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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
3.5 stars
I really wanted to like this one because I love Merlin origin stories (or at least the Merlin show on BBC) but I'm not sure how I feel. I think the audiobook was actually a negative for me on this one because the narrator has an American accent and I expected a British accent so that was a little disappointing. Chapter 4 had some really strong anti-Semitic language which was probably accurate for the time period but still took me off guard. Overall it didn’t leave me wanting to rush out to pick up the next one. None of the characters were super likeable or engaging.
I really wanted to like this one because I love Merlin origin stories (or at least the Merlin show on BBC) but I'm not sure how I feel. I think the audiobook was actually a negative for me on this one because the narrator has an American accent and I expected a British accent so that was a little disappointing. Chapter 4 had some really strong anti-Semitic language which was probably accurate for the time period but still took me off guard. Overall it didn’t leave me wanting to rush out to pick up the next one. None of the characters were super likeable or engaging.
Honestly, if you changed the names in this story, it would be nearly impossible to figure out that the main character is meant to be Merlin. I get it's meant to be his childhood, but most of the details of the story don't match up to the original stories of Arthurian legend, at least to my memory. That being said, it's not a bad book. The characters are a little thin, but they're believable enough to enjoy the book. The world is interesting, as are those that live within it. But all in all, I just didn't find this book to be that compelling of a read. I often set it aside not wanting to continue, but pushed through anyway.
I fully believe that this book deserves 2.5 stars, but for the purposes of Goodreads I'm giving it 2.
The book is a little bit preachy at the start, which may turn off less religious readers. The characters were children, so it's to be expected that they wouldn't behave as though they were adults. However, they also make very uninformed and unintelligent decisions. The main character, Emrys, does not seem like someone who would ever grow up to be the fabled magician Merlin to be frank. Shim, while probably meant to be endearing, sounded like Gurgi from the Black Cauldron - it was kind of irritating then and it's kind of irritating now.
All in all, I'm not going to recommend this to others. There are better Arthurian retellings, I'm sure.
I fully believe that this book deserves 2.5 stars, but for the purposes of Goodreads I'm giving it 2.
The book is a little bit preachy at the start, which may turn off less religious readers. The characters were children, so it's to be expected that they wouldn't behave as though they were adults. However, they also make very uninformed and unintelligent decisions. The main character, Emrys, does not seem like someone who would ever grow up to be the fabled magician Merlin to be frank. Shim, while probably meant to be endearing, sounded like Gurgi from the Black Cauldron - it was kind of irritating then and it's kind of irritating now.
All in all, I'm not going to recommend this to others. There are better Arthurian retellings, I'm sure.
This fantasy novel is rich with creative and lovable characters and a lush environment that will instantly draw you in. The book begins with excitement and mystery, intriguing you to read further. I can't wait to continue on with this series! Barron's writing is fun and he paints a great story of his theory on Merlin's young adult years.
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall I don’t think this was a terrible read. However, I did think it’s pacing was too slow and somethings seemed to be over described.
The giant was fun.
Note to self: Do not read other books at the same time as Bernard Cornwell books.
Note to self: Do not read other books at the same time as Bernard Cornwell books.
Granted I am not the target audience . . . I was trying to capture the magic of a book I loved as a child but it was very hard to get through as an adult.
Mi-a placut ideea acestei carti. Dar este scrisa pentru copii. Este foarte cringe scrisa. Sunt niste intalniti/dialoguri care nu sunt realistice deloc. Faza cu a doua vedere nu prea are sens. De ce nu ar vedea bine cu a doua cedere cand e intuneric?? La fina este cliseul dialog al oponentului, care sa nu mai zic ca e rau doar ca sa fie rau. Zice in carte ca a fost pacalit dar chiar asa de usor? Nu orea cred. Si lumea stie cine e Rhita Gawr. Este sotul lui Elen/Branwen. Clar ca stie cine este Rhita Gawr. Shim este cringe de la cap pana la coada. Indiciile/poeziile sunt prea on the nose. Nu imi place ca sunt asa de proaste oersinajele. Da, sunt copii, dar nici sa interperezi o poezie care iti zice clar ce tre sa facu nu stii?
