The Wretched of Muirwood (Legends of Muirwood Book 1)

This book received far too many undeserved 4/5 and 5/5-star reviews and I would like to present a more fair perspective. In my opinion, a review that does nothing but gush or rant is not a complete review and is not a genuinely helpful review unless one just happens to think along the very same lines as the reviewer. A truly good and helpful review maintains some degree of objectivity, and discusses both the pros and the cons so that no matter what the reader's perspective, needs or preferences, he or she can take some useful information away from the review. .I recently finished Jeff Wheeler's latest book, The Queen's Poisoner, the first part of an as-of-yet-unfinished trilogy, that I got either for free or maybe it was around a buck. It was a fairly well-written YA fantasy novel, so I figured I'd check out more of Wheeler's books starting with his first one, The Wretched of Muirwood. Wheeler's first book wasn't half as well-written as his newest book and, as I learned from reading some of the 1-star reviews here, this book is the first part of a really far-out-there, fanatical religious dogma-fest by the end of the trilogy.So some of the 5/5-star reviewers think this novel (almost a novella at only 291 pages) features strong characters. Let's look at the main protagonist, Lia. She's an enigmatic orphan hiding incognito in a place where she can be watched and protected and can learn magic as she grows up, eventually learning her heritage as the child of some really important, powerful people, she goes on a quest, learns to harness her powers and vanquishes evil. Gee, that seems a bit familiar, the hidden heir who becomes a powerful magic-using hero, learns his or her heritage, and takes down the evil sorcerer-king.... now where have we seen that character before .... hmmm .... could it be ... in literally hundreds, maybe thousands of fantasy novels? It's the oldest, most clichéd character in the fantasy genre. Is the exact same character as one we've all seen dozens of times before - a cookie-cutter protagonist - really a "strong" character for you? Not so much for me - I tend to prefer originality to something I've seen before ad infinitum.How about the rest of the characters, you ask? Well, the secondary protagonist, Colvin, is the angry, snobby noble who gradually comes around to Lia after she saves his butt a few times. Nothing particularly original about him. We've got the stern old Aldermaston - the venerable and wise head of the abbey and most powerful magic user - who, surprise, surprise, is quite fond of Lia and has a kind heart - think of a more stand-offish Dumbledore. For a sidekick in the first third of the book, we have Sowe, a rather dull-witted, timid fellow scullery maid - you'll forget her not much past the halfway mark of the book. So perhaps characterization isn't Jeff Wheeler's strong suite.Well, cliché or not, this Lia protagonist must develop into one hell of an accomplished person, right? Well, let's add up all of her clever decisions, hard work, and courageous actions that have resulted in good conquering evil, etc.... OH NO! you say - watch out for spoilers! Uhhh, no, actually. You see, Lia has no significant accomplishments of her own, really. As Jeff Wheeler likes to tell us repeatedly, a person's magical abilities, wielding the Medium (kind of a combination of all the magical force in the universe and the "one true deity") have nothing at all to do with his or her intellect, work ethic, morals, creativity, character, or any other factor, save one: the person's "Family" - i.e. were Mom and Dad nobles and thus able to use magic, or were they ordinary folk and thus of no consequence to magic, magic users, or anyone of any importance? So it's no spoiler to tell you that the protagonist of a magical fantasy can, in fact, use magic.The problem is that she not only can use magic, she channels it, a lot of it. In fact, as soon as she stops having a pity party, and decides to have blind faith in the Medium and lets its magic flow through her, well, all the bad guys are automatically vanquished and the good guys are saved. Really, that's how it happens, not in a chapter, not in a detailed process that involves spells, arcane scrolls, bizarre ingredients like eye of newt, wands, staffs, or glowing swords (you know, traditional magic), but just at a blink of an eye in about one or two paragraphs.. So if you prefer to avoid any suspense, and enjoy wallowing in in the fantasy that if you blindly and mindlessly accept religious dogma, that you will automatically have no further problems in life, well, you'll think this novel is just peachy.However, if you're more of a thinker who wants things to make sense, who wants to be intrigued by unexpected plot developments and who appreciates