This book took me a few chapters to get into, and I was worried, but once Kiana went on her own journey, what a journey it was. Filled with magic,action, and adventure, I was hooked. The storyline behind this book was brilliant, and I loved the characters there friendships and banter. The magical description of places or beings was beautifully written, and I can not wait for the next book to see where it takes us next

This was a great read! I loved the idea of the different branches for druids and how they were element based and that they needed to be replanted at some point to keep their strength. I also loved how the book was a multitude of diffent mythical species and that the druids weren't just elves. I'm excited for the next book!

Thank you Holly Searcy, Netgalley & Blackstone Publishing for this free ARC in exchange for a review.

This book had too much going on and didn't seem to come together smoothly. It also suffered from too much telling and not enough showing.

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.

Decent characters, basic but enjoyable fantasy plot. It didn't reinvent the wheel but I enjoyed the ride I was taken on

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!

There is a lot going on in this book. I hope that the author keeps going with this series as there is a lot of promise. It’s just a tad too much for me currently. I do love accepts of the magic and characters in this world. It’s almost overwhelming how many different character types there are and the amount of information.

There is a lot going on in this book, which is pretty amazing. The world building is so detailed that it can almost be overwhelming. The author does a great job of creating a believable world with a rich history and culture. However, the story is so complex that it can be difficult to follow. The author uses several different magic systems, species in the story, which makes it feel a little disjointed. Overall, I thought the book had a great premise, but it felt a little off to me..

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.

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.

I found it hard at times to follow the story and found it very hard to engage with it. The battles scenes were very interesting. But I don’t believe this was in the range of books I like to read

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.