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The Thickety #2
The Whispering Trees
The story of a good witch, a bad witch, and a forest demon, trapped together in a world that is both enchanting and dangerous.
After Kara Westfall's village turns on her for practicing witchcraft, she and her brother, Taff, flee to the one place they know they won't be followed: the Thickety. Only this time Kara is magicless without her grimoire and Sordyr, the forest demon, is intent on keeping them there. Kara and Taff will meet other inhabitants of the Thickety in their search for a safe way out, including the infamous witch, Mary Kettle. But can they trust anyone—plant, creature, witch, book, or magic—to help them escape, to undo Grace's final terrible spell, and to stop Sordyr's horrible reach from spreading across the rest of the world?
After Kara Westfall's village turns on her for practicing witchcraft, she and her brother, Taff, flee to the one place they know they won't be followed: the Thickety. Only this time Kara is magicless without her grimoire and Sordyr, the forest demon, is intent on keeping them there. Kara and Taff will meet other inhabitants of the Thickety in their search for a safe way out, including the infamous witch, Mary Kettle. But can they trust anyone—plant, creature, witch, book, or magic—to help them escape, to undo Grace's final terrible spell, and to stop Sordyr's horrible reach from spreading across the rest of the world?
528 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2015
About the author
J.A. White
15 books590 followersJ. A. White lives in New Jersey with his wife, three sons, and a hamster named Ophelia that doesn’t like him very much. When he’s not making up stories, he teaches a bunch of kids how to make up stories (along with math and science and other important stuff). He wishes dragons were real because it would be a much cooler way to get to work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
December 8, 2014
Spoiler free!!!
When it comes to dark books, this is dark as dark can be in a supernatural sense, which is quite surprising given how this is a bloody MIDDLE GRADE BOOK. Like seriously, it has a twelve year old and a seven year old, experiencing so many things that would have made me run for the hills already. The blurb calls it a "middle grade fantasy", but a more accurate description would be, "middle grade that sends you to hell, and takes you back just to send you to hell again". Yup.
But who's complaining? I certainly am not. As a lover of dark books, I welcome the second installment of a series whose first book successfully made me want to stay the fuck away from possibly psychopathic children playing with powers of demonic origin. I said it before, and I'll say it again: do not read this book if you're looking for something that would make you laugh, cry and be in cloud nine. There is no puking of rainbows and butterflies here. In this installment, we have a living, breathing forest full of creepy wonders; siblings running for their lives; and, oh, a whole bunch of other things like death, betrayal, forest demons, originally-kind-turning-into-scary kids as they keep using their powers...
I present to you ME after reading this book:
What I really love about this series as a whole is how scary they portray magic and witches to be. So many times I've picked up books about witches, only to read about love potions and boring spells that won't even faze a toddler. I mean, come on, that's not even exploring the potential of one's capabilities, and the repercussions one gets when they abuse their powers.
That's where J.A. White's books get it right: the concept of magic not being a one-sided thing. Yes, you get to use some spells, but in exchange, this unseen, yet terrifying force takes something from you, too. A memory or two, a bit of your humanity here and there, which may sound really harmless at first glance, but can get deadly if abused... because the question lingers: what would become of you when you've forgotten who you were, or when you don't have a single ounce of compassion left?
That's a big chunk of why this series is so scary to me. It's not the magic, it's not even that big, bad boogeyman chuckling evilly in the forest, beckoning you to come closer. It's the fact that ANYONE - even an innocent, honest person - can be tempted to use magic for ANYTHING, only to yearn for it more and more after the first bite. How the continuous, extreme uses of something such as magic can push people downwards to a never-ending abyss of obsession. How it can turn someone into a new person... and oftentimes, for the worse.
Add to the fact that in this second book, Kara and her brother are now in the Thickety itself, a forest made of evil and your worst nightmares. And when I say it's scary, I mean, holy-shit-I'm-pissing-my-pants scary. I remember reading this part where our characters get to an "abandoned" village... only to realize it's not abandoned at all, and all the villagers have been turned into Darkeaters, where their physical body has been turned into something else, and the real ones are the shadows... like seriously, doesn't that just creep you out?!
And every step of the way, every minute we accompany Kara and her brother in their adventure, we wouldn't be able to help but feel for her. She has gone through so much, even went almost to the deep end, that you just want her to succeed. She definitely grows a lot here. She becomes more involved and more cautious of her powers and how they are to be used, and takes note how they are a double-edged sword (she's a smart cookie!), making the ride into the Thickety far more interesting and engaging.
If you're scared of reading one-dimensional characters, you need not fear when it comes to this one, because even side characters here are as complex as our heroine, perhaps even more so.
Yes, the book is still scary and creepy and disturbing, but, it's kind of noble in a weird sense, in my opinion. Because despite all the dark things this is full of, it somehow serves as a gentle reminder to us, too, of what it means to be human and how important it is not to let go of that one thing that keeps us grounded.
One thing is for sure: if you haven't read the first book, do it now, and THEN read this one. You won't regret it, I promise.
When it comes to dark books, this is dark as dark can be in a supernatural sense, which is quite surprising given how this is a bloody MIDDLE GRADE BOOK. Like seriously, it has a twelve year old and a seven year old, experiencing so many things that would have made me run for the hills already. The blurb calls it a "middle grade fantasy", but a more accurate description would be, "middle grade that sends you to hell, and takes you back just to send you to hell again". Yup.
But who's complaining? I certainly am not. As a lover of dark books, I welcome the second installment of a series whose first book successfully made me want to stay the fuck away from possibly psychopathic children playing with powers of demonic origin. I said it before, and I'll say it again: do not read this book if you're looking for something that would make you laugh, cry and be in cloud nine. There is no puking of rainbows and butterflies here. In this installment, we have a living, breathing forest full of creepy wonders; siblings running for their lives; and, oh, a whole bunch of other things like death, betrayal, forest demons, originally-kind-turning-into-scary kids as they keep using their powers...
I present to you ME after reading this book:
What I really love about this series as a whole is how scary they portray magic and witches to be. So many times I've picked up books about witches, only to read about love potions and boring spells that won't even faze a toddler. I mean, come on, that's not even exploring the potential of one's capabilities, and the repercussions one gets when they abuse their powers.
