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Lesley Wilson was born in North Yorkshire, UK and educated in Lincolnshire, Mill Hill School, Middlesbrough, and Pickering's Commercial College, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. She completed a course in Journalism with the London School of Writing, and has been an active member of a writers' group in Australia.
In 1957, she met a young man on holiday in Italy. A whirlwind courtship followed before he joined the British Army. Fifteen months and hundreds of letters later, Lesley, aged seventeen, boarded a troop ship bound for Singapore, where she married the love of her life. She worked as a fashion model in Singapore for two years before returning to the UK. A three year posting to Germany with her husband followed.
Returned to the UK after her husband left the army, Lesley worked as Girl Friday for a well-known racing driver/motor dealer.
In 1982 she migrated to Australia with her husband and small son. She ran a craft shop for several years in which she manufactured all the items for sale.
Today she is retired and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. She is also a member of an active quilting group who involve themselves in charitable endeavours from time to time. She reads and reviews books for other authors but writing is her major passion. When she isn't glued to the computer keyboard she loves to travel, entertain friends, and work in her large garden in North Queensland.
Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Oric and the Alchemist's Key by Lesley Wilson is the first book in The Oric Trilogy. No one knows loss better than young Oric who lost his parents as an infant and was taken in by Master Deveril. One morning, he returns from forging to find his home destroyed. A band of raiders attacked the manor and the nearby village, leaving everyone dead. Oric's mentor, Master Deveril, was left for dead, living long enough to give Oric a dire warning and a mysterious key. Little did Oric know just how valuable the key would be. Esica Figg will stop at nothing to retrieve it and obtain the wealth that Master Deveril hinted at, even if it means destroying what gets in his path. Oric is saved by the mysterious stranger Ichtheus who takes him on a journey back to his home. Oric befriends new people and must fight the jealousy and torment of Master Guwain, the heir of Bayersby Manor. As Figg draws closer to obtaining the key, Oric gets closer to understanding the message his mentor wished him to possess.
Lesley Wilson breathes life into this unique setting with a variety of characters, a detailed world, and an intriguing mystery. The setting is an important element in the plot with alchemy, greed, and power creating dangers and obstacles. The plot is fast-paced, diving straight into the plot and never slowing down as Oric's journey is only just beginning. Lesley Wilson weaves other characters into the story with each taking a different role in Oric's journey and with each having a different station in society. Oric is an apothecary apprentice so you see his role healing and caring for those with sickness, which puts him in the pathway of Dian whose family has fallen ill. Dian is a character of strength and shares several commonalities with Oric as she's sick herself but still cares for everyone else. Guwain is at the opposite end of society as the heir to Bayersby Manor and balances out Dian as she's one who gives of herself. She has a compassionate attitude and he has a bad attitude towards everyone. Oric and the Alchemist's Key is a brilliant start to a series with endearing characters you'll quickly like, a plot with a rich mystery, plenty of danger, and an intriguing world.
