Plot Summary
The Summoning of Mice
In the shadowed tower of Comoros, young Princess Maia witnesses Chancellor Walraven summon a flood of mice with the kystrel, a forbidden medallion that channels the Medium's power. Though only nine, Maia is taught to read and scribe—privileges denied to women—by her father's trusted advisor. Yet, her lessons are laced with warnings: women are forbidden to wield true magic, and the kystrel's power is dangerous, especially for those who cannot master their emotions. When her mother's latest pregnancy ends in tragedy, Maia's world is shaken by grief and her father's growing coldness. The seeds of isolation and ambition are sown, as Maia's rare gifts and her father's ambitions set her apart from all others, foreshadowing the burdens and dangers she will face.
Banished and Betrayed
Maia's life is upended when her father, desperate for a male heir and manipulated by political intrigue, banishes both his wife and daughter. Maia is stripped of her title and sent to the borderlands, then later to the cold isolation of Pent Tower. Her stepmother, Lady Deorwynn, and her daughters torment Maia, reducing her to a servant's life. The pain of abandonment and the humiliation of her new station are compounded by her father's refusal to see her, even as she clings to the hope of reconciliation. Maia's resilience is tested as she endures cruelty, poverty, and the loss of her identity, but her inner strength and secret knowledge of the Medium keep her spirit alive.
The Cursed Forests
Sent on a secret mission by her father, Maia journeys into the cursed forests of Dahomey, accompanied by a mysterious kishion—a deadly protector—and a handful of soldiers. Their goal: to find a lost abbey rumored to hold the key to saving Comoros from the spreading madness unleashed by the expulsion of the Dochte Mandar. The journey is fraught with danger: monstrous beasts, treacherous terrain, and betrayal from within. Only Maia and the kishion survive to reach the abbey, where Maia's encounter with the dark pool and the Leering marks the beginning of a deeper, more personal struggle with the Myriad Ones—ancient, malevolent spirits that feed on human emotion and threaten to consume her.
The Hunter's Pact
Fleeing pursuit, Maia and the kishion stumble into a remote mountain village, where they meet Jon Tayt, a burly, blunt Pry-rian hunter, and his loyal hound Argus. Jon Tayt, recognizing Maia's true identity and her fairness from past border disputes, agrees to guide her through the wilds. Their alliance is forged in necessity and mutual respect, as Jon's practical wisdom and Maia's determination help them evade the relentless Dochte Mandar. The trio's bond deepens as they face storms, ambushes, and the growing threat of the Myriad Ones, with Jon's earthy humor and Argus's devotion providing rare moments of warmth and hope.
Storms and Pursuit
As the Dochte Mandar close in, Maia's use of the kystrel to defend herself unleashes a magical storm, drawing the attention of Corriveaux, a powerful enemy. The village that sheltered them is destroyed in the crossfire, and Maia is forced to confront the cost of her power—innocents suffer for her presence. Guilt and fear gnaw at her, but she presses on, guided by Jon Tayt and the kishion. The group's flight through the mountains is marked by harrowing escapes, deadly confrontations, and Maia's growing awareness that the Myriad Ones are drawn to her, feeding on her emotions and threatening to overwhelm her will.
The King's Collier
In the bustling crossroads of Roc-Adamour, Maia encounters Feint Collier, the king's master of horses—a charming, enigmatic man with a hidden past. Collier's flirtation and aid are both a blessing and a threat, as he helps Maia and her companions escape a Dochte Mandar trap, but his true identity and motives remain shrouded. The tension between trust and suspicion grows, especially as Collier's actions suggest both genuine affection and political calculation. Maia's heart is stirred by his attention, but she remains wary, knowing that every alliance in this world is fraught with risk.
Whitsunday and Wounds
Flashbacks to Maia's life at court and in exile reveal the emotional wounds inflicted by her father's betrayal and Lady Deorwynn's cruelty. The Whitsunday festival, once a symbol of hope and unity, becomes a stage for humiliation and exclusion. Maia's longing for acceptance and love is met with scorn, yet she finds solace in her secret mastery of the Medium and the rare kindnesses of Chancellor Walraven. The chapter explores the deep psychological scars of abandonment, the corrosive effects of envy and ambition, and the resilience Maia draws from her memories and inner resolve.
