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The Dawning of Muirwood #1
The Druid
An abandoned child becomes a singular inspiration to the mythology of Muirwood in an epic series by Jeff Wheeler, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Muirwood and Kingfountain novels.
Eilean was born a “wretched”—a lowly foundling raised by the Aldermaston of Tintern Abbey. Then she’s chosen to assist in establishing the new abbey of Muirwood, now the site of a castle in the swampy Bearden Muir. Eilean’s role is as night servant to the druid Mordaunt, the king’s exiled advisor—and prisoner. He’s clever, dangerous, and invaluable to the Aldermaston.
Mordaunt’s priceless secret: the hiding place of an ancient tome that reveals the existence of other worlds and the magic between them. Mordaunt knows how potent its words are and how dangerous they could be in the wrong hands. But can Eilean win him over? All she must do is gain Mordaunt’s confidence and trust and persuade the apostate to divulge his secret to her. But as she learns more from Mordaunt, Eilean’s loyalties begin to fray. And the risks are greater than she imagined.
Despite betrayals, deceptions, and the deadly motivations of others, a girl from the flax fields is about to rise above her station. By exploring the potential of the power of an ancient spoken magic, Eilean is coming into her own.
Eilean was born a “wretched”—a lowly foundling raised by the Aldermaston of Tintern Abbey. Then she’s chosen to assist in establishing the new abbey of Muirwood, now the site of a castle in the swampy Bearden Muir. Eilean’s role is as night servant to the druid Mordaunt, the king’s exiled advisor—and prisoner. He’s clever, dangerous, and invaluable to the Aldermaston.
Mordaunt’s priceless secret: the hiding place of an ancient tome that reveals the existence of other worlds and the magic between them. Mordaunt knows how potent its words are and how dangerous they could be in the wrong hands. But can Eilean win him over? All she must do is gain Mordaunt’s confidence and trust and persuade the apostate to divulge his secret to her. But as she learns more from Mordaunt, Eilean’s loyalties begin to fray. And the risks are greater than she imagined.
Despite betrayals, deceptions, and the deadly motivations of others, a girl from the flax fields is about to rise above her station. By exploring the potential of the power of an ancient spoken magic, Eilean is coming into her own.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2022
6869 people are currently reading
19980 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Wheeler
129 books5,243 followersWall Street Journal bestselling author Jeff Wheeler took an early retirement from his career at Intel in 2014 to write full-time. He is a husband, father of five, and a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff lives in the Rocky Mountains.
Learn about Jeff’s many worlds at www.jeff-wheeler.com, or participate in one of his online writing classes through Writer’s Block (www.writersblock.biz).
Learn about Jeff’s many worlds at www.jeff-wheeler.com, or participate in one of his online writing classes through Writer’s Block (www.writersblock.biz).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 696 reviews
July 14, 2022
Timeline of my appreciation of Jeff Wheeler’s work:
2019: Huh, Jeff Wheeler, some kind of high or epic fantasy.
2020: There’s that Jeff Wheeler guy again. [reads bio] seems interesting, maybe later
2021: [reading a friend’s reviews of a Wheeler novel] – Sounds good, maybe I’ll give that a try sometime.
2022: The Druid. Sounds good, I like druidic fantasy, seems like a good time to give him a try.
July 9, 2022: Started reading The Druid – Wheeler’s 2022 publication – a part of his Muirwood series – OK, good world building, good character development, nothing special but I like his writing, a good solid 3 star book.
July 10, 2022: Some subtle nuances, cognitive dissonance, maybe an unreliable narrator, huh, better than I thought. I’m liking this.
July 11, 2022: Fairly standard epic fantasy world building but some fun and unexpected twists and turns. I’m liking this better than I thought I would, several other books I’m reading but I’m leaving those on the shelf to focus on this.
July 12, 2022: Woke up early to get some reading in, Wheeler’s dialogue and characterization are actually very good. This is a strong female lead and he is describing her and the other characters very well. [reads bio again and GR page] Wow, he’s written a ton of books since 2013! They all seem to be in the same universe – very interesting, I am digging this story. The magic rules are minimalistic and understated but intriguing, he’s doing some different stuff that I am really liking – he’s drawing in many references and allusions to other fantasy writing, maybe some AD&D suggestions but not in a gamer way, this is literate and thought provoking, but in a serious, contemplative but very enjoyable way.
July 13, 2022: I cannot put this book down! It started kind of slow, development, but the last third of the book is flying by. [reads more friends reviews – lots of people like his work, I think I’d like to read more from him!] This would make a great graphic novel, maybe an animated film.
July 14, 2022: Damn it! The book is over! I want more, going to Kindle to download another of his books, I want MORE!
2019: Huh, Jeff Wheeler, some kind of high or epic fantasy.
2020: There’s that Jeff Wheeler guy again. [reads bio] seems interesting, maybe later
2021: [reading a friend’s reviews of a Wheeler novel] – Sounds good, maybe I’ll give that a try sometime.
2022: The Druid. Sounds good, I like druidic fantasy, seems like a good time to give him a try.
July 9, 2022: Started reading The Druid – Wheeler’s 2022 publication – a part of his Muirwood series – OK, good world building, good character development, nothing special but I like his writing, a good solid 3 star book.
July 10, 2022: Some subtle nuances, cognitive dissonance, maybe an unreliable narrator, huh, better than I thought. I’m liking this.
July 11, 2022: Fairly standard epic fantasy world building but some fun and unexpected twists and turns. I’m liking this better than I thought I would, several other books I’m reading but I’m leaving those on the shelf to focus on this.
July 12, 2022: Woke up early to get some reading in, Wheeler’s dialogue and characterization are actually very good. This is a strong female lead and he is describing her and the other characters very well. [reads bio again and GR page] Wow, he’s written a ton of books since 2013! They all seem to be in the same universe – very interesting, I am digging this story. The magic rules are minimalistic and understated but intriguing, he’s doing some different stuff that I am really liking – he’s drawing in many references and allusions to other fantasy writing, maybe some AD&D suggestions but not in a gamer way, this is literate and thought provoking, but in a serious, contemplative but very enjoyable way.
