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The Whispers of the Mistwood
One moment, Tielston Wells is a farmer, fishing with his father along the Selvren Isles.
The next, he is a fugitive on the run with his loyal companion, Bosco—sprinting across rooftops with a glowing bow in hand, branded a terrorist and a criminal.
In a forgotten corner of the continent where magic and modern technology are outlawed, power means death. Tielston is the last dangling strand of a bloodline thought erased over three hundred years ago.
He is not only a relic—but a symbol.
And symbols are hunted.
A deranged fire warlock.
A ruthless black-ops force.
And King Murray’s Rangers—whose lethal specialty is one thing killing water warlocks.
252 pages, Paperback
Published May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 17, 2026
3,25 ⭐️
Thanks to James for sending me an eArc of his book!
The Whispers of the Mistwood is a fun, short read that had me gripped and invested early in the story due to its fast progression. The plot was straightforward but still interesting enough that I found myself wanting to know what happened next.
In the beginning I found it to have an almost fairytale-esque vibe but this quickly changed as the world evolved into a more fantasy/sci-fi style.
It's written in a youthful tone which (most of the time) feels natural since we have a young MC but this bled into more of the writing and dialogue which at times felt juvenile. Also found some lines to be repeated almost within the same page. Since it's a debut I expected there to be room for improvement in the writing and it's points of consideration that could easily be worked on.
I could see myself reading the second book whenever that comes out because I think there is potential for an interesting world and story progression.
Thanks to James for sending me an eArc of his book!
The Whispers of the Mistwood is a fun, short read that had me gripped and invested early in the story due to its fast progression. The plot was straightforward but still interesting enough that I found myself wanting to know what happened next.
In the beginning I found it to have an almost fairytale-esque vibe but this quickly changed as the world evolved into a more fantasy/sci-fi style.
It's written in a youthful tone which (most of the time) feels natural since we have a young MC but this bled into more of the writing and dialogue which at times felt juvenile. Also found some lines to be repeated almost within the same page. Since it's a debut I expected there to be room for improvement in the writing and it's points of consideration that could easily be worked on.
I could see myself reading the second book whenever that comes out because I think there is potential for an interesting world and story progression.
May 16, 2026
Received as an ARC from author
I enjoyed the author’s descriptive writing while he built the world around Mistwood. We see the 16 year old MC, Tielston come into a strange power in a time and place when magic is outlawed. Not knowing who to trust after witnesses experience his newfound power, he sets out with his trusty sidekick, Bosco the dog (or is he). The banter between Tielston and Bosco was probably my favorite part.
This story is action packed, pretty fast paced and I think YA fans who like stories along the lines of Percy Jackson would enjoy this book.
I enjoyed the author’s descriptive writing while he built the world around Mistwood. We see the 16 year old MC, Tielston come into a strange power in a time and place when magic is outlawed. Not knowing who to trust after witnesses experience his newfound power, he sets out with his trusty sidekick, Bosco the dog (or is he). The banter between Tielston and Bosco was probably my favorite part.
This story is action packed, pretty fast paced and I think YA fans who like stories along the lines of Percy Jackson would enjoy this book.
May 15, 2026
I love this book!!
I had the opportunity to read The Whispers of the Mistwood as an earc. I absolutely loved it. Its a balance of old world magic meets new world technology. I loved James's descriptions of the water and the forest towns. Tielston is young and powerful with a heart of gold and I cant wait to see him grow throughout the series. Serra is sarcastic in the best possible way and a complete bad a$$. And my favorite character Bosco!! He's a special wolf and I love the fact that he can communicate with humans. Pick this book up it's so so good!!
I had the opportunity to read The Whispers of the Mistwood as an earc. I absolutely loved it. Its a balance of old world magic meets new world technology. I loved James's descriptions of the water and the forest towns. Tielston is young and powerful with a heart of gold and I cant wait to see him grow throughout the series. Serra is sarcastic in the best possible way and a complete bad a$$. And my favorite character Bosco!! He's a special wolf and I love the fact that he can communicate with humans. Pick this book up it's so so good!!
May 23, 2026
✨ This is being reviewed as an ARC received from the Author ✨
So we have: outlawed magic, elemental powers, rooftop chases, dangerous warlocks, strange creatures, political tension, and one top-tier furry sidekick? SIGN ME UP 👏🏼.
