Review: The Shiver Tree

The Shiver Tree by Holly Searcy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an e-arc - all opinions are my own


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