Merlin's blade

Format:

Book

Title:

Merlin's blade

Author:

Treskillard, Robert.

ISBN:

9780310735076

Publication Information:

Physical Description:

432 pages : maps ; 21 cm.

Series title(s):

Merlin spiral ;

Number in series:

BK. 1.

General Note:

"Book includes location map and detailed character index"--Page 4 of cover.

Summary:

"When a meteorite crashes near a small village in fifth-century Britain, it brings with it a mysterious black stone that bewitches anyone who comes in contact with its glow---a power the druids hope to use to destroy King Uthur's kingdom, as well as the new Christian faith. The only person who seems immune is a young, shy, half-blind swordsmith's son named Merlin. As his family, village, and even the young Arthur, are placed in danger, Merlin must face his fears and his blindness to take hold of the role God ordained for him. But when he is surrounded by adversaries, armed only by a sword he helped forge, how will he save the girl he cherishes and rid Britain of this deadly evil without losing his life?"--Back cover.

Personal Subject:

Merlin (Legendary character)-Juvenile fiction.

Merlin (Legendary character) (OCoLC)fst01017208

Subject(s):

Meteorites -- Juvenile fiction.

Blessing and cursing -- Juvenile fiction.

Druids and druidism -- Juvenile fiction.

Christianity -- Juvenile fiction.

Meteorites -- Fiction.

Blessing and cursing -- Fiction.

Druids and druidism -- Fiction.

Christianity -- Fiction.

Merlin (Legendary character) -- Fiction.

Great Britain -- Juvenile fiction.

Great Britain -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Great Britain -- Juvenile fiction.

Great Britain -- Fiction.

Genre:

Christian fiction -- Juvenile fiction.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Stayton Public Library	TEEN TRESKILLARD	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Merlin's Greatest Weakness Could Become His Greatest Strength. With the balance of power between the Druidow and King Uthur's court in sway, can Merlin find it in himself to overcome his past or will he bring Britain to its knees?

When a meteorite crashes near a small village in fifth-century Britain, it brings with it a mysterious black stone that bewitches anyone who comes in contact with its glow---a power the druids hope to use to destroy King Uthur's kingdom. The only person who seems immune is a young, shy, half-blind swordsmith's son named Merlin.

As his family, village, and even the young Arthur, are placed in danger, Merlin must face his fears and his blindness to take hold of the role ordained for him by God. But when he is surrounded by adversaries, how will he save the girl he cherishes and rid Britain of this deadly evil ... without losing his life?

The Winner of the 2014 Silver Moonbeam Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction, Merlin's Blade includes:

Christian, faith-based retelling of the Arthurian legend location map and detailed character guide rich historical details perfect for young fans of Stephen Lawhead

Don't miss the other titles in The Merlin Spiral trilogy: Merlin's Shadow and Merlin's Nightmare

Reviews (2)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 8 Up-In fifth-century Britain, during King Uther's reign, the druids attempt to rise once again and overpower their Christian monarch. A strange and deadly meteorite, able to bewitch anyone who gazes upon it, becomes central to the druid leader's plots. Only the mostly blind swordsmith's son, Merlin, is able to gaze upon the stone and hold off its dangerous powers. Only he can see with a clear head the deception and plotting surrounding the High King's visit to his small village. It is through Merlin's actions that perhaps Uther's family, including the young future King Arthur, can survive the pagan usurpers' designs on the crown. Treskillard crafts a new and unique prequel to the King Arthur legend, one that is rich in atmosphere and detail. Fantasy readers will find themselves beguiled by the young Merlin's story. Other readers, however, might find themselves somewhat overwhelmed, and the slow pace (the full tale will be told in three volumes) may leave reluctant readers unwilling to continue to the end. Though somewhat lengthy, the blending of history and religious mythologies makes this the start of an interesting perspective on Arthurian legends.-Jessica Miller, West Springfield Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

Making his debut, Treskillard delivers a sweeping, deeply detailed fantasy that re-imagines the adven-tures of figures from Arthurian legend in a battle between "new" Christian ideology and the ancient rites of the druids. In his fifth-century British village, Merlin, a nearly blind teenager and son of a blacksmith, quickly emerges as the empathetic and courageous hero following the teachings of Jesu. Merlin is the only one who can resist the temptations and mystical enchantments that emanate from a glowing stone-part of a "Dragon Star" that had crashed in flames to Earth; he desperately encourages others to reject the stone's evil and take up his path under God's protection. A toddler King Arthur and the famous sword Excalibur are thrilling elements of the tale for fans of the genre. The author skillful-ly crafts intense action scenes and vivid settings. But the book's length, large cast of characters, and period vernacular tend to slow the pacing in places and may prove a challenge for some younger read-ers less keen about comprehensive detail. Those who follow Merlin to book's end, however, are re-warded by hints at what's to come in the sequel in the Merlin's Spiral series. Ages 13-up. Agent: Les Stobbe, Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.