That's where J.A. White's books get it right: the concept of magic not being a one-sided thing. Yes, you get to use some spells, but in exchange, this unseen, yet terrifying force takes something from you, too. A memory or two, a bit of your humanity here and there, which may sound really harmless at first glance, but can get deadly if abused... because the question lingers: what would become of you when you've forgotten who you were, or when you don't have a single ounce of compassion left?
That's a big chunk of why this series is so scary to me. It's not the magic, it's not even that big, bad boogeyman chuckling evilly in the forest, beckoning you to come closer. It's the fact that ANYONE - even an innocent, honest person - can be tempted to use magic for ANYTHING, only to yearn for it more and more after the first bite. How the continuous, extreme uses of something such as magic can push people downwards to a never-ending abyss of obsession. How it can turn someone into a new person... and oftentimes, for the worse.
Add to the fact that in this second book, Kara and her brother are now in the Thickety itself, a forest made of evil and your worst nightmares. And when I say it's scary, I mean, holy-shit-I'm-pissing-my-pants scary. I remember reading this part where our characters get to an "abandoned" village... only to realize it's not abandoned at all, and all the villagers have been turned into Darkeaters, where their physical body has been turned into something else, and the real ones are the shadows... like seriously, doesn't that just creep you out?!
And every step of the way, every minute we accompany Kara and her brother in their adventure, we wouldn't be able to help but feel for her. She has gone through so much, even went almost to the deep end, that you just want her to succeed. She definitely grows a lot here. She becomes more involved and more cautious of her powers and how they are to be used, and takes note how they are a double-edged sword (she's a smart cookie!), making the ride into the Thickety far more interesting and engaging.
If you're scared of reading one-dimensional characters, you need not fear when it comes to this one, because even side characters here are as complex as our heroine, perhaps even more so.
Yes, the book is still scary and creepy and disturbing, but, it's kind of noble in a weird sense, in my opinion. Because despite all the dark things this is full of, it somehow serves as a gentle reminder to us, too, of what it means to be human and how important it is not to let go of that one thing that keeps us grounded.
One thing is for sure: if you haven't read the first book, do it now, and THEN read this one. You won't regret it, I promise.
May 26, 2015
This started out well.
Then it got unnecessarily complicated and drawn out. The kids seem to fluctuate in their own ages as much as the age-changing witch they travel with; I have no idea how old they're really supposed to be anymore. There were some SURPRISE!!s, some scary moments, some sadness, but even so, I got bored. It was a struggle to make it through to the end and, for me, it wasn't worth it.
I feel the same way about this as I did the first book. I hope its audience loves it, I hope this is a story that kids pine for and dream about and love so much. However, this isn't a story for me.
So why'd I read this even though I didn't like the first book all that much? It's the packaging. I love the look of these books. The covers fascinate me, I'm delighted by the interior illustrations, I am a sucker for the rough cut pages, and the book is smaller than most, which my small hands appreciate. As long as the next book doesn't come across my desk like this one did, I won't read it. If I touch it, though, I know I'll have to open it. That is the physical power of these tomes.
Then it got unnecessarily complicated and drawn out. The kids seem to fluctuate in their own ages as much as the age-changing witch they travel with; I have no idea how old they're really supposed to be anymore. There were some SURPRISE!!s, some scary moments, some sadness, but even so, I got bored. It was a struggle to make it through to the end and, for me, it wasn't worth it.
I feel the same way about this as I did the first book. I hope its audience loves it, I hope this is a story that kids pine for and dream about and love so much. However, this isn't a story for me.
So why'd I read this even though I didn't like the first book all that much? It's the packaging. I love the look of these books. The covers fascinate me, I'm delighted by the interior illustrations, I am a sucker for the rough cut pages, and the book is smaller than most, which my small hands appreciate. As long as the next book doesn't come across my desk like this one did, I won't read it. If I touch it, though, I know I'll have to open it. That is the physical power of these tomes.
September 14, 2015
The beginning of this one just felt too long, like he was adding more random magic training scene in order to ensure that book 2 was the same length as book 1. But once the padding was done, the book took off. Lots of new intrigue, and some seriously icky stuff as well. These books are about as scary as any middle grade book I've ever read, just FYI. I don't mind, and I would give it to my almost-eleven-year-old, but not to anyone younger.
July 7, 2018
"When you use magic, you are simply changing what's real to what you want it to be."
"Believe you have the power to change the world, and you will. Forget the Forest Demon. Doubt is your greatest enemy right now."
I love this series! I love the creatures in the Thickety, the characters, the setting of the forest and the relationship between Kara and Taff is sweet and adorable.
I like the character of Mary who is that evil witch who eats children... While helping Kara and Taff to get out of the Thickety she has many wise things to tell them and meanwhile makes friends with them. But there are things that are not what they may seem.. but for that you have to read it yourself.
Here are some of the creatures that they meet on the way: darkeaters, notsuns, grettings, stitch-rats and a thrumbeetle!
Not to mention the humour comes from unlikely places, which makes it even more funny reading about it:
Mary to Taff and Kara: "Do you know what a clock is?"
Kara answers: "It tells you what part of the day it is - if you can't read the sun and stars, I suppose. Some kind of meaningless entertainment for those with too many seeds to spend."
"Believe you have the power to change the world, and you will. Forget the Forest Demon. Doubt is your greatest enemy right now."
I love this series! I love the creatures in the Thickety, the characters, the setting of the forest and the relationship between Kara and Taff is sweet and adorable.
I like the character of Mary who is that evil witch who eats children... While helping Kara and Taff to get out of the Thickety she has many wise things to tell them and meanwhile makes friends with them. But there are things that are not what they may seem.. but for that you have to read it yourself.
Here are some of the creatures that they meet on the way: darkeaters, notsuns, grettings, stitch-rats and a thrumbeetle!
Not to mention the humour comes from unlikely places, which makes it even more funny reading about it:
Mary to Taff and Kara: "Do you know what a clock is?"
