Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Merlin's Blade

Title: Merlin's Blade Author: Robert Treskillard Publisher: Zonderkidz Copyright Date: 2013
Merlin’s Blade . . . just the second of approximately twelve books on my reading list involving the legendary wizard Merlin. While in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain he was a cantankerous sorcerer inferior to the technological power of Hank Morgan, in Robert Treskillard’s 2013 novel, he is an eighteen-year-old, almost-completely-blind, no-one-notices-me son of a blacksmith.

The book begins when the meteorite of the Dragon Star crashes into a lake on Bosvenna Moor, A.D. 477. Seventy years later, the infamous druidow—lovers of the Devil and haters of Jesus Christ—have found the Dragon Star’s wicked Stone by the lake near the village of Bosventor. The Stone quickly ensnares the villagers and turns them away from High King Uther’s reign. 

Merlin’s Blade was an extremely gripping read. About three-quarters of the way through, my mind finally registered why: Treskillard is the master of the cliff-hanger, and the master of destruction. And he keeps his book so excellently moral and God-glorifying. But other than that, I find that his writing lacks a distinguishing polish—it’s not metaphorical, it’s not pretty. It’s just there. I know that many people could have written it much better. He constantly switches POVs among characters whose personalities are uninteresting—not comical or horrible, just there. To end on the worst note, Treskillard places a cliff-hanger right where he shouldn’t: at the end of the epilogue. Apparently there’s going to be a sequel.

I would recommend Merlin’s Blade to those who are looking for an easy read after, say, they’ve finished a few hard classics. While it’s hard to put down, its true heart is not very impressive.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

8 comments:

  1. Definitely sounds interesting - neat cover!

    Rebecca

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    1. It was quite interesting, but like I said, not the best book I've read this year.... The cover is gorgeous, isn't it? But I can't decide if the cover leads to the rest of the series or what, because it really doesn't "go" with this book all too well. The blade itself isn't a very big part of the story, and while wolves do have something to do with it, they aren't central to the plot either.

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    2. Hmmm... maybe something for the author to learn for his next book. I have learned so much through my mistakes after publishing. There are a lot of things I don't like about my book, but now have a better idea of how to manage my next one! :)

      Rebecca

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    3. Yeah, I hope so! This is not the final copy of the book (though I don't think they'll be changing the cover), which I'm rather happy about, because there were a *lot* of editing mistakes in it. I just hope they fix them! Bad editing jobs are so distracting. I forgot to say anything about it in this review, but it probably doesn't matter, since they'll most likely go back and fix them anyway.

      That must be tough to have had to learn so much about your mistakes through the publishing of your book.... So when is the next one coming out? ;)

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    4. Oh, really? Ok, I hope they'll fix the mistakes! :)

      Yeah, it seriously is. I am sure I will keep learning. I am hoping to have another out before November, which is when I published my last, so we'll see what happens!

      Rebecca

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    5. Awesome! Let me know what it's called :)

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  2. I love the way you write reviews, girl. You are so honest, and yet still manage to make it flattering for the author.

    So, I am putting together my list to join the classics club. :) I finally realized that since I am already reading all those classics, i might as well try for a goal. ;) I have about 32 picked out already... and am having a little bit of trouble with finding the rest. :)

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    1. Thank you, Becca! You're so kind :)

      Awesome! Have you read, like, all the classics on that list already? ;) I can't wait to see your list!

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