surprise and suspense, well, this isn't exactly the book you'll want. You see, our good friend Jeff Wheeler has a bit of a penchant for what's known as a deus ex machina. Five-star reviewers, I'll spell it out for you, since you probably aren't familiar with the term. Per Webster's, a deus ex machina is: "a person or thing (as in fiction or drama) that appears or is introduced suddenly and unexpectedly and provides a contrived solution to an apparently insoluble difficulty." So what our good little 5/5-star reviewers did not mention, amidst their gushing, is that all sweet young Lia needs to do is proclaim "I'm not doubting any more - I Believe!!!" like a good little worshipper at a Pentacostal revival (or Mormon - apparently Wheeler is a rather reactionary member of the Church of the LDS) and suddenly Presto! all the bad guys die.Our splendid author Mr. Wheeler also doesn't care much for such usual fantasy novel fare as an interesting, colorful world with a detailed setting - a lot of fans of fantasy love to gush about this sort of thing, calling it "world building." Not much world here to read about. We get a few carved stone heads scattered around like on Easter Island, but we really don't get many additional details about this world. Well, we do know it's either not very big (it only takes two days to ride across the kingdom) or else Wheeler got a bit sloppy and forgot to create a kingdom instead of a county or maybe earldom.Oh, let's address another point some of the 5/5-star reviewers made. They claim that the Medium - the combination One Great Deity/Giant Pool of Magic - has a light side or that the book has admirable humorous content. I don't remember anything from the novel that would make that an accurate statement. About the only comical aspect I can recall from this book is the character Maderos, who speaks cryptically and is somewhat of a combination of Yoda and Radagast the Brown. The Medium is indeed rather dark in this book, demanding fatal revenge against all those who have murdered mastons (those skilled in the use of the Medium's magic), but according to some of the 1-star reviewers who have read the entire trilogy, the Medium becomes more like Sauron than a kindly deity. Apparently by the last book in the trilogy, Jeff Wheeler starts going nuts writing out his personal religious fantasies and well, it seems like he has a whole lot more in common with the Taliban than with mainstream America. If some of the other 1-star reviews are to be believed (and no one seems to be disputing what they are reporting), by the end of the trilogy, Wheeler has our favorite lovely young teenager Lia blinking hard and using the full power of the Medium to incinerate and murder tens of thousands of dastardly types who ... wear provocative clothing and commit evil actions like ... flirting or other such sinful behavior that doesn't necessarily seem to hurt anyone else. So let's congratulate Mr. Wheeler on telling us his fantasy is to kill more or less anyone who has different ideas, values, and beliefs than he does. What a swell guy - sounds like he'd fit in pretty well with all the fine, open-minded members of ISIS.I'll admit there is no particularly significant quantity of graphic violence in this specific book, but who wants to read just one book out of a trilogy? I think a review of the first book in a series should tell us about the worth of the rest of the series, too. How about we consider what happens in the last book in the series? Murdering tens of thousands of people because they have different values and beliefs - isn't that about the most gratuitous violence you can imagine?I didn't bother reading any reviews of this book, raving or critical, before I wasted $4 and 5 hours of my life reading it, just accepting that at an average rating of 4.4/5.0, it must be pretty good and worthwhile. That's what we call a "mistake" and I wish I had read some of the 1-star reviews before I clicked "Buy." Hopefully this comment will balance out 5/5-star reviewers' praise-fests and give some people a more realistic, objective view of what to expect if they are looking for something new to read and considering this book.On its own, I'd give The Wretched of Muirwood about a 1.75/5.0 - star rating - it's not abysmal, it does read quickly, fluidly, and easily and the characters are so familiar that they are rather superficially likable. On the whole, though, the book is just weak and unsatisfying (unless you are very easily satisfied). However, taking into consideration how ultra-reactionary Jeff Wheeler gets with his thinly veiled religious fantasies by the end of the series, I don't see how it would be fair to round up the rating so I'd have to give this book, not as a stand-alone work but as the first third of a bad trilogy, a 1.0/5.0-star overall rating.

