Jeff Wheeler is a talented author that I have enjoyed reading. And this final book in the Dawning of Muirwood is no different. This book is so well written that as a reader it's easy to get lost in this world for just a little bit. And all the puzzles are so much fun to think through and untangle.

This entire series is worth the read and the final book certainly did not disappoint at all.

I really wanted to like this book, it had a very good premise. The characters were likeable though not quite as compelling as I would've liked. Additionally, I enjoyed the setting, Wheeler always creates interesting environments/worlds.

Jeff Wheeler is the type of author that absolutely can spin a tale of fantasy and you get so lost in the world he weaves for you. It’s amazing how great a story teller he is. I have enjoyed all of his books. This one with its twists and plot left me wanting a bit more. Maybe it comes from being the final installment of a series and working up so much more in your head than you realize. All in all, still a favorite author of mine. Look forward to more of his work.

The final book to The Dawning of Muirwood trilogy by Jeff Wheeler, stepping into the Kingfountain universe and providing more of a backstory for Mordaunt.

I love Jeff Wheeler’s Muirwood novels. He has made a very complex world that seems realistic. I also like that he bases them on true historical figures. This conclusion was very fast-paced and filled with wonderful characters. I love how it all ended.

A wonderful, engaging story which immediately sucks you back into one of the worlds of Jeff Wheeler. Page-turner. I read this through most of one night. Highly recommend.

The worlds of Wheeler collide in the conclusion to The Dawning of Muirwood trilogy. Eilean and Hoel knew that Morden came from another world, but that knowledge was solidified when they were sent through a portal to Leoneyis to retrieve Morden's stolen tome. The pair wash ashore on a country brimming with tension. Civil war is brewing as King Andrew creeps ever closer to jealousy and paranoia. Eilean's connection to the Medium is not gone in this world. Instead, she finds what she knows simply goes by a different name, the Fountain, and it has some high demands of her. Before she can return to her home, she must save a nation hanging by a thread. It is a good thing she has Hoel, and their story is really starting to shape up together.

There is an ever present ticking clock pacing the story along. The portal back to Muirwood will collapse in a mere three days. Wheeler manages to pack plenty of political intrigue and drama into that short timespan. But I can't say that it really works in the novel's favor. There is a little too much going on for the conclusion of what turns out to be many storylines. This is where all the threads come together for ALL of Wheeler's series. A little too much pressure for one storyline to handle, in my opinion.

I gave this novel 4 stars despite the pressure of the narrative, though. I immensely enjoyed the writing, the characters, and the lessons learned. Plus, I really appreciate when a tapestry comes together. It cannot be easy trying to build a world this elaborate and reveal secrets at an appropriate pace. The romance also was not tacky or over heated. Always a bonus to me. I look forward to many more Wheeler novels.

The Betrayed is the third book in The Dawning of Muirwood series by Jeff Wheeler and the conclusion to Eilean and Hoel story.

Title: The Betrayed
Author: Jeff Wheeler
Release Date: February 21st, 2023
Page Count: 333
Format: Audiobook
Start Date: April 30th, 2023
Finish Date: May 14th, 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

This is the third book in a trilogy. Turns out that this trilogy is a part of an entire world. I went to the author's webpage and made note of every single book so that I can go back and read everything in order. I have all of the books in ebook and in audio. But I digress. This review is about this book and not my intention to read all of the books in this world. I read another series by this author as well. Which is why I figured out that it was part of the same world. There were references to things in that series in this trilogy. I really like the author's writing style. Eventually, I'd like to have all his books on my bookshelves. I'm hooked on this world and these characters!

I think this was an amazing conclusion to the story. I love the amount of time I put trying to figure stuff out. I realized I had never posted my review of the previous book here so I went ahead and did it and while I did not reread the previous book. The notes I took were sufficient to transport me back to that amazing place that is Muirwood.

A great finish to a wonderful series. I’ve been waiting a long time to read this book and it didn’t disappoint. Jeff Wheeler creates a beautifully vivid world for his characters. Through his novels you are able to immerse yourself in another time completely. Throw in a bit of Arthurian legend and you have a brilliant story. Highly recommend.

4.5 puzzle piece stars for this intricate finale to the prequel trilogy! It was so well done; even with the large number of characters, it wasn't too hard to follow. Eileen is a main character we can feel for and I was really rooting for a satisfactory "end." The author's note at the end tied up some origin questions I had about some of the story ideas.

With The Betrayed Jeff Wheeler brings us to the conclusion of The Dawning of Muirwood trilogy, leaving his fans waiting for his next book.
The story of Eilean, the young woman abandoned in an abbey when she was just a baby and who ended up being a powerful Wizr, comes to an end and in this book the great mystery of her past is revealed: who are her parents .
In this book, as its name indicates, there is a betrayal that, after all, I already saw coming, but there is also another, more painful and unexpected one that almost made me stop reading this book. You just have to have a little patience and trust that the Medium or the Fountain will give a good ending to the story of our protagonist.
An excellent ending for an excellent series! I thank Mr. Wheeler, 47tn North, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬. “𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶.” 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳.
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In this realm full of magic, cross-world traveling, and deceit Eilean is on a mission. This is the third installment in the Dawning of Muirwood series. The world building in this series is phenomenal and completely unique.
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Coming into her powers and learning to trust herself and others, Eilean has to navigate two worlds teeming with evil. I loved all the side characters so much, and the antagonists had so much depth it was hard to hate them even when they were being exceedingly nasty.
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The romance in this series is basically nonexistent up until this book, and still once it’s introduced, it’s all sweetness and clean love. The series really focuses solely on fantasy and a little mystery.
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✨If you’re looking for a fantasy series that will make you read multiple other finished series by the same author, pick this one up.

