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Summary: A Famous Wizard's First Feat
Review: The Lost Years of Merlin is a fantastic fantasy put together by combining adventure and magic. T.A. Barron has written it exceptionally well. It takes you into the story with Emrys, a boy hidden from his past, Rhea, a forest girl who can speak to trees, and all the other mystical magical characters. Emrys starts to have signs of magical powers. When he uses them for evil he must make a sacrifice. He sets off on a journey to find out who he really is and stumbles onto the magical island of Fincayra where he must save it from an evil king.You should read this book for many reasons. One is that it flows well and is not confusing. Some books just skip from subject to subject, but this one, however, does not and continues through the story. Another reason is that even though it is a fantasy it is somehow believable. All the creatures could never actually exist but with the wonderful description used, the author has brought them to life. That would be enough to make me read a book. Some people might not enjoy this book because of the amount of fantasy incorporated. But if you don't like fantasy you should still read this book because the fantasy isn't extreme and it might even make you like fantasy because it is so well written. Overall this is an excellent book that is both inspiring and imaginative. You should read it a.s.a.p.
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Summary: A spellbinding tale, so full of imagination and creativity!
Review: It has the magic, the evil, the adventure, the heroism and the fantasy. It is so enchantingly phrased, it is hard not to imagine you're not really there.
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Summary: Merlin's Beginnings
Review: The book The Lost Years Of Merlin, by T.A. Barron, is the story of a seven year old boy who is thrown onto shore by a storm and, in the process, hits his head resulting in amnesia. A woman named Branwen, who claims to be his mother, takes him in and lives with the boy, Emerys, for six years. During this time, he discovers he has mystical powers. Since Branwen won't explain his past, Emerys finds he must travel to a world named Fincayra, a place Branwen claims to be from, to find out. Emerys sets out on a raft and reaches the coast of Fincayra. Emerys discovers that this land is in grave danger and he may be the only one who can save this world. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure, fantasy, mystical powers, and the possiblility of other worlds. You also get the chance to watch a boy's life unfold and discover his past along with the character himsself. It's wonderfully suspenseful as you meet new characters and discover the effect each one has on Emerys, who risks his life every step of the way. It is a very well written book that creates a perfectly woven image of a mystical world.
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Summary: Wow!
Review: Amazing! Completely astounding. One of the best books I've ever read. Get ready to be sucked into Barron's fantasy world along with the young Emrys and Trouble. Go ahead and try to put this book down. Enjoy!
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Summary: Enter a world of magic and adventure...
Review: This is the tale of the early years of Merlin, the great wizard of Arthurian legend. We first encounter him before he's discovered any of the magic within himself, and follow him through its first awakening and development. Merlin is a likeable character, and we can see hints of the greatness to come. Other characters we encounter are equally interesting and well-developed, as are his adventures, battles, and magical episodes. Barron does a great job of maintaining consistency between the Merlin of the Arthurian legends and the early escapades of an immature, untried, and untutored wee-wizard. This is a fun read for both kids, and adult fantasy lovers. The story is engaging, the characters endearing, and the promise of future installments makes it an even better read. The rest of the series is just as good!
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Summary: Overrated
Review: Book seems to stick to a formula. The suspense seemed artificial and instead of a vicarious fantasy (which I expected), it felt like a documentary. Pick up Harry Potter instead.
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Summary: An interesting tale
Review: The author has created a fantasy childhood for Merlin the Magician. The death of King Arthur is generally placed in the period from 518 to 540 AD (yes, there really was such a person, but only brief accounts remain. At least one of Arthur's sisters, or possibly two, are among my legendary ancestors). Merlin, Arthur's legendary teacher, would therefore have been a child sometime in the later 5th century, after the invasion of the Saxons which started in 429 AD according to St. Germanus. The present story includes some extraneous references which are out of place, e.g., St. Columba died in 597 AD, well after Merlin's childhood. The book starts out in jumps, like the arthur is in a hurry to move on, with flashbacks to explain what transpired. Emrys (Merlin) eventually starts out at the age of 12 to seek his origins. Alice in Wonderland fell through a looking glass into a strange kingdom. Emrys is swallowed up by waves in the sea and cast ashore in an equally strange kingdom. He then has a series of adventures as he crosses the kingdom to save it from evil. The author has borrowed some scenarios from other writers, which readers will probably recognize. The story has a surprising ending. The story is written for slightly older children, or adult readers, perhaps in the age range of Harry Potter fans.
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Summary: A definite must - read book and series!
Review: When I scanned through the shelves of my public library about a year and a half ago and picked up an interesting looking story, I had no idea that I had just discovered what would become one of my favorite books and series of all time. I read The Lost Years of Merlin twice on my library rent, and soon bought the rest of the series as it came out. I am now awaiting the 5th and final novel in the excellent series. The book opened my eyes to the fascinating wizard whom I had never thought of as more as the wise and deft wizard with a long beard who tutored King Arthur. I had never thought of the childhood and growing up he must have experienced or struggles he may have overcome. T.A. Barron's epic has put a human face on the great wizard known by so many. Written in an excellent 1st person, it truly puts you in the shoes of the young and not yet formidable wizard. With him you experience barriers, both emotional and physical that he must overcome. The stories are never dull, and Barron weaves them expertly through the pages of his fascinating books. I highly recommend this series to people of all ages, as it will not only entertain, but spark an interest in the famous wizard, not only his accomplishments, but his struggles, and triumphs, great and small.
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Summary: Murphy Review
Review: A complex vision of the coming of the ever famous wizard Merlin. The book is a very realistic fantasy of how Merlin found out his powerful, destructive strength, his past, his relatives and, most importantly, his name. A very unpredictable thrill ride. I await T.A. Barron's return in the second book.
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Summary: bad writing
Review: I was exited to read this book as I thought it was an interesting premise. However I was disappointed. The story line was flawed and characters were introduced for no apparent reason. Conflict was resolved in a confusing and simplistic fashion.
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