Customer Reviews

The Lost Years of Merlin (Lost Years of Merlin (Hardcover))

5 star:		(164)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

When I scanned through the shelves of my public library about a year and a half ago and picked up an interesting looking story, I had no idea that I had just discovered what would become one of my favorite books and series of all time. I read The Lost Years of Merlin twice on my library rent, and soon bought the rest of the series as it came out. I am now awaiting the 5th and final novel in the excellent series. The book opened my eyes to the fascinating wizard whom I had never thought of as more as the wise and deft wizard with a long beard who tutored King Arthur. I had never thought of the childhood and growing up he must have experienced or struggles he may have overcome. T.A. Barron's epic has put a human face on the great wizard known by so many. Written in an excellent 1st person, it truly puts you in the shoes of the young and not yet formidable wizard. With him you experience barriers, both emotional and physical that he must overcome. The stories are never dull, and Barron weaves them expertly through the pages of his fascinating books. I highly recommend this series to people of all ages, as it will not only entertain, but spark an interest in the famous wizard, not only his accomplishments, but his struggles, and triumphs, great and small.

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 of Merlin," 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 of Merlin" 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.

And 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 of Merlin" is a striking, lushly-written fantasy novel that adds new mythical dimensions to our favorite Arthurian wizard. Wondrous, magical and lovely.

The book The Lost Years Of Merlin, by T.A. Barron, is the story of a seven year old boy who is thrown onto shore by a storm and, in the process, hits his head resulting in amnesia. A woman named Branwen, who claims to be his mother, takes him in and lives with the boy, Emerys, for six years. During this time, he discovers he has mystical powers. Since Branwen won't explain his past, Emerys finds he must travel to a world named Fincayra, a place Branwen claims to be from, to find out. Emerys sets out on a raft and reaches the coast of Fincayra. Emerys discovers that this land is in grave danger and he may be the only one who can save this world. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure, fantasy, mystical powers, and the possiblility of other worlds. You also get the chance to watch a boy's life unfold and discover his past along with the character himsself. It's wonderfully suspenseful as you meet new characters and discover the effect each one has on Emerys, who risks his life every step of the way. It is a very well written book that creates a perfectly woven image of a mystical world.

I extremely hope this review will get posted (a lot of mine haven't). Anyhow, I read this book when it was first released and have since then waited (impatiently I might add) for the next ones. I can't tell which of the 4 is better, as a matter of fact I've only read the 1st 2 (waiting for paperback editions). These are absolutley the BEST books ever written. They by-pass Harry Potter by a long shot. Barron was ingenious to put it in 1st person. But what really got me was the inward as well as outward struggle. When you see Merlin, you think of a powerful wizard which nothing can effect. These books tell that differently and explain a lot of things in his earlier life. THEY ARE THE BEST BOOKS FOR ANYONE OF ANY AGE.....BUY THEM NOW!

Many people have heard of the magical and wise Merlin but his childhood is a mystery. "The Lost Years of Merlin", written by T.A Barron, fills in most of the gaps. This enchanting tale is about a young man named Emrys who loses his memory and finds his way to Fincayra, where he searches for his future though many adventures wait for him. Fincayra is a place of wonder and mystery because it contains many good and bad creatures. Along the way he meets many people (or things) who help him find the secrets of Fincayra. T.A Barron did an extremely good job of describing Merlin's dangerous yet magical life. One of the many tings he gets in Fincayra is his new name, Merlin. Kids tend to like books about things they don't usually see or hear about but some kids don't. If so, they would not like "The Lost Years of Merlin" because you don't see a young wizard learning magic in a place called Fincayra and being pursued by another evil wizard. Another reason this book might not be liked is the large variety characters and setting. There is a wide range of new characters in every new book in the series that are fun to read about yet some might become confused. Even so, I don't think any of these reasons is good enough to stop someone from reading this book. Others might like books that move slowly or books that are realistic but if not this book is perfect. One can tell that the author took a long time to think out this book so that it is understandable and simple. I am, myself, a really slow reader but I read this book with ease. It is mostly a calm book. This is one of the best series I have read and I am confident you will think so too.

The Lost Years of Merlin is a fantastic fantasy put together by combining adventure and magic. T.A. Barron has written it exceptionally well. It takes you into the story with Emrys, a boy hidden from his past, Rhea, a forest girl who can speak to trees, and all the other mystical magical characters. Emrys starts to have signs of magical powers. When he uses them for evil he must make a sacrifice. He sets off on a journey to find out who he really is and stumbles onto the magical island of Fincayra where he must save it from an evil king.

