Rating: 
Summary: Good Light Reading for Adults Too
Review: I am an occasional reader of fantasy fiction. I was given the book by my spouse upon the recommendation of the librarian at our sons' school. I wasn't sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. My first thought was that I had already read Steven Lawhead's book "Taliesen" and didn't really want to read another Arthurian novel. This story is a bit lighter than Lawhead in tone as well as difficulty. The plot is fairly simple but enough to maintain suspense. The plot revolves around the amnesia-stricken pre-adolescent Emrys's (Merlin) attempt to discover his identity. He experiences some angst -- enough to arouse my sympathy, but not enough to overwhelm an adolescent reader. However, Emrys has a certain innocence that I found refreshing. Bishop's fantasy world has a Tolkienesque inner consistency to it that allows for multiple interpretations of the symbolic characters and terrain. The symbolism of the characters doesn't overwhelm the plot or make them less credible as individuals. While trying to find himself, the boy becomes enmeshed in a struggle between good and evil characters. Bishop's sense of humor provides enough comic relief to keep the evil onslaught from becoming too oppressive. The map at the front of the book is helpful for keeping track of our hero's wanderlust. If anything, the story ends a bit too abruptly. I would have liked to have seen the final showdown prolonged a bit, but hey, this is a kid's book and there's still plenty of suspense. The values of self-sacrifice, faith, friendship, and learning are presented convincingly throughout the book without becoming preachy.
Rating: 
Summary: The best series ever.
Review: I think this is the best series of books ever.I love reading them.
Rating:
Summary: T.A.Barron has started off the this series with a great book
Review: This book is about a boy named emrys who does not remember his past and does not think his mother is his real mother.So after a fire that makes emrys loss his vision he go's out on a quest to find out his past.Along the way he makes a couple friends and a couple enemies.Now emrys has to save his friend rhia and find his past.This is a great book that most people would like.I enjoyed this book alot!
Rating:
Summary: "Book of the Century, Lost Years of Merlin"
Review: ~All my reading life I have loved fantasy books, books about griffins, books about horses, magical beings, knights, magic, you name it. I am not as fanatical about harry potter because it doesn't seem so real, so immaginable.
We have all heard of the wise and wonderous Merlin, an image comes to mind of an man and a boy, Merlin and Arthur. But alas, for what happend Before??? T.A. Baron with his wonderful despcriptive writing fills that in for us! Though it may seem different from a movie called, "Merlin" where the evil 'Maeve' takes care of him, this is MUCH MORE INTERESTING! I suggest you read it! Two thumbs way way up!
Rating:
Summary: Captivating Adventure
Review: A capitvating book for readers of all ages, this book chronicles the adventures of the young Merlin, as he begins to discover his wizardry and his destiny. Young Merlin is engaging and youthfully arrogant: the supporting cast is equally appealing. The best part of the book was finding out that there was a Book 2 -- the saga continues!
Rating: 
Summary: Boring tale of a do-nothing whiner
Review: These are the ultimate fantasy action stories for the Me generations. In other words, Merlin is a self-centered whiner who accomplishes absolutely nothing on his own. He is repeatedly saved by pure chance or through the heroic actions and/or sacrifices of his family members and friends (why he has any of the latter is never explained). To the extent that he has any impact on the plot, it is merely through accidental, uncontrolled use of his magic. The moral of the stories appears to be:
-- one need not apply oneself
-- one can coast purely on raw talent or skill -- people will like and appreciate you merely on the basis of that talent and skill
-- hence, one can wander through life in a self-absorbed fog.
Please do not buy these horrible books. If given them (as we were), throw them away.
Rating:
Summary: A great book
Review: I completely loved this book.Me and my friends are big Harry Potter fans, so i was looking for more magic. My friends kinda teased me about reading this book, but it was great. It starts out completely different than i thought it would. Anyway, this boy named Emrys washes a shore with a woman who claims to be his mom. He is very poor and not liked by many people once they actually find somewhere to live. One day a fight starts with this bully, which ends up with Emrys in a fire,in which he looses his true sight.He moves with his mom to a convent, where he recovers, yet can't see.He discovers about his powers and some of his history yet not all. He is getting so frustrated about not having sight, that his "mom", tells some "god" that he will never use his powers if that is what it takes for him to have some sight.So with this sight, he sets off alone to find his true past.He sets off at sea on a raft and washes up on an island after a storm.Here he finds many new friends and also looses one. He sets off to help his new friend Rhia, try to save the island from its evil ruler.Meeting unlikely characters, and different obstacles he still manages to find out about his past.I totally recommend this book and the rest of the series.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books for kids and adults alike.
Review: This book is one of the most wildly imaginative and creative that I have ever read. The speculation about Merlin is extremely interesting, and this book puts a new twist on it that only enhances the freedom that the author could work with. I read this when I was about 13, and I think something that younger readers would find appealing is that the star of The Lost Years of Merlin is a boy of about the same age. Older readers shouldn't be discourages because it's meant for younger readers. Everyone should read this book!
Rating:
Summary: A GOOD BOOK
Review: This has to be my favorite fantasy book of all time. THE LOST YEARS OF MERLIN is the first book in a wonderful series by T.A. Barron. It is about a Emrys, who is later to become Merlin of the Aurthurian legend. It starts when Emrys washes ashore with mysterious Branwen, a woman who claims to be his mother. But Emrys is not content to reamain with her, and soon goes out into the world to find out the truth about his past, accompained by Branwens mysterious pendant, the Galator. What he finds about himself, his family, and the Isle of Fincayra is unbelivible, but the way Barron wrote it made me feel as if I were there. This is more than the best kind of fantasy, and mystery, it is a book about discovering what family and loyalty really mean.
Rating:
Summary: THRILLING TO THE MAX
Review: This book was one of the best i've read. I had it for about a mounth before I read it but when I did I couldn't put it down. There are so many supprises in it it's like everyday life. T.A. Barron gives Merlin a life full of action, adventure, and sorrow. he makes merlin have a mind and think like every other boy in the world. How much i would love to visit Fincarya.
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