Book Bullets:
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Genre: Teen Fantasy Fiction
Part of a Series: yes, book one of Merlin Spiral Series
Publication year: 2013
Publisher: Zondervan
Description:
In Robert Treskillard's take on the Arthurian legends, young Merlin is faced
with the challenge of saving his country and those he loves when a mysterious,
and dangerous, stone falls from the sky.
Partially blinded years ago,
Merlin is a timid swordsmith's son who wants nothing more than to live a quiet
life and win the hand of Natalenya, the beautiful and kind daughter of a
magistrate. But after he and his friend Garth encounter a strange stone in the
wood, one protected by druids, Merlin receives a series of visions and
prophecies that he is to save Britain from a dark force. As the power of the
stone grows and threatens his family and friends, Merlin is forced to embrace
his calling---for he may be the only one immune to the stone's
power.
Touching on multiple elements of the classic Arthur story---from
the Lady of the Lake, the creation of Excalibur, the sword in the stone, and the
rescue of Arthur himself---this fantasy tale will appeal to young adults looking
for adventure and a hint of romance, as well as adults who enjoy the classic
tale this series is based on.
My Thoughts:
I'm reading some teen books, looking for new ones to include in our church library. I admit that the fantasy genre is not always my favorite, but this book was definitely exciting enough to hold my attention! The beginning ran a bit slow for me, but the rest of the book had anough action to keep me glued to my seat turning pages until the end! A bit like Narnia to me, with battles of good vs evil, mysterious dark magic, and other enchanted creatures, it was a definite read for those who like fantasy!