Kara answers: "It tells you what part of the day it is - if you can't read the sun and stars, I suppose. Some kind of meaningless entertainment for those with too many seeds to spend."
October 3, 2016
Oh, how I love these books. I just finished reading this book for the third time. This sequel is so amazing. And I love every moment of it. Eee. Like in the first book, the writing is gorgeous. I simply have no issues with it at all. Which is awesome. And I just love this story the most. Reading about Kara is the best. She's amazing. And I love reading about what she's doing. This second book wasn't as dark as book one, yet still pretty dark. I loved it. And oh gosh, that ending. I had forgotten how shocking and mean it is. Hmph.
I'm not going to talk much about this stunning second book. Because I have already reviewed it twice before, hih, and because it is hard to find the words for a book that I love so much. Which I did with this one. The Whispering Trees is simply such an amazing book. It is full of adventure and heartbreak and evil things. The villain in these first two books have been amazing. So dark. So evil. And so interesting to read about. This second book was all kinds of exciting. Loved book one a bit more, but oh, I loved this one too.
I loved reading about Kara again. She is still the best girl. I love how she protects her brother so much. I love how kind she is; when she needs to be. I just loved getting to know her more. In this book she learns more about her magic. About the things that she can do. There is a lot of practicing. And it was all kinds of fun to read about. Yet also really sad, because there was a sacrifice each time, and gah. It still breaks my heart to read about. Especially with the ending of this book. Gosh. I cannot wait to re-read book three.
I'm just the most excited to read the final book in this stunning series. I just wish there were more than four books. Aw. I would never tire of reading about this world. About Kara. This book takes place right after the ending of book one. Which means that for the most part the book is only about Kara and Taff, as they left everyone else behind. I am still sad that there was no Lucas in this book, lol. But there didn't need to be. Aw. It was amazing even without him, haha. There is just so so much happening all the time.
And a bunch of new characters to read about too. I think that I grow to love Mary more for each time I read this book. Sure, she had done some awful things, but she was so kind and awesome now. For the most part. She was just such an interesting person and I really liked reading about her. Then there was Safi. I'm still unsure about this girl. Hmph. I didn't fully like her. But she was sort of cute, even so. There were a few other characters too, but not mentioning them. There is a new awful villain as well. Shudders.
There is just so much happening in this book. So many new creatures. And I loved reading about them all. The notsuns were horrifying. I loved it. Imogen was all kinds of awful. Yet so amazing to read about. I just loved reading this book for the third time. I shall never not love it. And it is still just as amazing as the first time I read it. Which makes me so happy. Sigh. As always, if you still haven't read these stunning middle grade books, then get moving. Because they are so worth reading. They are amazing. So good.
---
I first read this book from October 21st to October 22nd 2014. My review can be found here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2014/1...
I read this book for the second time from August 4th to August 5th 2015. Book recommendation can be found here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2015/0...
I read this book for the third time on October 3rd 2016. See my new post here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2016/1...
I'm not going to talk much about this stunning second book. Because I have already reviewed it twice before, hih, and because it is hard to find the words for a book that I love so much. Which I did with this one. The Whispering Trees is simply such an amazing book. It is full of adventure and heartbreak and evil things. The villain in these first two books have been amazing. So dark. So evil. And so interesting to read about. This second book was all kinds of exciting. Loved book one a bit more, but oh, I loved this one too.
I loved reading about Kara again. She is still the best girl. I love how she protects her brother so much. I love how kind she is; when she needs to be. I just loved getting to know her more. In this book she learns more about her magic. About the things that she can do. There is a lot of practicing. And it was all kinds of fun to read about. Yet also really sad, because there was a sacrifice each time, and gah. It still breaks my heart to read about. Especially with the ending of this book. Gosh. I cannot wait to re-read book three.
I'm just the most excited to read the final book in this stunning series. I just wish there were more than four books. Aw. I would never tire of reading about this world. About Kara. This book takes place right after the ending of book one. Which means that for the most part the book is only about Kara and Taff, as they left everyone else behind. I am still sad that there was no Lucas in this book, lol. But there didn't need to be. Aw. It was amazing even without him, haha. There is just so so much happening all the time.
And a bunch of new characters to read about too. I think that I grow to love Mary more for each time I read this book. Sure, she had done some awful things, but she was so kind and awesome now. For the most part. She was just such an interesting person and I really liked reading about her. Then there was Safi. I'm still unsure about this girl. Hmph. I didn't fully like her. But she was sort of cute, even so. There were a few other characters too, but not mentioning them. There is a new awful villain as well. Shudders.
There is just so much happening in this book. So many new creatures. And I loved reading about them all. The notsuns were horrifying. I loved it. Imogen was all kinds of awful. Yet so amazing to read about. I just loved reading this book for the third time. I shall never not love it. And it is still just as amazing as the first time I read it. Which makes me so happy. Sigh. As always, if you still haven't read these stunning middle grade books, then get moving. Because they are so worth reading. They are amazing. So good.
---
I first read this book from October 21st to October 22nd 2014. My review can be found here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2014/1...
I read this book for the second time from August 4th to August 5th 2015. Book recommendation can be found here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2015/0...
I read this book for the third time on October 3rd 2016. See my new post here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2016/1...
June 8, 2019
This was very confused. The ending, in particular, was a real mess - rushed and jumbled and unfocused.
The writing tries hard, but is bloated. We get things like "At last [something was] finally [something]". It could have used a real editor to whip it into shape. There are also a number of odd similes that don't really make sense.
As a middle book in a trilogy (ack! just found out this series has FOUR books), this fails in its essential job of holding things together. The character of Lucas is mentioned in passing several times, but he never appears once. I can only assume that he's going to play a part in the later books, but by then, I'll have forgotten pretty much everything about him because he wasn't sustained in this book. It's hard to know which characters are long-term and which are just passing through, and that's the author's fault.
The series wants to make a big deal of good battling evil, but it is built on a foundation where there is no God. The Children of the Fold are portrayed as a wacko cult, but there is no real alternative to them. We get evil monsters (some of whom turn out to be not evil, just under spells) - but where is the real good? The double-crosses are handled poorly and the reader feels cheated. Somehow we are supposed to like characters who switch teams back and forth as the literary situation requires it.
