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The Wandering Tree
On top of a cliff at the edge of the world, in a land long forgotten by the fools who wander tall on two legs, lives an ancient tree who’s spent many mortal lifetimes silently observing the world around him. Until one day, a magical mistake turns the tree to gold… and brings him to life. Now free to wander a world he’s only dreamed of, the tree heads for the mountains, hoping to discover all the beauty and joy that exists beyond his home.
With new friends at his side, he soon learns the precious gift which gave him life is both a blessing and a burden, desired by those who hold treasure above innocent lives. The world is a much darker place than he expected, yet more wonderful in ways
he never could’ve imagined.
But there is a price to pay for being a wandering tree and his journey will teach him that the true difference between being alive and living is worth its weight in gold. It’s a life he never knew he wanted, filled with moments that will root themselves deep in his soul and wander in his heart forever.
With new friends at his side, he soon learns the precious gift which gave him life is both a blessing and a burden, desired by those who hold treasure above innocent lives. The world is a much darker place than he expected, yet more wonderful in ways
he never could’ve imagined.
But there is a price to pay for being a wandering tree and his journey will teach him that the true difference between being alive and living is worth its weight in gold. It’s a life he never knew he wanted, filled with moments that will root themselves deep in his soul and wander in his heart forever.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2022
3 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 14, 2022
"𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦? 𝘛𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸? 𝘐 𝘥𝘰. 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬. 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”
“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦… 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦.”
My heart. This gorgeous tale of adventure explores the pain and beauty of the human condition, filtered through the ancient yet wholly new soul of the wandering tree. This book is a love letter to folklore, to ancient truths, and the unyielding wonder of nature. It will stay with you, long after the last page, tucking itself into a corner of your heart, into the space where memory becomes tinged with bittersweet nostalgia.
“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦… 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦.”
My heart. This gorgeous tale of adventure explores the pain and beauty of the human condition, filtered through the ancient yet wholly new soul of the wandering tree. This book is a love letter to folklore, to ancient truths, and the unyielding wonder of nature. It will stay with you, long after the last page, tucking itself into a corner of your heart, into the space where memory becomes tinged with bittersweet nostalgia.
June 9, 2022
A delightful story with powerful moments of friendship and sacrifice that will tug on your heartstrings ✨
This delight of a story follows a wandering tree as he gains the ability to move around and discover the world, and the friends and foes he meets along the way. There’s a sweet naivety to Faryn, our main character, who starts his journey with high hopes of finds and friendship. Everything is cast in a positive golden light to start with. But Carstarphen doesn’t let that hold the story back from challenging and sometimes dark concepts, and our characters have to explore them the best they can.
One of my favorite characters is Wendell, a kind but tortured soul with an intricate past of abandonment and escape. I loved was the world building. So many incredible lands and creatures - like the deceivelings! Brilliant! But the thing I loved most about this novel was the moments of true friendship. The kindness we should all take into situations, caring for friends new and old.
There is a blissful ignorance in staying where you are, but The Wandering Tree invites us to join a brilliant tree as he wanders the land, finding friends and heartbreak and a world full of wonders he has never imagined, asking us: what lies beyond your door and are you brave enough to find out?
This delight of a story follows a wandering tree as he gains the ability to move around and discover the world, and the friends and foes he meets along the way. There’s a sweet naivety to Faryn, our main character, who starts his journey with high hopes of finds and friendship. Everything is cast in a positive golden light to start with. But Carstarphen doesn’t let that hold the story back from challenging and sometimes dark concepts, and our characters have to explore them the best they can.
One of my favorite characters is Wendell, a kind but tortured soul with an intricate past of abandonment and escape. I loved was the world building. So many incredible lands and creatures - like the deceivelings! Brilliant! But the thing I loved most about this novel was the moments of true friendship. The kindness we should all take into situations, caring for friends new and old.
There is a blissful ignorance in staying where you are, but The Wandering Tree invites us to join a brilliant tree as he wanders the land, finding friends and heartbreak and a world full of wonders he has never imagined, asking us: what lies beyond your door and are you brave enough to find out?
December 20, 2021
I beta read this book, so haven’t yet been able to see it in its final form… but are readers in for a treat when they get to read this fantastical, magical, relatable book by MJ Carstarphen! No spoilers for now, but I’ll update my review when I can add details!
May 29, 2022
If you are looking for a book with characters that are incredibly easy to love, adventures away from home, and an exploration of light and dark, then this is the book for you.
