I read this trilogy when I was sick with mono, so its probably deserving of another reading. What I do recall was fantastic, engaging, and kept me occupied in my suffering for a very long time. ( )

Nicol Williamson rises above otherwise standard material. ( )

I became fascinated by Arthurian lore and the various takes on it a few years back and this one was recommended as a well done series from the perspective of Merlin. The story was well told and an interesting take on Merlin’s “magic�— a mix of genuine surreal visions and miracles being worked through him without his control, and practical scientific knowledge and inventions. If I have any complaint it’s that the entirety of this book tells of Merlin’s own childhood and early adulthood with the only real bit of well known events coming in at the end with the birth of Arthur. Being more interested in the tale of Arthur’s own rise and fall and the adventures of his court, I was less interested in the more in-depth character study of young Merlin, tho this is admittedly down to my own preference and not a flaw of the book. ( )

From the brief prologue alone, it becomes clear that this book is beautifully written, beckoning the reader into the kind of fantasy world that is imbued with all of the nostalgia that many authors in the genre have managed to capture over the years. The book is cozy, mystical, mythic, and detailed.

The story, told from the perspective of Merlin, starts by doing a really good job of getting inside the head of a lonely and thoughtful child who is constantly misunderstood by adults. It's a compelling introduction to Merlin, a child who knows both more and less than adults might expect. He's precocious, but he has major blindspots, and it's delightful to watch him discover mundane things like mirrors and maps, while treating his supernatural abilities as somewhat unremarkable in comparison.

As he grows older, his perspective becomes a bit less unique, but the early chapters engender enough sympathy and investment into his character, so he remains easy to route for throughout the book as he gets caught up in royal intrigue, war, and sorcery. It also helps that many of the side characters are fun and likeable, especially Lady Ygraine, though she doesn't make an appearance until the last section of the book.

In stories that center main characters like Merlin, it's always a risk that magic gets used as a deus ex machina to solve problems in a way that feels unearned, especially since there are never clear limits or rules imposed on Merlin's abilities. Fortunately, while convenient magic is used at times to advance the plot in a way that is somewhat contrived, it never ruins the reading experience. The focus of this book is not on learning magic to solve problems. It's on the tone and characters. It's about getting lost in the legends that Mary Stewart is drawing from. It's about feeling the power of myth and history. It's about experiencing the awe and wonder within the rich world, lush prose, and honorable chatacters. In these areas, The Crystal Cave absolutely succeeds. ( )

One of my favorite novels. I return to it again and again.
It's the Legend of King Arthur told in the first person by main protagonist, Myrddin Emrys, better known as Merlin. Mary Stewart draws heavily from
Le Morte d'Arthur the seminal compilation of Welsh Arthurian legend by Sir Thomas Mallory. Stewart's Merlin is born royal, but a bastard. He's a brilliant, arcanely sensitive and isolated boy who grows to youth, and manhood amid the turmoil of 5th century England. This is a bellicose time of petty kingdoms with ever shifting alliances.

Merlin's famous magic, (portrayed believably as learned science, art, and innate mystic gift), drives him towards the creation of the one true unifying monarch, Arthur king of the Britons.

The Crystal Cave is very much Merlin's story, the second book,(The Hollow Hills)), and third (The Last Enchantment), books in the quintet, are still narrated by Merlin, cover the more familiar tales of Arthur's legend. I've read The Wicked Day, (The death of Arthur as told by Modred), and the last of the quintet, The Prince and the Pilgrim, (A side story regarding Morgan Le Fey's bad behaviors), but for me, the Merlin Trilogy are all.
Poet, and Master of English literature, Mary Stewart's research and engagingly lyric prose, long ago spoiled me for all other depictions of Merlin and King Arthur.


(Although Nigel Terry and Nicol Williamson are forgiven because Excalibur is just so darned pretty) ( )