Si la inceput, cu faptul ca vrajitoarele sunt sclaveke sau in slujesc pe Dracu… asta e o prostie foarte mare si m-a cam enervat asta.
Si altceva ce m-a enervat. Cartea e scrisa ca si cum un copil ar descrie in detaiu un film. Asa e scrisa. Nu e scrisa ca o carte. Nu imi place cum e scrisa.
Cand Merlin a stat cat? 3 saptamani sau mai mult orb la noi a foat 3 pagini. A very bad paesting. Nu mi-a placut deloc.
Si nici nu descrie in detaliu sentimentele personajului principal. Adica descrie cateva care mai mult sunt enervante. Daca vrei sa faci ceva mai bine fa-o bine.
Simt ca nici nu stiu personajele. Pentru ca nu am stat sa le cunoastem. Am stat putin cu Rhia, nu am aftalt mai nimic despre ea si dupa a fost capturata. Si faza cu salutul lor cu degetele aratatore. Asta are o tenta sexuala foarte mare. E cringe si nu ar fi trebuit sa existe intr-o carte pentru copii. Sper ca asta sa fie scoasa din film.
Deci nu stiu nimiv nici despre Merlin. Nici despre orice alt personaj prezent in carte. Dar, in alta ordine de idei. Personajul meu oreferat este cel care detine biblioteca aia mare. Imi place mult locul ala. Si de poet.
Plus. Merlin ar trebui sa fie Slytherin (care pare mai accurate) sau Ravenclaw (cum e in serialul BBC). Dar in nici un caz Griffindor, cum cred ca vrea sa il faca, lt ca e personaj principal, si ar trebui sa fie curajos. Nu ar trebui sa fie curajos. Ar trebui sa fie el insusi. Witty and sassy. Cum a fost pe la inceput. Cred ca are incredere in oameni mult lrea usor. Adica s-a imprietenit cu Rhia peste noapte. IMPOSIBIL. Si la final a zis ca o iubeste. SCARBOS. Este orea sexual. NU. Nu are ce cauta asta intr-o carte pentru copii. Macar spune acolo ca e o prietena foarte buna. Ca lumea sa zica ca e platonic. Sunt copii, au parca 13-14 ani. Nu stiu ce e iubitea. Nu spiune ca Merlin o iubeste pe Rhia. NU!!
Si inca ceva. Merlin ar fi trebui sa lucreza sa munceasca ca sa isi tina puterile in ordine. El nu a facut asta. Bine, s-a nascut cu puteti. Valid. A dat-o in bara cand le-a folosit la inceput. Valid. Si dupa ce a facut? NIMIC. ABSOLUT NIMIC. Si a facut ca sabia sa sara de pe perete ditect in mainile lui perfect. SUNA PREA PERFECT. Trebuia sa mia dea gres de cateva ori oana sa reuseasca.
Nu imi place ca Merlin pe la final devine Griffindor cu atitudinea aia de. “ I can change him! I can save him”. Shut up! Nu poti. Este corupt. El este rau diar ca sa fie rau. Lasa-l sa moara ca oricum nu ne pasa de tine.
Si sa nu mai zic ca e tradusa prost. Adica sunt propozitii ca “Rhia si eu” sau “Eu si Rhia” care e GRESIT GRAMATICAL. Ar fi trebuit sa fie “Rhia si cu mine”!!! Si nu e diar o data ca sa zicem ca it’s a slip. Nu! E peste tot. Peste tot!!
Propozitiile sunt prea scurte si prea vagi.
Over all. Nu prea mi-a placut cartea asta. Mi-a luat 2 luni intregi sa o citest. Si pana la urma am citit-o doar pentru ca eram curioasa cum se termina.
Si la inceput, cu faptul ca vrajitoarele sunt sclaveke sau in slujesc pe Dracu… asta e o prostie foarte mare si m-a cam enervat asta.
Si altceva ce m-a enervat. Cartea e scrisa ca si cum un copil ar descrie in detaiu un film. Asa e scrisa. Nu e scrisa ca o carte. Nu imi place cum e scrisa.
Cand Merlin a stat cat? 3 saptamani sau mai mult orb la noi a foat 3 pagini. A very bad paesting. Nu mi-a placut deloc.
