|
Title | The Lost Years of Merlin
|
Author | T.A. Barron
|
Cover Art | Mike Wimmer
|
Publisher | Ace Books - 1999
|
First Printing | Philomel Books - 1996
|
|
|
Title | The Seven Songs of Merlin
|
Author | T.A. Barron
|
Cover Art | Mike Wimmer
|
Publisher | Ace Books - 2002
|
First Printing | Philomel Books - 1997
|
|
|
Title | The Fires of Merlin
|
Author | T.A. Barron
|
Cover Art | Mike Wimmer
|
Publisher | Ace Books - 2000
|
First Printing | Philomel Books - 1998
|
|
|
Title | The Mirror of Merlin
|
Author | T.A. Barron
|
Cover Art | Mike Wimmer
|
Publisher | Ace Books - 2002
|
First Printing | Philomel Books - 1999
|
|
|
Title | The Wings of Merlin
|
Author | T.A. Barron
|
Cover Art | Mike Wimmer
|
Publisher | Ace Books - 2003
|
First Printing | Philomel Books - 2000
|
| |
Category | Children
|
Warnings | None
|
Main Characters | Emrys/Merlin, Elen, Rhia, Caipre, Hallia, Shim, Trouble
|
Main Elements | Wizards, giants, dwarves
|
Website | tabarron.com
|
|
The Lost Years of Merlin
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...
The Seven Songs of Merling
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 and obtain the elixir he needs. But the quest involves a task Merlin must perform - defeating a vile ogre whose merest glance 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...
The Fires of Merlin
Long ago on the magical island of Fincayra, the last emperor of the dragons took revenge against the realm for the slaughter of his mate and their only offspring. Merlin's grandfather - a mighty wizard - saved the land by casting a sleeping spell over the dragon...
The dragon called Wings of Fire has awakened from his enchanted slumber. Prophecy dictates that 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 conquer his own fears by confronting the sorceress who has stolen his magical talisman - a talisman needed to stop Wings of Fire.
But according to prophecy, the one who destroys the dragon, must also die...
The Mirror of Merlin
There is something wicked intent on destroying the magical isle of Fincayra, and only young Merlin possesses the power to stop it. Together with Hallia, the deer-woman, Merlin must 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's see...
The Wings of Merlin
The evil warlord Rhita Gawr is preparing to wage war against the island of Fincayra. To halt this invasion, Merlin must perform his most difficult taks yet. He must unite with the bickering factions of the magical isle - dwarves, canyon eagles, walking trees, and more - to stand together against the dire threat.
But first Merlin must fight and even greater battle - one that rages within him - before he can unify the Fincayrans, and regain the long-lost wings that will enable all his people to choose their true destiny...
Years ago my cousin told me to read these books. I picked up a couple of them from a used bookstore but then never got around to it. A few years later I picked up the rest, but didn't read them even then. I don't know why I waited, but it was worth the wait.
T.A. Barron weaves an exciting tale about the untold childhood of the mysterious wizard known as Merlin. Though much is known of his later years, when he helped make a young boy named Arthur king of all Britannia, very little is said about his youth. Barron was enticed by this strange character and began to fill in the blanks.
I enjoyed the stories immensely. The only complaint I had was the "funny" speech patterns of some of the characters. Such as the swishy speech of the Speaking Shells, or the silly chatter of Scullyrumpus. In every book there was at least one character or race who was grammatically challenged. But these are books for children, and I'm sure they'd enjoy those bits more than me!
The plots were exciting, and the books were linked by various themes flowing through them. Not everything was wrapped up neatly in the first novel, you had to read to the end to solve some riddles. There were joyful moments, with families being brought together, but equally difficult moments, of families torn apart. That even when the world had been saved, it was also lost. Merling is not yet a great wizard, and oftentimes he finds himself helpless to save those he cares for. By the end of the tale, you begin to feel that Fincayra is a real place, a place between our world and the Otherworld. A place like mist, neither air nor water. A place where dragons roam and trees can speak, and one young boy learns to become a wizard whose name we still speak of now.
No fan of the Arthurian legend should go without reading these books.
|