I absolutely loved this! Plants, mysterious castles, a little bit of magic…what more do you want? The narrator really suited the main character and I was able to distinguish the other characters well. The plot flowed smoothly and the ending leaves you wanting to carry on without massive cliffhangers that I personally find very irritating. Overall highly recommend and thank you for letting me listen to this. I’ll be purchasing book 2 to find out what happens next!

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

Story
This has all the cosy fairytale storybook feels in a really intriguing setting. I think we all knew roughly where the plot was going to go, but this story didnt need a grand twist. I do wish we had a bit more context of Ivy's life and more about the friendship with York. As others have said it did feel a bit more like telling us rather than showing us, but I do think that is appropriate for a younger audience.

Overall, a really good 3.5 for me. and I do want to discover where the story is going to go in the sequel.

Audiobook
I really like the narrator on this audiobook. The audio is clear and the voice actor really engages the audience with her expression and tone. My only comment on the audiobook itself, is that some of the pauses between chapters may be a little long - I've had to check that I haven't accidentally pressed pause a couple of times. However, I am not sure whether this may have been due to the app rather than the audiobook itself.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I thought the narrator did a really nice job and kept the story moving and me interested in it. I thought the story itself was good and a great start to a series.

Interesting premise and a lot of information given about this book’s world that sets up for a long, entertaining series. I enjoyed this one and think I would like the next book even better, given that it’s probably less background information and more character development. I listened to the audiobook and liked the narrator, I recommend this one and will definitely read the next one.

Unfortunately this book did not hit the mark for me. The premise was interesting and right up my little investigator self would usually love! Family legacy & secrets, best friend feelings, forbidden castle magic system in a YA novel sounded like the perfect set up!

There was whole lot of “tell” style writing through very long and repetitive inner monologue, and a feeling that the FMC is a LONG way from finding her worth, I kept really wanting the author to show us more or reduce the amount of times the same ideas were written.

There were some very interesting magic systems and moments that I’d love to know more about, but I am not sure I would continue with this series based on this first part.

The audiobook narrator was fabulous in this telling despite the repetitive nature.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook of Secrets Evergreen in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Portal Publishing, and Sara Knightly for an ARC of this audiobook narrated by Kim Churchill in exchange for my honest review.

I found myself picking this audiobook up every chance I could because the academia mystery of this book really sucked me in and kept me intrigued.

The beginning does start off a little abrupt after the prologue, to the point where I had to go back and listen a few times to make sure I didn’t miss something. This book is a slower story that builds a beautiful world filled with family secrets, academic rivalries, mysterious strangers in the woods, a seemingly recluse count hiding secrets in his castle, and friends trying to figure out their place in the world.

I would like a little more backstory on how the Carvers seem to be the more prestigious trade over the Arborists when the job of an arborists seems more beneficial to the town.

Overall, this was a great story and I can’t wait to dive into the next book to see where Ivy’s choices will take her!

Although the beginning was a bit slow, the story picked up the pace as the mystery of Hazel's family's past builds suspense to the very end. Regular challenges youth face at school, with peer relationships, and personal/family expectations are seen in the plot helping the reader connect. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out.

It is almost time for Ivy Rune to sit her Arborist exam and then take over her late father’s shop. But a stranger brings a message held from her father. This will distract her and set her on a search for hidden magic ivy and her best friend will follow the clues that leads to a magical grove of trees, and now there are more questions than answers. Can Ivy find out what is going on?

Enjoyed this well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Great characters in a world that was thought to be settled and organised. Lives will be turned upside down and magic revealed. Good book one and look forward to future novels.

I loved the characters and the story, I couldn't put this down all day yesterday.

This gave me vibes of stories like Eye of the World and Legends and Lattes, which sounds like they shouldn't go together, but they do! I loved the themes of searching for purpose, finding your own path, and embracing the scary unknown to be a better version of yourself.

I'm so excited to read the second book!

Interesting book, interesting premise, good start to the series. I like the idea of a different kind of economy and the hierarchy not based strictly on power but on skill. I also like that it's heavily based in nature. It's mysterious and promises lots of mystery to come. Good character development and plot. Narration is done well, enjoyed it greatly!

Ivy Rune is just trying to finish her education and pass her final exam to become an Arborist just like her late father. While searching for a plant for her final project, she stumbles upon a mysterious man who claims to know her father. He requests something only her father knew about, in exchange for an item he had been holding onto, for her specifically. This triggers a few events, leading Ivy to find out her father had many secrets. She goes on to discover clues, and magic, trying to balance her time between studying, and unraveling her father’s secrets.

I listened to the audiobook for this, and the narrator had a way of pulling me in from the start. I loved the journey Ivy went on, though I feel she lacked a bit of character development. I’m hoping to see more of that in book 2. There was a lot of descriptive imagery that helped you piece together in your mind the world the author created. I think this flowed together very nicely, and I had a fun time trying to figure out the mysteries along with Ivy. Some of the character relationships felt a little bland, and some characters were completely irrelevant to the story. The end left me feeling uneasy of what’s happening, and we leave off with a lot of unanswered questions. I hope to find the answers in the next one.

I rate this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 due to the way the author and narrator held my attention and kept me intrigued and wanting more.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I'm not sure about this book. I didn't hate it, but I wasn't gripped by it - nothing really happens.

The main character feels quite naive, which I suppose is fine as she's 16, but I did have a couple of eye-roll moments, and sometimes her observations or emotions are over-explained. Maybe more younger YA.

I would still be interested to know what happens with the characters - I feel like this book could be a gateway to more, so I would consider reading on but it wouldn't be high priority.

I received this ARC as an audiobook, and I enjoyed the reading.