July 13, 2022: I cannot put this book down! It started kind of slow, development, but the last third of the book is flying by. [reads more friends reviews – lots of people like his work, I think I’d like to read more from him!] This would make a great graphic novel, maybe an animated film.
July 14, 2022: Damn it! The book is over! I want more, going to Kindle to download another of his books, I want MORE!
April 2, 2022
(4.5 stars) - It successfully dawned on me...
I don't generally go for the epic fantasy tomes that all-too-frequently want to be Tolkien but fall so painfully short. This one, however, comes across as earnest rather than presumptuous and has its own style.
There's a fair amount of world-building with lore & vocabulary to process - it does make it feel a little tedious at times because it requires more focus, but by 15% I was pretty solidly engaged for the duration.
The author is Mormom/LDS, and it does appear to imbue the story with a sense of allegory to their founder's story, as well as some thinly veiled references to Scripture & the Apostles, but it's not proselytizing, and the themes of growth and awakening from ignorance are universal enough to generally appeal..
The question of who's really the good guys & who's really the bad guys is a fun bit of mystery - though admittedly there's also some stereotyped characters that did make me roll my eyes.
It starts out feeling a bit young-ish. Eilean is an innocent at the beginning of the story, and ends up discovering that her world & those leading it aren't quite as virtuous & wonderful as she'd believed. When she's assigned to be the servant of an imprisoned druid, he leads her to discover things about her world & self. Eventually it results in her accepting to take on an unexpected quest.
In a sense as her learning increases & her understanding of her world grows, she correspondingly develops in power - with a little help from her friends, so to speak.
The ending is surprising and pretty exciting. It provides a chapter or episode conclusion with a to-be-continued epilogue. This is a promising start - I'll definitely be watching for the next in the series!
*Potential content: virtually none - a tame PG - there's a scene where one character tries to set up another in an amorously compromising position for revenge, but it conveys the intent without graphic detail
I don't generally go for the epic fantasy tomes that all-too-frequently want to be Tolkien but fall so painfully short. This one, however, comes across as earnest rather than presumptuous and has its own style.
There's a fair amount of world-building with lore & vocabulary to process - it does make it feel a little tedious at times because it requires more focus, but by 15% I was pretty solidly engaged for the duration.
The author is Mormom/LDS, and it does appear to imbue the story with a sense of allegory to their founder's story, as well as some thinly veiled references to Scripture & the Apostles, but it's not proselytizing, and the themes of growth and awakening from ignorance are universal enough to generally appeal..
The question of who's really the good guys & who's really the bad guys is a fun bit of mystery - though admittedly there's also some stereotyped characters that did make me roll my eyes.
It starts out feeling a bit young-ish. Eilean is an innocent at the beginning of the story, and ends up discovering that her world & those leading it aren't quite as virtuous & wonderful as she'd believed. When she's assigned to be the servant of an imprisoned druid, he leads her to discover things about her world & self. Eventually it results in her accepting to take on an unexpected quest.
In a sense as her learning increases & her understanding of her world grows, she correspondingly develops in power - with a little help from her friends, so to speak.
The ending is surprising and pretty exciting. It provides a chapter or episode conclusion with a to-be-continued epilogue. This is a promising start - I'll definitely be watching for the next in the series!
*Potential content: virtually none - a tame PG - there's a scene where one character tries to set up another in an amorously compromising position for revenge, but it conveys the intent without graphic detail
April 3, 2022
I first came across this author when I chose The Queen’s Poisoner as a Kindle First Read so this book was the obvious choice for me this month. While I absolutely love The Kingfountain series I have never been as huge a fan of the Muirwood books so I did not start this book with high expectations but I was very quickly won over. This book is immediately engaging and you do not need to have read the Muirwood series before beginning. This book is actually a prequel as it takes place before the Abbey is built so it’s a great place to begin. Eilean reminds me of the protagonist of the Muirwood series but she is very much her own character and that is very much someone you root for. Eilean will quickly find herself doubting everything she thought to be true and facing a path forward that she never expected. As always with this author I was caught up in the fast pace and just great story that I could not put it down. As with his other books I will eagerly be waiting for the next installment as I am very hooked on this story.
If you have read the Muirwood books Wheeler wastes no time on explanations so the story moves forward quickly. If you are new to this world you may find you have lots of questions about the magic used and what leerings really are which can be explained in far more detail in the Muirwood series. There are slight references to Kingfountain with Wizrs and interestingly also the mention of Harbingers which is another great series by this author so when you read this and get hooked you will have great books available to deliver further into where this series may be going. I know I cannot wait to find out!
If you have read the Muirwood books Wheeler wastes no time on explanations so the story moves forward quickly. If you are new to this world you may find you have lots of questions about the magic used and what leerings really are which can be explained in far more detail in the Muirwood series. There are slight references to Kingfountain with Wizrs and interestingly also the mention of Harbingers which is another great series by this author so when you read this and get hooked you will have great books available to deliver further into where this series may be going. I know I cannot wait to find out!
March 25, 2023
This is a tough one. The Dawning of Muirwood is a prequel to the other books in the Muirwood saga. Because of this, Jeff Wheeler had to assume that a percentage of readers had never read the other books.
This is a fair choice to make but it meant that the first 2/3 of the story was world building and explanations of the religious and social systems of that world. I was already familiar with those so it was a bit tedious for me. HOWEVER, that means if you have NOT read the other books, you can start here and not be lost.
Excluding that, the characters were diverse and complex and I enjoyed that part. Once the introduction was done and the story REALLY got going, it was a really fun ride. However, it was a short ride since it was just the last 1/3 of the book.
I'm glad that I already have #2 and #3 in this series so I can dive right into what happens next.
3 stars for the first 2/3 and 4.5 stars for the last 1/3
This is a fair choice to make but it meant that the first 2/3 of the story was world building and explanations of the religious and social systems of that world. I was already familiar with those so it was a bit tedious for me. HOWEVER, that means if you have NOT read the other books, you can start here and not be lost.
