Little Wren and the Big Forest

The Legends of the First Empire #0.6

by Michael J. Sullivan

Most know of Brin's hatred for Gronbach, a lying dwarven magistrate who betrayed Persephone and members of her party when they were ridding Neith of the Balgargarath. But few have read the fairytale she created that helped make him so despised.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Magic, Adventure

46 pages, ebook

First published November 21, 2016

About the author

We are extending the dates for the Holiday Sale. Click the image to shop (a) Out of print hardcovers just $10 each (b) Soon to be out of print hardcovers and (c) Deluxe boxsets with savings up to $80 off.



I'm a New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author with 9 Goodreads Choice Award Nominations and 6 Amazon Editor's Picks.

My current released books:

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — —
Coming to Kickstarter in April 2026

New short stories by: Brandon Sanderson • J.A. Andrews • Bradley P. Beaulieu • Carol Berg • Peter V. Brett • Terry Brooks • Jim Butcher • Delilah S. Dawson • Matt Dinniman • Kate Elliott • Kevin Hearne • Jessica Day George • Lev Grossman • Nancy Kress • Mark Lawrence • Scott Lynch • Jonathan Maberry •Seanan McQuire • Brandon Mull • Peter Orullian • Christopher Paolini • Kat Richardson • Christopher Ruocchio • Anthony Ryan • R.A. Salvatore • Scott Sigler • Shawn Speakman • Michael J. Sullivan • Carrie Vaughn • Brent Weeks • Tad Williams • Janny Wurts
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — —
Indie Author: A documentary for those wo dare to dream is now FREE on YOUTUBE!

It features myself, Andy Wier, Will Wight, Travis Baldree, and many more.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — — — —


I first opened the door to my imagination with typewriter keys while playing hide and seek and finding a black behemoth when I just ten years old. Serious writing started in my twenties, but after more than a decade trying to publish (and getting nowhere), I quit altogether. I returned to writing in 2004, and published my first novel with a small press in 2008. If you had told me that I'd be a New York Times Bestselling author, have 85+ novels translated into 13 languages, and sold more than 2 million copies, I never would have believed you!

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She also knew that bad things happened for no reason, and good things rarely occurred at all. Good things needed an excuse, an effort, a payment.”

Pleasant short story from the First Empire. A fair representation of Sullivan’s style.

“This is where things will get bad. This is where everyone went and never came back. The real question is, are they alive in there? Will I be able to see them again?”

I think this is extracted from one of his full-length books. I have read it before.

“Wren stared at the crow. Completely black, it didn’t look like the sort of bird one ought to trust. But then, the sheep had been adorable with its cute little beard, and that didn’t work out so well.”

[Chris Haught · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little story set in the world of The Legends of the First Empire. Of course, once you get a taste you're going to want more....

[Ren (A Bookish Balance) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

One of my least favourite Elan shorts, I was pretty surprised by how violent/gruesome this story was as that is not usually MJS's style. I guess this served its purpose, but I could have gone without reading it.

[Wulf Krueger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was, unfortunately, a quick and painful read. We’re observing how Wren enters the big - forbidden and foreboding - forest despite her entire family having disappeared in it before.

Even worse: She goes into the forest knowing full well it’s a trap and, “being eight years old and small for her age” she has absolutely nothing to expect but being lost forever herself.

As if that wasn’t enough already, the story feels forced, a lacklustre piece that’s even gory in part which is something I’m definitely not used to when it comes to Michael’s books and other short stories.

Ultimately, it ends with a whimper of a solution that is as forgettable as the entire thing.

Just stay away from this short story and choose from Michael’s other works which are simply marvellous!



Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

[Vyshakh Aravindan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Wren and the Big Forest was one I almost didn’t expect to hit me as hard as it did. On the surface, it feels like a fable—a gentle, almost childlike story about a young girl in a dangerous forest. But very quickly it becomes clear this isn’t just a tale for children. Wren’s journey is quiet and simple, but through her fear, curiosity, and growing strength, the story becomes something much bigger. It’s about how the world teaches us to be afraid—and how sometimes, wonder can survive in spite of that. There’s a purity to the story that reminded me of Suri when we first met her. It’s short, yes, but by the time I turned the last page, I felt like I had read something ancient, like one of those bedtime stories that’s been passed down for generations but still has something new to say. I didn’t expect a story this small to be so moving, but it’s stayed with me ever since.

[Miriam Michalak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet!

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ended extremely abruptly, I needed a couple more chapters. Reeeeally wanted to read more!

[Alan Behan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic short story from the Legends of The First Empire series. Little Wren and the Big Forest, it's about a legendary fairytale, an evil dwarf named Gronbach, the Rumpelstiltskin of Elan. A bedtime story for scaring the children becomes very real for eight year old Wren. Everyone knows not to go into the forest. Everyone. But Wren’s lost a sheep, and her brother needs to find it. When he doesn’t come back, her parents leave to find him. When they don’t come back, she goes looking. What she finds is a terrifying situation that forces her to pit her wits against an ancient creature bent of bringing something terrible to life. A brilliantly told tale by Michael J. Sullivan, you can find this short story in the Unfettered II Anthology. I highly recommend, for all Riyria fans...😁💙💥

[Tawnya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in the anthology "Unfettered 2".

A fairy tale about an eight year old girl named Wren. Her family lives next to a forest. Wren and her big brother Lee looks after the sheep the family keeps. After they see a sheep go into the forest Lee looks scared. The forest always seems frightening, but he knows that if they lose one of the sheep that his father will whip him, so he goes in after it. Wren winds up alone as one after the other of her family members enters the forest looking for the others who don't return. The story had a Brothers Grimm feel about it.

[Nick Bonnema · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of the two short stories set in Elan around the time of the Legends of the First Empire, this only okay. I much prefer Pile of Bones. That being said, it has only a slight connection to the overall story just in that the cave it partially occurs in plays a larger role in the series (I believe) and it is an excerpt from the writings of Brin. Not a necessary read, but short enough to sit down with over a cup of coffee.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Sullivan's short stories.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing little side short story that works best to enrich the Legends of the First Empire than on its own. A good read to build the world.

[Allan van der Heiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great teaser to get me into the Age series.

Wren keeps you so drawn into the story. It’s just a pity it doesn’t have more of her tales.

[Ulzeta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad.

[Gary Weinman · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the story is based in Legends, I'm not really sure it added anything to the series. However, I did enjoy it. It is worth the download.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

An 8 year old girl, left alone in her home decides to go into the forest to find her family. A fun little adventure

[Matt Greiber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started really strong but felt the tale could have been better at the end

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable, some nice repeating jokes and themes in the writing.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am starting a petition to make MJS write a fairytale collection from the world of Elan.

[André · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and enjoyable read with quite some lore. Review to follow.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
this was a 4 until that abrupt ending

[Krishnakanth Kurumeti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read it because it's part of the Legends series, but I found it not remarkable at all...
It felt like a forced account by the author to showcase the cruelty of Gronbach and the weak protagonist doesn't help the story at all...

[Faline Abel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best book in the series-the others I have read so far are much better.