I will say this was a 4.5 star read. I wish we can do half stars.
I enjoyed the story. It was different than what I’m used to. It was similar to Divergent, to where you pick your profession for your life and how it’s a big deal. But the fact the job categories were very different — One that deals with plants and one that deals with carving.
The story is about a girl who is taking a test to be an Arborist. Her father was a famous one and she felt the need to live up to his legacy. She ends up meeting a man in the forest that reveals some secrets that she didn’t know about her father and her world.
She then has to navigate learning the trade to become an arborist or find out more about these new secrets.
The only thing that annoyed me in the book (and not terribly) was how much she questioned things but didn’t talk to anyone. This is definitely a YA book. The main character has a very YA mentality. But overall it was a cool story.
I do believe, based on how it ended, that there will be a second book. I would like to continue the series for sure.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and was so sad when I finished because I was absolutely not ready for it to be over!! The world building was pretty good and the characters seemed to be well thought out. I can't wait for the next one!

This one is tough for me. I will say I don’t regret it, but I was so excited for what was pitched as really a unique plot and I just finished it feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. For one I would definitely say it is more of a middle grade feel in the writing style and storyline. There was a huge lack of character development and smoothness in how the story progresses. It had a “let me tell you about this” rather than “let me show you/let you experience it” type of feel. Some of the characters fell flat for me and just disappear after seeming like they are going to be important. There were many questions left unanswered, which may come in the second book, but I feel like it just needed more in this one to make me want to read the second. Though it is a full length book, by the end it gave the feeling that I’d only read what could have been the first few chapters of a great book, if that makes any sense? Like the idea was started, but not enough was given in this one.

All that being said, it is still an interesting story and there were parts of it that I truly enjoyed. Obviously, I kept coming back for more and finished it pretty quickly so it wasn’t all bad. I believe the narrator was a big reason for that. She did a great job bringing Ivy to life. The world building was well done and felt magical and beautiful. The way the Trades are determined was very intriguing and there is a lot of mystery that has some great potential. It definitely has a fun Secret Garden mixed with Narnia feeling to it and I genuinely hope book two gives us more to make up for what felt lacking in this one.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book. The review is entirely my own. I enjoyed Secrets Ever Green. I liked the world building. I felt like I was walking right beside Ivy in Windimere. I liked the characters and their story. I am looking forward to continuing the story. I feel like we were just getting to the meat of the story. and are left at a major cliff hanger/turning point.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"You live in a town, among people at all times. Don't you ever get lonely?"


Secrets Ever Green was an interesting start to the series. In this, you will meet Ivy. At the moment, she is just trying to get by in life. And by that, I mean she is trying to pass her final exam to become an Arborist.

Sure, she should be excited that she's almost done but it doesn't really seem like she is. Why? Eh, well it doesn't really seem like she wants to be an Arborist. Or to really follow in her dad's legacy. If I'm being completely honest here, I don't think Ivy truly knows what she wants to do with her life.

If you really think about it, Ivy doesn't know her parents that well. So, it might be a coincidence that she starts to discover her father's hidden secrets when the big test is basically around the corner. Or maybe it really isn't and it's all a big distraction for her?

There's definitely some mystery to unfold along the way. Especially when it comes to the secret garden she found. I also have questions about certain things that happened throughout the book because they were never answered. Maybe we will get those in the next book?

In the end, I'm all kinds of intrigued with how this ended. I need to know what's going on with York and if he's okay. What's going to happen at this mysterious castle Ivy is going to. Oh, and will they bring her horse?

I found this book to be pretty interesting. I really liked the premise of the vocation test system and how their society is shaped by it. I found the main topic of trees it to be a bonus and how mysterious her special trees are was especially intriguing. I enjoyed following Ivy on her journey thus far. It feels very academia-like. I do think we’ve gotten an immense amount of questions with very little answers. There is so much the reader has yet to learn. I’m excited to start book 2.

I thought the narrator did a good job with this book. I enjoyed the performance, and it helped to easily keep my attention on the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sara Knightly, and Portal Publishing for a copy of the audiobook ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.

I really enjoyed the narrator for this book, she really became Ivy for me and I felt like I was in the characters head for the entire book. I enjoyed the book and can't wait to pick the next one to see what happens next.

Summary:
Title: Secrets Ever Green, The Everlight Series, Book 1
Author: Sara Knightly
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Kim Churchill

Ivy Rune is a young girl about to be turned young woman, as she comes to the end of her education. She has studied and trained to become an Arborist, like her father who disappeared into the forest when she was younger, and the results of the exam will determine whether she can inherit her childhood home, or if she has to find another life path. She runs into a man who knew her dad, who her dad had told to safeguard an object when he was alive. Ivy takes this item and finds a thread of clues she follows that opens up her world beyond her little village.

This is a fantastic book 1. It does a great job setting up a world that values nature in an academic sense. It sets up the expected educational path and opportunities, which was a good contrast for how Ivy breaks beyond those normal expectations. And it also injects magic in a way that grows throughout the book as we learn about the world too.

Ivy is also a very likeable character. She's loyal, curious, down-to-earth, and not infallible. One of the things that turn me off really quickly is when a main character sounds too whiny, and I am ever so grateful Ivy does not fall under this category.

Since the book does so much world building, the adventures felt fairly basic for a magical world. At the same time, the path of clues and secrets uncovered did enough to keep me interested. And really, I'm just dying to read book 2.

I am definitely planning to read the second book, so this is something I'd happily recommend to others. I rated it 5 stars.

Audiobook Impressions:
The narrator's voice is that of a young woman, which really matched my impression of the main character. The pacing was great. I don't think I had any negative feedback to give on the audiobook. Definitely worth a listen!