Rating: 
Summary: Not what you might expect from Stephen Lawhead!
Review: After reading Lawhead's "Song of Albion" series, I was looking forward to another exciting, well-told tale. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The story of "Taliesin" is a moving, beautiful one full of bright, shining characters...the telling, however, is terrible. I'm not sure if this was one of Lawhead's early attempts at novel writing, and therefore, an inexperienced writer's work, or if he was trying to force the story into someplace it didn't want to go (most writers will tell you that books often have a mind of their own!). The writing comes out stilted and slightly canned. I can't quite put my finger on what it is, but there's something about the language and sentence structure that makes it sound like a well-educated child speaking words by rote -- there are lots of big, impressive words but no real grasp of the meaning; they don't add up to the stunning imagery one would expect. It falls a little flat, as if he's trying too hard. I'm one of those readers who can lose themselves in a good book -- the pictures form behind my eyes and I feel as though I'm THERE. This never happened with "Taliesin". I kept reading because I was interested in the story itself, but it took me a painstakingly long 3 weeks instead of my normal 3 days to get through it. I'm debating now whether to read the sequel. I'd like to know what next transpires, but will Lawhead have regained his storytelling magic
Rating: 
Summary: Christian Historical Fiction and Fantasy Weave a Mighty Tale
Review: My husband has been a Stephen Lawhead fan for many years and he kept telling me I should read Taliesan. Well, I finally did and I was not disappointed.
Lawhead puts a new twist on the Arthurian legend by joining it with the legend of Atlantis. In this tale two children brought up with pagan ideals fall in love and proclaim Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. This union brings forth the child Merlin. And so the epic story continues. The story is very mystical in nature and exciting.
I gave this a 4 star rating because in the begining for several chapters it goes back and forth between Atlantis and Britian jumping from one story line to the other. Once the two stories become one it picks up incredibly.
I am greatly looking forward to reading the next book in the saga.
Rating: 
Summary: Not just Bad, but offensive as well.
Review: I was not expecting to be blown away by this book, but I was also not expecting to have my time wasted with Christian Romantasy. Taliesin, one of the most ancient and powerful figures in Celtic and British Myth,a converted Christian?! The idea is patently absurd. I could go on, but this kind of tripe makes my head hurt to even think about.
Rating:
Summary: Don't listen to the naysayers!
Review: Don't listen to the readers who complained about this book not being up to the normal standard within the fantasy genre. Taliesin is a very different mode of fantasy fiction. In fact, Lawhead has spearheaded an unexplored genre: the historical fantasy novel. Within this novel, and the ones that follow in this series, Lawhead has created a world based on factual research. Keep in mind that while Lawhead has based his world on facts, he has also taken the liberties granted to him within the fantasy genre. What has resulted is an interesting blend of factual ballast and fictional narration. The books in this series are great reads because Lawhead brings the myths of western civilization to life. Those readers who have read Beowulf will find interesting similarities. P.S: This book takes longer to read than a Robert Jordan novel because Taliesin is written at a higher reading level. A combination of complex sentences, facts, and long digressions contribute to the three weeks that some readers have devoted to this book. If you like it and your reading chops are up, you will finish it in a day or two.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic Pendragon Saga!!
Review: The tales are King Arthur are magnificently told and fashioned into 5 books of the Pendragon Cycle: 'Taliesin', 'Merlin', 'Arthur', 'Pendragon', and 'Grail'. Lawhead does an excellent job in this first book of this series of books. The first one tells the story of Charis, an Atlantean princess who escapes the devastation of her homeland, the once peaceful kingdom Atlantis. In her refuge, she journeys to the ancient lands of Wales and Britain. There she meets her future love, Taliesin, mystical seer and druid prince. It's between these two lovers that two worlds join together in a land full of chaos and the fate of it's future hangs in the balance. From this union the birth and miracles of Merlin, the fabled magician are manifested. This brings alive the legend of Pendragon, Uther and King Arthur. Lawhead, often called the 'Celtic Tolkien' brings to life in every detail of it's ancient history and the characters. You experience it with vibrant realness, resonance and passion. This would be an excellent addition to any Arthurian literature and anyone studying ancient history and mythology. Each book is a remarkable tapestry of eloquent and descriptive stories of the Arthurian epic, mysticism and the age of chivalry. The old tale is given a new light that entertains and dazzles. If you like ancient Celtic history and fantasy this is an absolute recommendation!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Christian Fantasy
Review: Lawhead incorporates the Arthurian fantasy world with the Ideals of Christendom for an enjoyable scenario. Sometimes it is very slow paced, while others are fascinating and exciting. It was interesting, but i've not read any of the sequels following it in the past few years since reading this.
