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amandasbookreview 's review for:
The Crystal Cave
by Mary Stewart
The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart is the first book in the Arthurian Saga. As you all know my summer reading list theme this year is Arthurian Legend, so I was definitely excited to begin this story. This story goes to the beginning…with Merlin. Or should I say who we know as Merlin. Myrddn Emrys is born to a Welsh Princess. She refuses to name his father, which leads to dangerous situations with his Uncle and other important leaders. But he also begins to have visions. He is soon trained by a local hermit named Galapas. However, his destiny takes him away from home and along a path that would put him at the center of war and politics.
I see why this book is such a classic! I love that we get the beginning story of Merlin, one of the most famous characters in history. It is also clever to see how the legend of him being the son of the devil came to pass. He does get arrogant pretty quickly, and even his mother warns him of that, so I wonder if that will come to play further on in the series. I love seeing famous characters such as Vortigern and Uther.
The description is phenomenal…very much along the same lines of Tolkien. Trees and surrounding nature are given great care in the description. The relationships are also given so many emotional ties. Specifically the relationship with his servant, mother, and father. The only issue I really had is how death is treated. Major characters die and it is almost nonchalant. The deaths are sudden and I feel like I didn’t get closure, let alone Merlin.
However, I am addicted. I cannot wait to jump into book two, The Hollow Hills. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
I see why this book is such a classic! I love that we get the beginning story of Merlin, one of the most famous characters in history. It is also clever to see how the legend of him being the son of the devil came to pass. He does get arrogant pretty quickly, and even his mother warns him of that, so I wonder if that will come to play further on in the series. I love seeing famous characters such as Vortigern and Uther.
The description is phenomenal…very much along the same lines of Tolkien. Trees and surrounding nature are given great care in the description. The relationships are also given so many emotional ties. Specifically the relationship with his servant, mother, and father. The only issue I really had is how death is treated. Major characters die and it is almost nonchalant. The deaths are sudden and I feel like I didn’t get closure, let alone Merlin.
However, I am addicted. I cannot wait to jump into book two, The Hollow Hills. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.