I got thoroughly swept away in the elegant prose of this high fantasy captivated by the beautiful world building and perfectly paced quest!

I often find it difficult to listen to audiobooks if I haven’t read the book first but I was pleasantly surprised at the pacing, inflection, broad range of tones and accents the narrator was able to bring to the cast of characters.
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🌲Debut novel
🦊High fantasy
🌲Quest
🦊Animal companion
🌲Magical trees
🦊A bit of romance
🌲Druids
🦊Elves
🌲Pirates
🦊Warewolves
🌲Dragons
🦊Magical thralls
—
Story by Holly Searcy: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration by Teralyn Davis ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
—
Thank you Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review! 📚
Publishers release date 11/12/2024

Good character development. Interesting world development. The story keeps you moving forward wanting to know what happens next. A world that is failing needs a person willing to go against others to find the truth.

This was my first high fantasy and I enjoyed it, although it definitely took some time for me to get used to it. I was fascinated by the magic system and especially the Druid tattoos. I’m new to fantasy so I’m not entirely sure about world building and if this was done well or not but for me, as a newbie, I got a good sense of the world and all of its characters.

The audio was really great. I got a good feeling about Kiana was through the narration and the side characters were all well done.

This was a fun fantasy story! Kianna is seeing visions to help with their quest to protect their world. The shiver tree is an ancient source of power that if destroyed would end life as they know it. Through dangerous trials and encounters they work together to save them all.

Sadly, this book was not for me. I loved the book cover, and I love fantasy books. However, the writing felt pretty stilted, and I wasn't enamored by the story's plot. It felt like I was watching a fantasy version of "The Crown" and that wasn't what I was looking for at this time.

The Shiver Tree by Holly Searcy is an epic high fantasy adventure of Kiana and her band of friends out to save their world from the Deep Ones (hideous evil creatures). Kiana and Tash have a slow burn that is sure to only grow and deepen throughout the series. Might I add that snow is the most adorable sidekick ever! If you’re looking for an epic quest with a diverse range and magical creatures this is right up your alley! Thanks to #NetGalley #hollysearcy #theshivertree for allowing me the pleasure of listening to this ARC for an honest review.

I am going to start by praising the narration. It is amazing! I mean I can't believe how great she did! She did the different voices, emotions, and settings perfectly.
I loved the story too. It reminded me of the old timey RPGs I used to enjoy. I just felt happy when I was listening to it.

Thank you so much for this!

The Shiver Tree was interesting. This is a unique fantasy story set in an engaging world, with a wide range of species and an intriguing magic system. It really captures that classic quest vibe, focusing more on adventure and friendship than heavy romance or political themes. I enjoyed following the main character, Kiana, as she faced danger and fought to protect her home. Though there were moments where the world-building felt a bit awkward, and some of the wording used pulled me out of the fantasy immersion. I did however really enjoy the magic system of the druids’ tattoos, I don't think I've really seen anything similar in other fantasy books.