Excluding that, the characters were diverse and complex and I enjoyed that part. Once the introduction was done and the story REALLY got going, it was a really fun ride. However, it was a short ride since it was just the last 1/3 of the book.
I'm glad that I already have #2 and #3 in this series so I can dive right into what happens next.
3 stars for the first 2/3 and 4.5 stars for the last 1/3
April 22, 2022
A magical , mystical adventure story with a heavy religious undertone, The Druid is written at a level suitable for older children or young adults.
September 10, 2022
This book begins the ᗪᗩᗯᑎIᑎG Oᖴ ᗰᑌIᖇᗯOOᗪ series and goes back to the founding of Muirwood Abbey and explores the Maston order, the medium, and leerings.
⠀
𝗘𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 is 17, a wretched without power, without family, and without status. Her time as a wretched is almost up unless she decides to continue serving the kindhearted 𝗔𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗹 after her 18 years of servitude.
𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗲𝗹 is a proud Maston. He’s derisive, condescending, judgmental, and… the King’s nephew.
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘁 is the chief advisor of a vanquished king and an imprisoned Druid. He’s cruel and harsh but also extremely intelligent.
⠀
However as you grown to know these 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 throughout the story, it’s heart-wrenchingly easy to see that not all is as it seems to be. The characters are well written and easy to love.
⠀
The 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱-𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 is fantastic. I loved learning about and exploring this world with Pry-Ree, Moros, and Muirwood Abbey.
⠀
This was another 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 by Jeff Wheeler.
⠀
𝗘𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 is 17, a wretched without power, without family, and without status. Her time as a wretched is almost up unless she decides to continue serving the kindhearted 𝗔𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗹 after her 18 years of servitude.
𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗲𝗹 is a proud Maston. He’s derisive, condescending, judgmental, and… the King’s nephew.
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘁 is the chief advisor of a vanquished king and an imprisoned Druid. He’s cruel and harsh but also extremely intelligent.
⠀
However as you grown to know these 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 throughout the story, it’s heart-wrenchingly easy to see that not all is as it seems to be. The characters are well written and easy to love.
⠀
The 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱-𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 is fantastic. I loved learning about and exploring this world with Pry-Ree, Moros, and Muirwood Abbey.
⠀
This was another 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 by Jeff Wheeler.
April 24, 2022
The fake Hebrew did not impress me. The only reason I didn't throw this across the room is because it was on my Kindle and not a paper book.
Reading other reviews that mention the Christian overtones is just making me more annoyed, tbh.
Reading other reviews that mention the Christian overtones is just making me more annoyed, tbh.
April 14, 2022
A Very Pleasant Surprise
I really enjoyed this first book in this series. A very well constructed world with a religion at its core, one akin to Christianity, even with its own version of Martin Luther, but apparently in a parallel world with Arthurian Legend, and featuring a Merlin character, which heightened its appeal to me. The heroine is a very well drawn character who I look forward to reading about in future books, as is her chief pursuer. Very entertaining.
I really enjoyed this first book in this series. A very well constructed world with a religion at its core, one akin to Christianity, even with its own version of Martin Luther, but apparently in a parallel world with Arthurian Legend, and featuring a Merlin character, which heightened its appeal to me. The heroine is a very well drawn character who I look forward to reading about in future books, as is her chief pursuer. Very entertaining.
April 7, 2022
Not for me
Big mistake choosing this fantasy book. It's not my style and all the invented James for ordinary things are confusing and of no value. I am sure there is an audience for this sort of stuff but I am certainly not a fan. From the start I found it meaningless drivel and could not get beyond d the first few chapters. Life is too short to waste on this.
Big mistake choosing this fantasy book. It's not my style and all the invented James for ordinary things are confusing and of no value. I am sure there is an audience for this sort of stuff but I am certainly not a fan. From the start I found it meaningless drivel and could not get beyond d the first few chapters. Life is too short to waste on this.
August 12, 2022
I chose this book to get a badge on the kindle summer reading challenge. It was a little hard to get into, but not a reason to stop reading. However I did quit reading after it turned into a Joseph smith story. I mean come on, going out into the woods to ask the “medium” which way is true, being attacked by invisible dark spirits before this bright light shines down on her. Then her friend that was resurrected says how she saw the afterlife, and the order has basically forsaken the true way. It was a literal play by play of Joseph Smith’s first vision. I put my kindle down and had to google the author. Yep, he’s LDS, which is whatever, nothing against the dude. It just felt unoriginal, and poorly executed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2023
I like the comparatively mellow pacing to start this one as Wheeler introduces newbies to the world and general concepts of the Medium. It's cool to go back and see where it all started.
I am starting to wonder how I feel about all the Wheeler worlds being connected. He ties in Mirrowen and Kingfountain here again and I *think* we actually meet the lady of the fountain, although briefly. I guess it creates a lot of Easter eggs for those of us who have read *all* the books but multidimensional stuff starts to go over my head sometimes. They could have all just been neighboring countries or different continents too 🤷♀️
Anyway anyway, I like the new characters although Eilean seems flatter than some of the others. I love Mordaunt and Nostradamus provides an interesting interlude character. The threads are already being laid for the time in the future when women and wretcheds aren't allowed to learn. It would be interesting to read all of these chronologically again at some point.
Overall a solid start to a new series and I'm sad I didn't get to start them before!
I am starting to wonder how I feel about all the Wheeler worlds being connected. He ties in Mirrowen and Kingfountain here again and I *think* we actually meet the lady of the fountain, although briefly. I guess it creates a lot of Easter eggs for those of us who have read *all* the books but multidimensional stuff starts to go over my head sometimes. They could have all just been neighboring countries or different continents too 🤷♀️
Anyway anyway, I like the new characters although Eilean seems flatter than some of the others. I love Mordaunt and Nostradamus provides an interesting interlude character. The threads are already being laid for the time in the future when women and wretcheds aren't allowed to learn. It would be interesting to read all of these chronologically again at some point.
Overall a solid start to a new series and I'm sad I didn't get to start them before!