Whispers of the Mistwood was such a good time. I loved the mix of action, humor, and adventure. I especially lived for the journey through the different lands and cities, which kept everything feeling fresh and new. The action scenes and unique creatures made everything feel like a movie at times and had me truly STRESSED.
I loved the main character but if there is one thing about me is that I LOVE side characters. That being said, Bosco absolutely stole the show for me. He brought so much humor to the story (I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times while reading). I also really appreciated Serraphine as a female character because she felt different from a lot of fantasy female characters I usually come across (she was kind of rude and clearly inconvenienced but blunt and direct), and I’m interested to learn more about her backstory.
Overall, this was a really fun and engaging read with a lot of potential for deeper political intrigue and bigger conflicts developing in the background. Tielston’s story feels like it’s just getting started, and I’m excited to continue the series. I am PUMPED to see where this goes.
So we have: outlawed magic, elemental powers, rooftop chases, dangerous warlocks, strange creatures, political tension, and one top-tier furry sidekick? SIGN ME UP 👏🏼.
Whispers of the Mistwood was such a good time. I loved the mix of action, humor, and adventure. I especially lived for the journey through the different lands and cities, which kept everything feeling fresh and new. The action scenes and unique creatures made everything feel like a movie at times and had me truly STRESSED.
I loved the main character but if there is one thing about me is that I LOVE side characters. That being said, Bosco absolutely stole the show for me. He brought so much humor to the story (I genuinely laughed out loud multiple times while reading). I also really appreciated Serraphine as a female character because she felt different from a lot of fantasy female characters I usually come across (she was kind of rude and clearly inconvenienced but blunt and direct), and I’m interested to learn more about her backstory.
Overall, this was a really fun and engaging read with a lot of potential for deeper political intrigue and bigger conflicts developing in the background. Tielston’s story feels like it’s just getting started, and I’m excited to continue the series. I am PUMPED to see where this goes.
May 25, 2026
I was an arc reader for this fantasy book, it got me hooked from the start, there were points where I couldn't put the book down, and as a guy who has ADHD thats not very common.
The first book seems like just the top of the iceberg because of how vast the world is with so many different cities powers and so on, the main character is relatable in a way and you can clearly feel the story through him. There are some nice plot twists that I did not see coming as well.
The language of the book is smooth and consistent, really enjoyed crusing through it.
REALLY looking forward for the next parts! until then, may the siblings guard ya. this was my amazon review
The first book seems like just the top of the iceberg because of how vast the world is with so many different cities powers and so on, the main character is relatable in a way and you can clearly feel the story through him. There are some nice plot twists that I did not see coming as well.
The language of the book is smooth and consistent, really enjoyed crusing through it.
REALLY looking forward for the next parts! until then, may the siblings guard ya. this was my amazon review
May 19, 2026
Whispers of the Mistwood is a fast-paced fantasy debut that threw me headfirst into a world of hidden magic, ancient grudges, and relentless action. James Forbes has crafted a highly engaging adventure that balances high-stakes danger with the grounded, emotional bond between a boy and his best friend. It is a wonderfully surprising read for anyone who loves elemental magic systems, the "found family" trope, and loyal animal companions who can more than hold their own in a fight. Highly recommended for fans of action-heavy fantasy adventures!
May 19, 2026
This book was an amazing read, the characters are well developed and just the plot is incredibly interesting and captivating. Additionally the world building is amazing and actually makes you feel like you are there like you’ve been transported to another world. Since the first chapter you can see that this book is worth reading I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it!!!
May 21, 2026
As an ARC reader, I already knew this book was going to be good, but after getting the paperback version and reading it again, I enjoyed it even more. The story kept me interested from the start, and the writing style made it really easy to get into. I loved the characters and the overall vibe of the book, and it was definitely worth buying in physical form too.
May 18, 2026
This story is a gripping adventure of survival and awakening for both Tielsto and Bosco, his wolf companion. I love that we get the story of Tieslton discovering his own story as well as Bosco finding his true nature.
May 19, 2026
I received an early copy of this book and I really enjoyed it. The story kept me hooked the whole time. I would definitely recommend it.
May 21, 2026
An amazing read, deeply recommend.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews