The Mighty

The Druid's Guise #1

by Michael J. Sanford

Click here for the current cover art: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

"The Mighty is a stunning opening to the Druid's Guise series by Michael J Sanford, a book that will entertain and surprise young adults and adult readers alike."
Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite 5/5 stars

He's not crazy. Honest, he's not.
He's just Wyatt. Wyatt the Mighty.

Fifteen-year-old Wyatt has been sent to a treatment center for "disturbed youth." No one understands him. He wants nothing more than to escape from it all.

And he does.

Through a magic he doesn't understand, he finds himself in Hagion, a realm of fantastical creatures and immense wonder. He quickly finds himself in the company of a runaway warrior and two Children--a strange race of underground creatures that seem forever joyful. They claim Wyatt is a Druid, a powerful figure of myth and legend, sent to restore peace to all of the Realms. He doesn't bother correcting them.

Finally, he can be the hero he's always dreamed of.

But claiming to be a hero and actually being a hero are two different things. And it's a lesson Wyatt may have to pay dearly for.

Genres: Fantasy

310 pages, Paperback

Published February 3, 2016

About the author

Michael has always been a prisoner to his imagination. His childhood was spent running through the forest, pretending to be a gallant warrior saving the countryside from certain destruction. Or he was a ferocious beast terrorizing the very same countryside. There is always a story spinning through his mind. As an adult, writing has become the only way to keep his head from exploding.

He lives in upstate New York with his loving wife and two cats. If he's not writing, he's likely reading, weightlifting, or forcing his players into difficult situations from behind his Dungeon Master's screen. He is a storyteller first and a writer second.

Michael also produces The Introverted Indie Author Podcast where he and guests discuss the world of writing and delve into things wholly unrelated.
http://www.mjsauthor.com/podcast
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

Reviews

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mighty by Michael j Sanford.
He's not crazy. Honest, he's not
He's just Wyatt. Wyatt the mighty.
This was a good and adventurous read with good characters.
I do hope there is more to come. I really liked Wyatt. 4*. Tbc on fb.

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Michael J. Sanford for the opportunity to read your book. This was a good read. I thought Wyatt was an okay character. I did not love him that much. I actually like Gareck, Mareck and Rosen in this book. Also, I thought the book was good in the beginning, but then my interest faded. I found it boring at times. I will continue the series, in order to see how the story will continue in The Druid Guise Trilogy. Overall, an okay read.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mighty by Michael J Sanford

It is clear from the beginning that fifteen year-old Wyatt doesn’t fit in. He’s a bit overweight, nerdy type of boy who considers himself a genius. He also likes to pretend he knows magic and spends a lot of time in imaginary games where he is wizard and a hero. After a rather difficult day he is confined to his room where he pulls out a pendant, given to him by his grandmother. It’s a piece of wood imbedded with a jade stone that he always wears. Studying the stone closely it starts to warm and spark, suddenly Wyatt is whisked off to an alternate reality.

The alternate world is vastly different from earth and Mr. Sanford does a good job painting the scenery and the creatures which inhabit it. I found it easy to insert myself in this new realm as Wyatt encounters new beings and he is able to communicate with them. The inhabitants are diverse and it was easy to accept them at face value. When they see Wyatt’s pendant they drop to their knees and start calling him Master. He’s told he carries a symbol of the Druid, which were exterminated years ago, and he must be there to rid their world of the corruption the Regency has spread. Thus the quest begins.

Unfortunately, Wyatt seems to have no control over his comings and goings. He is whisked back and forth between realms until shadows start following him back home. The adventure back on Hagion was exciting and engaging as our small band of heroes travel across new territories, some fraught with dangers. I enjoyed the story up till the ending. The ending killed the magic for me and I am not sure it can be resurrected.

FYI: “The Mighty” is book one of “The Druid's Guise Trilogy.” **Originally written for "BigAl’s Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** August 25, 2017
Format/Typo Issues: Small number of proofing errors such as missing or wrong words.

[Pinchy's Pages (Jenn Harrison) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world of Hagion is a brand new world that Michael J. Sanford takes us into. It's a world of strange beings, with humans at the bottom of the totem pole. The locations and creatures are well developed and interesting. I didn't like Wyatt. But that's because the author created such a strong personality for him that I feel like we wouldn't get along in real life. That makes me like Mr. Sanford even more. I have already downloaded the free sample of the second book!

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book turned very good after Wyatt got over his annoyingly overwhelming ego. I really enjoyed the story after that. I look forward to the next book to find out what happens!

[L.K. Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the first chapter of this book, which starts with Wyatt trying to fight another boy by casting spells, much to everyone's confusion and amusement. It made me immediately intrigued, especially when back in his room Wyatt starts fighting things that surely aren't really there, and you begin to wonder what's wrong with him... And then all of a sudden he's transported to a strange new world, where he is carrying the symbol of a druid, and seems to have genuine magical powers!