The Myriad Ones Awaken
As Maia's journey continues, the influence of the Myriad Ones intensifies. Nightmares and waking visions blur the line between past and present, reality and possession. The Myriad Ones feed on fear, anger, and despair, and Maia's struggle to control her emotions becomes a battle for her very soul. The kishion, Jon Tayt, and Argus witness her growing instability and the dangerous power she wields. The group's flight becomes more desperate as the Myriad Ones manipulate events, driving Maia toward a destiny she does not understand and cannot escape.
The Mark's Proposal
Captured by the King of Dahomey—revealed to be Feint Collier—Maia is offered a devil's bargain: marriage in exchange for her freedom and the promise of political alliance. Collier's ambition to unite the kingdoms and his fascination with Maia's power make him both suitor and captor. The marriage, performed under duress and shadowed by the threat of the hetaera's curse, binds Maia to Collier and deepens her entanglement with the Myriad Ones. The union is fraught with mistrust, longing, and the ever-present danger that Maia's kiss could bring death.
The Hetaera's Brand
Maia discovers the brand of the hetaera on her shoulder—a mark of ancient, destructive power. The revelation shatters her hopes for a normal life and marriage, as the curse means her kiss can unleash a plague. Collier's fascination turns to fear, and Maia is forced to confront the possibility that her father sent her on this quest to brand her a hetaera and justify his divorce. The psychological torment of being both victim and potential destroyer drives Maia to seek help from the abbeys, but the Myriad Ones' grip tightens, and her nights are haunted by possession and violence.
The Abbey Burns
Seeking sanctuary and healing for her wounded protector, Maia arrives at Cruix Abbey, only to find that her presence brings disaster. The Myriad One within her seizes control, and in a night of terror, the abbey is burned and its Aldermaston killed by Maia's cursed kiss. The horror of what she has done—unwittingly, yet inevitably—crushes Maia with guilt and shame. She flees, pursued by the Dochte Mandar and haunted by the knowledge that she is a weapon of destruction, her every attempt at salvation turning to ashes.
The Queen's Poison
In a parallel thread, Maia's mother, Queen Catrin, is poisoned by the kishion at Lady Deorwynn's behest. The act severs Maia's last tie to her family and deepens her isolation. The political machinations of Comoros continue, with Lady Deorwynn maneuvering for power and the king's madness growing. Maia, now hunted by all sides, is forced to accept that she can trust no one—not even herself. The poison that kills her mother is a symbol of the toxic ambitions and betrayals that have shaped Maia's fate.
The Armada Gathers
In the northern city of Rostick, Maia witnesses the assembly of a vast armada—ships built for invasion, their purpose to destroy the mastons of Assinica and maintain the Dochte Mandar's grip on power. The scale of the threat becomes clear: the struggle is not just for Comoros, but for the soul of the world. Maia's flight through the city, her rescue by Collier, and their desperate escape by ship set the stage for the final confrontation. The armada is both a literal and symbolic force, representing the convergence of ambition, fear, and the ancient war between mastons and hetaera.
The Empress of Naess
Maia is brought to Naess, the seat of the Dochte Mandar, where she is to be crowned Empress and used as a weapon against the mastons. Corriveaux and Walraven reveal the depth of their manipulation: Maia's entire life has been orchestrated to make her the vessel for Ereshkigal, queen of the Myriad Ones. The opulence of her prison is a mockery of freedom, and the promise of power is a gilded cage. Maia's struggle to retain her will and resist possession becomes a battle for her soul and the fate of the world.
The High Seer's Light
In her darkest hour, Maia is rescued by Sabine Demont, her grandmother and the High Seer of Pry-Ree. Through the power of the Medium and the strength of her lineage, Maia is freed from Ereshkigal's grip. The revelation that Walraven was a double agent, serving the mastons in secret, brings bittersweet closure to Maia's long journey of betrayal and trust. The High Seer's intervention is both a miracle and a call to responsibility: Maia must now fulfill the Covenant of Muirwood and restore the balance between the worlds.
Ransom and Reunion
As Maia and her allies escape Naess, she is forced to leave Collier behind, knowing that their bond—sealed by the kystrel and the hetaera's curse—can never be fully healed. The pain of separation is tempered by the reunion with Jon Tayt and Argus, and the promise of sanctuary at Muirwood. Maia's journey has transformed her from a banished princess to a cipher, a student of the Medium, and a potential savior. The cost of her power is high, but she accepts it with humility and resolve.
