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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
First of all, I love King Arthur stories. This book is a triology from Merlin's life. I had some trouble with this book dragging for me. It's full of politics. That part just was so boring. However, the other parts did catch my interest and I did finish the book enjoying it more than I had hoped. A friend of mine lent me these books and she loves them so I'm going on to the second one and seeing how it goes.
One of my all-time favorites. Stewart has lovely descriptive prose that draws you in and keeps you in the story. She has changed my mind from disliking the Merlin character to loving him...this is a giant thumbs-up book, definitely one to re-read.
I read this book back in college. I enjoyed what I read, but I honestly can't remember if I finished it or not. It took me awhile to read (I didn't read much for pleasure in college.)
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5*
How does Mary Stewart do what she does?
With the best of her books she takes me into another world so completely that I am snarling "What???" at anyone foolhardy enough to try to make me look up from the pages of her book.
The descriptions are beautiful & often poetic.
Consider this;
Then she saw me watching her. For perhaps two seconds our eyes met and held. I knew then why the ancients armed the cruellest god with arrows; I felt the shock of it right through my body.
I wasn't familiar with the early story of Arthurian legend and found Stewart's telling of it compelling other than part of Book 2. For this reason I have knocked half a star off the rating.
I think I still prefer Stewart as a teller of romantic suspense because when she is at her best Stewart is quite unique. This book did remind me quite strongly of Tolkein.
I have put the sequel The Hollow Hills on my to read list. Can't wait!
How does Mary Stewart do what she does?
With the best of her books she takes me into another world so completely that I am snarling "What???" at anyone foolhardy enough to try to make me look up from the pages of her book.
The descriptions are beautiful & often poetic.
Consider this;
Then she saw me watching her. For perhaps two seconds our eyes met and held. I knew then why the ancients armed the cruellest god with arrows; I felt the shock of it right through my body.
I wasn't familiar with the early story of Arthurian legend and found Stewart's telling of it compelling other than part of Book 2. For this reason I have knocked half a star off the rating.
I think I still prefer Stewart as a teller of romantic suspense because when she is at her best Stewart is quite unique. This book did remind me quite strongly of Tolkein.
I have put the sequel The Hollow Hills on my to read list. Can't wait!
Enjoyable. Took me a long time to get through it though.
This is the second time I have read Crystal Cave; Mary Stewart brings to life the early years of Merlin. I have always enjoyed the stories, based on some facts, the Arthurian Era and before which is Merlin.
This is book one out of four; I look forward to reading book two.... last time I read the first book was when it first came out in 2003; I truly thought it came out earlier but not so... lol
This is book one out of four; I look forward to reading book two.... last time I read the first book was when it first came out in 2003; I truly thought it came out earlier but not so... lol