HARRY POTTER LOVERS,,,READ THIS BOOK!!! This is defianatly a great book. It has a twisted, really good, ending!! I was doubtful I would like it, but as I read, I didn't even realize I didn't want to put the book down!! But I really didn't think I'd like it, but this is definatly a book that I would reccomend to anyone!!! READ THIS BOOK!!!!

While this is a series aimed at young adults, I knew it would be at least up my alley in terms of general subject matter, being a fan of Harry Potter and the much maligned "21 Lessons of Merlyn". I found this to be utterly delightful and I felt like a little girl again as this became my bedtime book.

It definitely has a different take on the infamous wizard, whose adult years are well chronicled creatively but whose childhood has remained more of a mystery. I thought the unique flawed nature of this restless youth was fascinating and endeared him to me as a more realistic portrayal of a young man growing into extraordinary powers.

I also loved the supporting characters, particularly Rhia and Shim. I'd LOVE to live in Arbassa and spend my days talking to trees and living on magickal fruit...wouldn't you?!

Perhaps I am alone in this. That's ok, I'm used to it. ;)

But I found myself tearing through this first book, most often smiling all the way.

And while I understand why this series comes up in the same conversations with the HP series, I see no need to compare or choose one as better than the other. I love them both. Despite the similarities in genre and subject matter, they are apples and oranges in my mind. With both series, every time I read them I imagine how much fun it will be to share this with children someday...and teach them to believe in magick.

I read this and the second book from a relative's shelf when I was looking for something to read. They move fairly quickly and held my interest, which was built up by the author's foreword. The writing overall isn't bad. But the injections of myth and prophecy into the story seem very contrived rather than organic to the story. Maybe worse yet, the author evidently has little experience of the outdoors, so many events ring very false. For example, the characters mostly seem oblivious to the need for food, and not to feel the usual discomforts of days and weeks spent in the open. At one point, the hero builds a raft of driftwood, tied with vines and seaweed, and pushes it out (completely unprovisioned) into the sea as if venturing into a still pond. This is pretty laughable to anyone who has ever been in a boat. All in all, I'd had my fill of such things before I got to the 3rd book, and left it at that. If I'd had anything better to do, I probably wouldn't have gotten that far. I've read a good deal of fantasy (though no other Merlin stuff), and most of it is better.

Wonderful story with a new idea about Merlin's childhood. I will definately buy the rest of the books in the series! Hope my grandkids like them as much as I did!

The Lost Years of Merlin
Ready for a new exciting, wonderful, exhilarating, great book to read? Well, then Lost Years of Merlin by T. A. Barron would be a great book for you! This fantastic novelty book is all about a young boy whose "mom" claims his name is Ermys. Ermys is a young boy of twelve and has special powers passed down from his grandfather. He knows he does not belong where he is now and is determined to find out where he belongs and who his real mother is. So, Ermys sails to a magical land called Finacaria and meets a small Merlin (a hawk) and a young girl the same age named Rhia. Together they try and find out about Ermys past, present, and future, as well as his true name. The two must find a way to defeat the wicked king with the help of some friends. I really liked the book because it was so intense and so descriptive. This book made me want to keep reading until the end because I could really tell how Merlin was feeling. So, if you really like page-turning, exciting, intense, magical books, this would be the perfect book for you!