Wish

Wish #1

by Morgan Rice, Ashley Thompson (Narrator)

4 hours and 50 minutes.

WISH is book #1 in a new series by #1 bestselling author Morgan Rice, a USA Today bestseller and critically acclaimed author of the fantasy series The Sorcerer’s Ring (over 3,000 five star reviews) and the vampire fantasy series The Vampire Journals (over 1,500 five star reviews).

Mistfalls Wilderness Camp is an awful place, a series of islands in the rainy Northwest, populated by delinquents and outcasts from their families. It is supposed to be a remedial place—but Taylor soon learns something else is happening here. They are training the kids here for something. But what?

These kids are all different, not normal somehow. And as Taylor herself goes through changes she doesn’t understand, she can’t help but wonder: is she different, too?

But when a mysterious boy comes along, unlike anyone she’s ever met, Taylor is shocked at the power of her crush, and ready to risk it all for him.

But will their forbidden love take them both down for good?

Weaving a world of fantasy, love, destiny and sacrifice, WISH is a page-turning vampire saga, one that will whisk you away to another place and make you fall in love with a bold new heroine as you turn pages late into the night. With shocking twists and turns at every corner, you will not put it down. Fans of books such as Crush, Twilight and Vampire Academy are sure to fall in love!?

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Vampires, Young Adult, Romance, Ebooks, Paranormal

5 pages, Audible Audio

First published February 14, 2023

About the author

Morgan Rice is the #1 bestselling and USA Today bestselling author of the epic fantasy series THE SORCERER’S RING, comprising seventeen books; of the #1 bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, comprising twelve books; of the #1 bestselling series THE SURVIVAL TRILOGY, a post-apocalyptic thriller comprising three books; of the epic fantasy series KINGS AND SORCERERS, comprising six books; of the epic fantasy series OF CROWNS AND GLORY, comprising 8 books; of the new epic fantasy series A THRONE FOR SISTERS, comprising eight books (and counting); and of the new science fiction series THE INVASION CHRONICLES. Morgan’s books are available in audio and print editions, and translations are available in over 25 languages.

TURNED (Book #1 in the Vampire Journals), ARENA ONE (Book #1 of the Survival Trilogy), A QUEST OF HEROES (Book #1 in the Sorcerer’s Ring) and RISE OF THE DRAGONS (Kings and Sorcerers—Book #1) are each available as free downloads!

Morgan loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.morganricebooks.com to join the email list, receive a free book, receive free giveaways, download the free app, get the latest exclusive news, connect on Facebook and Twitter, and stay in touch!

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Genre ~ YA paranormal fantasy
Series ~ Wing #1
Others in the series ~ #1-5
Setting ~ Northwest (not sure exactly where)
Publication date ~ book ~ February 14, 2o23, audio ~ March 3, 2023
Est page Count ~ 167 (30 chapters)
Audio length ~ 4 hours 50 minutes
Narrator ~ Ashley Thompson
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ teenage characters, creatures, cliffhanger

Taylor has been sent away to a special camp after she allegedly attempted to hurt her stepmother, a despicable woman.

Overall, I liked Taylor's friendship with Beth, but that's about it. This was not my cup of tea. I think this will appeal to those that enjoy engaging YA fantasy with some supernatural aspects. I got Hunger Games vibes.

If my reading preferences happen to change sometime, which is pretty doubtful, I might be inclined to read the rest, but for now I will not continue on with the series.

Narration notes:
Sounded age appropriate and had proper tones for the situations.

*Thanks to Hoopla for the bonus borrow that didn't cost me a precious credit*

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

[Kai (CuriousCompass) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Genuinely one of those books that gives self-publishing a bad reputation and makes people think indie authors are dummies who will publish anything.

I'm sorry but I can't even be nice about it. Every character is too stupid to live, their interactions are nonsensical and unrealistic. Nobody acts like this, nobody responds to things like this. The characters felt like...well like watching the author play with dolls or action figures. No real depth or personality, no development, no showing, just "these two characters who just met are best friends now and will throw away their futures for each other after one conversation." Insta-crush on a guy who barely speaks two words to you, nobody having a care in the world for all the unnatural shit happening around them or the secret underground tunnels?

The story setting was interesting but filled with the stupidest, most insufferable characters, including the hero.

The writing was...not good. Sorry but the prose left so much to be desired, it was lacking in detail and every line felt like a generic phrase or statement I had already read dozens of times in this genre, like I was reading the book version of a paint by numbers. You had things that should have been two or three entire scenes skipped over in one sentence, weird plotting and pacing choices, everything was just a mess.

