Shiver Tree had so much promise, I was immediately intrigued by the premise but unfortunately it really did not deliver all it promised. There were far too many disjointed and ill-thought out elements all mashed together for me. I nearly DNFed at least 10 times but I hate DNFing so I ploughed through, which on reflection I’m not sure was the right call.

It’s a fast paced adventure but it was lacking any substance that could hook me. I kept wishing things would pause for a moment so we could actually get to know the characters, or the world, or the culture but instead it felt like we were rushing headlong through this complex world with no time to actually take anything in.

Overall this book had far too much going on, none of which felt substantially explored or which really came together. It either needs to be three times the length so there can be some added depth or hugely edited down as it just doesn’t seem to work in its current configuration.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC

This one was not for me, I could not get into the story. Don't let that deter you, I might not be the correct audience

The story follows Kiana who goes on an adventure, after fighting losing battles with her father about their world and what they should do. Kiana is strong willed, determined and fierce. She isn't afraid to go after what she wants and with the help of Snow, Tash and Ravaini, she conquers a lot throughout the book. It's fast-paced and filled with so much action, you'll never get bored reading it. The story is unique and told well, Holly's writing is easy to get on with and moves the plot along really well.

I have, however, only given this story 2 stars because despite the good that is within the novel, I didn't fall in love with it but don't let that deter you from the book. Holly's story-telling and writing is beautiful and this story wasn't for me but it could be for you.

A special note to the art work for her book - you can find that on her Instagram or her website - it is simply stunning.

I thought this story started off in kind of an odd place and lacked enough of a backstory to know what was going on. A lot was going on and a lot of species were in the world so the story quickly became muddled. It was hard to get the overall sense of where the character or story was going.

The world building in this was wonderful, but the actual plot was very hard to follow and I found myself quickly losing interest. I would have liked more backstory and a plot that was a bit more fleshed out.

The Shiver Tree is a fantasy adventure story set in the world of Amarra, where Kiana, the daughter of an elven High Druid sets off on a quest to rebuild the fractured druid orders. During her quest, she uncovers a deeper mission: recovering an ancient and powerful relic from monsters known as the Deep Ones.

I can tell that The Shiver Tree was written with love and passion. It reads like an excellent DnD adventure set in a rich, well-developed world with interesting history and conflicts. If you are familiar with Dungeons and Dragons or Lord of the Rings, the races and magic present should be easy to recognize. That said, the druidic magic that Holly created is an interesting and unique twist on the usual fantasy magic systems. Druids gain tattoos of trees, where each leaf represents an amount of power that can grow or vanish with use.

Amarra is a rich, compelling world with a history I would love to know more about. Kiana's companions are well-written characters with interesting histories. I was particularly interested in Tash, the romantic interest. The romance/relationship between the two doesn't take up much space in the plot, and I didn't mind.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, especially the second half. The first half was a little bit lore-heavy, which might be off-putting to inexperienced fantasy readers. There is plenty more of Amarra and the quest left to explore in a sequel, which I am looking forward to.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Netgalley, and Holly Searcy (you're still my favorite boss!) for the eARC of this book.

This is an incredibly entertaining fantasy with a diverse cast of species and characters! It totally captures that quest feel, making it super engaging. The magic system is fascinating, and I’m eager to dive deeper into it. I really enjoyed the authors writing style and i’m hoping there will be a second book. If you're a fantasy fan, you should definitely check this one out! Thank you NetGalley and Black Stone Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC..

First, thanks to the author and NetGalley for this ARC!

I'm not sure what I expected going into this, but it fell a bit flat. There's a lot going on in this book, and nothing really stood out as new or overly exciting. I'd say it's interesting enough, and I like the characters and the D&D influence, but this feels like a story that's been told time and time again. The world also felt a bit overly complex at times, and if this was intended to be a series, the worldbuilding should've been spread out a bit more to not overwhelm the reader (especially as this appears to be geared more towards a YA audience).

Something I did like, however, was the magic system and how we saw the differences between different kinds of users. And even though I did say the worldbuilding was a bit much at times, it was clear the author took the time to build a rich world that I'd enjoy learning more about.

I'm also not sure if this was an issue with the ARC but the formatting was all over the place and made reading a bit difficult at times. I'm not docking any points off for that given this is an advanced copy, but I do hope that all gets addressed in final editing. Would I read further books in the series? I think so. It was definitely interesting enough to keep going.

I want to thank NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book.

This book was really good people. Can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy. I gave it 4 stars.

Characters:
The characters were all lovable in their own way. They all fitted just right in the group. They all had their own knowledge that helped in their quest. Also they all had their own distinct personality which I truly loved.

Plot:
It was pretty good. The story was a typical quest story but fairly original with all the elements in their. It also wasn’t very predictable. You knew as much as the main character so you couldn’t really play out wat was going to happen.

World building:
I think the world was a bit to big for this fist book. A lot of things that were mentioned weren’t explained. For example their are to many creatures to count in this book. A lot of them are mentioned like oooh there lives that creature we shouldn’t go that way. But then there is no explanation what kind of creature that is and why you shouldn’t go through their piece of land. Also the magic systems are explained but I would like a bit more. Like what is the language for the spells and why is it that and where does it come from. Also what is arcane magic exactly and how does that work. For the rest the world building was fine en really well done. I think it was just to much for one book to take on. Loved everything about the Druid’s and their history.

Romance:
Just an ordinary romance. Nothing special. Fairly cute. Also a bit out of nowhere. Love at first sight sort of trope.

Writing:
Very good. Beautifully written. The sentence structuring is just so well done. The only thing i can say about holly her writing is she loses me sometimes. I have trouble following her writing. Especially in action scenes. A lot happens at once and she writes it down like that. That is the only criticism i have about the writing

Conclusion:
Very good book and I can’t wait for book 2. I also want a hardcover of that beautiful cover.

The Shiver Tree is a very sweet fantasy, adventure story about a girl named Kiana who is trying to stop the curses that are threatening her land, and put order back to Amarra. When she realizes a dark group, called the Deep Ones, has stolen something that could help save Amarra, she knows she must go on a journey to get it back. Along the way she discovers herself and makes some great friendships. This book is filled with fantasy, magic, adventure, bad guys, and hope that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I really enjoyed this book and thought it was a happy, easy read. It had mild, clean content so could be easily enjoyed by a younger teen audience. I loved the way the elven Druids got their magic and thought it was really unique! I like how Kiana always stayed positive through all of her challenges and used her friends as a team. Even when bad things happened, they always worked through them. There were a lot of very unique elements in this book, that I haven't seen used before. This book also had a lot of great world building, but wasn't so full of detail that it took away from the plot.
The only thing I found challenging with this book was that sometimes it could be difficult to follow. I ended up taking notes and highlighting a lot so I could come back to make sense of some of the details. There were a lot of different characters like elves, werewolves, pirates, druids, sorcerers, dragons, and gnomes that sometimes seemed unnecessary. There were some loose ends and hints to a sequel, so maybe some of these things will help with the future plot.
Overall, I liked this story and thought it was a nice, pleasant read. If a second book was written, I would definitely read it!

Thank you Blackstone Publishing, Inc for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Such a fun fantasy story with loads of species and characters! It’s fully giving quest vibes which makes it so fun to read. The magic system is so cool, and I want to learn more about it! If you’re into fantasy, I would definitely pick up The Shiver Tree!

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.