Helpful Score: 3
Evocative and moving, with wonderfully drawn word pictures that give a deeper look into the Arthurian legend. I could hardly put this book down!!!
Helpful Score: 3
In this middle book of Lawhead's Arthurian trilogy, the roots of the familiar story begin to emerge, but they are twined in a slightly different manner than in many other versions. It's an engaging read, but I kept thinking "No, that's not the way it was" -- as if any version of this timeless fiction could be the "right" one!
Helpful Score: 1
Well written, but I dislike the heavy Christian bent and the removal of the mystic to make it commonplace
Helpful Score: 1
In all the Arthurian books I have read, I always find Merlin the most interesting character. In Lawhead's series, I think "Merlin" is one of his better books. Lawhead developed his Merlin character better than any other character throughout the series.
Helpful Score: 1
An incredible telling of the beginning of the Merlin legend. This 2nd book of The Pendragon Cycle by Stephen Lawhead was as energetic and inspiring as the first, Taliesin. While Taliesin is slightly edged with the lost 'sciences' of Atlantis, Merlin is strongly steeped in mysticism and mythology. Lawhead seamlessly integrates the various stories we all have heard of Merlin into a complex vision of the druid/bard king; incredibly human, divinely touched; passionate, yet passionless. Merlin's tale lays the groundwork for change, change that would reshape the Island of the Mighty, and bring forth the Land of Summer. Highly recommended reading!!
Helpful Score: 1
Merlin tells his own story in this novel, the second in the Pendragon series. I loved the tale which begins with Merlin's musings about his life, his various educational experiences, his chosen isolation in the wilderness after the murder of his beautiful wife and child and his recovery from his grief to become a force in his world. Lawhead writes so well as Merlin that the transitions from one portion of the novel to another flow effortlessly and keep one turning page after page. When he saves the child who will become known as Arthur, Lawhead even describes Merlin's misgivings about raising a child. Merlin only knows that he must hide this lad from those who would kill any offspring who has a rightful claim to become high king of Britain. It's a book well worth spending one's time reading. Indeed, I enjoyed it much more than Taliesin, the first novel in the series.
I love Stephen Lawhead and I was not disappointed by this series: The Pendragon Cycle. Refreshing version of Atlantis and King Arthur!
The second book of the trilogy. This is the story of Merlin and what role he played in the legend of King Arthur.
He was born to greatness, the son of a druid bad and a princess of lost Atlantis. A trained warrior, blessed with the gifts of prophecy and song, he grew to manhood in a Britain abandoned by its Roman conqeurors, a land ravaged by the brutal greed of petty chieftains and barbarian invaders. Respected, feared and hated by many, he was to have a higher destiny: to prepare the way for the momentous event that would unite the Island of the Mighty, the coming of Arthur Pendragon, Lord of the Kingdom of Summer...
This is Book 2 of The Pendragon Cycle.
While I enjoyed Taliesin, I did find it to be very slow at the start, tedious in the middle, and truly engaging only at the very end. It took me a while to get into it, and even then I was left with a mediocre impression of the book as a whole.
On the other hand, Merlin had me involved and interested from the very beginning. I think that Lawhead did a great job of developing such an intriguing and believable character and I truly enjoyed reading about the events in this stage of the character's life.
Even though I am enjoying the series, the books continue to be slow reads. The plot somehow manages to move forward and stand still at the same time... It is not necessarilly tedious reading but it is also not something I would be able to fly through easily in a weekend.
The emphasis on Christian themes continues in this book as well. For those who would be distracted, annoyed, or disappointed by the replacement of more mystical elements with Christian ones, I would recommend that you skip this book (and the entire series for that matter) in order to spend time reading something that would be more to your liking.
While I enjoyed Taliesin, I did find it to be very slow at the start, tedious in the middle, and truly engaging only at the very end. It took me a while to get into it, and even then I was left with a mediocre impression of the book as a whole.
On the other hand, Merlin had me involved and interested from the very beginning. I think that Lawhead did a great job of developing such an intriguing and believable character and I truly enjoyed reading about the events in this stage of the character's life.
Even though I am enjoying the series, the books continue to be slow reads. The plot somehow manages to move forward and stand still at the same time... It is not necessarilly tedious reading but it is also not something I would be able to fly through easily in a weekend.
The emphasis on Christian themes continues in this book as well. For those who would be distracted, annoyed, or disappointed by the replacement of more mystical elements with Christian ones, I would recommend that you skip this book (and the entire series for that matter) in order to spend time reading something that would be more to your liking.
Good follow-up to *Taliesin,* with a believable character who cannot possibly be the bodice-ripper hero pictured on the green paperback cover.
This is the 2nd in the pendragon cycle. The books I am posting are the older cover with Merlin's face on the cover.
This is an excellent series for anyone interested in Arthurian Legend.
This is an excellent series for anyone interested in Arthurian Legend.