November 28, 2022
I’ll be honest, I’m not sure why I started this hahaha.
I am probably not the audience for this. I found the plot to really drag on, and I struggledd getting through… It’s worse than bad, it’s boring ;-;
#sorrynotsorry
I am probably not the audience for this. I found the plot to really drag on, and I struggledd getting through… It’s worse than bad, it’s boring ;-;
#sorrynotsorry
April 18, 2022
Started reading once and stopped to start again when less distracted to focus solely on just this story due to the heavily detailed information that will leave you hanging.
March 4, 2023
Well, I'll say this much Amazon really, really, really wanted me to read this book. As someone who enjoys the Fantasy genre, I must have had their algorithm screeching out sirens and tolling bells because I had a hard time opening up the Kindle Store without seeing this book all over it's pages. That actually didn't work in Jeff Wheeler's favor though. To be honest, I don't really trust the algorithm because it's heavily tilted toward Amazon Publishing's authors and I've found that most of those writers are not very good and most of their books are sorely in need of much better editing than they get.
It was Goodreads that provoked me to give this book a try. I saw the opinion of a reader who I've agreed with about a few books in the past give it high marks so I thought I'd give it a chance.
I'm glad I did. The Druid is a decent book. My biggest lament is that it's incomplete. Wheeler has a good command of his storytelling, his world building and he writes strong, interesting characters, but like many writers, especially Amazon writers, he doesn't write books. He writes serials.
This book has a strong start, it keeps the reader interested and pushes through, in the middle and then it ends without an ellipsis instead of an ending. Wheeler doesn't respect the reader enough to give them the satisfaction of an ending. Instead, the third act includes a minor quest, a minor victory and sets the stage for the next book.
The third act is also rushed. This a mentor/apprentice story, a Hero's Journey. But 75% of the book is spent on the prelude and when the apprentice finally sets out on her own the obstacles she faces seem pretty minor and her quest isn't very exciting or particularly dangerous. Her "victory" isn't really earned in that she doesn't have to do much other than get to a destination. Typically in a Hero's Journey there's some kind of test she needs to pass in order to earn the boon at the end of her travels. In this book, it's more like pulling up to a McDonald's order window at the end of a trip and ordering a Big Mac followed by a deus ex machina to extricate her from danger. The End. But hey, read my next book!
So, I've done a lot of complaining so far, but the truth is until the end I was really enjoying this book and the writing. Wheeler's ability as a writer isn't the problem. It's his choices. It is possible to write a series where the author cares enough about the reader that they give them a full story with an actual ending.
This book could have been a 4-star affair for me, or even better if there had been a blow-me-away kind of ending. Instead, I can't give this book more than 3 stars. I recommend it, but do so conditionally because I can't possibly tell you if this book is worth your time until/unless I read on. It's impossible to have a complete opinion on this book because it's an incomplete book. I strongly suspect I'm going to read on in the series but I do so knowing that there's a level of uncertainty and unreliability going on here. And while I'll start the next one, I can't tell you for certain I'll finish it because until the final book in the series, I know there won't be any closure. It'll be minor climaxes with limited falling action and no resolution so if it takes a turn I don't like, I'm bailing.
It's tough to rate books that aren't really books. This seems like it could be the beginning of a good serial though. We'll see.
EDIT: After having finished the series, I would not recommend it. The first two books are decent, but not great and the final book is slowly paced, unimaginative, and it lacks any kind of satisfying climax or ending. If you're reading this while trying to decide if you should start or continue this series, my advice is that you find something else to read.
It was Goodreads that provoked me to give this book a try. I saw the opinion of a reader who I've agreed with about a few books in the past give it high marks so I thought I'd give it a chance.
I'm glad I did. The Druid is a decent book. My biggest lament is that it's incomplete. Wheeler has a good command of his storytelling, his world building and he writes strong, interesting characters, but like many writers, especially Amazon writers, he doesn't write books. He writes serials.
This book has a strong start, it keeps the reader interested and pushes through, in the middle and then it ends without an ellipsis instead of an ending. Wheeler doesn't respect the reader enough to give them the satisfaction of an ending. Instead, the third act includes a minor quest, a minor victory and sets the stage for the next book.
The third act is also rushed. This a mentor/apprentice story, a Hero's Journey. But 75% of the book is spent on the prelude and when the apprentice finally sets out on her own the obstacles she faces seem pretty minor and her quest isn't very exciting or particularly dangerous. Her "victory" isn't really earned in that she doesn't have to do much other than get to a destination. Typically in a Hero's Journey there's some kind of test she needs to pass in order to earn the boon at the end of her travels. In this book, it's more like pulling up to a McDonald's order window at the end of a trip and ordering a Big Mac followed by a deus ex machina to extricate her from danger. The End. But hey, read my next book!
So, I've done a lot of complaining so far, but the truth is until the end I was really enjoying this book and the writing. Wheeler's ability as a writer isn't the problem. It's his choices. It is possible to write a series where the author cares enough about the reader that they give them a full story with an actual ending.
This book could have been a 4-star affair for me, or even better if there had been a blow-me-away kind of ending. Instead, I can't give this book more than 3 stars. I recommend it, but do so conditionally because I can't possibly tell you if this book is worth your time until/unless I read on. It's impossible to have a complete opinion on this book because it's an incomplete book. I strongly suspect I'm going to read on in the series but I do so knowing that there's a level of uncertainty and unreliability going on here. And while I'll start the next one, I can't tell you for certain I'll finish it because until the final book in the series, I know there won't be any closure. It'll be minor climaxes with limited falling action and no resolution so if it takes a turn I don't like, I'm bailing.
It's tough to rate books that aren't really books. This seems like it could be the beginning of a good serial though. We'll see.
EDIT: After having finished the series, I would not recommend it. The first two books are decent, but not great and the final book is slowly paced, unimaginative, and it lacks any kind of satisfying climax or ending. If you're reading this while trying to decide if you should start or continue this series, my advice is that you find something else to read.
