By the time I was halfway through this book I was very certain that the author was LDS. It was so thick with Mormon theology. It was interesting realizing that what Jeff Wheeler did here with this book was very similar to what Joseph Smith did with "A View of the Hebrews". He took several points of an existing story and then remixed it to make something new. But just as members can see the Mormon world seep through the pages of Muirwood so could people in the past recognize "A View of the Hebrews" and other influences in the Book of Mormon. Thanks Jeff for showing us how to take someone else's work and make it your own. The first clue for me that the author was probably LDS was the orb. It's obvious that it was the Liahona in the Book of Mormon. But that is just the beginning. Mastens are equivalent to elders in the LDS church. The Medium is the power of God. Only learners can become Mastens and learn to use the Medium. And in the LDS church only men can hold the Priesthood which is the power of God according to the church. So that would make women equivalent to wretched in Muirwood. It paints a very good picture of how in Mormonism doubt isn't just bad, but poisonous according to the world of Muirwood. And how you need to just believe and cast all doubt out of your mind. Obedience to the medium, I mean God is most important. It goes on and on. If you are a member of the church you will probably like his books because it mirrors your own world view. If you are not LDS and want a glimpse of the fantastic world of not only Muirwood, but also Mormonism then you should read it. If you are trying to recover from Mormonism then you should stay clear of his books. It will just remind you of the world you've tried so desperately to escape from. I just can't decide what I think about this series. I read all three books, and they kept me entertained, AND I want other people to read them so that we can discuss them, but........Jeff Wheeler is a former LDS bishop who uses his religious background to shape everything in his fantasy world. In some ways, I love how he presents familiar ideas in a new light; other times, it slightly irritates me. Overall, it is an easy book to recommend since it is clean, full of adventure, and has good characters.
What do You think about The Wretched Of Muirwood (2013)?
It was a bit of a slow start, but I enjoyed it a lot more once I got into it!
—chig
Liked the imaginative story but just couldn't get into the storyline.
—MassieBlockxoxo
I couldn't finish it. didn't capture my imagination.
—gabby