The author's portrayal of a troubled teenage boy is excellent and I loved how the book shifted between two worlds. It was entertaining and quite funny in a way when Wyatt returns from the "fantasy" world and starts telling people in the "real" world about his magical adventures, but it's also quite disturbing as elements of the fantasy world start to bleed into real life and you wonder if he is seriously ill. I love the fact you never quite know which world is real or if both of them are, and both worlds are so well written they certainly both feel real! I haven't read much fantasy in the past, so I think the mixture of contemporary and fantasy in this book appealed to me a lot, and I can't wait to find out what happens next!

[Emily Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mighty is a great tale of worlds colliding. I'm not usually one to choose a fantasy novel, however I found that The Mighty had me reading while I was walking because I didn't want to put it down even though I needed to get moving. The author so vividly depicts the realm of Haigon with creatures so unlike anything I've read, seen or imagined, that it became a joy to know what Wyatt The Mighty would find next on his journey.

I liked how the book came back to the reality of why Wyatt was on the journey. My favorite part of the book was the depiction of the Bog "Soden". There were plenty of jokes to lighten the mood along the way as well as such creative narrative to bring each creature to life. I loved the detail and more often than not there was "a smile splitting [my] face in two". The Mighty was truly an enjoyable read. I wish I had put it on the top of my reading list sooner. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can he help the beautiful and vengeful Athena escape The Crook? Can he protect the Draygan warrior, Rozen, and free the realm from tyrants? need the answers to these questions?? Gotta read the book. I won this book through Goodreads and really enjoyed it. A quick read that I could not get enough of. Needed to see what would happen next. Great start to a hopefully new series.

[Kristy Halseth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this as an advanced reading copy.
The story idea is a great one. It just has some problems with execution.
Issues, I can’t figure out if Wyatt is in Juvie or a private school. It doesn’t make sense. He is living in a place with dorms and their own school. But he is there because something happens to his grandmother. But you get the idea that what he thinks is happening and what really happened are two different things. The fact that one gets the idea that no one is telling him what is really going on might mean there are also psychological issues going on as well.
This leads one to think that, maybe, this world to which he keeps going might not be real. This all might be something happening inside his head. But we don’t seem to know that yet. If it is real, why is he doing ‘spells’ against people in the real world but when he is in the fantasy world, where they might actually work, he doesn’t seem to try. Except once but it is water instead of fire so nothing happens anyway.
Another issue is that Wyatt is completely unlikeable. Although the author did a good job of making us feel sorry for him and somewhat sympathetic despite him being so unlikeable. He also comes off like a 10 year old instead of being a teenager.
Despite the interesting story, I felt like I had to force myself to keep reading and slog through it. I am not likely to get the next book to find out what happened next. I just couldn’t connect to the characters enough to care.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is 3.5 star review. The world building of Hagion is great, the creatures and scenery are well developed and I can really immerse myself in the feeling of being both there and at the Shepherd's Crook. The story is catchy and different enough from other fantasy I've read to feel novel. And, while, Wyatt is a decently complete and complex character, I dislike him immensely and don't love needing to be on his side as a protector of his Hagion friends. I'm not sure if Wyatt is supposed to come off as worthy of our sympathy or admiration, but mostly he seems to have an enormous ego without much actual personal substance. He does start to grow and develop his personal skills, and perhaps by the end of the trilogy he'll be a more tolerable person.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy. It's possible I'm just too.... mature .... for this one. It's entertaining, and I love magic and fantasy, but I found the main character annoying much of the time.... He was just too whiny and unapologetic. I couldn't handle him at all in the beginning. I thought the other characters were fun and interesting though, so stuck with it. I'm not sure if I'll keep reading this trilogy, although I do hate to leave things undone.

[Sally Mcdonagh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wyatt is 15 years old and is a new member at a boarding school when his grandmother is sick. He gets off on the wrong foot with the other pupils when he starts shouting spells at them. I found Wyatt to be really annoying and obnoxious especially when he was in Hagion but i liked the writing and I really liked Mareck and Gareck.

[Melanie Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting story with a great deal of thought and imagination. But I found it an enigma, whilst the language used was for adults, I felt the story was aimed more at children of a similar age to Wyatt. Good on audio

[Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool read!

I loved this book. It was so good with action O couldn't stop reading until I finished it. Wyatt was so endearing I couldn't help but love him. I hope he survives everything the author puts him through. Looking forward to reading more.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

‪Screen Wipe... TV ,MOVIE and BOOK Review: The Mighty by Michael J Sanford http://screenwiper.blogspot.com/2017/...‬

[Amanda Kern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different

This book is different. That is a good thing. I am looking forward to the next book. I wonder what will happen next.

[Awesome Indies Book Awards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include THE MIGHTY: The Druid's Guise Volume 1 by MICHAEL J SANFORD in the library of Awesome Indies' Badge of Approval recipients.

Original Awesome Indies' Assessment (5 stars):


The Mighty, Book 1 Of The Druid’s Guise is one of those rare fantasy tales that takes you to another plane while keeping you firmly grounded in our reality. Most fantastic tales, even the best ones, often take characters from our reality and plunge them into a magical world, only to return them at the end having completed their quest. The Mighty takes you on the journey, but plants your feet firmly in the present, real world. While the character grows and accomplishes the tasks set in front of him, it is clear from the outset that this is an introduction to a sprawling universe that has much more to give us. This is a book that will scratch the adventuring itch as well as remind you that the world we come from is itself a broken and unjust place. Wyatt is a hero in both of these planes.

The story begins with Wyatt as a new patient/student at a school for children with special psychological needs. To Wyatt, he alternates existence in this world and the land of Hagion, where he is believed to be a powerful wizard and combat tactician, and not just a boy without a home who likely lies somewhere on the autism spectrum.

Wyatt’s journey can be taken as a coming-of-age tale for those who see themselves in captivity. It is a bildungsroman that takes place in the mind, and the depth and reality of Hagion is indeed seen almost entirely through the eyes of our protagonist, who we are shown from the outset might not be entirely in control of his cognition. This allows the reader to give as much credence to the fantastical elements as they like. Is Wyatt really a transplanar avatar, imposing his will across vast distances of time and space? Or is he a young and unwell child, abandoned and coping by escaping from reality? The book will pull you in both directions, and Wyatt’s story hits all of the emotional notes.

The supporting cast of characters compliments both worlds. In the children’s home of Shephard’s Crook, Wyatt is antagonized by bullies, managed by a staff of volunteers and social workers and befriends a girl with a troubled past named Athena. In the fantasy realm, he is beset upon by all manner of fantastic beasts, ranging from half-flora/half-fauna fern wolves to the undead Fallen and the ominous Regents. He makes friends in the form of Mareck and Gareck, two golem-like beings who call themselves Children, in service to the Mother. He also meets a character that is very much like Athena in the Draygan (a half-dragonlike race) Rozen. At the beginning we are told that the world of Hagion is a vast and fantastic place, and a map Wyatt wields (albeit poorly) reveals locations like The Barren Plains, The Endless Sea, Krémnos, The Wastes, The Shadow Forest, Ouranos, Mesos, and the Peaks of Servitude. Fans of the work of J.R.R. Tolkien will find lots to like about the main quest, punctuated with gritty action sequences that will have you imagining them taking place on the big screen. The pacing is good for an adventure tale, and the dialogue is sharp and funny. The book is well-edited overall and great care has been taken to shape the world of Hagion.

The Mighty, Druid’s Guise Book I sets up a series with a lot of room to grow. The characters we are introduced to are quirky, but have a lot of depth. The places we are brought to are brilliantly realized and the author’s attention to detail is reminiscent of the great classics of fantasy. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, and give this first adventure of Wyatt, The Mighty 5 stars.

[Catherine Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disturbed teenager is transported to a world where he has magic powers.

Fifteen-year-old Wyatt has some issues, because of which he’s resident at a secure school for disturbed youths. Claiming to be a powerful wizard doesn’t win him any friends, but his difficult life is interrupted when he’s magically transported to the world of Hagion. In Hagion, he’s not a powerless, friendless misfit — he really does have magic powers. He has no idea what he’s doing but doesn’t let that divert him from boldly setting out to fight the bad guys. As an additional complication, the magic shuttles him between worlds apparently at random, which is difficult to explain to the staff at his school.

Th writing is generally good and very readable, with few editing errors. Unusual, interesting characters and a lively plot with plenty of fantasy content make for an enjoyable read.

Though this looks a lot like a young adult book, the protagonist isn’t your typical straightforward hero and it will probably appeal more to adult readers. There is some quite dark content with references to rape and physical abuse.

This is intended to be Book 1 of a series and ends with much left unresolved, but I found it reasonably satisfying to read as a standalone book.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mighty

I enjoyed reading this book , although the hero needs a good shake and was really frustrating. But that's what you get being fifteen and have people expecting all sorts of things from you, Wyatt really brought it home to you how it felt to be in a home for let's say unfortunate juveniles. Then be thrust into a world, where you have powers and can help people but not sure how to go about it. I think anyone would find it hard to cope with your own expectations let alone someone else's. Well worth a read. Fab

[Brene W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pacing of the story, the wholesome characters and Wyatt’s adventures, all came together as a fascinating read for Sanford’s first installment of The Druid’s Guise Trilogy. It reminded me so much when Jake met Negtiri in the movie Avator at the start when Wyatt met Rozen.

As for the beginning, I thought Wyatt’s magical gift was introduced too early in the story. Or rather it confused me or took me by surprise. By surprise meaning that I had to reread to get the notion that Wyatt is a disturbed kind of character.

Overall, a well-written and dazzling treat for teens.

[Aly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of this book threw me a little. I wasn't sure what to think of the book. But I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I like the druids in most things I have seen so this book was great. Wyatt was a fun and interesting character. I was impressed by this book! You have got to check it out of yourself! * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

[Terry Beadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I can't wait!

What's real? What's not.. with a loving touch the strange things of life's twists aren't always clear.
This is an enigma wrapped in a fantasy ...or is it?

[Jim Galford · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a silly-ass book. The premise and characters are weak and, at times, absurd. I did not like it.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, the question is.... Does Wyatt just have an outstanding imagination, the ability to move between worlds, or is he cray-cray? This is a great beginning to the series and I can't wait to see what happens next. My biggest issue with Wyatt is that he acts like a child and not a teen.

I was gifted an ARC in return of an honest review.