchanted dangerous forests
🍂 Magical worlds that needs saving
🐍 Shapeshifters and monsters
Whisper of Shadows and Snakes has not been released yet, but please follow @j.s.burnss on Instagram for more announcements on the pre-sale that's happening soon! 💜
If you're looking for a quick and engrossing (or a starter) queer YA fantasy read, I have the perfect book for you! I was given the opportuntity to read Whisper of Shadows and Snakes, a debut novel from J.S. Burns, in advance and it was magical!
Whisper of Shadows and Snakes follows Alek, Benny, and Sarah as they learn how to harness the magic running in their veins after being whisked away in a deep mystical land filled with monsters, a stolen ancient weapon, and shapeshifters who can turn into animals inked on their skin.
I love a good YA fantasy book and this is one of them! Jake is a storyteller who has the power to make his readers see how he sees the world inside his books. I got drawn to the characters and how complex some of them are and I gotta admit that I formed a deep connection with Alek. Though I'm not a fan of long narrations, it did not knock some points off the level of enjoyment I had when I finished it. I really hope there's a sequel because the end made me want more, and I know now that I will read whatever Jake writes in the future!
Read this if you're into:
✨ Elemental Magic
🌳 Enchanted dangerous forests
🍂 Magical worlds that needs saving
🐍 Shapeshifters and monsters
Whisper of Shadows and Snakes has not been released yet, but please follow @j.s.burnss on Instagram for more announcements on the pre-sale that's happening soon! 💜
January 3, 2025
This book was so fun to read! From the very beginning I was hooked into this story and wanted to know more. I was really digging the plot. It was so fun to explore the world with the characters as they joined the school in another realm. Such a magical world with such vivid descriptions that really served to enhance the beauty of the setting. Despite being in love with the world and the story, not everything was great. At times the writing was somewhat lacklustre and basic. Not too sure if this was due to the character's POVs or just the writing. Also a personal opinion but not a lot of the characters were loveable even though they were all distinct. I was happy whenever Alek and Kai were on the page but then lost my excitement whenever it was another character's perspective. Despite the downsides, the book had a really jam-packed ending and I'm really hyped for the sequel!
December 3, 2025
This is the first book in a series . I am enjoying the storyline I think it is laying breadcrumbs quite well. Likeable characters all with their own points of view. A sense of mystery . A love story that could go either way . An affect seat third act, all in all a great first chapter. Looking forward to book 2 .
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 14, 2024
Very YA. Technically a DNF, but i did flick to the end to see what happened so I’ll give it props for making me want to know it ends.
November 10, 2025
I loved this book from the world building, magical system and the central romance!! Can I get book two now!!!
December 19, 2025
J.S. Burns delivered an amazing and beautifully crafted world in his novel Whisper of Shadows and Snakes. ⠀
⠀
The book was easy to get into and understand, the unique elements of magic 🪄🪄🪄it kept me wanting more! The characters were easy to love ❤️ and I am excited for the next installment and Alek’s continued character development. #bookreviewer #arc #bookstagrammer #booktok
⠀
The book was easy to get into and understand, the unique elements of magic 🪄🪄🪄it kept me wanting more! The characters were easy to love ❤️ and I am excited for the next installment and Alek’s continued character development. #bookreviewer #arc #bookstagrammer #booktok
September 12, 2025
Whisper of Shadows of Snakes is a beautifully written fantasy that pulls you into a world of magic and secrets. The characters are compelling and the atmosphere is rich and mysterious.
I’m excited to learn more about Alek’s future. This is the kind of book that stays with you and is impossible to put down.
I’m excited to learn more about Alek’s future. This is the kind of book that stays with you and is impossible to put down.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews