Robert Treskillard

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… (altro)

Hmmm, I have a review all typed out and waiting to be edited, but I think I might just chuck it and go for something short(er) and sweet.....
I didn't like it.
The drama between Merlin and Natalenya was way over-the-top and unnecessary..... and pretty stupid most of the time. And I get that this is supposed to be somewhat historically accurate, but given how much Merlin supposedly respects Natalenya, I thought he would treat her better than a pack animal. I found it pretty ridiculous that he;
1: wouldn't have a mature conversation with her when she approached him with concerns (he literally looked off into the distance and pointed out the shore as a response, then completely ignored her)
2: Was planning on breaking up with her because he "wasn't good enough" (cue tiny self-righteous violin) and completely ruining her reputation and honor, seeing as she had run away with him;
and 3: Let her continue to carry her share of the supplies PLUS A BABY when she was noticeably ill beyond reasonability.
To sum up, I found the characters inconsistent, their motives ill-conceived, and the storyline of the second book pretty disappointing. I had hoped the series would go uphill, since the first book was fairly enjoyable, but no such luck.
Quick Disclaimer: I know someone who liked this series (?) A lot (?!?) I did read an arc, but I doubt the things I mentioned would be edited out of the final proof, since they're pretty key points. I guess some people just have more of a stomach for this stuff.… (altro)

I received an ARC through Goodreads.
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I would give it 3.5 stars.

This is the first book of the series that I have read. In hindsight, I highly recommend reading Book 1 first! Although, it isn't too hard to pick up on the storyline and characters if you started on Book 2 like I did.

This was an interesting interpretation of Merlin's back story, with hints of Arthur and Morgana. Let's be honest, I was totally expecting Merlin to be using a little more magic on his part, instead it was mostly focused on his faith in Christianity, or lack of throughout the book. For a young man, still learning the ways of the world and being thrust into such an important position according to legends, Merlin comes off as a stubborn and often doubtful boy. Yes, everyone learns from their mistakes, yet Merlin doesn't seem to always remember the consequences of his decisions, which effected their entire group.

There was plenty of magic on the druid's end and every other place. Pretty much Merlin and his group don't use magic at all. Which is somewhat of a bore. The whole thing that Ganeida went through with the Voice and the druids left me a little skeptical and hesitant, seeing how for little more than a child, she could carry such hatred for Merlin, who had shown nothing but kindness and love whenever possible. Ganeida seems to reach towards the dark magic yet hesitates at times, uncertain of everything. This is a poor child who is lost and confused in the world, which obviously a lot of people are taking advantage of given how much power she would one day wield.

I would like more time spent on developing Merlin and other members of his group.

Cannot wait to read what adventures they will embark on next.… (altro)