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62nd out of 300 books
—
877 voters
The Mirror of Merlin (Lost Years of Merlin #4)
by
T.A. Barron (Goodreads Author)
Through adventures involving a haunted marsh, talking trees and the creature called the ballymag, the young wizard Merlin continues to experience growing powers and essential humanity. Interior map included.
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
July 30th 2002
by Ace
(first published September 13th 1999)
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this book was by far the best of the series so far but it still had a few bad things about it. one thing that was bad was that the main bad guy turns out to be a person we knew from a long time ago that turns out to be from the future. its like Harry Potter facing Voldemort after he has already defeated him but the catch being that he is 30 years older. Another bad thing is that (spoiler) Merlin goes to the present at some point then starts to live backwards which never really happened with the...more
The first three books of T.A. Barron's Lost Years series were kind of light on the Arthurian aspects, but that changes dramatically in The Mirror of Merlin. The story is somewhat less enchanting and swift than the previous Merlin tales (particularly with the ballymag), but it's still an intriguing time-spanning adventure.
Hostile marsh ghouls have started rising in the Haunted Marshes of Fincayra, and Merlin and Co. happen to have a mission there (to find Merlin's magical sword). There Merlin en...more
Hostile marsh ghouls have started rising in the Haunted Marshes of Fincayra, and Merlin and Co. happen to have a mission there (to find Merlin's magical sword). There Merlin en...more
The Lost Years of Merlin series has always been hit and miss for me, and Mirror of Merlin remains that way with one true gem of redemption.
On the positive side, I love Barron's "foreshadowing" as Merlin thinks and has ideas about his future; being familiar with the myths and stories surrounding Merlin's life, it is delightful to read about his life as a teenager when he first has the desire to grow a beard, or live backward in time, or have a crystal cave for his home. I also love Barron's famil...more
On the positive side, I love Barron's "foreshadowing" as Merlin thinks and has ideas about his future; being familiar with the myths and stories surrounding Merlin's life, it is delightful to read about his life as a teenager when he first has the desire to grow a beard, or live backward in time, or have a crystal cave for his home. I also love Barron's famil...more
Okay, this is where I really started to despise Merlin. First off, his love life: okay, great, you can turn yourself into a deer now (on a side note, why a deer? Don't you know that they get shot and eaten?? Mr. Barron you should have done it differently.) but Merlin, you don't have the courage to stay with the love of your life? It's fate that you're both to be together for only a short time and then you see your own death? Really?
Okay, you can probably tell by my sarcasm that I'm more than a...more
Okay, you can probably tell by my sarcasm that I'm more than a...more
This isn't my favorite of the books, even though there is some really fun play on words. Basically, Merlin runs into his past and future nemisis Nimue. She uses her powers to return to the past in order to kill Merlin before he can become the powerful wizard of her future.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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4th of series of 5. looks at merlin's youth and education (through experiences). this is my favorite of the 5 because he meets and visits with his future self.
I really like T.A. Barron’s writing. He develops his characters nicely. The story is very exciting.
I enjoyed the more in depth background on Merlin's younger years. I will be reading more of this series.
For me, time travel isn't one of my favorites... but other than that, this was a good book.
Very good I loved the cool and magical things the author put in this book
Last installment of the series. Very good. I enjoyed it alot.
- The story wasn't very good in this one. Merlin kinda just traveled around. It got better about half way through.
- The Ballymag's dialogue is annoying. I had to slow down to read what he said.
- Merlin hasn't said chants to do magic before. Why does he need to now?
- Merlin is still very arrogant and ornery. Will he ever learn?
- I loved that they added Ector into the story!
- I think I'm getting burnt out on these books. I will probably take a break and read something else before tackling the last...more
- The Ballymag's dialogue is annoying. I had to slow down to read what he said.
- Merlin hasn't said chants to do magic before. Why does he need to now?
- Merlin is still very arrogant and ornery. Will he ever learn?
- I loved that they added Ector into the story!
- I think I'm getting burnt out on these books. I will probably take a break and read something else before tackling the last...more
It's a new way to look at the origins of the infamous Merlin.
Apr 17, 2012
Gwendolyn Gale
added it
i want to read this book it looks so intresting
Aimless, but builds a nice environment. It was predictable even when I was 13.
probably the weirdest one in the series...
I loved this one! Very exciting.
I thougt that this book was exciting.
Feb 25, 2010
The Third Place A Teen Library
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
paranormal-series-database
F BAR lyom bk. 4
Fantasy
Fantasy
Book 4 of 5 in the series.
JSF BAR
This volume was a lot of fun. I liked getting to know Hallia and her budding relationship with Merlin. Although I was quite disappointed there was no Rhia or Caipre - two of my favorite characters.
The author is really getting more into the Arthurian legends and lore now and it's exciting! I can't give away any spoilers but some very important characters have begun to show up and I love it. He's doing it in a pretty creative way.
The author is really getting more into the Arthurian legends and lore now and it's exciting! I can't give away any spoilers but some very important characters have begun to show up and I love it. He's doing it in a pretty creative way.
This was my favorite so far. It offered the most adventure and it is nice to see that merlin is maturing and not being so selfish. Now he just needs to learn to have greater confidence in his abilities and reliance on others observations and opinions.
This one wasn't the best in the series by far, but the ending made up for a lot of it.
a couple hours?
Oct 07, 2008
Mr. Kenney's Happy Hippies Literature Group
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
any one who loves fantiseys
Recommended to Mr. Kenney's Happy Hippies Literature Group by:
no one
Merlin a young 16 year old,has lost his sword in the swamp of horrors and has to find it cause it is part of his destney. when in the swamp he finds a hurt magpie and heals it. later he finds a key that can unlock any door or any spell. then he finds a mirror and goes in it and finds his older self. it is good
I can't believe this magical series is over!! I would gladly read more books about Merlin growing up if Barron would write them, especially after Merlin meets his older self....ahhhh!!! I want to know about the owls, and ice cream, and Halia!!! What happened to her? I have so many questions!!!
Cuando terminé de leerlo estaba convencida de que había sido un gran final. Merlín se había visto a si mismo como un viejo mago, había visto a Arturo y de alguna manera sabía que lo volvería a ver.
Todo estaba bien.
Cuál no sería mi sorpresa al saber que había un quinto libro.
Todo estaba bien.
Cuál no sería mi sorpresa al saber que había un quinto libro.
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T.A. Barron grew up in Colorado ranch country and traveled widely as a Rhodes Scholar. Though he’d dreamed of becoming a writer, he couldn’t find anyone to publish his first novel. He joined a business, eventually became president, then decided to try again. So in 1990, he surprised his business partners by moving back to Colorado to become a writer and conservationist. Since then he has written o...more
More about T.A. Barron...
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