MJ Carstarphen creates a beautiful world in which we follow our MC, a tree that has been magically brought to life and sets out to experience the world in ways he never knew possible. I fell almost instantly in love with this kind, loving tree. On his explorations, he meets a whole cast of interesting characters that teach him what it means to be alive. I fell in love with them too. Not only did I love the characters individually, I loved them together. Their interactions brought so much life to the story.
I loved that this book took me to unexpected places. The characters encounter darkness, and it was interesting to see how the darkness was handled. It was met with a strength and openness that touched my heart. It has been a long time since I
have read a book that had me both laughing and crying.
The world was incredibly fun to start exploring. I was continually surprised by new creatures and new adventures. I absolutely cannot wait to see more of the world fleshed out in the next book.
I feel that if I say much more, it would take away from the experience of reading it for the first time, so I will just end by saying that I absolutely loved my experience wandering with this magnificent tree. It is making its way into the world on May 31, don’t forget to check it out!
Feel free to message me for any trigger warnings.
A huge thank you to MJ Carstarphen for the absolute honor of reading this book in exchange for my honest review.
MJ Carstarphen creates a beautiful world in which we follow our MC, a tree that has been magically brought to life and sets out to experience the world in ways he never knew possible. I fell almost instantly in love with this kind, loving tree. On his explorations, he meets a whole cast of interesting characters that teach him what it means to be alive. I fell in love with them too. Not only did I love the characters individually, I loved them together. Their interactions brought so much life to the story.
I loved that this book took me to unexpected places. The characters encounter darkness, and it was interesting to see how the darkness was handled. It was met with a strength and openness that touched my heart. It has been a long time since I
have read a book that had me both laughing and crying.
The world was incredibly fun to start exploring. I was continually surprised by new creatures and new adventures. I absolutely cannot wait to see more of the world fleshed out in the next book.
I feel that if I say much more, it would take away from the experience of reading it for the first time, so I will just end by saying that I absolutely loved my experience wandering with this magnificent tree. It is making its way into the world on May 31, don’t forget to check it out!
Feel free to message me for any trigger warnings.
A huge thank you to MJ Carstarphen for the absolute honor of reading this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 24, 2022
The Wandering Tree is a beautifully descriptive fantasy filled with mythical creatures. This story is playful and sweet; yet, at times can be dark and heartbreaking. I think it would be a great read for older children or teens, as well as adults. It reminds me of a more whimsical version of The Lord of the Rings or The Alchemist (both of which I LOVED).
This tale is filled with adventure while making friends (and a few enemies) along the way, and sprinkled with little gems of wisdom as a tree of gold learns what it means to be truly alive.
This tale is filled with adventure while making friends (and a few enemies) along the way, and sprinkled with little gems of wisdom as a tree of gold learns what it means to be truly alive.
June 1, 2022
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Where to start.. this book was incredible. The Wandering Tree is a classic fantasy novel with magic, leprechauns, goblins, and more. It follows a tree who has come to life on a journey to explore not only the world, but himself.
There are dark themes and real life struggles woven throughout the book and handled expertly. There’s adventure, heartbreak, love of all kinds, self acceptance, found family… MJ’s writing gave me such a nostalgic feeling as I was reading, it felt like home. I felt all the feelings while reading this and I can’t recommend it enough.
If you’re a lover of fantasy this is for you.
Where to start.. this book was incredible. The Wandering Tree is a classic fantasy novel with magic, leprechauns, goblins, and more. It follows a tree who has come to life on a journey to explore not only the world, but himself.
There are dark themes and real life struggles woven throughout the book and handled expertly. There’s adventure, heartbreak, love of all kinds, self acceptance, found family… MJ’s writing gave me such a nostalgic feeling as I was reading, it felt like home. I felt all the feelings while reading this and I can’t recommend it enough.
If you’re a lover of fantasy this is for you.
June 17, 2022
Brimming with wisdom, this book is like a love letter to stories and I would recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy.
I admit it took me a while to get used to MJ‘s distinct writing style and the unique POV she used, but once I did it was easy to love seeing as this story was filled with both adventure and a sense of coziness. This is the sort of book that you read aloud, perhaps around a campfire or under a tree (actually that second one would definitely be most fitting). Either way I adored how this novel felt like one long, magical and unique fairytale that had been passed down for generations.
