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elderkinhv's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
justine_h's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
lindsical's review against another edition
4.0
Like the rest of the series, I really liked this fifth installment. Although I can see how this book was originally intended to be the final volume. Now I'm quite curious to see what adventures lie in store for Merlin on the isle of Britannia.
The ending was bittersweet and though it worked and I certainly saw the necessity of the path Barron had to take with his characters. I suppose if things had to work out in that sense for a particular reason, his choices were the best way to go about that.
There was one character death that I feel was completely needless and I'm quite upset about that decision.
Other than that, I really liked the overall theme and storyline to the Wizard's Wings. It may be my favorite book out of the series thus far.
The ending was bittersweet and though it worked and I certainly saw the necessity of the path Barron had to take with his characters. I suppose if things had to work out in that sense for a particular reason, his choices were the best way to go about that.
There was one character death that I feel was completely needless and I'm quite upset about that decision.
Other than that, I really liked the overall theme and storyline to the Wizard's Wings. It may be my favorite book out of the series thus far.
easolinas's review against another edition
4.0
All good things come to an end, and so it is for Merlin's stay in the magical land of Fincayra.
And the last volume of T.A. Barron's series about the Arthurian wizard Merlin, "The Wizard's Wings," is a solid conclusion to his first cycle of books (there are two sequel series). It's a fitting if bittersweet ending to this five-book "trilogy," and it sets the stage for other facets of Arthurian legend.
Merlin, Hallia and Rhia are having fun when the Dagda appears in a vision, and warns Merlin that the battle against Rhita Gawr is about to come to a head. Dagda can't attack Rhita Gawr directly without unbalancing the world, and so it's up to a wizard -- Merlin -- to rally Fincayra's weird and wonderful array of races against Rhita Gawr.
Even worse, Merlin's father Stangmar has escaped from his prison and is going after Elen, and a sinister masked man with swords instead of arms is killing children -- and Merlin's spells don't work against him. Merlin must rally together the giants, the dwarves, the marsh ghouls, and everyone else in Fincayra -- but it may not be enough to defeat Rhita Gawr without using a truly exalted magic.
Until T.A. Barron's "Merlin" series, there were very few satisfying books about Merlin's early life. Spinning off from "The Merlin Effect," Barron intertwined Celtic legend and his own imagination -- and while there's a bittersweet edge to the series' finale, it's a suitable ending to Merlin's coming-of-age, both as a wizard and as a man.
Barron's writing is lush and descriptive, especially when the characters are in natural surroundings. Skies, trees, oceans, sights, sounds, smells, and the magical presence of Fincayra fills the pages. And Barron takes his trilogy forward into Arthurian territory as Merlin brings earthshattering changes to his world -- including a truly memorable, epic climax to the whole series.
And Barron proves that he doesn't do plot elements at random: the man with sword-arms has a specific reason to be mad at Merlin, and a shocking double identity earlier in the series. The battle against Rhita Gawr somehow elevates itself above the usual fantasy cliches of the good guys versus the evil Dark Lord, especially with the added mystical element.
Merlin has changed a lot from the insecure, slightly whiny boy of the first book, who didn't want magic and barely knew how to use it. But Barron doesn't make him all-powerful; he still has doubts, worries, and there are things he hasn't figured out how to do. Rhia is funny and mischievous (and so is the little creature in her pocket). Returning characters like Shim, Elen, Cairpre (who doesn't love Cairpre?) and others are almost as good.
And while there is a bittersweetness to leaving the magical Fincayra (good and bad) and the story of Merlin, "The Wizard's Wings" leaves itself wide open for future stories. Brilliantly written, wonderfully thought out, and a fitting finale.
And the last volume of T.A. Barron's series about the Arthurian wizard Merlin, "The Wizard's Wings," is a solid conclusion to his first cycle of books (there are two sequel series). It's a fitting if bittersweet ending to this five-book "trilogy," and it sets the stage for other facets of Arthurian legend.
Merlin, Hallia and Rhia are having fun when the Dagda appears in a vision, and warns Merlin that the battle against Rhita Gawr is about to come to a head. Dagda can't attack Rhita Gawr directly without unbalancing the world, and so it's up to a wizard -- Merlin -- to rally Fincayra's weird and wonderful array of races against Rhita Gawr.
