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cuddlesome 's review for:
The Lost Years of Merlin
by T.A. Barron
I revisted this book purely out of nostalgia. I read it a good decade ago in my middle school's library and remember eagerly reading all of what was available of the series and a couple of subsequent spin-offs.
T.A. Baron's description-dense prose is something that I continue to enjoy. That aspect impacted my own writing style when I was younger and continues to do so to this day. The descriptions of the various locations and characters are easily my favorite part of this story. Druma Wood in particular is so beautiful and vivid.
The book suffers a little from typical fantasy tropes--the protagonist is kind of dense, magical plot conveniences abound, and falling unconscious happens a bit too frequently to be excused. If you're willing to accept that, it's mostly a fine story. It will hold your--or, more likely, your child's--attention for an introduction to basic fantasy staples.
On that note, it won't exactly shatter any expectations----and some aspects like the treatment of the mother character is downright aggravating.
Otherwise, I'm glad that I revisted it. It was good. Not great, but good. I remember preferring the second book to the first, so I'll have to see if my younger self's opinion holds up.
T.A. Baron's description-dense prose is something that I continue to enjoy. That aspect impacted my own writing style when I was younger and continues to do so to this day. The descriptions of the various locations and characters are easily my favorite part of this story. Druma Wood in particular is so beautiful and vivid.
The book suffers a little from typical fantasy tropes--the protagonist is kind of dense, magical plot conveniences abound, and falling unconscious happens a bit too frequently to be excused. If you're willing to accept that, it's mostly a fine story. It will hold your--or, more likely, your child's--attention for an introduction to basic fantasy staples.
On that note, it won't exactly shatter any expectations--
Spoiler
of course the evil father whom the protagonist has just met is saved at the end à la Darth VaderOtherwise, I'm glad that I revisted it. It was good. Not great, but good. I remember preferring the second book to the first, so I'll have to see if my younger self's opinion holds up.