The Burning Boy

The Wildewood Chronicles

by B.A. Morton

The Camp of the Enchanter, Gascony: 1273 AD

High above the awestruck crowds, Azim the feathered boy performs. But there are those who covet this strangely gifted familiar.

Fleeing Acre in the company of the enchanter Maleficius, Miles of Wildewood and young squire Edmund work their passage among the performing misfits and wild beasts. As outraged clergy call for the heretic’s blood and old enemies hound Miles across the length and breadth of Christendom, a fiendish firestorm engulfs the cavalcade and Azim disappears. Miles is forced to put aside his suspicion of Maleficius as he seeks to secure the safe return of the phoenix. Miles must save the burning boy before his flame is extinguished forever.

Welcome to the third novella in The Wildewood Chronicles. This is the world of Miles of Wildewood, a reluctant knight, haunted by his past and driven by a need for revenge. In these novellas you’ll discover why.

65 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2015

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great novella so well written can't wait for more from this excellent writer.

[Claire Stibbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

B.A. Morton yet again holds readers in her thrall and does an excellent job of evoking the look and feel of the period. We are immediately dipped into the subterfuge and manipulation of Maleficius, the great enchanter. In this story, he brings a bizarre cavalcade to town and with it rumors of fire-breathing giants and daring dwarves. But there’s one act that fascinates them all, a small boy in a feathered costume scurrying along a tightrope twenty feet from the ground. Some are convinced the boy has the evil eye and that his act is nothing but the devil’s work.

Plunged into a devious battle of good versus evil, Miles of Wildewood is well concealed in the shadows watching a restless crowd. His eyes are drawn to a group of cloaked intruders gathered to watch the act and he cannot ignore a powerful sense of foreboding. A concentrated web of villainy and hatred has followed him to this place and he knows full well that the plotting of his enemy has more twists than a corkscrew.

A dying flame, a troubled knight, an entertaining seductress, characters that drive the book all played out in a gripping storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed this novella.

[Paul Trembling · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this third story in the series, Miles of Wildewood is making his way home, but finds he is still surrounded by complex plots and devious enemies. Unfortunately, Miles doesn't do complex or devious very well. His preference is for quick solutions carried out with his sword. This tension between Miles character and the situations he finds himself in drive these stories along at a rattling pace. You can feel his frustration sometimes, especially when his friends are in danger or his enemies are in reach - and you just know that sooner or later, he's going to draw steel and charge! Another great read from B. A. Morton.

[✦⟣Kelly⟢✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third novella is more of the back story of Miles of Wildewood and his time spent traveling with Maleficous and his troupe. It was interesting and once again B.A. Morton's writing draws me right into the story. As I said in the other Wildewood reviews I really want to read the conclusion to the first book. I hope that is in the works and is out soon.