Rating:
Summary: I'm the middle ground
Review: I guess i'm the middle ground on this. The other reviews paint it either horribly or as something wonderful. Well, it's neither. While Lawhead is NOT at all at his best in these books, He is harley a complete failure in writing them. Taking an archaeology course last semester I was surprised at all the details and such that I recalled from these books that allowed me to grasp the rest of what my professor was saying. They are mostly accurate and have many fast-paced delightful scenes, but they also find a way to be monotonous. There were several things he should have condensed. The reason I finished the series is a loyalty to Lawhead's books, and a thought that perhaps they would speed up somewhere in there as his books often do. While it had it's moments, the series isn't something I'd pick up again. And perhaps I'd only reccamend it if you don't have a history of reading Lawhead, because his other books are so amazing that these seem drab, when really they are fairly good books.
Rating:
Summary: Lawhead's Arthur trilogy has six books?!
Review: Lawhead wrote his famous trilogy of Christian fantasy novels on the Arthurian legend: 1 _Taliesin_, 2 _Merlin_ 3 _Arthur_.
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The problem was it had taken so long for Lawhead to get Arthur on the throne, there was too little space now for anything more, except his downfall. So by popular demand, two volumes were added in the middle of the saga at the time while Arthur reigned in full glory as Britain's high King. These welcome additional volumes were 4 _Pendragon_ (story of the invading Black Boar- i.e. the Vandal horde) and 5 _Grail_ (story of the revolt against Arthur by one of his own knights in league with hard-hearted witch Morgian). So here's the revised order to read them to keep the story straight: 1Taliesin, 2Merlin, 3Arthur partI [Pelleas], 3Arthur partII [Bedwys], 4Pendragon, 5Grail, 3Arthur partIII [Aneirin]. ----------- Now the problem was a rather sad situation: at the final end, Arthur is missing, presumed dead, and as always in these retelling of the Arthur legend, there is the vague hint that one day when Britain's need is great, we will see the return of the King. Hence: one last volume, set in our own perilous future: volume 6 _Avalon_. Enjoy a wonderful journey!
Rating:
Summary: Poorly written piece of tripe...
Review: ...unless you are a charismatic Christian who
cannot open a novel unless it somehow involves
the greatness and correctness of Christianity.
I slogged through page after page of overdescriptive
prose (hint to aspiring writers: writing at length
about someone's boredom is boring) only to have it
dawn on me that the whole work is just a set up for
lots of misguided pagans to discover the True Way. I love and respect the works of CS Lewis. I don't
have a problem with Christian fiction. I have
no problem with writers expressing their world view--
that's the whole point of writing. But for God's sake
(really), don't be dishonest about it.
Rating: 
Summary: Disapointed, with Taliesin
Review: Lawhead supposedly spent 1.5 years researching this book. Perhaps he did, but it doesn't show up in the plot. If anything his research shows up in his depiction of the 6th century Britons, and their life. As far as historically researched, this book falls VERY short. Lawhead forces Atlantis to be coexistent with the 6th century AD. Anyone who has read Plato know this is pure non-sense, although he does have descriptions that seem correct (capitol with concentric rings). So reasonable description of the geography but wrong on time period. Also Lawhead seems to want his Atlanteans as sort of super greeks. I was disapointed that he didn't have something more original. The destruction of Atlantis was mildly amusing, perhaps a little study on vulcanism and tsunami's might have been in order. Lawhead is further fast and free with Taliesin and the druids. His source here appears to be the Mabanogion (sp?). He retells these stories, but I was not impressed, with his retelling. I found Lawhead's, prose VERY average. The flow is rough and stilted, his characters are almost all 1 dimensional, and he forces Taliesin to be Christian, (I don't remember this from the primary sources, or even the secondary. Frankly the only character that seemed to be fully fleshed out was Charis. Taliesin sure wasn't. Lawhead also seems not to know what role he wants magic to have in his world. At most times it is virtually non-existent and at others god-like, Taliesin brought back his stillborn child with magic. Finally, I TOTALLY despised the way they brought Merlin into the picture. Son of Taliesin and Charis. This so totally destroyed the Arthur myths that I groaned. All in all I think this book rates a 'C-'. If I wasn't given the first 3 books for a present I would NEVER read book 2 or three, and I will not buy 4 or 5. So in summary if you are wanting a retelling of the Arthur/Merlin folklores be prepared to be disapointed. If you are just reading this to pass the time, it is ok.
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