Then, somewhere in all of this we are presented with the idea that basically witchcraft equals...creativity. Wow, big leap there. If you "make something out of nothing" - like a song, that's the equivalent of witchcraft. There's a whole lot of animals-are-as-important-as-humans silliness too. And Kara lays the ridiculous guilt trip on herself of being responsible for every single future death if her plan fails. This seems a very warped idea about death. I also dislike the idea that the dead do not stay dead in this book. If the dead aren't dead and the evil aren't evil and there is no essential good, what do you really have to hang anything on?
Lastly, the narrator had about three different ways of saying De'Noran. Why did no one catch this? I don't remember this being a problem in the first book, but perhaps I'm forgetting. I wasn't crazy about her accents - why did Safi sound vaguely Oriental while her father sounded...Trinidadian? I felt the narrator had her handful of distinctive regional/international voices and just decided to make use of them, instead of developing something really appropriate for each character.
The writing tries hard, but is bloated. We get things like "At last [something was] finally [something]". It could have used a real editor to whip it into shape. There are also a number of odd similes that don't really make sense.
As a middle book in a trilogy (ack! just found out this series has FOUR books), this fails in its essential job of holding things together. The character of Lucas is mentioned in passing several times, but he never appears once. I can only assume that he's going to play a part in the later books, but by then, I'll have forgotten pretty much everything about him because he wasn't sustained in this book. It's hard to know which characters are long-term and which are just passing through, and that's the author's fault.
The series wants to make a big deal of good battling evil, but it is built on a foundation where there is no God. The Children of the Fold are portrayed as a wacko cult, but there is no real alternative to them. We get evil monsters (some of whom turn out to be not evil, just under spells) - but where is the real good? The double-crosses are handled poorly and the reader feels cheated. Somehow we are supposed to like characters who switch teams back and forth as the literary situation requires it.
Then, somewhere in all of this we are presented with the idea that basically witchcraft equals...creativity. Wow, big leap there. If you "make something out of nothing" - like a song, that's the equivalent of witchcraft. There's a whole lot of animals-are-as-important-as-humans silliness too. And Kara lays the ridiculous guilt trip on herself of being responsible for every single future death if her plan fails. This seems a very warped idea about death. I also dislike the idea that the dead do not stay dead in this book. If the dead aren't dead and the evil aren't evil and there is no essential good, what do you really have to hang anything on?
Lastly, the narrator had about three different ways of saying De'Noran. Why did no one catch this? I don't remember this being a problem in the first book, but perhaps I'm forgetting. I wasn't crazy about her accents - why did Safi sound vaguely Oriental while her father sounded...Trinidadian? I felt the narrator had her handful of distinctive regional/international voices and just decided to make use of them, instead of developing something really appropriate for each character.
February 2, 2016
Wow. I'm just....wow. That was unbelievably good.
Assorted thoughts:
1. The characters are so complex- Kara, Mary, Safi, Sordyr, and Rygoth especially
2. I love the world building, I love how it is dark and scary but also beautiful
3. Taff is so cute!
4. Whoa, did NOT see that plot twist coming!
5. That ending. Nice bit of light in this otherwise dark and intense novel
I'm probably not going to write a full review for this ('cause I'm lazy #sorrynotsorry). So if want to hear more of my thoughts about the book, feel free to leave a comment or send me a message!
Assorted thoughts:
1. The characters are so complex- Kara, Mary, Safi, Sordyr, and Rygoth especially
2. I love the world building, I love how it is dark and scary but also beautiful
3. Taff is so cute!
4. Whoa, did NOT see that plot twist coming!
5. That ending. Nice bit of light in this otherwise dark and intense novel
I'm probably not going to write a full review for this ('cause I'm lazy #sorrynotsorry). So if want to hear more of my thoughts about the book, feel free to leave a comment or send me a message!
February 19, 2016
Review coming soon!
August 22, 2020
I've been wanting to read this book for the past 4 years, not kidding. It's funny how its been so long and I'm still attached to the plot.
Second book in the series and even more dark than the first, if possible. It's just screaming death and destruction each sentence and I loved every single second of it. word. What I like about this series is that it gives out this one message, which is that there's always a good and bad side. And the main character Kara, even with a good heart, is a witch. Which they make clear in this book is bad.
My favorite character in this is gotta be Mary Kettle. There's a joy to boiling kids alive that she's discovered and later feel's guilty about it. She's the mysterious witch who helps Kara and Taff survive the Thickety lots happened. I'm leaving that to your imagination.
And yeah, that's all I can say so far. Dark themed and well written, kept me on the edge until the last page. One where we find out some people we think were evil are actually the ones innocent, I'd consider that as a spoiler.
5/5
Second book in the series and even more dark than the first, if possible. It's just screaming death and destruction each sentence and I loved every single second of it. word. What I like about this series is that it gives out this one message, which is that there's always a good and bad side. And the main character Kara, even with a good heart, is a witch. Which they make clear in this book is bad.
My favorite character in this is gotta be Mary Kettle. There's a joy to boiling kids alive that she's discovered and later feel's guilty about it. She's the mysterious witch who helps Kara and Taff survive the Thickety lots happened. I'm leaving that to your imagination.
And yeah, that's all I can say so far. Dark themed and well written, kept me on the edge until the last page. One where we find out some people we think were evil are actually the ones innocent, I'd consider that as a spoiler.
5/5
July 21, 2018
In this Book 2, Kara Westfall and her younger brother Taff are trying to escape the Thickety, a mysterious forest where the Forest Demon, Sordyr, lives. They are befriended by a famous witch, named Mary Kettle, whose fearsome reputation was earned eating children. Like Kara, Mary is a wexari: a witch who can do magic without a grimoire. (Interestingly, Mary wakes up every morning at a different age.) Mary encourages Kara to develop her skills to battle a monster, Imogen. Kara's great talent is her ability to mindmeld with animals, who all seek her help (as Witch Girl) to save them by killing Sordyr. Kara enlists the support of Rygoth, who seems to be the only one keeping Sordyr from leaving the Thickety to conquer the World. This book is all about trust, and Kara learns a hard truth. Kudos to J.A. White for imagining creatures like: darkeaters, notsuns, grettings, stitch-rats and thrumbeetles.
