The Lost Years of Merlin [Paperback]

 

 

Create your own review

The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron was not an impressive book. It was a story of Merlin's childhood and how he came to acquire the name Merlin. The world was not convincing and the characters were not realistic - I did not feel any connection towards them. The story wasn't complex enough that it felt like a straight line, because everything was given to the protagonist Emrys with very little struggle. It might be a satisfying story for a younger audience, but not adults. I have not read a lot of fantasy books and this was the first book I've ever read about Merlin, but I was not at all impressed. I don't believe I will be continuing this series.

I felt like Emrys was not at all clever. He was given so many clear answers to what he was supposed to do, yet he never even pondered upon them. In fact, he seemed to forget them all together, making him even less convincing. He kept talking to strangers even though he was in dangerous territory and most of the time the strangers turned out to be friendly. Some of the strangers had no purpose, others had little purpose.

Emrys washes up shore, where he encounters a boar. He realises that the boar is trying to attack an unconscious woman and tries to save her. A stag appears from the forests and fights off the boar. Emrys and the woman, who calls herself Branwen, start living together in a hut. She has the ability to heal people through mixtures of different plants.

Some years later, Emrys discovers that he has magical powers. There are rumours in the town that Branwen is a witch. One day while trying to protect Branwen, Emrys sets the bully on fire, and at once regrets it. He runs into the fire to save the burning man, and fails. Emrys, as a result, loses his eyesight. He later discovers that he has a second sight, that he can see without his eyes, and with that discovery, he swears that he will never use his powers again.

Branwen tells Emrys many Greek myths and sings about a land named Fincayra that stands somewhere between heaven and earth. Emrys cannot understand why Branwen won't tell him about his past since he cannot remember anything from before he washed up on shore. Who is his mother? Where did he come from?

Contains spoilers:

Emrys tells Branwen that he is leaving to discover his home. She tries to dissuade him but it's futile. Then she hands him her necklace, which is called the Galator. Emrys builds a raft and sets out. Eventually he reaches land - the Isle of Fincayra. He encounters giant rats and saves a merlin bird that is fighting them. Then, Emrys journeys into the Druma Woods he meets a girl named Rhia who can talk to rivers and trees.

Rhia tells him that the forest is dying and asks Emrys to help her save it. She tells him that giants once lived in Fincayra, but have been killed by the King Stangmar. The forest that was once green died and the sky darkened. Now, goblins roam the land and kill for enjoyment, and ghouliants, warriors that cannot die, guard King Stangmar's Shrouded Castle that's always spinning so fast in the darkness that no one can attack it. King Stangmar has burned villages, silenced trees and rivers, and killed birds and animals. Emrys discovers that Stangmar is in search of one of the treasures of Fincayra, the last one that he doesn't yet possess - the necklace called the Galator. Will Emrys be able to save all of Fincayra from the evil King Stangmar? Is someone else controlling the king?

I'm a big fan of Arthurian legends, so when I saw this book, I thought it would help to complement my knowledge--or, at the very least, my curiosity--about that wonderful, backwards-living wise man known as Merlin. I was, however, sorely disappointed.

The story follows young Emrys, a boy with no recollection of his past save for the past five years, when he was washed onto the shores of Britain. After discovering powers amazing and losing his sight in an incident, he undertakes a sea voyage to find Fincayra, the land of his origin, and the key to his past.

The character seems to be completely at the mercy of plot twists, which occur quite randomly. Examples include, as mentioned below, the goblin attack, but also the complete unlikeliness of surviving a sea voyage at the age of twelve while on a shoddily constructed raft. Even more random are the not-so-subtle references to a future Merlin--Emrys has an odd desire to grow a beard every time he thinks about his scars, and contemplates turning future students into fish when he is Changed into one.

Often throughout the series, the reader gets the impression that Merlin is particularly thick, and only succeeds by sheer luck or an omnipresent deus ex machina. Every single time he is issued a warning, he goes against it in the end despite his friends' wise advice. Many a time in the series did I long to slap the stubborn boy.

And so, this definitely wasn't the best series I've ever read. It didn't particularly add to my knowledge of Merlin other than by blunt references you would have to be an idiot not to understand. I would much rather have preferred something a bit more subtle, something a bit more human--not a series where the protagonist does nothing and is battered about by the plot like a leaf in the wind. Less experienced fantasy fans may enjoy this series for its nearly witty secondary characters and blatant use of magic, but I didn't.

When I first saw this book I thought that it would be stupid because I don't like many fantasy stories (one exception is Harry Potter, but anyways...). When I had to read a book that I had never read before for a book report, I just thought that I might as well give it a try. Now I'm hooked on the Merlin series, with it's magic, monsters, and creative writing. This book is a classic, among the likes of Tolkien's series.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 157 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

1.0 out of 5 stars just so shallow...
Spoiler Warning.

There are few books that I can find that I could personally find a better way to write it - this is one of them. Read more

Published on May 30 2004 by A. Dixon

5.0 out of 5 stars Runescape Crooker
"This magical story is a great journey for the discryptive things young Emry's see's and does are extraordinary, "He goe's from small normal town with mean kids to a mystical... Read more

Published on April 15 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
I picked this book up at my library because I had nothing else to read, thinking that it might be interesting. It was better then that, T.A. Read more

Published on April 15 2004 by Kah

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Addition To the Classic Tale
I've always been very intrigued by the legends of King Arthur and Merlin,excaliber,Morgana le Fay,and Guinivere. Read more

Published on Mar 28 2004 by Anne

5.0 out of 5 stars Worthy of Excalibur
After combing through each Harry Potter book at least twice, I complained that there was nothing to read. Read more

Published on Mar 16 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Skookum
I thought the book was really skookum because the author, T.A. Baron, is very descriptive when he writes. He makes you feel like your seeing a movie in your mind. Read more

Published on Mar 11 2004 by Andrew Sell

5.0 out of 5 stars Aaron ...
I wanted to choose a book that was exiting adventurous, and makes you feel that you are right there next to the characters as they are fighting the bad guys . Read more

Published on Mar 10 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Rocks!!
I picked up this book out of pure curiosity. I had never before had any interest in Merlin or Camelot, but was instantly sucked into this magical world. Read more

Published on Feb 17 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars not as good as i expected though still amazing
merlin was an amazing book but not nearly as good as i expected. this is a touching begining to merlin's life.you're garunteed to enjoy merlin!

Published on Oct 27 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars Lost Years of Merlin Review
The young boy who washes to shore, burns his eyes, and washed up again goes through a series of events that teach him about the mysterious land of Fincayra.

Published on Sep 13 2003

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 157 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!