September 30, 2022
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MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
If you’re considering reading this and not familiar with Jeff Wheeler’s books, I have left the official reading order after this review at the bottom. His books are a sword and sorcery, historical fantasy that are also a bit YA/coming of age. This is the first book of the Dawning of Muirwood which is a prequel series of Legends and The Covenant of Muirwood, which is part of the Kingfountain world. Something that I really love about Mr. Wheeler, is his ability to create his own world that is based on Middle Age/Medieval Europe while infusing magic into it, but still keeping that same feel to it that makes it seem like it is a part of our own history.
Mr. Wheeler does a great job of building a strong female lead in Eilean, who is intelligent and resourceful. The one thing I know I can always count on is good character development from his stories. His characters always take major growth during each book and the series as a whole. There are many other characters that are introduced that will also play a big role in this and previous books, some of those didn’t really get the same treatment of development that Eilean did, but the ground work is there for it to happen later in the series.
“Sooner or later, little sister, everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.”
The world-building is excellent and continues to build on the already well documented lore from previous series by Mr. Wheeler. It’s so exciting to see some of these places that I’ve seen previously, but this time, to see how they started. Because he has based his world off of real places, he can really dig into what everything looks like and make it feel legitimately real. The abbeys, the landscape, the people, it all just feels like we are transported in time rather than transported into another world.
There are some religious undertones of the story that people may not like, but the story is based around a certain time period that had a lot of religious conflict, so the story reflects that same feeling. Wheeler’s stories are a great palate cleanser and an excellent light read that will draw you in further and further into the story until you realize you’ve read 20+ books in the series and wish there were more.
Official Reading order of the WOJW (World of Jeff Wheeler):
The Kingfountain series
• The Queen’s Poisoner
• The Thief’s Daughter
• The King’s Traitor
• The Hollow Crown
• The Silent Shield
• The Forsaken Throne
The First Argentines
• Knight’s Ransom
• Warrior’s Ransom
• Lady’s Ransom
• Fate’s Ransom
The Legends of Muirwood
• The Wretched of Muirwood
• The Blight of Muirwood
• The Scourged of Muirwood
The Covenant of Muirwood
• The Vanished of Muirwood
• The Cyphers of Muirwood
• The Void of Muirwood
The Dawning of Muirwood (CURRENT)
• The Druid
• The Hunted
• The Betrayed (Available: 2/21/23)
The Harbinger
• Storm Glass
• Mirror Gate
• Iron Garden
• Prism Cloud
• Broken Veil
The Whispers of Mirrowen
• Fire Blood
• Dryad-Born
• Poisonwell
For more reviews, go to www.wolfmantula.com/book-reviews
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
If you’re considering reading this and not familiar with Jeff Wheeler’s books, I have left the official reading order after this review at the bottom. His books are a sword and sorcery, historical fantasy that are also a bit YA/coming of age. This is the first book of the Dawning of Muirwood which is a prequel series of Legends and The Covenant of Muirwood, which is part of the Kingfountain world. Something that I really love about Mr. Wheeler, is his ability to create his own world that is based on Middle Age/Medieval Europe while infusing magic into it, but still keeping that same feel to it that makes it seem like it is a part of our own history.
Mr. Wheeler does a great job of building a strong female lead in Eilean, who is intelligent and resourceful. The one thing I know I can always count on is good character development from his stories. His characters always take major growth during each book and the series as a whole. There are many other characters that are introduced that will also play a big role in this and previous books, some of those didn’t really get the same treatment of development that Eilean did, but the ground work is there for it to happen later in the series.
“Sooner or later, little sister, everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.”
The world-building is excellent and continues to build on the already well documented lore from previous series by Mr. Wheeler. It’s so exciting to see some of these places that I’ve seen previously, but this time, to see how they started. Because he has based his world off of real places, he can really dig into what everything looks like and make it feel legitimately real. The abbeys, the landscape, the people, it all just feels like we are transported in time rather than transported into another world.
There are some religious undertones of the story that people may not like, but the story is based around a certain time period that had a lot of religious conflict, so the story reflects that same feeling. Wheeler’s stories are a great palate cleanser and an excellent light read that will draw you in further and further into the story until you realize you’ve read 20+ books in the series and wish there were more.
Official Reading order of the WOJW (World of Jeff Wheeler):
The Kingfountain series
• The Queen’s Poisoner
• The Thief’s Daughter
• The King’s Traitor
• The Hollow Crown
• The Silent Shield
• The Forsaken Throne
The First Argentines
• Knight’s Ransom
• Warrior’s Ransom
• Lady’s Ransom
• Fate’s Ransom
The Legends of Muirwood
• The Wretched of Muirwood
• The Blight of Muirwood
• The Scourged of Muirwood
The Covenant of Muirwood
• The Vanished of Muirwood
• The Cyphers of Muirwood
• The Void of Muirwood
The Dawning of Muirwood (CURRENT)
• The Druid
• The Hunted
• The Betrayed (Available: 2/21/23)
The Harbinger
• Storm Glass
• Mirror Gate
• Iron Garden
• Prism Cloud
• Broken Veil
The Whispers of Mirrowen
• Fire Blood
• Dryad-Born
• Poisonwell
October 11, 2022
This book was a pleasant surprise! Maybe it helped that I went in with little to no expectations? Possibly. The more I listened to it, the more it grew on me however!
This read like a not super traditional trad gorl fantasy... but written by a man. I was honestly impressed by how Wheeler managed to write a female protagonist that felt authentic and true. Not one of those women who serve the male gaze. Her growth is very obvious by the end, if compared to where her character started at the beginning. That's not to say she's always doing what we as the reader would agree with. But the growth!
The way this author handled young love and infatuation... How he represented different types of men... It shows a certain level of self awareness. Not just in himself, but in the more general, male population as well.
I also really liked how platonic relationships were depicted! The main character (literally don't know how to spell her name since I listen to the audiobook) and her best friend had a great bond. Neither gave up or neglected each other in pursuit of crushes, as one might see in some fantasy books with a seventeen year old protagonist.