Along with being a love letter to stories, I would say that this story is a celebration of life, all kinds of life, and by the end I was definitely feeling a sense of gratitude, which is a powerful thing to end on for a book. So, that is my review!
I admit it took me a while to get used to MJ‘s distinct writing style and the unique POV she used, but once I did it was easy to love seeing as this story was filled with both adventure and a sense of coziness. This is the sort of book that you read aloud, perhaps around a campfire or under a tree (actually that second one would definitely be most fitting). Either way I adored how this novel felt like one long, magical and unique fairytale that had been passed down for generations.
Along with being a love letter to stories, I would say that this story is a celebration of life, all kinds of life, and by the end I was definitely feeling a sense of gratitude, which is a powerful thing to end on for a book. So, that is my review!
May 30, 2022
Words cannot describe how much I love this story. I had the honor of being a beta reader for Carstarphen over a year ago, and this beautiful tale has nestled itself within my brain for good. The messages she conveys through her tree MC—that's right, the main character is a magnificent TREE—make you believe in the preservation of nature and exploring all life has to offer. Following the author on her writing journey was an absolute joy, and I am so proud of her hard work. The Wandering Tree is, by far, one of my favorite books by an indie author.
If you love a book full of adventure, friendship, incredible character development, humor (and tears!!), you need to grab a copy of The Wandering Tree today!!
If you love a book full of adventure, friendship, incredible character development, humor (and tears!!), you need to grab a copy of The Wandering Tree today!!
September 25, 2022
If you’re looking for a beautiful story with the magic turned up to 11, you’ve found it.
This book was full of adventure, friendship, and all the magical creatures you could possibly ask for. It follows Faryn, a tree brought to life by leprechaun gold. He wants nothing more than to explore the world and experience living for the first time. But as we all know, living comes with a price.
Faryn & his friends experience big amounts of love and loss on their epic journey as they discover what it truly means to care for others in a world that isn’t always so beautiful.
This book was full of adventure, friendship, and all the magical creatures you could possibly ask for. It follows Faryn, a tree brought to life by leprechaun gold. He wants nothing more than to explore the world and experience living for the first time. But as we all know, living comes with a price.
Faryn & his friends experience big amounts of love and loss on their epic journey as they discover what it truly means to care for others in a world that isn’t always so beautiful.
May 30, 2022
I absolutely loved this story about the wandering tree. There were so many important and valuable life lessons sprinkled through this story. Life, love, loss, hope, and peace. We meet leprechauns, fairies, goblins, and other creatures along our journey.
And of course, I absolutely loved where it ended up. I loved the epilogue, which made me feel a lot of emotions.
I definitely recommend this book if you liked LOTR and the Hobbit, and want to go on a life changing journey.
And of course, I absolutely loved where it ended up. I loved the epilogue, which made me feel a lot of emotions.
I definitely recommend this book if you liked LOTR and the Hobbit, and want to go on a life changing journey.
October 23, 2023
I wanted to love it, I really did. Especially since someone recommended it whose recommendations are usually spot on for me. However, I kept starting and stopping, hating it, trying to just make myself get through it. I finally deleted it from my kindle and I’ve never done that before.
Why?
It reads like someone sat with a thesaurus and tried to pick the hardest words possible even when they didn’t quite make sense.
Why?
It reads like someone sat with a thesaurus and tried to pick the hardest words possible even when they didn’t quite make sense.
September 21, 2022
Gave me Neverending Story/ Labyrinth vibes. I will admit it, I cried. This would be a great story to read at bedtime to a child that enjoys longer stories.
June 27, 2022
Amazon kept insisting I leave a review for my own book... so figured I'd leave it here too. I've read this book more times than anyone can possibly imagine; I am reading it to my daughter at bedtime because it's her favorite story... so it's safe to say I've read my own story at least 50 times and I still am in love with it. The same parts make me smile and cry and feel all sorts of emotions. But don't take my word for it. Get a copy of your own and find out for yourself!
August 27, 2022
I have to say, I don't read much fantasy; however, I absolutely LOVED The Wandering Tree. The characters are so well developed and have such an epic journey exploring the world and all it has to offer (the good and the less good). Other than being reminiscent of other works of fantasy (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, etc.), the story structure and life lessons reminded me of The Alchemist. I'd recommend this book to anyone, fantasy readers and non-fantasy readers alike, who is looking for a magical tale with some real heart. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews