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tigreads6229's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
jesspeachee's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite book,not my least favorite book.Kinda just average.I liked the beginning,the end and some parts in the middle. Funny to think he names himself Merlin after his dead/lost pet bird
beccavg00's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
omegasilent's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
audshuffs's review against another edition
Oops I went home for Christmas and now I'm reading my middle school favorites again
talon1010's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Genuinely the most predictable book I've read since Everybody Poops. Were it contemporary, I'd say it's AI, but as it's from the 90s, it's genuine, true blue garbage.
Every applicable, easy fantasy trope I can think of is used. Tragic backstory (wherein lay the only bad things to happen to the mc), amnesia, come from the sea, magical barefooters, the dark forest, transformative cave, dark castle, good god vs domineering opponent, I Am Your Father.... they even managed to wedge in the Sword of Legend.
I liked the idea of the book because the introduction implies that the author studied Arthurian myth and sought to build on it with faith to the canon. As far as I know, the only things preserved are names.
Then, I thought I'd stick with it since it was an ironic joy to read and accurately anticipate a book about a (onetime, at least) oracular wizard felt at least charmingly ironic. But the only things I found even slightly interesting were the second sight (though it was, I think, under-developed) and the idea of cyclical and linear time as justification for divinity/spirituality, and in writing that, I'm realising they're not enough to justify a second star.
But in the end, I stuck with it because sometimes you just need an easy, vapid, hate-read.
Even the writing and editing was wanting; everything happened "the next afternoon/evening", and "all of a sudden". The mc did not wrong. Every prophecy and forecast was repeated on loop. Don't read this book.
Every applicable, easy fantasy trope I can think of is used. Tragic backstory (wherein lay the only bad things to happen to the mc), amnesia, come from the sea, magical barefooters, the dark forest, transformative cave, dark castle, good god vs domineering opponent, I Am Your Father.... they even managed to wedge in the Sword of Legend.
I liked the idea of the book because the introduction implies that the author studied Arthurian myth and sought to build on it with faith to the canon. As far as I know, the only things preserved are names.
Then, I thought I'd stick with it since it was an ironic joy to read and accurately anticipate a book about a (onetime, at least) oracular wizard felt at least charmingly ironic. But the only things I found even slightly interesting were the second sight (though it was, I think, under-developed) and the idea of cyclical and linear time as justification for divinity/spirituality, and in writing that, I'm realising they're not enough to justify a second star.
But in the end, I stuck with it because sometimes you just need an easy, vapid, hate-read.
Even the writing and editing was wanting; everything happened "the next afternoon/evening", and "all of a sudden". The mc did not wrong. Every prophecy and forecast was repeated on loop. Don't read this book.
mark_the_shark's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
antonia_delarose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
logan08's review against another edition
5.0
The Lost Years of Merlin was a very good book with many different genres wrapped in to one book. I really liked it. Overall it had a very steady pace. I didn't feel like there were very many slow parts in this book which is a bonus. I would definitely recommend this book to people who love adventure, magic, and a good book to read.