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4.0 out of 5 stars
Winging on, 16 Jan 2009
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.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly amazing!!!!!!!!!, 2 Dec 2003
This book and all the other four before it are definately worth a read. The way that T.A.Barron gets you involved in the book is really original. You quickly come to learn about the characters and begin to feel their sorrow and their happiness. T.A.Barron is truly original and deserves a huge round of applause! Harry Potter watch out!
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by T. A. Barron
by T. A. Barron
by T. A. Barron
by T. A Barron
by T. A. Barron