Si nici nu descrie in detaliu sentimentele personajului principal. Adica descrie cateva care mai mult sunt enervante. Daca vrei sa faci ceva mai bine fa-o bine.
Simt ca nici nu stiu personajele. Pentru ca nu am stat sa le cunoastem. Am stat putin cu Rhia, nu am aftalt mai nimic despre ea si dupa a fost capturata. Si faza cu salutul lor cu degetele aratatore. Asta are o tenta sexuala foarte mare. E cringe si nu ar fi trebuit sa existe intr-o carte pentru copii. Sper ca asta sa fie scoasa din film.
Deci nu stiu nimiv nici despre Merlin. Nici despre orice alt personaj prezent in carte. Dar, in alta ordine de idei. Personajul meu oreferat este cel care detine biblioteca aia mare. Imi place mult locul ala. Si de poet.
Plus. Merlin ar trebui sa fie Slytherin (care pare mai accurate) sau Ravenclaw (cum e in serialul BBC). Dar in nici un caz Griffindor, cum cred ca vrea sa il faca, lt ca e personaj principal, si ar trebui sa fie curajos. Nu ar trebui sa fie curajos. Ar trebui sa fie el insusi. Witty and sassy. Cum a fost pe la inceput. Cred ca are incredere in oameni mult lrea usor. Adica s-a imprietenit cu Rhia peste noapte. IMPOSIBIL. Si la final a zis ca o iubeste. SCARBOS. Este orea sexual. NU. Nu are ce cauta asta intr-o carte pentru copii. Macar spune acolo ca e o prietena foarte buna. Ca lumea sa zica ca e platonic. Sunt copii, au parca 13-14 ani. Nu stiu ce e iubitea. Nu spiune ca Merlin o iubeste pe Rhia. NU!!
Si inca ceva. Merlin ar fi trebui sa lucreza sa munceasca ca sa isi tina puterile in ordine. El nu a facut asta. Bine, s-a nascut cu puteti. Valid. A dat-o in bara cand le-a folosit la inceput. Valid. Si dupa ce a facut? NIMIC. ABSOLUT NIMIC. Si a facut ca sabia sa sara de pe perete ditect in mainile lui perfect. SUNA PREA PERFECT. Trebuia sa mia dea gres de cateva ori oana sa reuseasca.
Nu imi place ca Merlin pe la final devine Griffindor cu atitudinea aia de. “ I can change him! I can save him”. Shut up! Nu poti. Este corupt. El este rau diar ca sa fie rau. Lasa-l sa moara ca oricum nu ne pasa de tine.
Si sa nu mai zic ca e tradusa prost. Adica sunt propozitii ca “Rhia si eu” sau “Eu si Rhia” care e GRESIT GRAMATICAL. Ar fi trebuit sa fie “Rhia si cu mine”!!! Si nu e diar o data ca sa zicem ca it’s a slip. Nu! E peste tot. Peste tot!!
Propozitiile sunt prea scurte si prea vagi.
Over all. Nu prea mi-a placut cartea asta. Mi-a luat 2 luni intregi sa o citest. Si pana la urma am citit-o doar pentru ca eram curioasa cum se termina.
Merlin is a character who has fascinated people for centuries -- a powerful wizard who shaped the legendary King Arthur. And T.A. Barron gives his densely, mythologically fantastical take on Merlin in "The Lost Years," a colorful and lushly-detailed novel about the teenage wizard's formative years. The "Star Wars" twist is rather predictable, but otherwise it's a delightful story.
Years ago, the boy Emrys was washed up on the shores of Wales, along with an equally mysterious woman named Branwen. He can't remember her, or anything else from his prior life.
And for some years, he and Branwen live in a small Welsh village, where they are reviled because of their strangeness. When some village boys attack Branwen, Emrys' magical powers are unleashed -- and he ends up blind, but able to use his "second sight." Since Branwen refuses to tell him anything about his past, Emrys sets off on his own quest.
He ends up on the shores of the magical land of Fincayra, where he meets the quirky woodland girl Rhia. Unfortunately, Fincayra is slowly being withered by a magical blight. With the help of Rhia and a diminuative giant named Shim, Merlin must find use his heart, brain, powers, and the mysterious Galator pendant to defeat the evil Rhita Gawr, find the Seven Treasures, and save Fincayra.