Read
August 22, 2020just Not as good as the first one smh
December 24, 2015
http://thedailyprophecy.blogspot.nl/2...
This was a highly anticipated book after the cliff-hanger from the first book - and it lived up to my expectations. It's just as dark and twisted as before. Monsters, magic and dangerous situation, this book has it all! I would recommend to read it together with your child if she/he gets easily scared, because it could give them some nightmares.
Kara and Taf are a great duo. I always love to read about brother/sister relationships and their voice sounded genuine with their age. I never felt I was reading a book written by an adult; Kara and Taf acted like their age.
Kara is a strong, intelligent girl and a good role model. She takes care of her brother and she knows how to make the best out of every situation. Things get pretty messy when they are captured by Sorin, who wants Kara to release him from his connection to The Thickety - so he can roam the earth and spread more chaos.
Taf is exactly how I imagine every little boy; a bit naughty and he looks up to his sister. His quick mind comes in handy in many situation and I love his nativity. It gave his character a lot of charm.
Sorin was an interesting villain and I love the unexpected twist. It doesn't happen often that MG surprise me with their endings, but I never expected this conclusion about Sorin.
I look forward to more books from this author.
This was a highly anticipated book after the cliff-hanger from the first book - and it lived up to my expectations. It's just as dark and twisted as before. Monsters, magic and dangerous situation, this book has it all! I would recommend to read it together with your child if she/he gets easily scared, because it could give them some nightmares.
Kara and Taf are a great duo. I always love to read about brother/sister relationships and their voice sounded genuine with their age. I never felt I was reading a book written by an adult; Kara and Taf acted like their age.
Kara is a strong, intelligent girl and a good role model. She takes care of her brother and she knows how to make the best out of every situation. Things get pretty messy when they are captured by Sorin, who wants Kara to release him from his connection to The Thickety - so he can roam the earth and spread more chaos.
Taf is exactly how I imagine every little boy; a bit naughty and he looks up to his sister. His quick mind comes in handy in many situation and I love his nativity. It gave his character a lot of charm.
Sorin was an interesting villain and I love the unexpected twist. It doesn't happen often that MG surprise me with their endings, but I never expected this conclusion about Sorin.
I look forward to more books from this author.
January 10, 2018
J. A. White's novel The Thickety: The Whispering Trees is a phenomenal book about a girl named Kara and her brother, Taff. They enter the Thickety, a dangerous forest where the general rules of life are twisted to make magic able to exist freely within the woods. There are so many different unique creatures that live there, but are living in fear for their master, a demon named Sordyr. I really like the fact that Kara wanted to save the world and the creatures in the Thickety. If you want to read a book with a very twisted plot that misleads you time and time again, read this book! It is definitely better than the first book, although the first book was very good as well. It is an excellent choice for fans of The Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann.
January 17, 2019
So I really breaks my heart to rate this book down when I loved the first one so much, but unfortunately the sequel just didn’t engage me as much as the predecessor.
There is a lot that I still love about this book. I really do enjoy the main characters, and so I was happy just to spend more time with Kara and Taff. There is also some really dark and creative imagery in this book — like bizarre shadow people with human-looking reflections and a demonic dream-witch-beast that traps you in your own head with (oh yes) tentacles. These are the stronger parts of the book, and they really had me rooted to my seat and turning pages. At these moments, I truly felt like I was reading a natural continuance of the last book.
So where did it fall short?
As always, I will try to avoid spoilers, but my gripes fall into three main points: the setting, the climax, and the secondary characters.
Setting — I was so thrilled at the end of the last book because the protagonist + co. were forced into the Thickety, an essentially haunted forest full of demons and dark magic. How can that go wrong? But for some reason, the author did not focus his energies on creating an eerie atmosphere. The book is called ‘The Whispering Trees,’ but we barely hear them whisper — and we never get a sense of what dark things the trees are saying. They could have been whispering forbidden truths, or evil tales, or sending nightmares to the kids or .... something. Any one of those decisions would have created a darker atmosphere. Instead, we get our protagonist traveling through a forest that’s sort of sickly, but not scary. We meet bizarre creatures, but besides the ones I mentioned earlier, most are friendly. It feels like a magical forest, but not a frightening one, and that was disappointing to me. I think the author could have emphasized the ‘spookiness’ if he had the trees whispering more, trying to separate the kids or tempt them or debilitate them, if maybe some unknown thing was stalking them, if they found signs of other people hurt or killed in the forest, etc. ... According to the first book, a child went into the Thickety once and faced something so horrifying that he went insane. I don’t think I found anything remotely that scary here.
Conclusion: I predicted some parts of the conclusion, and what I did predict was anticlimactic. A large foe is defeated in a — not so strenuous way — and there’s a consequence for the main character that frustrates me a bit. I don’t want to say much because I don’t want to give things away. This IS only the second book in a four-part series, however, so I trust that the following books will be more climatic.
Secondary characters: This was the big one for me. I realize now that so much of what I liked about the first book was about the main character’s village. The secondary characters in that book — either friends or antagonists — were more engaging to me. They might not have gotten as much attention as the main character, but they had enough context and back story that I understood them and cared about them (or hated them). For example, we see snippets of the antagonist Grace’s relationship with her father and friends, which make her feel more real. Or we get conversations with the protagonist’s friend Lucas, and we see how the other villagers treat him, which makes you feel for him.
The secondary characters in this book feel flatter to me. Mary Kettle is supposed to be a sort of antihero figure — a bad witch turned good. But we never actually see her do anything bad, we just hear about it, which makes it feel less real. The Thickety could have contained magic that allowed the kids to flashback to moments in Mary’s life when she was evil, or given them dreams about it, or something, to create more emotional conflict. And even if we accept her terrible back story ... it’s hard to believe that someone who was that incredibly ‘evil’ (she did some pretty horrible things) would one day turn over. We do not ever get a solid, satisfying explanation for HOW or WHY she decided that she wanted to change her ways — she just, apparently, did. This makes her apparent guilt and mourning hard to believe. I know some readers will say that she turned over because she lost the grimoire that drove her ‘mad with power’ — but if the book had damaged her that much, wouldn’t she be beyond repair? Wouldn’t she spend the rest of her life obsessively looking for another grimoire and hurting anyone who got in her way? What made her ‘wake up?’