The Covenant of Muirwood
Arriving at Muirwood Abbey, Maia is welcomed as both outcast and heir. Under the guidance of her grandmother and the legacy of Lia Demont, she begins her training as a maston and a cipher, learning to read, engrave, and master the Medium. The Covenant of Muirwood—to restore the abbeys, open the Apse Veil, and bring peace to the dead and the living—becomes Maia's purpose. The story closes with hope and sorrow intertwined, as Maia embraces her destiny, mourns her losses, and prepares for the trials yet to come.
Characters
Maia (Marciana Soliven)
Maia is the daughter of the King of Comoros, born into privilege but cast out by her father's ambition and the machinations of Lady Deorwynn. Gifted with the rare ability to read, scribe, and wield the Medium, Maia is both a prodigy and a pariah. Her journey is one of profound psychological depth: she endures betrayal, humiliation, and the loss of her identity, yet her resilience and compassion never fully falter. Haunted by the Myriad Ones and marked as a hetaera, Maia's struggle is as much internal as external—a battle for her soul, her agency, and her right to choose love and destiny. Her relationships—with her father, her mother, the kishion, Jon Tayt, Collier, and her grandmother—are fraught with longing, mistrust, and the search for belonging. Maia's arc is one of transformation: from pawn to player, from victim to savior, from banished daughter to the hope of Muirwood.
Chancellor Walraven
Walraven is Maia's childhood tutor and the king's advisor, a master of the Medium and a senior member of the Dochte Mandar. He teaches Maia to read and scribe in secret, nurturing her gifts while warning her of the dangers of emotion and power. Walraven's role is deeply ambiguous: he is both protector and betrayer, shaping Maia's fate for purposes she cannot see. Ultimately revealed as a double agent, Walraven's loyalty is to the mastons and the High Seer, but his methods are ruthless and his legacy is one of both wisdom and pain. His psychological complexity lies in his ability to compartmentalize love, duty, and ambition, and his willingness to sacrifice himself for a greater cause.
The Kishion
The kishion is a nameless, scarred assassin assigned to protect—and, if necessary, kill—Maia. His loyalty is to his contract, not to any person or cause, yet over the course of their journey, a grudging respect and even affection develops between him and Maia. The kishion's psyche is shaped by trauma, discipline, and a deep sense of fatalism. He is both a mirror and a foil to Maia: where she seeks meaning and connection, he is defined by detachment and survival. His ultimate act—poisoning Maia's mother—underscores the tragic cost of loyalty without love, and the dangers of being a tool in others' games.
Jon Tayt
Jon Tayt is a Pry-rian tracker and guide, larger than life in both body and personality. His gruff humor, practical wisdom, and unwavering loyalty make him an anchor for Maia amid chaos. Jon's psychological resilience is rooted in his acceptance of hardship and his refusal to abandon friends, even when reason dictates otherwise. His relationship with Maia is one of mutual respect and gentle teasing, and his bond with Argus, his hound, symbolizes the loyalty and simplicity Maia longs for. Jon's journey is one of service and sacrifice, embodying the virtues of friendship, humility, and courage.
Feint Collier (King Gideon of Dahomey)
Collier is both the king's collier and the King of Dahomey, a master of disguise, swordplay, and political intrigue. His fascination with Maia is genuine, but it is inseparable from his ambition to unite the kingdoms and wield ultimate power. Collier's psychological makeup is a blend of charm, insecurity, and longing for freedom—shaped by his childhood as a hostage and his adult life as a ruler. His marriage to Maia is both a political alliance and a personal tragedy, as the hetaera's curse makes true intimacy impossible. Collier's arc is one of desire, betrayal, and the painful realization that love cannot be forced or possessed.
Corriveaux
Corriveaux is a high-ranking Dochte Mandar and member of the Victus, the secret order manipulating the kingdoms. His will is iron, his ambition boundless, and his methods ruthless. Corriveaux's psychological profile is that of a zealot: he believes in the necessity of control, the danger of unchecked emotion, and the righteousness of his cause. His pursuit of Maia is both personal and ideological, and his ultimate defeat is a testament to the limits of power without compassion.
