Merlin's Mistake
Robert Newman
Volo
Fiction, YA Fantasy
****
DESCRIPTION: In an England where Camelot still stands and magic is real yet elusive, sixteen-year-old Brian is ready to leave his castle home to find adventure. Unfortunately, his mother, still grieving the long-ago loss of his father in the Crusades, won't allow it. Brian chafes under her restraint. He just knows he's bound for something greater. One day, adventure seems to come knocking on his door. Tertius has come far from his uncaring father and brutish brothers, bearing the burden of a botched christening gift. The great wizard Merlin was supposed to gift him with knowledge of all things magical. Instead, distracted by his love affair with the enchantress Nimue, he gave Tertius all future knowledge. Now, the boy seeks a tutor to educate him in the ways of magic. It sounds like a worthy quest to Brian, and a chance for some yearned-for adventure... but quests are notorious for not going as planned.
REVIEW: This is part of a Lost Treasures series by the publisher, where older works are being re-released to today's audience (this story was originally written in 1970.) I was somewhat skeptical after being so dismayed by Dragonworld, another revived title, but it was rather cheap, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I'm glad I did. This is a fun, if somewhat standard, fantasy adventure tale. Some of the twists were a bit obvious to me, but I liked the characters, and the story moved at a decent clip. I lost an entire afternoon to this book, certain that I'd put it down at the end of the next chapter but only succeeding when the story was over. I didn't give it the top rating because it was a bit formulaic, and I found the ending to Tertius's quest to be somewhat convenient and unsatisfying. All in all, it was a fun tale, and a steal at the price (two dollars brand-new.)
You might also enjoy:
Bright Shadow (Avi, YA Fiction - A dying wizard grants a serving girl powers she never wanted when he gives her five wishes that work)
The Lost Years of Merlin (T. A. Barron, YA Fiction - The boy Merlin travels to a forbidden magical island as he struggles to cope with his unpredictable, potent gifts)
Hatching Magic and The Dragon of Never-Was (Ann Downer, YA Fiction - A modern Boston girl's encounter with a medieval wizard's pet wyvern wakes her own latent powers, powers she isn't sure she wants)
Knight's Castle (Edward Eager, YA Fiction - A boy makes a wish on a magical toy, but his wish must be earned in a series of magical adventures)
Ella Enchanted (Gail Carson Levine, YA Fiction - A girl sets out to cure a fairy's christening gift of obedience, a gift that proves more of a curse)
Heroes of the Valley (Jonathan Stroud, YA Fiction - Raised on tales of his heroic ancestor, a boy attempts to avenge his uncle with disastrous results)
The Young Merlin trilogy (Jane Yolen, YA Fiction - A feral child in the woods begins the journey that will transform him into the great wizard Merlin)
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