DNF at like 40%...Hire a developmental editor. Nobody who gave a shit about your book would let you publish it in this state. I feel like this is a really mean review but I don't have the energy or patience to lie, and even if I did, it would be unfair and unhelpful to do so.

A lot of people say reviews are not for authors, an opinion you're entitled to hold but one I think is a total clusterfuck of bullshit and that I won't engage in. I always write my book reviews with the fact the author might read it in mind. I don't pull punches but I at least try to be aware of how it might affect them. Authors have internet, we're online, we're in book spaces because we're also readers and love books and most of us have a bookish online presence long before we get published in any manner. I was reviewing books for five years or so before I started publishing my own, I just think it's unfair to expect authors to essentially self-segregate from other readers and book lovers. So I do want to say I was happy to go along for the ride.

I wrote this early in my reading experience: This is like every YA magical boarding school book ever written mixed together into a stew lol. I'm getting Hex Hall by way of Percy Jackson with a hefty dash of Born at Midnight. I'm fine with it. I'm turning my brain off.

But even after shutting off the critical part of my brain I could not ignore how annoying and underdeveloped this felt. I have to say this is what those pretentious people who say all YA is dumbed down and poorly written and spoonfeeds the teen readers thinks YA is. It's almost like a parody of the genre. And it feels very 2011, 2012 in a specific yet vague way I can't entirely describe. It just feels outdated, like part of a bygone era of trends most readers and writers have moved beyond at this point, and for good reason.

The IDEAS in play here are amazing. They're executed so poorly it may as well not matter. There's potential in this author's creativity but the craft is lacking right now.

Things I DID like:

-The main character being a tough, jaded girl who had a shitty home life and had to learn to survive on her own and depend on herself. I enjoy that kind of hero, but she wasn't really like that: we were told that's who she was, and I love that idea, but on-page she's weak, bumbling, insecure, and easily controlled. If that discrepancy was on-purpose and the entire point of her character was that seeing herself that way was her coping mechanism to deal with her reality, and then unpacking that damage to her identity, I would love it. But it's just a case of poor character work instead.

-The setting. A string of mysterious islands housing a sprawling 'troubled teen' industry-esque wilderness camp school that turns out to be a home for supernatural, with unexplained tunnel complexes running below it? Yes please!

-A fierce protective friendship between two teen girls who only have one another and have each other's backs? Yes again, a favorite trope of mine. If only we got time to see the main character develop that bond instead of it coming out of nowhere and being based on literally nothing. She took responsibility for a stranger she did not know and derailed all her own plans for her based on nothing, and it even went against all of her prior characterization, which was not on purpose, or at least didn't seem it.

I honestly can't think of anything else this had going for it, really. Your time would be better spent seeking out a different series in this genre. Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus or Vampire Academy or any of the billion other supernatural boarding school series that does all of these tropes so much better. Even just go rewatch Wednesday on Netflix. Seriously.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA paranormal romance, featuring angst, destiny, supernatural mystery and sacrifice on an island of misfits, at Mistfalls Wilderness Camp.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of this book, a new series by this author. I deliberately did not read the synopsis because I wanted to be surprised by the content – I loved it!

Seventeen-year-old Taylor Night is thrown out of her poor living conditions and sent to Mistfalls Wilderness Camp, which appears to be a cross between a detention centre and something more mysterious. What is this place, what’s happening?

Taylor is further puzzled by innate powers and realises that the camp is more for training and nothing is normal…

The writing is great, fast-paced and in the first-person narrative (a favourite of mine). It’s directed at a YA readership and yet others would enjoy it, in my opinion.

I liked Taylor – brittle yet kind, confident in some ways but vulnerable in others. I also liked Quill and Beth and I certainly enjoyed the mystery.

Not all questions were answered but enough for a satisfying read. I look forward to what is going to happen next.

Recommended.

[Yunet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that this book captivated me and I want to read the next one right now. I'm upset that there isn't another one to listen to or read to see where the characters take us and what happens next. If this book ended on cliffhanger it ended on a sweet one with spoiler alert Taylor getting her first kiss! But of course, that isn't the only cliffhanger the book leaves you with. The questions I'm hoping that answers will be provided to or some light shed upon them are What really happened to Taylor's sister? Is her father really dead? What exactly was taken from the vault? Will Taylor and Jesse end up together in the end?

[zie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, when I was about half way through i started to really hate it. The characters are boring, the dialogue is empty, the author for some reason prefers to end the dialogue with constant interruptions, when the characters are just talking casually they just interrupt each other like it’s nothing.
I eventually opened up the reviews for this book on Goodreads, I try to avoid them when I’m halfway through a book, but it was necessary in this case because I felt lost.
Anyways. I don’t usually review books in too much detail, but this is essentially a cry for help because I just wasted time reading this.

