Merlin (The Pendragon Cycle , Book 2)

Rating:
Summary: Best of Series
Review: "Merlin" is certainly the highlight of Lawheads series. I've never read such an intriging account of Merlins life. This book attempts to find an historic basis for the Arthurian myth and does quite well. Lawhead links the rise of King Arhtur to real events and people. It is the most engaging of the books, and avoids the turgid abstration and religious eenlightenment that burdened his later books.

Rating:
Summary: the best of the series
Review: A great look at the soul of a character who is often overlooked in Arthurian legend. Thoroughly enjoyable and just the right mix of fantasy and history.

Rating:
Summary: Perhaps the best book of the cycle
Review: As I said in my review of Taliesin (the first book in this series), I have read many Arthurian novels, and Stephen Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle is by far the best. This is probably the best book in the series. The first part, Merlin's childhood and youth, while still interesting is not the best part of the novel (although his meeting with Magnus Maximus is one of my favorite chapters of any book I have read), but the second part (Merlin's time of insanity and restoration) is masterful. The visitation by envoys of evil and good is near perfect. The final section, dealing with Ambrosius and Uther does a wonderful job of leading up to the beginning of the story of Arthur in the next book.

Rating:
Summary: A Legend
Review: Everyone knows about Merlin and the king he served but no one knows this Merlin. He is a figure of power and strength we only dream of but he is also human in needs and wants. The Author shows us the man behind the legend and the adventures that he experienced before Authur was ever born.

Rating:
Summary: Enchanting!!
Review: I enjoyed this book a bit more than Taliesin, which was the first of the Pendragon cycle. This book is told in the first person narrative, which makes it easier to follow. All aspects of Merlin's life are brought out in this wonderful book, his brief reign as warrior-king; the "mad" hermit in the forest; and finally in the role of mystic bard, which is the most familar. Lawhead writes in a very enjoyable style, and the book takes you along as the story progresses. While a different approach to the Arthurian legend, I would highly recommend this series!

Rating:
Summary: Good Good Good
Review: I found this book very well written. I enjoyed the adventures that Stephen Lawhead made Merlin go through. This book has a great meaning behind it. It is a Good, Good, Good book.

Rating:
Summary: I give Merlin five stars.
Review: I give Merlin, by Stephen R Lawhead, five stars because it excelently portrays the life of Merlin before Arthur was actually born. When I was reading the book I felt like I really knew Merlin as my friend , and I really understood him as a person and a character. All of the characters are very well developed and the plot is very exciting and complex. It tells of how he was born, where he lived, a time he ruled as king alongside his friend, Custennin, and the eleborate visions that led to his prophesy of the Kingdom of Summer, originally seen by his father, Taliesin. This is one of the best books about the ancient legend of Merlin and Arthur that I have ever read and I give it five stars.

Rating:
Summary: the best!!!!
Review: I love any merlin books but this didn't seem so fake most of them are not showing merline in tragety and triumph I rate this book 5 stars!!!

Rating:
Summary: Merlin's cloak of mystery is not yet donned, he is but a man
Review: I loved the book for its graphic detail,allowing you to step beyond the barriers of time to an England little known today. Here it is we find a mere boy and as he grows and learns, so to, do we. Fantasy folk and legends become but part of everyday life for him. He fights,loves, conquers and admits defeat. He is known to all in the land from highest to lowest born eventually. He is The Merlin of Britain! The book is brilliant.If you get it, don't forget the others - Taliesin and Arthur.They complete the picture splendiferously. S.Newton.

Rating:
Summary: Great story!
Review: I loved this book. Merlin is positively amazing! I enjoyed the way the first half of the story is told in flashback form, with little intervals of the present thrown in. Merlin makes a very believable madman. By the time his story is told, the reader will feel so sad for him! The only thing I wished was added was more physical description of Merlin. All that is really said is that he has golden eyes and dark hair. But, it is minor, and will detract nothing from the enjoyment of the second book of the Pendragon Cycle.

For Richard: Perhaps Catholicism was Christianity then because there is no other form of Christianity that goes back that far. What else would it be?