Other than that, it had and interesting magic system that felt religious but wasn't at the first glance. There's still a lot we don't know that will likely be covered in the next books. Also the Captain! Keeping my eye on him.
Overall, this wasn't like, blow your mind good. But it was really interesting and managed to keep my attention whilst lifting weights at the gym. Definitely want to read more from the author and continue this series!
This read like a not super traditional trad gorl fantasy... but written by a man. I was honestly impressed by how Wheeler managed to write a female protagonist that felt authentic and true. Not one of those women who serve the male gaze. Her growth is very obvious by the end, if compared to where her character started at the beginning. That's not to say she's always doing what we as the reader would agree with. But the growth!
The way this author handled young love and infatuation... How he represented different types of men... It shows a certain level of self awareness. Not just in himself, but in the more general, male population as well.
I also really liked how platonic relationships were depicted! The main character (literally don't know how to spell her name since I listen to the audiobook) and her best friend had a great bond. Neither gave up or neglected each other in pursuit of crushes, as one might see in some fantasy books with a seventeen year old protagonist.
Other than that, it had and interesting magic system that felt religious but wasn't at the first glance. There's still a lot we don't know that will likely be covered in the next books. Also the Captain! Keeping my eye on him.
Overall, this wasn't like, blow your mind good. But it was really interesting and managed to keep my attention whilst lifting weights at the gym. Definitely want to read more from the author and continue this series!
May 14, 2022
AH! The Druid, what can I say besides absolutely "Brilliant"
Since The Druid is a prequel before the Abby it doesn't matter that one hasn't read the prior books in the Muirwood series. However that being said, there will be things along the way that will have one wondering, Hmmm! What does that mean? But that is the fun in it. Because of that will automatically want to make you want to dive head long into the rest of the series ( Very sneaky Mr. Wheeler)
There's just enough splash of Christianity, history and magic, that leaves you refreshed. Wheelers word-building is just right and he totally lives up to his name as one of the greats as a Fantasy author.
I absolutely fell in love with the characters and the ending did exactly what it was supposed to do.
left you wanting MORE!
EXCELLENT!
Since The Druid is a prequel before the Abby it doesn't matter that one hasn't read the prior books in the Muirwood series. However that being said, there will be things along the way that will have one wondering, Hmmm! What does that mean? But that is the fun in it. Because of that will automatically want to make you want to dive head long into the rest of the series ( Very sneaky Mr. Wheeler)
There's just enough splash of Christianity, history and magic, that leaves you refreshed. Wheelers word-building is just right and he totally lives up to his name as one of the greats as a Fantasy author.
I absolutely fell in love with the characters and the ending did exactly what it was supposed to do.
left you wanting MORE!
EXCELLENT!
June 8, 2022
A little more YA than I expected (even though I didn’t really know what to expect not having read any of Wheeler’s work before). Annoyingly derivative at times. Simplistic plot of a story that’s been told a hundred times before in slightly different ways. That being said, I’m looking forward to the next book. What can I say? I’m invested in the story and characters and want to know what happens next.
July 1, 2024
What a nice prequel to the other series in this world.
Read
July 6, 2023I was very much enjoying this until I hit the massive cliff hanger.
March 14, 2023
I really enjoyed Jeff Wheeler's "Kingfountain" series, which was based on the latter years of the Plantegenet rulers of England in the fifteenth century, and was excited to discover that there are more books in the series (and more coming!) But instead, I turned to the first book in his "Dawning of Muirwood" series, "The Druid." It was an absorbing beginning to a series that I will definitely read.
We meet the Wretched, Eilean, where she works in the kitchen of an abbey. Wretcheds are abandoned children, apparently, and at the bottom of the pecking order of the society at the abbey. Therefore, Eilean is surprised when Aldermaston Gillefil requests her specifically to go along as he establishes a new abbey in Muirwood, in order to wipe out the old, heretical religious order of Druids and their followers. In fact, there is a Druid captive at Muirwood. The Aldermaston wants Eilean to become the Druid's servant, to spy on him and find out where he hid his Tome. Wait: a Druid has a Tome? Druids never commit anything to writing, sharing their lore orally. So... is the Druid actually a Druid ... or a heretical maston?
The Druid, Mordaunt, is a crotchety old man, but Eilean can't help but warm up to him, b/c he is so wise and begins teaching her things she wants know, like how to improve herself so that one day, she can hopefully become a lady's maid, working her way up in the world. How did Mordaunt know what she wanted? How does he know about her attraction to a fellow wretched from the previous abbey? And, who exactly performed a miracle in Eilean's circle of friends: the Aldermaston who supposedly has the gift of the Medium, or... the Druid? Which side in this struggle of religions will Eilean choose?
Again, this was an entertaining introduction to a new (to me) series from Jeff Wheeler. I can't wait to read more of them!
We meet the Wretched, Eilean, where she works in the kitchen of an abbey. Wretcheds are abandoned children, apparently, and at the bottom of the pecking order of the society at the abbey. Therefore, Eilean is surprised when Aldermaston Gillefil requests her specifically to go along as he establishes a new abbey in Muirwood, in order to wipe out the old, heretical religious order of Druids and their followers. In fact, there is a Druid captive at Muirwood. The Aldermaston wants Eilean to become the Druid's servant, to spy on him and find out where he hid his Tome. Wait: a Druid has a Tome? Druids never commit anything to writing, sharing their lore orally. So... is the Druid actually a Druid ... or a heretical maston?
The Druid, Mordaunt, is a crotchety old man, but Eilean can't help but warm up to him, b/c he is so wise and begins teaching her things she wants know, like how to improve herself so that one day, she can hopefully become a lady's maid, working her way up in the world. How did Mordaunt know what she wanted? How does he know about her attraction to a fellow wretched from the previous abbey? And, who exactly performed a miracle in Eilean's circle of friends: the Aldermaston who supposedly has the gift of the Medium, or... the Druid? Which side in this struggle of religions will Eilean choose?
Again, this was an entertaining introduction to a new (to me) series from Jeff Wheeler. I can't wait to read more of them!