A little girl figure, Safi, also did not hold my interest. I couldn’t help feeling that her characterization was weak. I couldn’t find her personality. The beginning of the book claims that she is always frightened, but later scenes in the book show her boldly sneaking out, facing monsters, etc.
Also, side note: As much as I love Taff, the main character’s younger brother, I have to admit that he does not always sound like a seven-year-old to me. In the first book, he was vulnerable and coddled enough to feel like a loquacious little kid. Here, his problem-solving abilities, calmness, and the way his sister confides in him made him seem much older.
Overall: I have not given up on this series. I know how good it CAN get and I have a feeling that the follow up books will be stronger. This one simply stumbles a bit —middle books can do that. However, there’s definitely enough lore and the promise of returning characters to improve the sequels.
There is a lot that I still love about this book. I really do enjoy the main characters, and so I was happy just to spend more time with Kara and Taff. There is also some really dark and creative imagery in this book — like bizarre shadow people with human-looking reflections and a demonic dream-witch-beast that traps you in your own head with (oh yes) tentacles. These are the stronger parts of the book, and they really had me rooted to my seat and turning pages. At these moments, I truly felt like I was reading a natural continuance of the last book.
So where did it fall short?
As always, I will try to avoid spoilers, but my gripes fall into three main points: the setting, the climax, and the secondary characters.
Setting — I was so thrilled at the end of the last book because the protagonist + co. were forced into the Thickety, an essentially haunted forest full of demons and dark magic. How can that go wrong? But for some reason, the author did not focus his energies on creating an eerie atmosphere. The book is called ‘The Whispering Trees,’ but we barely hear them whisper — and we never get a sense of what dark things the trees are saying. They could have been whispering forbidden truths, or evil tales, or sending nightmares to the kids or .... something. Any one of those decisions would have created a darker atmosphere. Instead, we get our protagonist traveling through a forest that’s sort of sickly, but not scary. We meet bizarre creatures, but besides the ones I mentioned earlier, most are friendly. It feels like a magical forest, but not a frightening one, and that was disappointing to me. I think the author could have emphasized the ‘spookiness’ if he had the trees whispering more, trying to separate the kids or tempt them or debilitate them, if maybe some unknown thing was stalking them, if they found signs of other people hurt or killed in the forest, etc. ... According to the first book, a child went into the Thickety once and faced something so horrifying that he went insane. I don’t think I found anything remotely that scary here.
Conclusion: I predicted some parts of the conclusion, and what I did predict was anticlimactic. A large foe is defeated in a — not so strenuous way — and there’s a consequence for the main character that frustrates me a bit. I don’t want to say much because I don’t want to give things away. This IS only the second book in a four-part series, however, so I trust that the following books will be more climatic.
Secondary characters: This was the big one for me. I realize now that so much of what I liked about the first book was about the main character’s village. The secondary characters in that book — either friends or antagonists — were more engaging to me. They might not have gotten as much attention as the main character, but they had enough context and back story that I understood them and cared about them (or hated them). For example, we see snippets of the antagonist Grace’s relationship with her father and friends, which make her feel more real. Or we get conversations with the protagonist’s friend Lucas, and we see how the other villagers treat him, which makes you feel for him.
The secondary characters in this book feel flatter to me. Mary Kettle is supposed to be a sort of antihero figure — a bad witch turned good. But we never actually see her do anything bad, we just hear about it, which makes it feel less real. The Thickety could have contained magic that allowed the kids to flashback to moments in Mary’s life when she was evil, or given them dreams about it, or something, to create more emotional conflict. And even if we accept her terrible back story ... it’s hard to believe that someone who was that incredibly ‘evil’ (she did some pretty horrible things) would one day turn over. We do not ever get a solid, satisfying explanation for HOW or WHY she decided that she wanted to change her ways — she just, apparently, did. This makes her apparent guilt and mourning hard to believe. I know some readers will say that she turned over because she lost the grimoire that drove her ‘mad with power’ — but if the book had damaged her that much, wouldn’t she be beyond repair? Wouldn’t she spend the rest of her life obsessively looking for another grimoire and hurting anyone who got in her way? What made her ‘wake up?’
A little girl figure, Safi, also did not hold my interest. I couldn’t help feeling that her characterization was weak. I couldn’t find her personality. The beginning of the book claims that she is always frightened, but later scenes in the book show her boldly sneaking out, facing monsters, etc.
Also, side note: As much as I love Taff, the main character’s younger brother, I have to admit that he does not always sound like a seven-year-old to me. In the first book, he was vulnerable and coddled enough to feel like a loquacious little kid. Here, his problem-solving abilities, calmness, and the way his sister confides in him made him seem much older.
Overall: I have not given up on this series. I know how good it CAN get and I have a feeling that the follow up books will be stronger. This one simply stumbles a bit —middle books can do that. However, there’s definitely enough lore and the promise of returning characters to improve the sequels.
January 26, 2018
This boo was amazing! I loved the way it was written and I loved the plot. I love this whole series. I couldn't believe they didn't know Grace was a witch. She showed all the signs of one. Over all this was an amazing book and its one of my favorite book series.
October 21, 2018
not my favorite fantasy book but definitely worth a read - the characters are pretty well written and the end made me very curious for the next book!
July 18, 2023
*3.5 stars. There was just a bit too much going on with the plot in this one, but it was still a fun read and I enjoy this world so much.
December 10, 2021
Read- December 2021
- I enjoyed this book more than the first one which I have to say, I wasn't expecting. I'm really hoping I can get to last 2 books in this series before the end of the year.
- I enjoyed this book more than the first one which I have to say, I wasn't expecting. I'm really hoping I can get to last 2 books in this series before the end of the year.
