The Hollow Hills (Book Two, The Arthurian Saga): Mary Stewart

"Keeping watch over the young Arthur Pendragon, the prince and prophet Merlin Ambrosius is haunted by dreams of the magical sword Caliburn, which has been hidden for centuries. When Uther Pendragon is killed in battle, the time of destiny is at hand, and Arthur must claim the fabled sword to become the true High King of Britain."

To put it plain and simple: I LOVE this series! I am a huge King Arthur fanatic and this book really makes me feel connected to the tale. I love the history that Stewart incorporated into her eloquent storytelling and the descriptions--oh the descriptions!--are absolutely beautiful. This truly is a one-of-a-kind series that drags you in with the claws of the Pendragon emblem and holds you there as if in one of Merlin's trances. It's as if Stewart has channelled the real Merlin and told his story.

The story rings true of the real tale with a dash of actual history and an underlying of truly beautiful writing. Mary Stewart has solidified herself in my list of favorite authors because of this. Her characters are so real I can hear their voices and feel as if I'm in the chamber or forest with them; listening to the foretelling of a great king or speaking with the ancient people of the woods. I can smell, taste, hear, and feel everything with them. There is a quality to Stewart's writing where you can't help but become enthralled. Maybe she's cast a spell of her own on her writing to make it as addictive as your favorite sweet.

Unfortunately, school is in full-swing and I've had to really cut down on my reading--which is why there has been such a gap between books lately. Hopefully, I'll find a better rhythm when this semester is over and I'm not forced to read children's books each week! I really wish I could read the next in this series, but--alas!--Arthur must wait...

The Crystal Cave (The Arthurian Saga, Book One): Mary Stewart

"Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myridden Emrys--or as he would later be known, Merlin--leads a perilous childhood, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man's-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of Uther Pendragon...and the conception of Arthur--king for once and always."

This was my aunt's favorite series when she was a teenager--so much so that she reread it in college and has gotten the entire series for her eleven-year-old daughter. Naturally (being the Arthurian freak that I am) I stole the books before my cousin could even get her hands on them and decided that I would read them :) (Don't feel too bad for her...she was reading another book and had to finish that one first anyway.) I ended up falling in LOVE with this book!!! It was beautiful! The writing captured me and held me fast.

As for Merlin...there are hardly words to describe how much I love his character. There is this hunting mystery about him. The author was wise enough to reveal enough about him, but not too much so you're kept absolutely fascinated. I just wanted more, more, more! The ending was so enthralling that I was relieved I had the second book sitting right next to me. I don't know what I would have done had I been forced to wait to read it!

Each character--no matter how small--was complex. I'm truly so impressed that Stewart was able to do so without becoming long-winded. It was brilliant to take this story from Merlin's point of view. It added twists and complexity that I believe only a few authors would have been able to handle. Keeping true to history was a marvelous decision on Stewart's part. It made everything come alive rather than simply relying on fantasy and magic. Everything seemed more real.

Overall, I adore Stewart's work. Her writing is as timeless and magical as the black hills of Wales and the story of a wizard who would make an orphan into the greatest king of all.