Customer Reviews

The Mirror of Merlin (Lost Years of Merlin)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Mirror of Merlin is simply a work of art. Fans of the previous Lost Years of Merlin books, will not be disappointed with the latest installment. As always, T.A. Barron's book is filled with wonderful people and places, with warmth and humor and adventure. Once again, Merlin and his home, the mystical island of Fincayra, are faced with very real danger, from someone almost as evil as Rhita Gawr himself. In an effort to stop this evil, Merlin must return to The Haunted Marsh, where he has ventured once before. This is terrible enough, but Merlin is then confronted with his own destiny, a most painful and frighting vision. Can Merlin stop this evil, and save his homeland? Is there anyway he can change his destiny and save himself from the terrible fate in store for him? I encourage everyone who likes books about Merlin to read this book and find out. (Read the rest of the series too while you're at it!) Once again, T.A. Barron has created a masterpiece that readers everywhere, whether young or old, male or female, will treasure.

I received this book as a gift, (because my parents know what afan of T. A. Barron I am) and I would have finished it that day if Ihadn't paced myself and savored every chapter. The Mirror of Merlin, as well as the other Merlin books, pull you into the story (whether you like it or not!) and don't let go, especially when you come to a cliffhanger, which most chapters end in. I'm not sure if this book was better than the other Merlin Epic books (They're all good, but I particuarly like The Seven Songs of Merlin...) I liked the relationship between Hallia and Merlin, which has grown stronger since The Fires of Merlin. The characters are very well-developed, especially Merlin. This book is also filled to the brink with excitement and action.

If you are looking for a great fantasy epic, may I STRONGLY recommend the Lost Years of Merlin Epic! I recommend you read them in order, though. :)

T.A. Barron's fourth book in the Lost Years of Merlin Epic, THE MIRROR OF MERLIN is one of my favorites in the series. Merlin loses his sword and he, Hallia, and the Ballymag leave into the Haunted Marsh to find it. The marsh ghouls, who are normally friendly, are now being controlled by an unknown force. They soon find a boy named Ector. The four find something that has been missing for a long time, and find the mirror. Ector tells Merlin that his master is on the other side to cure him from the bloodnoose. Who is his master? What will he do?
This exciting part of Merlin's lost years is adventurous and suspenseful. When reading this book, you can't read it a chapter at a time beacause it is very exciting. I really enjoyed THE MIRROR OF MERLIN because the end of each chapter leaves you wondering, what will happen next?

I am a 13-year-old boy and have recently read The Mirror of Merlin by T.A. Barron. I was pleased with his work. I couldn't put this exciting book down. In this book you follow Merlin, the young wizard, about on his journey to find his sword and to save the old forest from the expanding swamp. He encounters on his quest a cowardly ballymag; Shim, his giant friend; Nimue, the sorceress out for the Seventh Wonder; his imprisoned older self; and Arthur later to be King Arthur. This book was really exciting. The best part for me was when Merlin got the bloodnoose put into him. He then had to travel through The Mirror of Time to find his older self so he could get treated for his bloodnoose. Overall this was a very enjoyable book. It was a masterful work by T.A. Barron. Anyone that chooses to read The Mirror of Merlin, no doubt, will be pleased.

In book 4, the young Merlin finds even more troubles and obsticals to overcome. Feeling overshadowed by his amazing destiny, Merlin has difficulty due to the feeling that his choices are not his own, because he is destined to do so many great things. Meanwhile, the young wizard and his companion Hallia, accompanied by a very nervous ballymag, must venture into the Haunted Marsh to recover his stolen sword. There he meets many fierosme obsticals, including the sorceress Nimue. During his stay in the marsh, in a fascinating way, Merlin discovers more about himself than he ever felt possible and learns to accept his destiny and know his choices as his own. A wonderful and exciting tale, The Mirror of Merlin leaves us breathless for the 5th book in the wonderful epic.

Once again, Barron weaves a masterpiece on his loom. This book is an absolutely thrilling addition to Merlin's legacy. You have to read this book.

I liked this book because it presented problems not yet thught of in the average reader's mind. This bookis also intertwined with the other books so you didn't have to meet the whole cast of characters. It took little characters from the other books and made them bigger in one way or another.In every book new information is presented, this book holds alot. Not considering learning about Fincayra itself this book is only second to the fifth book.
I think the best part of this book was when he meets himself, it was a comical meeting. Full of questions and anwsers. The meeting of young and old made me feel and think of pity, sorrow, laughter and wonder on what is to come in the future.
I think the most vivid part of this book was when older Merlin grows a tree right in his own house. In the middle of his own living room! Reading the tree grow is as if you are right in the room when it happens. As if the tree is planted in the book and you are riding it yourself. Not only do you feel that you were there but that you belng there.

Once again, T.A. Barron continues this spell binding epic about one of the most prominent wizards of all time. In this fourth addition to the series, Merlin begins to discover more about himself. You must read this book and this whole series, for that matter.

Mark Rodriguez 2/26/06

The Mirror of Merlin, Author: T.A. Barron, ISBN: 0-441-00846-1

The Mirror of Merlin book review

As Merlin realizes that his home, Fincayra, is in grave danger of the ever growing haunted marsh, he steps up and decides he is going to find who made that happen and why. This story takes place at the legendary island called Fincayra, just before the medieval times. The characters in this epic story are Merlin, his friend Hallia, the evil witch Nimue, and a friend he meets on his way, Ector, (otherwise known as Arthur). As Merlin and Hallia find a ballymag (a water creature who lives in the marsh) in a stream instead of a marsh, he tells them that the haunted marsh is growing rapidly. They also discover that the marsh ghouls are attacking innocent people, which they only do when someone invades their territory. But they don't know that the evil witch Nimue is behind it all. The reason why the haunted marsh is growing so rapidly is because Nimue traveled through the magical mirror. This can take people into the past or future. Since she traveled through the mirror she has the power to control the marshes because someone unexpected taught her about the magical way. So she uses her magic for evil and controls the marsh ghouls and the marsh itself so she can take over the legendary island Fincayra. This book is one of the better fantasy books I've read.

The reason this book tops my list is because I really like fantasy books and that this book seemed really good to me. This book was also a real page turner. It kept up with the story and it sometimes got really suspenseful at times which caused me to read it even more. There are also really good descriptions throughout the book. I really enjoyed this kind of genre for this book because I love fantasy and anything with swords, dragons, or wizards has always interested me. This book really hit on all of those things that I love. I would recommend people from 6th grade to 8th grade to read it and if you are the kind of person that likes fantasy I would really recommend this book for you. Also there were a couple of surprises in the story that really got me. One of them was finding out that the little boy named Ector is really King Arthur. So if you need a book to read, pick this one up and enjoy!

This novel is a fast, fun, and thoroughly entertaining read. While not on the same level as the classic fantasy novels, Barron has found a way for the reader to connect to the young boy Merlin, and always want more at the novel's close.