[Mimi · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. This story just wasn't for me. The writing wasn't engaging enough for me to get through and to keep my interest. I was about 75% through and just didn't have the ability to keep picking it up to read. Which I think is saying something because it's not a super long book.

[sankta.elina · Rating 4 out of 5]

the writing could have been a little better but the storyline was really good

[Rida · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 out of 5 stars

If I had to describe this entire book in three words, I would say that it is shrouded in mystery.

I am going to keep this review straightforward so it is easy to comprehend for someone who might be interested in reading this book and just wants the gist of it.

Likes:
- Good descriptions - I liked that the author made you feel that you were there with the characters witnessing the ongoing events.
- Easy to read
- Nice plot

Dislikes:
- Short book in length - only 161 pages
- Too much mystery - I liked the mystery but I wish we got more explanations. I understand that it is supposed to be a series and there will be loose ends but I just wish there weren't this many. I wish we got more answers.

That being said, I am giving Wish 3 out of 5 stars. It was a light and easy book to read, good to pass the time and I will be following along the journey of Taylor Night and her friends in the following books.

[Helene Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ page 35

Somewhere between 1 and 2 stars.

The dialogue is very stilted and unnatural, and the world doesn’t make much sense. So many major events happen, but are seemingly brushed over (like a character flying through the air and nobody noticing it???). There definitely is a story under all the rubble, but this is a first draft. Not a finished manuscript.

[Allie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spice: ♥ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
POV: 1st Person
Tropes: #Vampires, #LoveTriangle, #MythicalCamp
Trigger Warnings: Abusive parents, bruising, vomit, blood, minor gore, attempted murder, bullying (on-page), child abuse, child death, fatphobia (brief mention), poisoning, violence

Original Read (Jan 2024): ★ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

This book is written for teenagers. It is not a "good" quality book. The story has potential but it's really like if someone wrote a Percy Jackson AU of Twilight....it's not...the best....there is a lot of bullying, including by the counselors (adults). They claim Level Zeroes just need more pushing but then forced them to spend an entire day deep cleaning shit and blood. They treat these kids, literal kids, like crap to "awaken" their powers. And when they aren't treating them like crap, the FMC is trying to escape. It's short. It was free on Kindle. I won't be reading the rest of the books, though I have heard there are continuity errors in the rest of the series.

[Olivia Fishel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly would’ve loved this book as an 8th grader and I still really liked it as a 24 year old!

[Kaybe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think if this existed when I was around 13 I would’ve surely gobbled up the 8/9 book series- sad reminder I’ve outgrown these Wattpad-esque books, anyways quick easy read.

[Scarlet · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

Full review soon

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very young adult book. It was easy to read but written for younger audience than expected.

[kneenuh]

so bad it’s good (bad).

[élodie ✮⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
WOWWW I wasn’t expecting this to be so good. Can’t wait for book 2! Definitely give this a try :)

[alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

ummmm wow just read this whole thing in one evening 10/10

[Kaylee Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this book is YA but it is a fast read/listen. I enjoyed the characters and the world building and it also has a good amount of mystery which I enjoy in a fantasy series.

[Elisabet Johansson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The audio book was good, the voice felt age appropriate. Kind of felt like a TV show since it was packed with events and "fast cuts" between scenes. We don't get a lot of explanation to anything 😅 I've been reading so many adult books that it felt weird to read YA fantasy. If I was 14 I would probably have liked this a lot.

[Georgia Boyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoomed through, enjoyable, but can we get to the point already?

[Angela Blount · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

A YA paranormal/urban fantasy (Er... rural fantasy?) with just one first-person POV, utilizing both the camp and school for "special" kids trope.

Taylor is a tough, scrappy heroine with a heart of gold and a deeply protective streak. She's easy enough to root for--despite repeatedly referring to her background as "tailor trash" (which I could have done without.) It's her own squishy center that carries her into a supposed camp for delinquents, though her original plan was to run away before ever reaching it. Once there, weird stuff starts happening almost immediately. Instructions are vague, and subterranean guard duty is assigned to the kids without explanation. The camp staff are wildly inconsistent and wholly unhelpful toward the more vulnerable kids, though the director of said camp insists their intentions are preparatory. (If so, the incompetence of this place is mind-numbing.)

The pacing is decently clipped, and the descriptions are vivid. The camp itself has some real character to it--a sufficiently eerie ambiance. But at the same time, the dialogue is often stilted and certain elements felt overly convenient. (i.e. our MC can't read a map at age 17, but suddenly knows counteragents to poisons.)