Lady Deorwynn
Lady Deorwynn is the king's consort and the mother of Maia's rivals. Her beauty, charm, and cunning mask a deep well of envy and resentment. Deorwynn's psychological drive is the pursuit of security and status for herself and her children, achieved through manipulation, cruelty, and the systematic destruction of Maia's identity. Her relationship with Maia is one of calculated humiliation, and her alliance with the Victus underscores the dangers of unchecked ambition.
Queen Catrin
Maia's mother is a maston, banished to Muirwood Abbey by her husband's political machinations. Her love for Maia is unconditional, expressed through rare letters and the hope of reunion. Catrin's psychological strength lies in her faith, her endurance, and her refusal to betray her vows, even at the cost of her life. Her poisoning is a devastating loss for Maia, representing the final severing of familial bonds and the triumph of political over personal loyalty.
Sabine Demont (High Seer)
Sabine is the High Seer of Pry-Ree and Maia's grandmother, a woman of immense power, compassion, and vision. Her role is that of redeemer and teacher, rescuing Maia from possession and guiding her toward her true destiny. Sabine's psychological depth is rooted in her acceptance of suffering, her understanding of history, and her unwavering love for her family. She embodies the hope of renewal and the possibility of healing, even after generations of pain.
Ereshkigal (Queen of the Myriad Ones)
Ereshkigal is the Myriad One who possesses Maia, seeking revenge for the destruction of the hetaera and the mastons' return. Her psychology is alien, defined by hunger, rage, and the desire to destroy. She is both a literal and symbolic force: the darkness within Maia, the legacy of trauma, and the ever-present threat of losing oneself to despair. Ereshkigal's defeat is not the end of evil, but a reprieve—a reminder that the struggle for the soul is never truly over.
Plot Devices
The Kystrel and the Medium
The kystrel, a medallion that channels the Medium, is the central magical device of the story. It symbolizes both empowerment and danger, especially for women, who are forbidden to wield it. The Medium itself is a force that responds to thought and emotion, making self-mastery and intention crucial. The kystrel amplifies Maia's abilities but also marks her as a target and a vessel for the Myriad Ones. Its use is tied to psychological control, foreshadowing, and the theme of power's double edge.
Possession and Dreams
Maia's recurring nightmares and episodes of possession by the Myriad Ones serve as both plot engine and psychological exploration. The dreams allow the narrative to revisit Maia's past, reveal hidden traumas, and foreshadow future events. Possession is a metaphor for the loss of agency, the struggle with internalized evil, and the dangers of unexamined emotion. The device also enables the story to explore the consequences of trauma and the possibility of redemption.
Political Intrigue and Betrayal
The story is structured around a series of betrayals—familial, political, and personal. The Victus, the Dochte Mandar, and the various royal families all manipulate events to their advantage, using marriage, exile, and assassination as tools. The narrative structure is cyclical, with past betrayals echoing in the present and shaping the future. Foreshadowing is used extensively, with prophecies, tomes, and visions hinting at the dangers to come.
The Covenant and the Abbeys
The Covenant of Muirwood—the promise to rebuild the abbeys and restore the Apse Veil—is the story's moral and spiritual backbone. The abbeys represent both sanctuary and the possibility of renewal, while their destruction and rebuilding mirror Maia's own journey. The narrative uses the motif of the journey—physical, emotional, and spiritual—to structure Maia's transformation from exile to savior. The restoration of the abbeys is both a literal and symbolic act, representing the hope of healing and the triumph of compassion over control.
Analysis
The Banished of Muirwood is a sweeping tale of exile, power, and redemption, blending epic fantasy with deep psychological insight. At its heart is Maia, a heroine whose journey from banished princess to potential savior is marked by suffering, resilience, and the relentless search for belonging. The novel interrogates the nature of power—who wields it, who is denied it, and at what cost. Through the devices of forbidden magic, possession, and political intrigue, the story explores the dangers of unchecked ambition, the corrosive effects of trauma, and the possibility of healing through love, wisdom, and self-mastery. The Medium, as both magical force and metaphor, underscores the importance of intention, emotion, and thought in shaping destiny. The narrative's cyclical structure—mirroring the rise and fall of abbeys, the repetition of betrayal and hope—invites readers to reflect on the patterns of history and the choices that break or perpetuate them. Ultimately, the novel is a meditation on agency: the courage to choose compassion over vengeance, to seek truth amid deception, and to find light in the darkest of places. Its lessons are timeless: that suffering can forge character, that love endures beyond loss, and that even the most banished soul can become the hope of a broken world.
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