Customer Reviews

The Seven Songs of Merlin

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

After the Great Council selects Merlin to carry the flowering harp to restore life and nature to the lands of Fincayra, Merlin decides to bring his mother to Fincayra, as well. The evil Rita Gawr sends down a curse that reaches Merlin's mother instead of Merlin. To save her, Merlin must master the souls of the Seven Songs of wizardry. He must then enter the Otherworld Well, which is guarded by an ogre with a single eye, an orb that brings death to all those who look into it.

The Seven Songs of Merlin was the March selection for the local library's teen book club, and I neglected it until just days before our meeting, although after I reached page ten, I was hooked. So far, T.A. Barron's Merlin series is entrancing and suspenseful.

~ JFS

Step 1: log off the internet Step 2: grab your coat and walkout the door Step 3: drive to the nearest bookstore Step 4: buy thisbook Step 5: READ IT! Why? Because any fantasy lover ready for a breath-taking ride will not be able to look away! Contrary to what the title says, the Seven Songs are not really songs. They are important lessons for the body, mind and soul. Accompanied by his friend Rhia, Merlin must save his mother's life learning the Songs and discovering their true meanings. Not knowing it, Merlin becomes a true wizard.

This book was really good.In fact it was one of the best books i have read.It went on right after the first book The Lost Years Of Merlin.It talks about how Merlin slacks off on his job of restoring Fincayra with the flowering harp.Instead he want to see his Mother Elen.This book was very good with a good plot and good story and it is just really good!

In this heartwarming story, young 13 year old merlin finds the soul of many valuble things in life .If you like Harry Potter I think you'll like this better!

Astounding! For once, the sequel is better than the original. Not by much, though. T.A. Barron is one of the best fantasy authors I have ever read; right up there with Madeline L'Engle and Patricia Wrede. He has once again woven a complicated tale of who we are and who we think others are. He has made us burst out laughing and sent tears down our cheeks in the same book. This novel will give you a startling jolt of reality and fiction and will make you wonder if you are who you think you are.

Seven Songs is Barron at his best (and don't think I say that because I'm from Colorado, as is Barron). This is one of the best YA books I've read -- and as an 8th grade teacher, I've read zillions as have my students. There are TONS of YA books not worth my students' or my time, but this is a winner. There is emphasis on a young person setting up a personal code of ethics--but absolutely not at the expense of the wonderous tale of young Merlin. And Barron makes me believe in all the adventures. It's a tender story--with some rip-roaring adventure. I don't often see the two combined so well. If it reminds me of another book, it is of Hesse's Siddhartha. I am not a "fantasy fan" in any way -- but Barron writes for ALL readers in this one. I do NOT see how it could have been ignored for the awards.

I personaly don't like to read very much and would only read when I was forced to, mostly for school assinments, however I love Merlin and Mid-Evil times. One year ago I was at the book store being preasured into buying a book and reading it by my mom,so I pulled off the shelf T. A. Barron's "The Seven Songs of Merlin", and checked out with it. After stalling for some time my mother finaly forgot that a had the book in my room, but I was bord one day and desided to read it. This boy how could not stand to read was suddenly swept away by this wonderful book, I finished the book, but I had to read more,I am now on the process of reading "The Lost Years of Merlin", and have "The Fires of Merlin" for after that, and can't wait to read his new book he's writing to come out. I would recomend this book to any one who love's Merlin, Mid-Evil times, or any one that is looking for a book that will leave them yerning for more.