Tagged: the lost years of merlin

The Mirror of Merlin

(Cover picture courtesy of Open Library.)

There is something wicked in the swamplands on the magical isle of Fincayra—an encroaching evil intent on destroying the land—and only young Merlin possesses the power to stop it.

Together with Hallia, the deer-woman Merlin has fallen in love with, he must embark on a journey through the haunted land that will test his knowledge and his courage to find his stolen sword.

But then Merlin discovers a magic mirror capable of altering a person’s destiny—and the visage he finds within the glass is someone he never imagined he’d see…

What if you could go back in time to talk with your younger self and warn him/her about impending danger?  Or what if you could look into a mirror as a teenager and see the person you will become?  Well, that’s what the mysterious mirror in the middle of the Haunted Marsh allows Merlin to do.  But first he must travel to the very centre of the swamp with the deer-woman he loves in order to retrieve the sword Nimue stole from him.

“Mirrors, I assure you, can cause more pain than broadswords, more terror than ghouls.”

The novel’s prologue starts out with a haunting observation from Merlin looking back on his youth and it definitely sets the tone of the entire novel.  Filled with mystery, despair and tragic prophecies while still managing to captivate readers, The Mirror of Merlin is my second-favourite book in The Lost Years of Merlin series, only surpassed by the first novel.

T. A. Barron’s world-building is second to none in the world of fantasy fiction.  Filled with creatures from Celtic mythology as well as completely new creatures, it contains more diversity than many mainstream novels.  Just the way all people are filled with both light and dark, Fincayra is populated with dark creatures like marsh ghouls but balanced out with good creatures like the ballymag.  This is a nod to Merlin’s parentage as well; his evil father and his good mother give him a sort of symmetry.

Readers will cheer for Merlin every step of the way through his difficult quest and will be thrilled as more familiar elements from the Arthurian legends fall into place.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

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The Fires of Merlin by T. A. Barron

(Cover picture courtesy of Free Book Notes.)

The dragon called Wings of Fire has awakened from his enchanted slumber—a spell cast by Merlin’s grandfather—and only the descendant of the wizard who first defeated the dragon possesses the power to stop him.  Before Merlin can go to battle, he must confront the sorceress who has stolen his magical talisman—a talisman needed to stop Wings of Fire.

But according to the prophecy, the one who destroys the dragon also dies…

The stakes are higher than ever before in The Fires of Merlin, the third book in The Lost Years of Merlin epic.  Merlin must save Fincayra once again, but this time it may cost him his life.  With Wings of Fire awakening, Merlin and Rhia must go on a dangerous adventure that will take them across Fincayra once more, meeting all kinds of interesting people and creatures.

What I really love about T. A. Barron’s writing is that he uses a variety of fantasy creatures, rather than just sticking with all of the familiar ones.  I mean, in what other series are you going to find living carnivorous rocks and endangered deer people?  Barron uses his imagination and because of my rant about the lack of diversity in fantasy, I really appreciate the effort he put into his series.  More fantasy writers should follow his lead.

In addition to his excellent world-building, Barron really pays attention to his character development.  Merlin has changed slowly over the past two books and his development continues in this book.  We are finally seeing a bit of a transition from awkward teenage boy to slightly less awkward, more mature teenage boy.

I give this book 4.5/5 stars.

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The Seven Songs of Merlin by T. A. Barron

(Cover picture courtesy of T. A. Barron’s website.)

Young Merlin has freed Fincayra—the enchanted isle between earth and sky—from the terrible blight, taking the first steps on a path to discover the power within him.  But the mystical land is still in danger and his true trials are just beginning…

To save his ailing mother, Merlin must master the Seven Songs of Wisdom passed down from his grandfather, a legendary wizard.  Only then can he journey to the spiritual Otherworld to obtain the elixir he needs.  But the quest involves a task Merlin must perform—defeating a vile ogre whose merest gaze means death.  And even more difficult for the young wizard, he must discover the secret of seeing not with his eyes but with his heart…

After saving Fincayra in the first book, you would think poor Merlin would get a break and be able to safely bring his mother, Branwen (whose real name is Elen), back to him.  Alas, the evil Rhita Gawr had other plans for the boy.  When an illness strikes his mother down, Merlin must master the Seven Songs of Wisdom to save her.  Did I mention that this requires him to travel all over Fincayra?  And in only one month?

The Seven Songs of Merlin is a wonderful fantasy book by T. A. Barron, who has put quite a bit of effort into developing the magical world of Fincayra.  He takes Celtic mythology and blends it with more familiar fantasy elements to create this wonderfully written, thought-provoking novel.  It is T. A. Barron who first introduced me to the concept of hubris, the ancient word for too much pride.  Alas, hubris is something that I suffer from, which makes me sympathize with Merlin even more.  But regardless of whether you have hubris or not, I guarantee that you will find Merlin a very sympathetic character.

In addition to wonderful characterization and exemplary world building, the plot moves along very nicely.  By nature of the time limit imposed upon Merlin, this is sort of a no-brainer and Barron brings a sense of immediacy to his writing throughout the entire novel.  If you’re not already a T. A. Barron fan, you will be by the time you finish this novel.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

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The Lost Years of Merlin by T. A. Barron

(Cover picture courtesy of Winter Park Public Library.)

Washed up on the shores of ancient Wales, the boy had no home, no memory and no name…

He was determined to find all three.

Under the wing of the mysterious Branwen, who claims to be his mother, the nameless boy learns the lore of such ancient peoples as the Celts and the Druids.  But to discover his identity and the secret of his own powers, he must escape to the mist-shrouded isle of Fincayra, an enchanted land between earth and sky that is being destroyed by blight.  With this land’s inhabitants to guide him, the boy will learn that Fincayra’s fate and his own quest are strangely intertwined…

He is destined to become the greatest wizard of all time.

History will name him Merlin…

I’ve always been fascinated by the Arthurian legends and in particular with the mysterious sorcerer, Merlin.  And this book is what sparked my fascination.

It’s the Dark Ages in ancient Wales, after the Roman Empire has withdrawn and nothing is truly certain.  Emrys lives with Branwen, a woman that claims to be his mother, but because he lost his memory when they washed up on shore five years ago, he does not believe her.  But their life together is happy until the people of their small village turn against them and accuse Branwen of witchcraft.  This is when Emry’s life changes irrevocably and he sets out on a journey to learn about his past.

I read this book when I was quite young and now that I’ve re-read it, I have gotten a lot more out of it.  T. A. Barron intertwines old Arthurian legends with Celtic mythology to create a beautifully written, enchanting story.  All of the characters—especially Emrys—are very sympathetic and will definitely hold your attention.  The land of Fincayra is very well-developed and it’s where Baron’s wonderful imagination really shines through.  For anyone who likes fantasy, this is a worthwhile read.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

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