Even worse, Merlin's father Stangmar has escaped from his prison and is going after Elen, and a sinister masked man with swords instead of arms is killing children -- and Merlin's spells don't work against him. Merlin must rally together the giants, the dwarves, the marsh ghouls, and everyone else in Fincayra -- but it may not be enough to defeat Rhita Gawr without using a truly exalted magic.
Until T.A. Barron's "Merlin" series, there were very few satisfying books about Merlin's early life. Spinning off from "The Merlin Effect," Barron intertwined Celtic legend and his own imagination -- and while there's a bittersweet edge to the series' finale, it's a suitable ending to Merlin's coming-of-age, both as a wizard and as a man.
Barron's writing is lush and descriptive, especially when the characters are in natural surroundings. Skies, trees, oceans, sights, sounds, smells, and the magical presence of Fincayra fills the pages. And Barron takes his trilogy forward into Arthurian territory as Merlin brings earthshattering changes to his world -- including a truly memorable, epic climax to the whole series.
And Barron proves that he doesn't do plot elements at random: the man with sword-arms has a specific reason to be mad at Merlin, and a shocking double identity earlier in the series. The battle against Rhita Gawr somehow elevates itself above the usual fantasy cliches of the good guys versus the evil Dark Lord, especially with the added mystical element.
Merlin has changed a lot from the insecure, slightly whiny boy of the first book, who didn't want magic and barely knew how to use it. But Barron doesn't make him all-powerful; he still has doubts, worries, and there are things he hasn't figured out how to do. Rhia is funny and mischievous (and so is the little creature in her pocket). Returning characters like Shim, Elen, Cairpre (who doesn't love Cairpre?) and others are almost as good.
And while there is a bittersweetness to leaving the magical Fincayra (good and bad) and the story of Merlin, "The Wizard's Wings" leaves itself wide open for future stories. Brilliantly written, wonderfully thought out, and a fitting finale.
hopegirl0727's review against another edition
3.0
The conclusion of the series The Lost Years of Merlin. I felt it was a satisfying conclusion, all things considered. It had a fair share of sorrow and grief, as well as hope and triumph. I thought the final battle could have been done a little better -- it wasn't as engaging as I would have liked -- but overall I am happy with the whole series and I am definitely glad I read it and would recommend it in a heartbeat to my students. Well done!
skellyjg's review against another edition
3.0
This series (at least the first 5 books) was a favorite of my pre-teen to teen years. I read them multiple times back then, and as a result, there is a certain level of nostalgia involved in rereading now that I'm 30+. While I still generally enjoyed the series, it doesn't hold up to the degree that I would have wished.
I guess it's rare for a series aimed at kids/teens to still work when read from an adult viewpoint. And that's totally fine, honestly. Series like Harry Potter or His Dark Materials don't come along often.
I guess it's rare for a series aimed at kids/teens to still work when read from an adult viewpoint. And that's totally fine, honestly. Series like Harry Potter or His Dark Materials don't come along often.
alexandranoelle's review against another edition
5.0
A really good conclusion to the series. It moved at just the right speed - slow enough to really get you into the relationships and such, but fast paced enough to keep you from getting bored. I'm only slightly embarrassed to say that I was tearing up at the end. I have other books I need to finish up with first, but I fully intend to read the rest of the Merlin series'. I would definitely suggest this book/author (but read the rest of the series first!).
xeni's review against another edition
2.0
Okay, the people of Fincayra used to have wings? And now Merlin found a way to get them back, but only for a short while? Right...
Fincayra is an amazing island alright, but wings is stretching it a bit, I thought. As though Barron needed a reason to keep his series going and wings was the best he could come up with. All the other books are better than this one...
Fincayra is an amazing island alright, but wings is stretching it a bit, I thought. As though Barron needed a reason to keep his series going and wings was the best he could come up with. All the other books are better than this one...
nika_7490's review against another edition
3.0
Alles in allem ist es eine eher durchschnittliche Serie, die ich nicht noch einmal lesen werde. Wahrscheinlich bin ich als Zielgruppe zu alt um die Geschichte noch spannend zu finden. Ich hatte auch das Gefühl, dass die Geschichte des Jungen Merlin nur bedingt an das anknüpft, was aus den Geschichte um König Artus bekannt ist.
Insgesamt 2.5 Sterne.
Insgesamt 2.5 Sterne.