This book isn't poorly written, prose-wise... but it does feel a bit rough and rushed. Like the first half of a second or third draft that would have benefitted from more development. The world-building is pretty scanty, and the time spent getting to know any characters, even the MC, is minimal. The romantic aspect was more crush-at-first-sight based and didn't go much deeper; low on chemistry. You only just start to get an idea of what's going on, and then the book ends. And the big reveal was kind of underwhelming. More confusing than inevitable.

(Note: I'm just saying there's a lack of build-up.
Our MC is sometimes super strong when driven into a rage, and her wrist itches at odd times when there's supernatural things afoot. What does that reveal about her...? Beats the heck out of me. >.>)

I'm still really perplexed as to why the book is called Wish. There are no genies that I recall being mentioned. I can't remember anyone wishing for anything, nor the word 'wish' being used at any point. But maybe I missed it? Feel free to enlighten me.

[ForestGardenGal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, if a bit of a tease

This book appears to develop a world of vampires and other mythological creatures that seems to not be a stereotypical portrayal, but it also is such a limited introduction to the world that the reader can't quite get a grasp on the nature of the differences and how important those differences may or may not be.

The characters are also compelling, but slightly underdeveloped and leave many unanswered questions. Feels like more of a tease for the series than a book in its own right.

PG13 for language and violence. No sex.

[CAROLYN Wyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Taylor is sent to a camp after being accused of attacking her stepmother, her only thought is running away. On the bus she meets Beth she has mixed feelings, part of her wants to stay and part wants to run. The camp is nothing like she expects and the book moves fast. I tried reading one of Morgan Rices books previously and could not get into it, however that was not the case with this. I enjoyed the fast pace with Tom’s of action and great character development. Will definitely keep reading this series.

[Jana|جنى · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was interesting at first... disappointing.

I loved that the book made me think about theories, but other than that no.

It was interesting and mysterious but not good. I felt like I was reading a draft or an uncompleted book. I understand it's a series but this is not enough for the first book.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just wasn't for me. The premise isn't new, but I was still interested. However...


The characters and their reactions to events don't feel realistic.

* Trailer trash stepmom and "juvenile delinquents" don't curse at all -- there's no cursing in the story so far that I can recall seeing, which feels inauthentic. "You stupid idiot" is the strongest worded insult by at least the 30% mark. (This was an adult speaking, by the way.) For the subject matter and all the other criminal behavior going on, it's a pretty wholesome book.

* Many attempted maimings, assaults, sexual harassment, and a stab (haha) at outright murder takes place before the 25% mark and no one seems to care or react much.

There needed to be better editing.

* Phrases/words are misused. Some examples: "Right now my trust level with this place is at an all time zero" instead of all time low. "He indulges me in light conversation and I have no choice but to partake."

* Taylor uses a small piece of chalk to mark the trees, and the director says, "They don't like that" and "There are better ways of running away from here than destroying the wildlife." I mean, it rains constantly. The chalk should've had a hard time sticking to wet bark in the first place, and would certainly wash away in a short amount of time, plus a little chalk doesn't destroy trees.

* She says Jessie never has breakfast in the mess hall, so he must've been waiting for her. The chapter before that, he was...having breakfast in the mess hall with her.

* "As he unties me, I see anger as he unties me."

* Synopsis on Goodreads is a hot mess. "Taylor Night 17 is exiled from her trailer park in Texas to a juvenile detention camp in the rainy Northwest. She tries to understand her powers while surviving on islands of misfits. Mistfalls Wilderness Camp is not remedial, rather for training.

She gets a crush on Taylor, who is not what he seems. Her own destiny may be greater than she can guess. Is she ready to risk it all for him?" (Side note: she isn't risking anything for him. There is zero romance, other than the resident mean girl kissing Jessie and Taylor thinking he's cute. Sexual harassment got the green flag, but not making out or descriptive kissing.)

Personal peeves.

*Director has the same first name as the author.

* A boy named Blythe.

* Narration is rushed and feels like someone very new to narration is reading. The audio quality isn't great, especially in the beginning. You can hear weird rattly/clicky noises in every pause throughout. Very distracting. Is the narrator using a fidget spinner or something?