T.A. Barron obviously loves two things -- myth'n'legends, and nature. "The Lost Years" is soaked in both these things. He writes in a lush, intoxicatingly detailed prose, with the overhanging presence of living trees, cool leaves and wild magical places. It's a bit like wandering into an enchanted grove, and watching the epic story unfold outside.
Like his prior novel "The Merlin Effect," Barron laces it softly with Celtic mythology and Arthurian legend (such as the magic cauldron and the god Dagda), as well as some interesting ideas of his own ("historical" versus "sacred" time). The only problem is that Barron pulls a "Star Wars" twist out of his hat late in the novel, which is one of the few rampant cliches in here. Come on, couldn't he have done something a LITTLE more imaginative?
And Barron's Merlin is a powerful reimagining of the legendary wizard -- this Merlin is a confused, outcast boy who is terrified of his own dangerous magic. Rhia is a likably quirky supporting character, just odd enough that she seems like a convincing forest baby, and there are a number of eccentric characters -- the Grand Elusa, Domnu and Cairpre -- that really draw in the reader.
"The Lost Years" is a striking, lushly-written fantasy novel that adds new mythical dimensions to our favorite Arthurian wizard. Wondrous, magical and lovely.
Years ago, the boy Emrys was washed up on the shores of Wales, along with an equally mysterious woman named Branwen. He can't remember her, or anything else from his prior life.
And for some years, he and Branwen live in a small Welsh village, where they are reviled because of their strangeness. When some village boys attack Branwen, Emrys' magical powers are unleashed -- and he ends up blind, but able to use his "second sight." Since Branwen refuses to tell him anything about his past, Emrys sets off on his own quest.
He ends up on the shores of the magical land of Fincayra, where he meets the quirky woodland girl Rhia. Unfortunately, Fincayra is slowly being withered by a magical blight. With the help of Rhia and a diminuative giant named Shim, Merlin must find use his heart, brain, powers, and the mysterious Galator pendant to defeat the evil Rhita Gawr, find the Seven Treasures, and save Fincayra.
T.A. Barron obviously loves two things -- myth'n'legends, and nature. "The Lost Years" is soaked in both these things. He writes in a lush, intoxicatingly detailed prose, with the overhanging presence of living trees, cool leaves and wild magical places. It's a bit like wandering into an enchanted grove, and watching the epic story unfold outside.
Like his prior novel "The Merlin Effect," Barron laces it softly with Celtic mythology and Arthurian legend (such as the magic cauldron and the god Dagda), as well as some interesting ideas of his own ("historical" versus "sacred" time). The only problem is that Barron pulls a "Star Wars" twist out of his hat late in the novel, which is one of the few rampant cliches in here. Come on, couldn't he have done something a LITTLE more imaginative?
And Barron's Merlin is a powerful reimagining of the legendary wizard -- this Merlin is a confused, outcast boy who is terrified of his own dangerous magic. Rhia is a likably quirky supporting character, just odd enough that she seems like a convincing forest baby, and there are a number of eccentric characters -- the Grand Elusa, Domnu and Cairpre -- that really draw in the reader.
"The Lost Years" is a striking, lushly-written fantasy novel that adds new mythical dimensions to our favorite Arthurian wizard. Wondrous, magical and lovely.
This brings back many memories when I really started loving to read when I found this books in a library the story and characters are still as good as I remember. I loved the characters so much especially Merlin or Emrys as he is called through most of the book this is his journey to find out who he is and the things he does and the people he meets along the way. I really like this type of protagonist he is unsure at first and grows so much by the end. I really loved the story it was a great journey of discovery that I can't wait to re discover.
Having read the story of Emrys when I was a child, I hoped dearly going into this that it would be as exciting as I remember it being.
It was.
Yes, the author at times used stories that were not as amazing as my prepubescent mind remembers, but such is the work of nostalgia. All in all, I have a feeling I will be diving back into the whole series.
It was.
Yes, the author at times used stories that were not as amazing as my prepubescent mind remembers, but such is the work of nostalgia. All in all, I have a feeling I will be diving back into the whole series.