June 15, 2022
I liked this one even better than “A Path Begins”. I loved the setting of the Thickety and all the plants and creatures, a good blend of dark and magical that I really enjoyed. I liked the character development and the introduction of Mary Kettle. I also liked this narrator better than the first. And I like that the whole story is unfolding at a good pace and I love each new layer we get to the story.
September 4, 2021
This book is dark but beautiful, and it keeps drawing me in. I keep thinking that these are too dark and scary for me, but then I find myself ordering the next one anyways! I am excited but also a tiny bit nervous for this next one!
June 14, 2015
At the end of the series' first book, A Path Begins, Kara and her younger brother Taff were driven into the Thickety, a dangerous forest ruled by the evil Sordyr, by her fellow villagers who fear her magic. Now within the forest, Kara and Taff must find a way to survive and avoid the clutches of Sordyr, who wants to use Kara's abilities as a wexari, or a witch who can cast spells without a spell book. But Kara does not know to what purpose. Early in their journey, they meet the infamous Mary Kettle, a witch famous for cruelly killing children and using them to create her own magical trinkets and toys. Yet she seems to be seeking redemption by helping them and she has the knowledge to help them avoid Sordyr. Kara also is still learning about her abilities but has a special connection with the forest animals who trust and have confidence in her. As they journey, Kara and Taff must learn about the new world around them as they figure out who can be trusted and who cannot.
This book had more closure at the end than the first book in the series in spite of the fact that Kara is clearly intending to continue into "the World" beyond the island of the Thickety to combat forces that are now moving there. I also enjoyed the author's clarifications on magic and its role and ability to be good or bad in his created world in addition to the development of Kara's (and Sordyr's) role as wexari. The best part was a plot twist near the end of the book regarding Sordyr's true role and identity. It felt like Kara was letting herself be manipulated at the beginning because she was not yet developed enough as an individual and as a wexari. Near the end, she begins to think more creatively, but her situation turns out to be more complicated than she (and others) originally thought.
This book had more closure at the end than the first book in the series in spite of the fact that Kara is clearly intending to continue into "the World" beyond the island of the Thickety to combat forces that are now moving there. I also enjoyed the author's clarifications on magic and its role and ability to be good or bad in his created world in addition to the development of Kara's (and Sordyr's) role as wexari. The best part was a plot twist near the end of the book regarding Sordyr's true role and identity. It felt like Kara was letting herself be manipulated at the beginning because she was not yet developed enough as an individual and as a wexari. Near the end, she begins to think more creatively, but her situation turns out to be more complicated than she (and others) originally thought.
September 6, 2014
I'm just really liking this series overall as an example of boundaries that can be crossed when it comes to children's literature. If I didn't know that I definitely liked this series after the first one, I most certainly know that I like it now.
Admittedly compared to the first one I'm not sure I like it quite as much? But that is mostly tied to the absence of Kara's home village. The thing that drew me into the first book initially was the twisted morality of the village and the Puritanical parallels that I personally drew, and so without that I was left a little wanting, but not that much.
I am just reveling in this intriguing obsession this series has with good and bad and it's really intricate and nuanced. Some of the monsters in this one are definitely just creepy especially
I wouldn't exactly be surprised if I saw this story under an adapted, "more adult" cover, but at the same time I'd say it's well placed in age. It challenges and begs to be challenged. There's so much in these books that are not clear cut, and I am really enjoying that. I can't recommend this series enough, it's just cool, man. Cool cool cool.
Admittedly compared to the first one I'm not sure I like it quite as much? But that is mostly tied to the absence of Kara's home village. The thing that drew me into the first book initially was the twisted morality of the village and the Puritanical parallels that I personally drew, and so without that I was left a little wanting, but not that much.
I am just reveling in this intriguing obsession this series has with good and bad and it's really intricate and nuanced. Some of the monsters in this one are definitely just creepy especially
I wouldn't exactly be surprised if I saw this story under an adapted, "more adult" cover, but at the same time I'd say it's well placed in age. It challenges and begs to be challenged. There's so much in these books that are not clear cut, and I am really enjoying that. I can't recommend this series enough, it's just cool, man. Cool cool cool.
Read
August 5, 2015Kara has been thrown out of her community for witchcraft, and has sought shelter in the deadly Thickety with her younger brother. They wouldn't have survived long without witch Mary Kettle, though her dark history makes Kara doubtful about trusting her. The evil Sordyr is after Kara and her powers, and she knows she must escape. Getting through the Thickety is nearly impossible, though, strewn as it is with deadly traps, creatures, and magic. Kara has magic of her own, but she knows it comes at a cost--possibly the cost of her own soul--so she's reluctant to use it. When is it right to sacrifice others to save herself and her brother? Is it right if she could possibly save the world?
Ugh, I gave up on this one. It was just pages and pages of travel interspersed with avoiding getting killed by some grantedly clever or interesting mildly horrific creature/magic/etc, on and on and on. I could see kids being interested in (and maybe some would be scared by, though I wasn't) these never-before-seen anomalies so I appreciated the creativity. And the question of when to use power and what/who to sacrifice is a good one to ponder, if not exactly a new question or trope. It just felt as if the story never got anywhere, just rambled endlessly through an unpleasantly apocalyptic horror-strewn landscape, and when I got to the middle and found the kids were essentially back at square one, I closed the book. Couldn't do it. Lots of starred reviews, I understand, but not my cup of tea.
Ugh, I gave up on this one. It was just pages and pages of travel interspersed with avoiding getting killed by some grantedly clever or interesting mildly horrific creature/magic/etc, on and on and on. I could see kids being interested in (and maybe some would be scared by, though I wasn't) these never-before-seen anomalies so I appreciated the creativity. And the question of when to use power and what/who to sacrifice is a good one to ponder, if not exactly a new question or trope. It just felt as if the story never got anywhere, just rambled endlessly through an unpleasantly apocalyptic horror-strewn landscape, and when I got to the middle and found the kids were essentially back at square one, I closed the book. Couldn't do it. Lots of starred reviews, I understand, but not my cup of tea.
October 20, 2017
This is the second book in The Thickety series by J.A. White. Our oldest really enjoyed the books in this series and is eager to read the fourth book, while I'm just trying to catch up with her.