You should read this book for many reasons. One is that it flows well and is not confusing. Some books just skip from subject to subject, but this one, however, does not and continues through the story. Another reason is that even though it is a fantasy it is somehow believable. All the creatures could never actually exist but with the wonderful description used, the author has brought them to life. That would be enough to make me read a book.

Some people might not enjoy this book because of the amount of fantasy incorporated. But if you don't like fantasy you should still read this book because the fantasy isn't extreme and it might even make you like fantasy because it is so well written. Overall this is an excellent book that is both inspiring and imaginative. You should read it a.s.a.p.

I love fantasy. I read books by J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Lloyd Alexander, and all of the great ones. This book is right up there with them. The subject is interesting; I love reading about Merlin. And no one has ever written about his youth before. I enjoyed the plot and context. When I first got it form the library, the only reason was because it said "Merlin" on it. I stayed up until 4 am reading! I couldn't put it down! I couldn't wait for the next one to be returned to the library. Now I look for them every time I go. Never have I seen all of them there at once. I think T. A. Barron has created a masterpiece of fantasy literature for our day. I wait eagerly for the next ones to come out. This is certainly a book to have in your personal library!

When young Merlin washes up on the shores, he has no memory of his past, and no knowledge of where he must go. Taken in by a local herbal woman, young Merlin grows older through the years until he discovers his true powers. But when he injuries another with his power and blinds himself, he vows never to use it again. Can an adventure against the forces of darkness change his mind? This book was one of the most amazing pieces I have ever read. Everyone has always seen Merlin as an old wizard wearing thick robes and a long white beard. T.A. Barron breaks away from the stereotype by showing Merlin as he was in his younger years...still a wizard with strong potential, but not with the God image many give him.

With this book, T. A. Barron has taken a step in the right direction. His most well-known novel to date, *Heartlight*, was well-received. Unfortunately, it relied heavily upon material already covered by Madeleine L'Engle in her *Time Fantasy Quartet*.

For now, though, Barron has drifted from the realm of science fiction for young adults to fantasy for the same age group. *The Lost Years of Merlin* covers the childhood of the timeless wizard. Washing up on a shore in Wales with no memory of his name, his home, or his parents, he ekes out a life with the woman who claims to be his mother. Eventually, Merlin, then called Emrys, feels a need to fly on his own. Setting sail from the same spot where he washed up, he comes to shore on Fincayra, a mythical (or not so mythical island) and finds that only he can save the beautiful land from ruin.

Although the book is delightful, it's main fault is still originality. Many or most of the characters were resurrected from Welsh myth, and some of them were resurrected with little or no grace. Additionally, the book relies on Lloyd Alexander's *Chronicles of Prydain* like a one-legged man relies on a strong crutch. For example, Shim is nothing more than a cross between Alexander's Gurgi and Doli--uses strange wordings ("totally, absolutely, honestly" as opposed to "munchings and crunchings"). Like Doli, Shim has a trait that he can't fulfill--being tall, just as Doli couldn't become invisible. Like Doli, Shim's problem is solved by the last page. Next up: the Cauldron of Death. It can be destroyed only if a living person willingly climbs inside. Sounds like the Black Cauldron to me. Admittedly, Alexander probably dug that up out of Welsh myth himself, but he did a deft job of it and Barron didn't. The Galator could only be activated by the power of love--as could Eilonwy's golden bauble.

That's just skimming the surface. Not to mention using the idea that "not many of the trees are still awake" and Druma Wood--which is one big Xerox of Tolkien's Fangorn.

Also, Mary Stewart covered Merlin's child. Sorry, but it's not exactly a new discovery.

Barron takes a step in the right direction with this book, but his footing is still WAY off. I'm doubting whether I will have the courage to pick up *The Seven Songs of Merlin* and watch plagarism take place again...but perhaps I will, because Barron's writing, I'm convinced, could keep me interested in immeasureably worse plots. That single fact redeems this book's rating to a 7.

If you like action and magic books, this is the book for you. The excitment is almost unbearable. Its the first book in the five book series. This story is about young Merlin going on a quest looking for his real mother and his destiny. It is the best book I ever read. Ever since he washed up on the shore of Elwen with a strange woman, that specializes in the art of healing,and claims to be his mother. But ever since he lost his sight in a tragic fire,that he started,he gave up hope untill he is gifted with a second chance at sight. He ends up going on a raft out to the sea and washes up on the even stranger island of Finycara where all hhis troubles begin. What are these troubles?Thats for you to find out.