There’s plenty of magic and mysticism to satisfy any fantasy fan. And the thrill of something familiar being twisted into something new was a definite plus.

Full review at thecosmiccircus.com

This last book was cleverly layered. There are elements of this story that devoted fans will love because of the nods to books that happen later, chronologically. But the brilliance of the writer and editor is that readers do not need to know any of the other later trilogies/stories to get a full experience with this series. And with everything that is yet to happen, it's phenomenal to see all the little tie ins while still keeping a true, fulfilling story in this prequel series.

I took my time reading this last book because I loved the series so much, I didn't rush it. Though all of Wheeler's books are fantastic, this one is a gem. As other Wheeler stories, the world building is heavy on religion and the unique magic system as well as political intrigue. The friends, to enemies, to lovers trope was perfectly done, yet kept to "sweet romance". It is epic fantasy, so it does have violence, but it never crosses into gore. If you're debating on the series, worried that the ending doesn't deliver, go ahead and dive in because the series is fantastic!

I love all books ny Jeff Wheeler!!! The Betrayed is no different! Great book and continuation of the whole Muirwood saga. Excellent read!

Satisfying conclusion to a tale that takes us back to the origin of two worlds

In the worlds that author Jeff Wheeler creates, history most certainly repeats itself.
And that’s part of their charm.
In “The Betrayed,” Wheeler’s most recent novel, we are introduced to a character with a tuft of white hair over his left ear. That might sound familiar to anyone who has read Wheeler’s first Kingfountain book and met a character named Owen.
In this final book of “The Dawning of Muirwood” trilogy, a boy of destiny is introduced to a sword that glows blue, similar to a different youth who pulled a sword out of water in another Kingfountain tale. And in the past and present, a Wizr named Myrddin, or Maderos, offers wise counsel to rulers smart enough to heed him.
In a way, “The Betrayed” and the rest of the trilogy is a gift to longtime readers, taking them back to the roots of two worlds, Muirwood and Kingfountain. Little nuggets pop up in all three books that increase our depth of knowledge on things, people and places we’ve previously encountered.
At the same time, any first-time readers who started with “The Dawning of Muirwood” trilogy will find a complete story that will serve as a foundation for many of the other books by the same author.
In “The Betrayed,” Eilean, an acolyte of Maderos, and Hoel, a hunter, leave Muirwood for the still-forming world of Kingfountain, and in particular, Plomeur, to retrieve a stolen tome and meet a high king.
Through the musings of Maderos, we learn more about his shared history with King Andrew. The sovereign’s history also is told in chapters interspersed with Eilean’s and Hoel’s travels as they search for the tome and seek to do the Medium’s will.
We also see the pair’s relationship grow, as the two support and, at times, rescue each other, while racing against time to complete their assigned tasks.
Betrayal occurs in more than one way in this book, and we see the consequences that reverberate from those moments, both in Kingfountain and in Muirwood.
I won’t drop spoilers here, other than to say is interesting to see things such as how Owen’s immunity to the magic of others, as introduced in the first Kingfountain book, is manifested here. And we at last get a clearer picture, through Eilean’s and Hoel’s eyes, why a certain beach in Plomeur is covered with colored glass.
This brings me to what I might call the double-edged sword of creating an origin story after writing nearly 30 other novels and novellas that are tied directly or allude to these worlds. Sometimes facts collide. In his author’s note for “The Betrayed,” Wheeler explains his reason for revising one particular piece of history in this latest book.
I found three other things different in “The Betrayed” from what I’d read in earlier Wheeler publications. Two are minor points to quibble over, but the third left me puzzled about what actually happened. I don’t think it’s a teaser for another book, just history rewritten.
That didn’t stop me from enjoying “The Betrayed,” and I felt satisfied with the ending. Let me add here that I received an early copy of the book to review. And finally, if I get a yen to revisit Wheeler’s earlier books based on these worlds, I will do it with a depth of new knowledge that will make the journey even better.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: YA—Adult (originally intended for an adult audience)

For fans of The Kingfountain Series and the Muirwood series, you're not going to want to miss the conclusion!

In THE BETRAYED, we finally get the story of King Andrew (inspired by King Arthur) along with the twists. You get Easter eggs for other moments in everything else you've already read. This volume also finishes the story of Eilean and Hoel—along with those twists and turns. It's full of drama, surprises, and magic. This is what you need when you want a fast-paced fantasy that grows from the history of our world but is reimagined.

It's very satisfying to see everything come together, like a tapestry with many threads in a beautiful pattern. Or full circle when you've read everything from this world. There are strong religious overtones to all of this work as well as inspiration from myths and English history. I think this is what makes it popular with so many—the series is grounded in the realms of King Arthur and the War of the Roses but there is so much more to it than that. You'll find a highlight of Joan of Arc in one story. Steampunk in another. Betrayals. Sacrifices.Good vs Evil. It has that feel good element.

Yes! I highly recommend this for all Jeff Wheeler fans, and if you haven't read his work yet there is so much to choose from. (I would probably recommend starting with The Queens Poisoner—because that's how I entered his world of writing.)

The epic conclusion to Eilean and Hoel's journey has arrived! It's full of heartbreak and despair, magic and wonder, forgiveness and new beginnings. It's a journey I have loved to be apart of, to watch Eilean become the person the Medium has been guiding her to become, with Hoel by her side they can accomplished anything! What a wonderous world Jeff Wheeler has created!