The Seven Songs of Merlin [Library Binding]

T. A. Barron (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2008

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Having stumbled upon his hidden powers, the young wizard Merlin voyages to the Otherworld in his quest to find himself and the way to the realm of the spirit.

--This text refers to the School & Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9. In this sequel to The Lost Years of Merlin (Philomel, 1996), 13-year-old Merlin faces down the powers of darkness on the island of Fincayra and masters the traditional Seven Songs of Wisdom. In one month's time, he must discover the soul of each song and journey to the Otherworld to obtain a magical elixir to save his mother's life. He is accompanied by Rhia, a girl who possesses a mystical relationship with nature; and Bumbelwy, an annoying and pessimistic court jester. Adventure follows adventure as Merlin seeks wisdom and learns that his pride is his worst enemy. The trio encounters giants, a huge spider with a voracious appetite, and a treacherous one-eyed monster. In the village of Slantos, Merlin finds the magical sword that will one day belong to King Arthur. This richly layered fantasy is filled with harrowing escapades and many surprises. While readers may never doubt the outcome, they will eagerly devour the chapters to arrive at the satisfying conclusion. Arthurian legend is used as the starting point for a delightfully original story of magic and myth that retains the spirit of the classic tales. Merlin is a flawed hero, yet he rises to each new challenge. While the title can stand alone, there are constant allusions to incidents and characters introduced in the first book. Readers will surely be waiting impatiently for the third part of this marvelous series.?Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

This second installment of the sequence that began with The Lost Years of Merlin (1996) is as full of action and excitement as its predecessor, but is kinder and gentler in tone; while its origins are epic, it is foremost a tale of the heart. Teenage Merlin remains on the enchanted isle of Fincayra, charged by its inhabitants to traverse the countryside, playing the flowering harp and thereby rejuvenating the land that was scarred in battle during the overthrow of Merlin's father, the evil King Stangmar. Although Merlin is proud to serve, his own desire to be reunited with his mother, Elen, so overwhelms him that he abandons his task and teleports her to his side. No sooner do the pair embrace, however, than Elen is poisoned by a deathshadow, meant for her son by evil Rhita Gawr: Merlin's mother can only be saved if he masters the seven wizard's songs within one lunar month. The quest on which Barron sends his amiable hero is delightfully accessible and appropriate for this audience: In essence, Merlin must rise above his own hubris, and use his heart and mind as an adult. Aiding Merlin in his tasks are the lovely and resourceful Rhia, and a new character, the dour would-be jester Bumbelwy. While plenty of characters from the previous novel appear, as do familiar landmarks, it is Merlin's inner journey that readers will cherish above all: His development is convincing and heartwarming. A rich and resonant read. (Fiction. 9-12) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Library Binding: 251 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439522332
• ISBN-13: 978-1439522332
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,170,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

T.A. Barron is the award-winning author of fantasy novels such as The Lost Years of Merlin epic--soon to be a major motion picture. He serves on a variety of environmental and educational boards including The Nature Conservancy and The Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, and is the founder of a national award for heroic children. Following a life-changing decision to leave a successful business career to write full-time in 1990, Barron has written seventeen books, but is happiest when on the mountain trails with his wife, Currie, and their five children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great novel in the young Merlin epic!, August 4, 2000

By 

Tessa Reisinger (Fairport, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Seven Songs of Merlin (Lost Years of Merlin, Bk. 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

In the second novel of the Merlin epic, T.A. Barron provides an excellent and exciting story for book fans. To save his mother, Merlin must find the essential soul of each of the seven songs of wizardry, written on Arbassa by Tuatha years before. These will enable him to visit the Otherworld and get the cure for his mother. The task seems impossible, both because Merlin knows nothing more about the songs than the writing told him, and although it requires traveling to all 4 corners of Fincayra, his task must be finished in 4 phases of the moon - before Elen dies. As Merlin and Rhia, joined by a mournful Jester, search for the soul of each song, Merlin learns as much about himself as wizardry. He learns many important lessons, including that great wizards need not only skill and power, but humility as well. The book is an exciting and wonderful story, in which we discover even more about the young boy who will eventually become the world's most famous wizard.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK DESERVES TEN STARS!, October 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Seven Songs of Merlin (Lost Years Of Merlin) (Hardcover)

This is such an awesome book. It has a great author. I don't see how any one could not like T.A. Barron's books. They are so well written. Besides, were else are you supposed to read about Merlin's childhood? I don't know about any other places you can find a book about Merlin as a tenager that is a cool as this series. After reading this you should want to read his other books. If you don't you had better read the book again, because you didn't get the full effect. You might say this books is for 10 year olds, but I'm 15 and I love it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Songs of magic, April 2, 2000

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Seven Songs of Merlin (Lost Years of Merlin, Bk. 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Rhita Gawr may have been defeated for the moment, but Merlin's battles aren't over yet. "The Seven Songs of Merlin" has the legendary teenage wizard embarking on a harrowing new journey, with far more personal goal -- saving his mother. And T.A. Barron's lushly flowering prose and mythological insertions make this a delight.

Merlin is given the Flowering Harp to repair the land from the blight's damage. But since his ego is getting out of control, he decides to bring his mother Elen to Fincayra instead, even though he knows that this may attract Rhita Gawr's attention. Well, you can guess what happens -- Rhita Gawr sends a "death shadow" after Merlin, which attacks Elen. She can only be cured by the Dagda's intervention.

The spirit of Merlin's grandfather Tuatha tells him that he must master the Seven Songs of wizardry before he can meet Dagda, and he only has a month before Elen will die. Desperate to save her, Merlin sets off to accomplish his mission -- along with Rhia and the depressing jester Bumblewy -- but he may lost just as much as he stands to gain...

Most fantasy heroes pretty much take the "saving the world" thing in stride, so it's a nice touch that this heroic quest is triggered by the hero's ego blowing out of control, meaning he has to fix what he's broken. And like any magical quest, it's crammed with bizarre creatures, magic and a new brewing threat to Fincayra.

Barron's prose is still richly-descriptive, soaked with forests, leaves and fields, as well as a burned wasteland that is almost painful to read about. He balances out a feeling of urgency, woven with humor (Bumblewy's eventual success in making someone laugh), strange magical items, and a journey that reminds me of Greek heroes' journeys into the underworld.

Merlin is the same flawed hero as before, and he finds out the hard way that with great power comes great responsibility, yada yada Spiderman stuff. It's a wrenching, powerful chunk of character development, particularly since EVERY problem in this book is his fault. Rhia is the same irrepressable forest sprite, ready to pierce Merlin's ego when it needs a pinprick, and we learn something genuinely surprising about her in this story.

If "The Lost Years of Merlin" was an exploration of the hero's mysterious roots, then "Seven Songs" is all about him exploring his even more mysterious magical powers.