Jeff Wheeler does a wonderful job of drawing you into the story. Historical insight is masterfully woven in as well. Great read and Audible!🤗

It kept one wanting to read more. I have the next two bought and will start reading book 2 after I get me a glass of tea. 😀😀😀😀

I started this trilogy once before, but it was at a time when I was involved with other things and I could not get into the story which I thought would be about a group of orphans who found that they had the magic that was needed to save everyone and I thought it would be more suitable for pre-teens. However once I finished the Kingfountain Trilogy I knew I had to go back and read the other novels that he has written. While these novels are suitable for younger readers, adults who enjoy epic fantasy will also enjoy themIn the first novel we are introduced to most of the characters that will be with the reader throughout the series. Lia is a young wretched (orphan) who has been raised in the Abbey kitchen since she was left at the gates. She has been trained as a cook and a healer but what she really desires is to learn to read but this is unlikely to happen. She shares the loft in kitchen with Sowe another wretched that is able to sleep through almost anything, unlike Lia who is a very light sleeper. One day she hears someone at the door and when it opens she discovers two men, one who is injured and another who has a maston sword. Lia who has also been trained as a healer starts treating the injured man while his companion eats. The uninjured man explains that they are being hunted by the sheriff who will kill them if they are captured, but his friend is too injured to go any further. He promises Lia that she will be rewarded if she will care for and hide his friend for three days until he can arrange for them to get away. Lia is scared but she aggress to help because she knows it is the right thing to do, but she is not sure how she will be able to keep him hidden from everyone at the abbey for three days. This begins Lia’s and Colvins adventure. As their kingdom fall into civil war these two will find themselves surrounded by danger as they try to reach the safety of the rebel forces and warn them of the treachery that they have discovered. He just doesn’t take famous people that many would recognize, the uses characters that are not so readily known but their story is just exciting and the obstacles that they had o overcome are just as great or maybe greater.Once again, Jeff Wheeler has taken incidents from history and placed his world and characters in a parallel universe with unique magical properties providing his readers with an entertaining reading experience. As someone who has always loved history I enjoy this aspect of his books. He does this in a way that makes his books readable for all ages. The author has proven that books can be enjoyable without the insta-love and gratuitous sex that too many authors fill the pages of their books. If or when the characters fall in love it’s after the have gotten to know each other, they know the faults and their strengths; they’ve fallen in love with the person, it’s not just lust and passion that will pass with time. There are many obstacles that the characters have to overcome, including some within themselves before they can begin a relationship. There’s no bad language and even the violence is not objectionable because while it is necessary for the plot, it is not overdone. His books show that it is possible to write good fantasy without filling pages with unnecessary sex, violence and excessive bad language.5/5 STARS

A good start to the series. Characters are interesting and are developed nicely. Plenty of action and suspense. A strong story line. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Recommended.

Good story that held my interest through out the book. It is easy to get lost in the legendary world for a relaxing romp into high fantasy.

The author's afterword places context for the familiar sounding writings at the beginning of certain divisions within this novel. Don't spoil your exploration of the story's unfolding by reading the afterword first.Although I can't put my finger on specific examples other magic methods in fantasy may be comparable to the magic of this world's Medium. I read for enjoyment the first time through. Subsequent readings make critique, nuance. and comparisons part of those readings.The political situation in the realm Muirwood resides is much changed from what we saw in the story of it's founding. Generations have come and gone since the founding. Once again the story is told from the point of view of a Wretched. The Wretched are a particular kind of orphaned child raised in Abbey's of the Maston order.Lia is one such Wretched with immense power in the Medium inherited through her hidden and lost Family.In her journey of discovery led by the will of the Medium there are lessons about dealing with life for us all to learn.The Maston order is under seige by the King and the evil beings that oppose the Maston. Can Lia survive what the Medium wishes for her?

The writing is great and the story is absolutly amazing and real fun to read.I really enjoyed reading it.

Buenas descripciones del ambiente donde ocurren las cosas, un inglés rico en vocabulario, una trama interesante con personajes que enganchan y se aprecian, aunque queden en el aire demasiadas preguntas.

Enormément d'action: on ne s'ennuie pas une minute .Je n'ai pas laché les livres de cette série ! !Personnages riches et intrigue bien construite

An enjoyable read that tells a difficult story well. A lot of fantasy is about the hacking and the slashing, the epic moments of combat and triumph. In this, the book deviates, as it's told from the perspective of a young girl who isn't going to cut anyone up. Nor of her own skill, mow someone down with an arrow.Because of this, it may leave some readers wondering what there is to read about...My answer is that there is plenty to read about. The heroine experiences moments of bravery and of loss just as poignant as can be found. But instead of revelling in the thick and dirty of fantasy, it's forced to tread a more careful and intelligent and trusting path. One where kingdoms rise or fall based on a simple action or idea.Well worth a read as, although it's different from a lot of fantasy, it will suck you in just as easily.

I've been on a bit of a Jeff Wheeler binge for the last few months, reading my way through everything he's written and delighting each time. He is a truly talented author, and I've not found this offering to be any different. Leia is a fantastic character, and her relationship with Colvin was written with a great degree of skill, making it believable yet equally in keeping with the characters own development. It was lovely to revisit the Medium, and Maderos, and I enjoyed the memories of my own of Glastonbury that were evoked by the Abbey description and the Tor in the distance too. And with that, it is onward to the next book with a great degree of eagerness!