I'm a tiny bit curious to see what happens next, but honestly it was all so underwhelming that I don't know if I'll continue reading the series. The strange secrecy in the world-building, and even just in their tiny microcosm of islands (seriously, who actually knows why they're at this "camp" and who doesn't? It's unclear.) is frustrating, as is the lack of intervention from the adults.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I have started to join in the last year of Bookstagram groups and raffles and the world of wishlists, it has seen me adding new books to my list and new titles that interested me but I possibly wouldn't have brought myself. I do have to admit this past year has opened my eyes to trying new authors as well. Morgan Rice's Wish series caught my attention as it sounded like something up my alley. More so, the books aren't too long either which makes good reading time in terms of reading the book in one sitting. Reading Wish transported me back to the year 2007-2008, the year Vampire fiction was just arriving on the market. The year I first read Twilight and other series like Morganville Vampires, Vampire Beach, Vampire Kisses, and Vampire Diaries - you get the idea. A world for me before the Twilight fandom exploded and Vampires were suddenly the "in thing". If Morgan Rice had written her series back then, it would have been possibly more popular than it is now. Reading this book for me was refreshing as I felt like I was sucked back into the early worlds of students discovering their abilities, not knowing what Vampires or Werewolves were. Wish is the first of 8 books and where we first meet Taylor Night who believes she has been sent to a wilderness camp for misfits, the truth is that it is a school for those who are showing signs of being a little "different". After her Dad died, she found herself shipped off here and now she believes she is going crazy. Can Taylor handle what she learns and will it give her the answers to her past about her Dad and sister Jane? I am now excited to continue this series and as I am reading it, I can also envision it being a TV show. Wish is a great first book in this series and an amazing Indie find especially if you consider yourself a Team Edward or Team Jacob girl over Team Harry and Team Hermione.

[Rina Ryel · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I went into this one completely blind—didn’t read the blurb, didn’t look up reviews, just vibes. And honestly? I’m glad I did. I had no clue what the hell was going on for a while, but somehow, I didn’t mind. It sucked me in with that eerie something’s-not-right energy and I was all in for the ride.

Our MC gets yeeted into a correctional camp (read: institutionalized hell for “delinquents”) by her wicked stepmother after her father dies. And no, the camp is not on her dream vacation list, she was ready to run away—but she meets this soft, sweet girl on the bus who reminds her of her missing sister, and that little spark of protectiveness? That’s what keeps her on the ride to hell. She wasn’t about to let the kid get devoured by a pack of high-school-aged hyenas without a fight.

Now, I don’t reach for YA fantasy that often anymore—it takes the right kind of story to pull me in. But this one had something. It’s intriguing and just messy enough to keep you guessing. The camp is suspicious AF, things don’t add up, and there’s this lingering “what is actually happening here?” question that kept my brain spinning conspiracy theories the whole way through.

The pacing? Quick. The mystery? Thick. The emotional stakes? Surprisingly good enough. You can see the grief, the confusion, the defiance. It’s a story about survival and connection, but also one that teases something more beneath the surface.

By the end, I had more questions than answers—and I’m not even mad about it. The setup is laid, the vibe is there, and I do want to know what’s coming next. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s got potential and I’m absolutely picking up book two.

[Fallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

To date, there are 15 books in this series....15! I didn't realize this was so long, but I loved the covers, and I haven't read anything by Morgan Rice in a decade, so it was time. This is your typical YA setup circa early 2010s. Strong female lead loses both parents, step mom sends he to this "summer camp" instead of sending her to Juvie. The troubled girl gets in more trouble, but manages to get out of the trouble since she didn't do anything. Everyone in camp seems to be keeping a secret, and then her newest BFF goes missing, and she recruits her other two friends to help, who are both totally crushing on her, but she seems oblivious. Danger, fights, and secrets revealed. Though the story makes it obvious supernatural things are happening, you won't know what those are until the end of the book when our FMC gets her big reveal. I think this is fun, though, back to a YA we don't see much now, a YA that's actually YA! It has friendship, elements of danger, and red herrings galore. It's also short, so easy to dip your toe in and determine if this is one you want to keep up with. I love the covers, so I'm going to keep going. I'm not really invested in the characters yet, but the world seems interesting enough. I would love to know why the founders of this camp chose these islands for their base.

[Sharan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story does have some predictable points but that’s part and parcel of the genre and trope the author is choosing to write. Ok so not for everyone and really is it going to be considered a classic for generations. Most likely no. It is however an introduction to a series so it’s just the start for characters, I’m not put off, it was a quick read and I’ll carry on with the series. I’m wanting to get the answers to some of the hinted character interactions and back stories.
However when reading negative reviews for this it reminds me of when certain people review wine or food. It starts becoming less about what you are reading and taking it on its own merits, and more about what a person can write to criticise and tear down the author. A review is YOUR OPINION and that’s absolutely fine you’re entitled to it but to diminish others enjoyment because they don’t agree with you is just wrong.