August 15, 2022
Somewhere between 2.5 and 3 stars. I've never read anything by Jeff Wheeler before so can't compare it to his other works, but this novel is perhaps... solidly mediocre.
Standard coming-of-age fantasy plot for a YA audience with a strong religious undercurrent and a poorly explained magic system (or rather, it's religion, not really magic).
My problem was with the writing -- noticeably clunky and awkward at times. I wanted to get out a pencil and just rework entire paragraphs. I can suffer through a fair amount of uninspired writing for the sake of a good plot or characters I truly care about, but in this case, neither provided sufficient motivation to trudge through the text.
I mean, the very first sentence reads, "The sun was nearly down, creating a glorious sunset over even rows in the fields." If there's only one good sentence in a book, it should be the first one, and this one is pretty bad.
Standard coming-of-age fantasy plot for a YA audience with a strong religious undercurrent and a poorly explained magic system (or rather, it's religion, not really magic).
My problem was with the writing -- noticeably clunky and awkward at times. I wanted to get out a pencil and just rework entire paragraphs. I can suffer through a fair amount of uninspired writing for the sake of a good plot or characters I truly care about, but in this case, neither provided sufficient motivation to trudge through the text.
I mean, the very first sentence reads, "The sun was nearly down, creating a glorious sunset over even rows in the fields." If there's only one good sentence in a book, it should be the first one, and this one is pretty bad.
July 4, 2022
The Authors Note says it’s the beginning of a prequel series to other works and the others are recommended first but this is where my Jeff Wheeler journey has begun and I l’m not mad about it!
This was an intriguing mix of mythologies and almost an anthology? I’m not sure. I don’t know much about the author or the rest of his stuff. I liked it but there were certain elements I… wasn’t sure about too.
There was great writing! I wasn’t a huge fan of Eilean at first but I warmed up to her, especially because of how she cared about those closest to her and those relationships.
In the end, I really did enjoy it and I’m looking forward to the next in this series!
Clean, a vague though clear almost-rape, some violence
Received this via Amazon Prime First Reads
This was an intriguing mix of mythologies and almost an anthology? I’m not sure. I don’t know much about the author or the rest of his stuff. I liked it but there were certain elements I… wasn’t sure about too.
There was great writing! I wasn’t a huge fan of Eilean at first but I warmed up to her, especially because of how she cared about those closest to her and those relationships.
In the end, I really did enjoy it and I’m looking forward to the next in this series!
Clean, a vague though clear almost-rape, some violence
Received this via Amazon Prime First Reads
August 12, 2022
I was intrigued when I saw someone say the female characters had depth and where strong but I was really disappointed, they are very stereotypical and flat. Eilean didn’t capture me much at all, neither did any other character. Captain Hoel gave me a mental whiplash in his approach to the main character.
I was mainly interested in the Celtic type setting but it fell flat in the end as well. Ah, yes, can’t forget the casual rape-attempt thrown in for absolutely no reason when Aisic’s intentions/personality has been telegraph from pretty much the start. No tying up of the story. Unfortunately the worst book I’ve read in a while.
I was mainly interested in the Celtic type setting but it fell flat in the end as well. Ah, yes, can’t forget the casual rape-attempt thrown in for absolutely no reason when Aisic’s intentions/personality has been telegraph from pretty much the start. No tying up of the story. Unfortunately the worst book I’ve read in a while.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2022
if you like Scotland and fantasy, this one is probably for you.
I really enjoyed this book. I could definitely see the Scotland inspiration in the book. I enjoyed the references. I only found some of the linguistic choices like “Shaw” to be really weird. But I don’t hold it against the book.
I will read the next ones when I’m given the opportunity.
I really enjoyed this book. I could definitely see the Scotland inspiration in the book. I enjoyed the references. I only found some of the linguistic choices like “Shaw” to be really weird. But I don’t hold it against the book.
I will read the next ones when I’m given the opportunity.
August 11, 2022
This was a great book! I’m way looking forward to the rest of the series, and to checking out other books by this author as well. A fantasy book centered around a young girl who no one would expect to have power.
February 4, 2023
Jeff Wheeler continues to be my most underrated author. I get so lost in everything he writes. I enjoyed this one so much and I can’t wait for the final book in the series this month. If you haven’t read this author yet I highly recommend him!
September 25, 2025
This was my first Jeff Wheeler book, though I’ve owned several for a while. I decided to finally dive in, and after some quick checking, realized this is the first book in chronological order of a much larger series. That made it the perfect place to begin.
The story starts small and quiet: an orphaned girl, Eilean, living in an abbey. From there the world expands step by step—first through her journey to help establish a new abbey in the swamps, then through the unsettling encounter with Druids, and finally with the life-altering choice to serve their imprisoned leader. I won’t go further into the plot (it’s better discovered fresh), but for a book with very little outright “action,” it’s surprisingly gripping. I finished it in a single day, and I’m not usually a fast reader.
What impressed me most was how Wheeler manages tone and pacing. The narrative unfolds like a widening circle, gently but firmly drawing you deeper into both character connections and the hidden history of the world. It has an almost allegorical undercurrent—a sense that more is happening beneath the surface than the characters themselves can yet articulate. That left me eager not just for the sequel, but to unpack what this story is really saying.
The best way I can describe the reading experience is this: after a long, hot day of hard work, someone offers you a cool glass of lemonade. The relief and refreshment hit instantly, but it also lingers, reminding you why you love the simple things. That’s what The Druid felt like—clean, refreshing, and quietly invigorating.
What worked:
• A tranquil beginning that expands into something much larger.
• Relatable characters whose journeys feel both personal and weighty.
• Accessible, welcoming tone—perfect for new fantasy readers.
• Enough depth and allegorical resonance to keep a 35-year veteran of the genre fully engaged.
What didn’t:
• Those expecting nonstop battles may find the gentler pacing slower than typical epic fantasy.
• At times the allegorical feel left me wishing for just a touch more clarity in the themes.
