Betrayal.
After destroying the sinister Druid Stone and freeing his people from its dark control, Merlin finds himself to be a royal advisor without a king. Along with his friend Garth and Natalenya, his betrothed, Merlin treks north with the orphaned Arthur in hopes of keeping the young ruler safe from soldiers misled by their turncoat captain. Relentlessly pursued by his nemesis Vortigern, Merlin and his band make for the fortress of Dintaga.
But dangers multiply when Merlin realizes that Vortigern is not his only enemy. Even his own sister appears bent on Merlin’s destruction. As the threat on all their lives increases, Merlin discovers their only hope is sailing to the lands of eternal darkness and once again cleansing the world from an ancient and powerful evil.
Robert Treskillard (from his website) is a Celtic enthusiast who holds a B.A. in Biblical & Theological Studies from Bethel University, Minnesota. He has been crafting stories from his early youth, is a software developer, graphic artist, and sometime bladesmith. He and his wife have three children and are still homeschooling their youngest. They live in the country outside St. Louis, Missouri.
My Impressions:
Merlin’s Shadow is the second book in The Merlin Spiral series by Robert Treskillard. Using a framework of Arthurian legend and Druid mythology, the book presents a tale of Merlin’s early protection of the young King Arthur. Orphaned through the betrayal of his uncle, Arthur is rescued by Merlin and a diverse group (bards, Christians, druids, and warriors) all with Arthur’s survival as their focus. Forced from their home to a strange and dark land, the band meets with treachery and danger at every turn.
Merlin’s Shadow is a very dark book, not only in its setting, but in the evil that surrounds those seeking to kill Arthur. Faith in Christ is sorely tested and attacked. And while the character of Merlin is central to the story, it is his sister, Ganeida (Morgana) that I was drawn to. A young girl at the beginning of the story, she is lured into evil by her grandfather and a mysterious Voice that provides her with visions and power. I found her story very compelling, even as she sinks deeper and deeper under the thrall of evil.
If you like Arthurian legends and are looking for something that presents a new twist, then I recommend you try Merlin’s Shadow. But be sure to read book 1, Merlin’s Blade first.
(Thanks to the CSFF Blog Tour for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
For what others on the tour are saying, click on the links below.
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Jeff Chapman
Pauline Creeden
April Erwin
Victor Gentile
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Jennette Mbewe
Amber McCallister
Shannon McDermott
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Jalynn Patterson
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Chawna Schroeder
Jacque Stengl
Jojo Sutis
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler
Deborah Wilson
Beckie,
Thanks for the review!
Ganieda’s story was heart-wrenching to write, and so I’m glad you were pulled in and empathized with her. In book 3 she will take on a more traditional Morgana role, but I wanted the reader grounded in who she was and how she became such before I turned toward Arthur’s story.
-Robert
Thanks for stopping by. I really, really wanted Ganieda to take another path. Looking forward to book 3.
Yeah Ganieda really was an intriguing character and I thought it interesting how she and merlin both had visions and their different reactions to them