Great series ( )

Although I enjoyed reading this book, I liked The Crystal Cave more. The pace seemed slower in the beginning and I didn't feel drawn in to the story until the last 150 pages or so. Much of the storyline could fit under the title of part 1, Waiting, because it felt like that's what I was doing, waiting until Arthur was crowned king. Like I said, though, it was a good book and no doubt has set the stage for a great third one.

Having never read any books on the Arthurian legend, I am enjoying learning both the historical and mythical aspects of the story and am intrigued by the view of Merlin as not simply a common magician with 'showy' magic but whose power comes from will of the 'gods'. I also find the time period particularly interesting concerning how the country was undergoing a religious conversion from pagan beliefs to Christianity and all the social and political adaptations that were byproducts of this shift. ( )

This book had less action than The Crystal Cave, but it was still a wonderful follow-up in Mary Stewart's Arthurian saga. I've enjoyed the first two books in this series very much, though I'm a bit worried about the last two. I always resented Lancelot and Guinevere so much, so I'm not sure how I'm going to handle reading about them in the future books. Already I wished Merlin had strangled Morgause, the sneaky, hateful bitch.

It was a wonderful read, and I love Stewart's writing. T.H. White could have taken some lessons from her. ( )

Picks up exactly where The Crystal Cave left off, on the morning after Arthur's conception. It is in one sense about Arthur's infancy and childhood, with the action all leading toward his revelation as rightful king. But Arthur actually only plays a bit part. The book is really about Merlin.

As a story, this one is not as strong as The Crystal Cave. Remarkably little actually happens; it leaves one more with an impression of the atmosphere than the happenings.

Both books paint what seems to me a very good picture of subroman Britain. The portrayal is historically accurate, as far as I can tell, considerably more so than most books about the Matter of Britain.

I read 179 pages. I stopped reading this book because it had old English and I did not understand many words that was in the book. I also did not get the story because it continues and I did not read the book before this book.