Customer Reviews

The Wings of Merlin (The Lost Years of Merlin)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

All good things must come to an end, and no good thing could come to a better one. The last chapter in the Lost Years of Merlin saga is the best. It is full of everything that makes Barron's books so wonderful- excitement, suspense, surprises, and unexpected twists. It is a tale of love and friendship, of hope and despair, of defeat and triumph, of revenge and forgiveness. Here is a wonderful, heartbreaking story, a story to make you laugh and cry, a jewel of a story to treasure forever, to read again and again. I would recommend this book, this entire series to anyone who wishes for a beautiful, true story. For while the story of Merlin's youth is a fairy tale, in it's fantasy it is truer than the facts in any book- to the spirit at least. I would encourage children to loan it to their parents, and parents to read it with their children. Reading this book is a truly marvelous experience.

TA Barron does it again! Just when I thought everything was so wonderful in Fincarya - book #5 grabbed me, had me reading, not able to put it down just until I found out what was happening there. I was going to take my time and savor this book BUT, I read straight through it hardly able to keep myself from jumping ahead to find out how it was going to end! It was great to see some of my favorite and least favorite characters from the prior books. This book was great - a must read - especially if you have already read the other Lost Years of Merlin books. It was great reading these and discussing them with my kids and seeing them excited about reading. Magical, emotional, thought provoking and even possibly heart wrenching......read it and experience this book!

T.A. Barron's final book in the Lost Years series is indeed one of his best. Barron manages to tie up all the loose ends for readers by bringing back the important characters from the past, including a surprise visit from someone you'd least expect.What makes the ending so satisfying for those diehard fans of Arthurian legend is the way the book transitions into the stories that we are all familiar with. It is well done and seamless in its connection. A word of warning: Though none of this series is for young readers, the final book has Merlin a bit more grown up than in the past. He has a serious relationship with Halia that is the center of much of the book, and some close and important characters do not survive. Still, for those who have followed Merlin through his lost years, the book is a must read. Enjoy!

T.A. Barron first brought this new and original concept of Merlin to life in THE LOST YEARS OF MERLIN. That book was a wonderful read that brought new views and old themes into a retelling of the timeless legend. The books that followed definitely kept the reader involved, although the plots themselves became pointless at times, and some of the minor characters were just stupid. Still, the final book in this epic is written with personality and tells a very worthwhile story with a minimum of the meaningless tangents that were seen in some of the other books. I do not mean to criticize this series too much. I enjoyed it very much and I think that Mr. Barron created an excellent conclusion. This book certainly matched the first one in the level of excitement that passes through our young wizard into every reader's imagination. This is definitely worthwhile, especially if you have read the previous books.

p.s. The similarities to the Star Wars films that were found in the first book are definitely not present in the final book.

T.A. Barron is probably the freshest, most outstanding voice in fantasy and Arthurian literature in... well, a very, very long time.

His "Lost Years of Merlin" series is clearly destined to be a modern classic, an exquisitely-written epic saga that reinvents the legendary Merlin. "Wings of Merlin" is no exception -- it's a fitting end to a wonderful five-book trilogy, with its exquisite writing and an epic clash between the legendary wizard and the evil Rhita Gawr.

Merlin and his beloved Hallia are enjoying the peace after "Mirror of Merlin," shapeshifting into deer and romping under the amused gaze of Merlin's sister Rhia. But Merlin's powers aren't quite what they could be. And their peace is shattered by a vision of the Dagda, in which he warns Merlin that the battle against Rhita Gawr is about to come to a head. Dagda can't attack Rhita Gawr directly without unbalancing the world, and so it's up to a wizard -- Merlin -- to rally Fincayra's weird and wonderful array of races against Rhita Gawr.

Merlin meets up with his old friend Shim the Giant, and receives terrible news: His father, the evil Stangmar, has escaped his prison and is going after Merlin's mother Elen of the Sapphire Eyes. To make things worse, a sinister masked man with swords instead of arms is killing children -- and Merlin's spells don't work against him. Merlin must rally together the giants, the dwarves, the marsh ghouls, and everyone else in Fincayra -- but it may not be enough to defeat Rhita Gawr.

Until T.A. Barron's "Merlin" series, there were very few satisfying books about Merlin's early life. Spinning off from "The Merlin Effect," Barron intertwined Celtic legend and his own imagination -- and while there's a bittersweet edge to the series' finale, it's a suitable ending to Merlin's coming-of-age, both as a wizard and as a man.

Barron's writing is lush and descriptive, especially when the characters are in natural surroundings. Skies, trees, oceans, sights, sounds, smells, and the magical presence of Fincayra fills the pages. And Barron takes his trilogy forward into Arthurian territory as Merlin brings earthshattering changes to his world -- including a truly memorable, epic climax to the whole series.

And Barron proves that he doesn't do plot elements at random: the man with sword-arms has a specific reason to be mad at Merlin, and a shocking double identity earlier in the series. The battle against Rhita Gawr somehow elevates itself above the usual fantasy cliches of the good guys versus the evil Dark Lord, especially with the added mystical element.

Merlin has changed a lot from the insecure, slightly whiny boy of the first book, who didn't want magic and barely knew how to use it. But Barron doesn't make him all-powerful; he still has doubts, worries, and there are things he hasn't figured out how to do. Rhia is funny and mischievous (and so is the little creature in her pocket). Returning characters like Shim, Elen, Cairpre (who doesn't love Cairpre?) and others are almost as good.

And while there is a bittersweetness to leaving the magical Fincayra (good and bad) and the story of Merlin, "Wings of Merlin" leaves itself wide open for future stories. Brilliantly written, wonderfully thought out, and a fitting finale.