The story was very dramatic and has some surprising twists. It ends unsatisfactorily, with no resolution. As frustrating as that is, it certainly leads readers on to the next tale, Well of Witches.
interesting quotes (page numbers from paperback edition with ISBN13 9780062257284):
"'Sometimes lies do grow in the telling,' Mary said. Then she leaned forward, her gray eyes flickering in the firelight. 'But in my particular case, everything you've heard is true. Every unimaginable horror happened just the way the talespinners say. It's important you know that, Kara Westfall.'" (p. 71)
"...I think you can find beauty anywhere if you look hard enough. Even here." (pp. 82-83)
"Believe you have the power to change the world, and you will. Forget the Forest Demon. Doubt is your greatest enemy right now." (p. 108)
The story was very dramatic and has some surprising twists. It ends unsatisfactorily, with no resolution. As frustrating as that is, it certainly leads readers on to the next tale, Well of Witches.
interesting quotes (page numbers from paperback edition with ISBN13 9780062257284):
"'Sometimes lies do grow in the telling,' Mary said. Then she leaned forward, her gray eyes flickering in the firelight. 'But in my particular case, everything you've heard is true. Every unimaginable horror happened just the way the talespinners say. It's important you know that, Kara Westfall.'" (p. 71)
"...I think you can find beauty anywhere if you look hard enough. Even here." (pp. 82-83)
"Believe you have the power to change the world, and you will. Forget the Forest Demon. Doubt is your greatest enemy right now." (p. 108)
April 21, 2015
Kara and Taff are right where we left off--deep in the heart of the Thickety. They soon run into the infamous witch Mary Kettle, who claims she will help the pair by teaching Kara how to hone her skills as a wexari, a special kind of witch who can cast spells without a grimoire. The Forest Demon has many obstacles for Kara, though, and their lives are constantly in danger. Monsters abound, and the detail with which they are created makes them extra scary. The siblings never know who they can trust, and the emotional roller coaster is incredibly tense. The ending, once again, is a total shocker!
I just really love this series. What an imagination this guy has! My only complaint is that the main cliffhanger that left me gasping at the end of A Path Begins is STILL a cliffhanger at the end of The Whispering Trees. I was really hoping to get some resolution there, but I guess I'll have to wait until the next book to satisfy that curiosity. These are just the type of books I would have loved as a kid, but they're simply too good for adults to miss. Great sequel, Mr. White. I hope you are furiously writing, because I can't wait to see what's next, and neither can my students!
I just really love this series. What an imagination this guy has! My only complaint is that the main cliffhanger that left me gasping at the end of A Path Begins is STILL a cliffhanger at the end of The Whispering Trees. I was really hoping to get some resolution there, but I guess I'll have to wait until the next book to satisfy that curiosity. These are just the type of books I would have loved as a kid, but they're simply too good for adults to miss. Great sequel, Mr. White. I hope you are furiously writing, because I can't wait to see what's next, and neither can my students!
May 15, 2015
OMG SO GOOD!!
Okay, so this book totally does not stand alone - make sure you have read the first Thickety book. And you'll want to have The Whispering Trees close by because the first one ends on a GIGANTIC CLIFFHANGER and then this second book plunges you right back into the middle of the action and pretty much does not let up.
This is just such a richly imagined fantasy world, dripping with magic and an epic battle between good and evil. The plot twists and turns and you're never completely sure who you can trust (at least I wasn't!). This is a great one for fans of scary books because there truly are some horrific scenes. I really loved the characters, too.
Also, this book is like eleven million pages long BUT because the trim size is pretty small, the pages actually go by really quickly. And did I mention the nonstop action? This book got me through a long wait at the doctor's office and then again at the post office. Huzzah!
I highly recommend this series to tweens who enjoy fantasy adventure with a big dose of witchcraft. I'd hand it to fans of The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier for its atmospheric creepiness.
Okay, so this book totally does not stand alone - make sure you have read the first Thickety book. And you'll want to have The Whispering Trees close by because the first one ends on a GIGANTIC CLIFFHANGER and then this second book plunges you right back into the middle of the action and pretty much does not let up.
This is just such a richly imagined fantasy world, dripping with magic and an epic battle between good and evil. The plot twists and turns and you're never completely sure who you can trust (at least I wasn't!). This is a great one for fans of scary books because there truly are some horrific scenes. I really loved the characters, too.
Also, this book is like eleven million pages long BUT because the trim size is pretty small, the pages actually go by really quickly. And did I mention the nonstop action? This book got me through a long wait at the doctor's office and then again at the post office. Huzzah!
I highly recommend this series to tweens who enjoy fantasy adventure with a big dose of witchcraft. I'd hand it to fans of The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier for its atmospheric creepiness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2015
This was a stellar continuation of the Thickety series and an altogether enjoyable read. I loved the overall adventure, the twists and turns and the unexpected surprises that came up along the way. I am chomping at the bit for the third book and conclusion to the trilogy though I have grown to love the characters and will hate to see the final ending of such a charming and at times delightfully creepy read. I would have loved these books as a kid, and I am completely enthralled as an adult.
July 15, 2016
the theme of this one seemed to be you can't trust your surroundings, you can't trust the people around you - nothing is as it seems. when you do have one person you can trust, as kara and taff have each other, use that as bedrock. the evil may become good, or may only be evil due to the control of someone more evil who seems to be good...
another surprising ending. one goal achieved, and a new, even bigger goal unlocked. you can't go home again and you don't even want to.
another surprising ending. one goal achieved, and a new, even bigger goal unlocked. you can't go home again and you don't even want to.
October 26, 2014
I'm impressed with how well White is maintaining momentum in this series--I always worry about middle books in trilogies, because they're so crucial to building toward the final book. This installment was great! It was fantastically creepy to spend so much time in the wilderness, and I was pleasantly surprised by the twist at the end. Can't wait for the next one!!
April 21, 2015
Creeptastic follow up to the first. A bit repetitive in the middle, it picks right back up again at the 2/3rds point and then you are sailing. Can't wait for the next. Recommended.
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