Who it’s for:
Anyone curious about trying fantasy for the first time, as well as long-time fans who want something refreshing and thoughtful rather than grim or relentless.
Verdict:
In short: a well-written, allegorical, and refreshing fantasy that earns five stars. Fans of thoughtful, character-driven fantasy may find even more here to enjoy.
The story starts small and quiet: an orphaned girl, Eilean, living in an abbey. From there the world expands step by step—first through her journey to help establish a new abbey in the swamps, then through the unsettling encounter with Druids, and finally with the life-altering choice to serve their imprisoned leader. I won’t go further into the plot (it’s better discovered fresh), but for a book with very little outright “action,” it’s surprisingly gripping. I finished it in a single day, and I’m not usually a fast reader.
What impressed me most was how Wheeler manages tone and pacing. The narrative unfolds like a widening circle, gently but firmly drawing you deeper into both character connections and the hidden history of the world. It has an almost allegorical undercurrent—a sense that more is happening beneath the surface than the characters themselves can yet articulate. That left me eager not just for the sequel, but to unpack what this story is really saying.
The best way I can describe the reading experience is this: after a long, hot day of hard work, someone offers you a cool glass of lemonade. The relief and refreshment hit instantly, but it also lingers, reminding you why you love the simple things. That’s what The Druid felt like—clean, refreshing, and quietly invigorating.
What worked:
• A tranquil beginning that expands into something much larger.
• Relatable characters whose journeys feel both personal and weighty.
• Accessible, welcoming tone—perfect for new fantasy readers.
• Enough depth and allegorical resonance to keep a 35-year veteran of the genre fully engaged.
What didn’t:
• Those expecting nonstop battles may find the gentler pacing slower than typical epic fantasy.
• At times the allegorical feel left me wishing for just a touch more clarity in the themes.
Who it’s for:
Anyone curious about trying fantasy for the first time, as well as long-time fans who want something refreshing and thoughtful rather than grim or relentless.
Verdict:
In short: a well-written, allegorical, and refreshing fantasy that earns five stars. Fans of thoughtful, character-driven fantasy may find even more here to enjoy.
May 24, 2022
I was given a free copy of The Druid by Jeff Wheeler (author), 47North (publisher) and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. The Druid is the first book in the the Dawning of Muirwood Series. The Druid was published on May 1, 2022.
The only other books that I have read by Mr. Wheeler is the First Argentines series.
This review will be spoiler free.
I would characterize The Druid as a combination of High Fantasy with Young Adult or New Adult.
The setting of the story in what appears to be in an abbey in medieval European and in a forest.
The magic system is fairly straight-forward. Magic spells are cast when the spell wielder correctly pronounces the activation words.
The main character is a young woman who is a servant at an abbey that is responsible to attend to a druid who is under house arrest. The main character is somewhat interesting, but not engaging or compelling. Besides the druid character who is featured prominently in the story, the other side characters service the story but are not fully fleshed developed.
The other series that I have read from Mr. Wheeler is the First Argentines series that I enjoyed because of a compelling main character. I thought some of the minor characters were interesting but lack depth. The story had potential, but lacked complexity, and was fairly straight forward without any swerves or curves. The primary issue I had with the series was that there was more telling than showing.
The same issues that I had with the First Argentines series is what I have with The Druid, but The Druid is less engaging that the First Argenties series. The story lacked depth, complexity, or subtext. It had more telling than showing and I was taken out of the story on more than one occasion.
I rate The Druid 2.5 stars.
I would like to thank Mr. Wheeler, 47 North, and Net Galley for the free E-ARC
The only other books that I have read by Mr. Wheeler is the First Argentines series.
This review will be spoiler free.
I would characterize The Druid as a combination of High Fantasy with Young Adult or New Adult.
The setting of the story in what appears to be in an abbey in medieval European and in a forest.
The magic system is fairly straight-forward. Magic spells are cast when the spell wielder correctly pronounces the activation words.
The main character is a young woman who is a servant at an abbey that is responsible to attend to a druid who is under house arrest. The main character is somewhat interesting, but not engaging or compelling. Besides the druid character who is featured prominently in the story, the other side characters service the story but are not fully fleshed developed.
The other series that I have read from Mr. Wheeler is the First Argentines series that I enjoyed because of a compelling main character. I thought some of the minor characters were interesting but lack depth. The story had potential, but lacked complexity, and was fairly straight forward without any swerves or curves. The primary issue I had with the series was that there was more telling than showing.
The same issues that I had with the First Argentines series is what I have with The Druid, but The Druid is less engaging that the First Argenties series. The story lacked depth, complexity, or subtext. It had more telling than showing and I was taken out of the story on more than one occasion.
I rate The Druid 2.5 stars.
I would like to thank Mr. Wheeler, 47 North, and Net Galley for the free E-ARC
July 1, 2022
As a primarily Fantasy reader, I had high hopes for Jeff Wheeler's work - and I am very excited to say he lived up to and exceeded my expectations! Wheeler's writing and worldbuilding is such classic fantasy; beautiful worlds, deep character building, intricate magic and history...I loved every second of this book. My only regret: I didn't know about him sooner and I haven't read any of his other 31 books yet! That will be rectified soon.
Eileen is a wretched, which means she was born with no one to want or love her - she is left at Tintern Abbey, where she is raised among other wretcheds by the staff and the Archmaston. But when Eileen is assigned to the Archmaston's new Abbey and is given a special assignment, she may learn she holds more power than anyone ever expected.
I highly, highly recommend this and all of Wheeler's books (he has several in this same world!) to any fantasy fan, especially those that love the classic feeling - think Tamora Pierce or Patricia Wrede.
Eileen is a wretched, which means she was born with no one to want or love her - she is left at Tintern Abbey, where she is raised among other wretcheds by the staff and the Archmaston. But when Eileen is assigned to the Archmaston's new Abbey and is given a special assignment, she may learn she holds more power than anyone ever expected.
I highly, highly recommend this and all of Wheeler's books (he has several in this same world!) to any fantasy fan, especially those that love the classic feeling - think Tamora Pierce or Patricia Wrede.
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