All good things come to an end, and so it is for Merlin's stay in the magical land of Fincayra.

And the last volume of T.A. Barron's series about the Arthurian wizard Merlin, "The Wings of Merlin," is a solid conclusion to his first cycle of books (there are two sequel series). It's a fitting if bittersweet ending to this five-book "trilogy," and it sets the stage for other facets of Arthurian legend.

Merlin, Hallia and Rhia are having fun when the Dagda appears in a vision, and warns Merlin that the battle against Rhita Gawr is about to come to a head. Dagda can't attack Rhita Gawr directly without unbalancing the world, and so it's up to a wizard -- Merlin -- to rally Fincayra's weird and wonderful array of races against Rhita Gawr.

Even worse, Merlin's father Stangmar has escaped from his prison and is going after Elen, and a sinister masked man with swords instead of arms is killing children -- and Merlin's spells don't work against him. Merlin must rally together the giants, the dwarves, the marsh ghouls, and everyone else in Fincayra -- but it may not be enough to defeat Rhita Gawr without using a truly exalted magic.

Until T.A. Barron's "Merlin" series, there were very few satisfying books about Merlin's early life. Spinning off from "The Merlin Effect," Barron intertwined Celtic legend and his own imagination -- and while there's a bittersweet edge to the series' finale, it's a suitable ending to Merlin's coming-of-age, both as a wizard and as a man.

Barron's writing is lush and descriptive, especially when the characters are in natural surroundings. Skies, trees, oceans, sights, sounds, smells, and the magical presence of Fincayra fills the pages. And Barron takes his trilogy forward into Arthurian territory as Merlin brings earthshattering changes to his world -- including a truly memorable, epic climax to the whole series.

And Barron proves that he doesn't do plot elements at random: the man with sword-arms has a specific reason to be mad at Merlin, and a shocking double identity earlier in the series. The battle against Rhita Gawr somehow elevates itself above the usual fantasy cliches of the good guys versus the evil Dark Lord, especially with the added mystical element.

Merlin has changed a lot from the insecure, slightly whiny boy of the first book, who didn't want magic and barely knew how to use it. But Barron doesn't make him all-powerful; he still has doubts, worries, and there are things he hasn't figured out how to do. Rhia is funny and mischievous (and so is the little creature in her pocket). Returning characters like Shim, Elen, Cairpre (who doesn't love Cairpre?) and others are almost as good.

And while there is a bittersweetness to leaving the magical Fincayra (good and bad) and the story of Merlin, "Wings of Merlin" leaves itself wide open for future stories. Brilliantly written, wonderfully thought out, and a fitting finale.

Merlin this time takes on his hardest task ever. Merlin has to hunt down the "Sord Of Arms." The "Sord of Arms" is a man that wants revenge on Merlin (reffering to the first book.) So the evil War Lord gives him sorwds as arms. The "Sord of Arms" is hunting down Fincayra's (island Merlin lives on)children hoping to draw Melin to him. Also at the same time Rhia (Merlin's sister) is trying to put an army of Fincayran's together, because at the longest night of Fincayra the Underworld gets close to Fincayra and is preparing to take over Fincayra to turn it to evil.

This book really helped pass the time. I was originally skepical but as soon as I began reading, I was begging for more.

Would you ever be able to unite almost every creature in the world within two weeks, while trying to stop an insane man with swords as his arms from killing innocent children, in an effort to stop the evil dark spirit lord along with his spirit army, or would you just give up trying?

In T.A. Barron's fantasy novel, young Merlin must face unbeatable odds as he tries to unite all the creatures of Fincayra together. He faces many person versus self conflicts such as guilt, where he fails to do one of his duties. He experiences sorrow, when he must part with his true love. He must face the conflict of people versus people for the war to come. And he must face person versus nature when he must unite all of the independent creatures to fight a devastating war. And on top of all that he has to make the most powerful decision he will ever make.

To me this book was excellent, a real page turner. I really liked the way Barron used so much detail, it made it seem you right there with Merlin. You could listen to the birds or feel the misty air. I also liked the way he surprises you around the climax, when he brings someone back into the story. The only thing I really didn't like about the novel was how short the end was. I think it could use some more length. Overall I loved the book. Barron's work was brilliant. I encourage all others who like magic and adventure try the Lost Years of Merlin Series.

Winter's Longest Night spells ultimate and eternal doom for all of Fincayra -- and no one, not even powerful Merlin, can stop fate. As Rhita Gawr leads a mighty army to come forcibly through the Otherworld into the Mist beyond the land of Fincayra, Merlin faces a decision that will mean the fate of Fincayra's people. Though his greatest and most powerful enemy approaches and bursts through the magical land, Merlin must reunite all of the Fincayrans to fight a great battle against Rhita Gawr's forces. But a murderous man known only as Sword Arms hunts down only children of the land, and Merlin must save all the children of the land, too -- a task that is more difficult than it can ever seem, because the land is slowly fading away into nothingness, and the evil forces push through to annihiliate Merlin's dreams, hopes, and all he has protected and fought for to live. While battle rages and the friends and enemies become what they are not to Merlin, startling truths are revealed, as well as the destiny of what will become of Merlin and his people -- if they can draw the courage to live through the horrible battle that will soon arise. The Wings Of Merlin is the fifth and final spellbinding novel in the extraordinary Lost Years Of Merlin saga by T.A. Barron. Every question, from the first book through the last, is at last answered -- and it is the most heart pounding, shattering, and utterly rewarding novel in the saga. It's a rarity among the hundreds of young adult fantasy novels out there ; the five-book epic, especially this startling and powerful conclusion, should be read by anyone.