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mariefoxprice's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, and Death
Minor: War and Incest
evespencer's review against another edition
5.0
The Last Enchantment, along with the other two books in the Merlin Trilogy, are some of the best I’ve ever read.
I loved the language and the writing style. The characters were very well described and there wasn’t a page that didn’t keep me interested.
Thoroughly recommend.
I loved the language and the writing style. The characters were very well described and there wasn’t a page that didn’t keep me interested.
Thoroughly recommend.
ovenbird_reads's review against another edition
3.0
This review is for the entire Merlin Trilogy (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment):
I’ve been fascinated by Arthurian Legend for a long time and have read a number of versions of the story. This trilogy is one of the most popular versions and I enjoyed it, but with some reservations. I liked getting the story from Merlin’s point of view. One of the most exciting things about these books is the way that magic and the mundane coexist. Merlin does possess real magic, but he’s also a skilled engineer, able to achieve architectural feats that appear magical but are really just good science. He sees the future while remaining deeply human, flawed, and conflicted.
However, if you want to read these books without becoming annoyed you’ll need to set aside any feminist leanings. This is a book about men, about a man’s world, and women are not portrayed as much other than vessels, props, ornaments, or evil witches. You have to give Mary Stewart a break on this front because she’s writing about an era in which women were not given much value apart from their ability to bear children or male heirs for their royal husbands. But still...I would have liked a slightly more sympathetic portrayal. Generally we don’t hear about the women or their experiences at all. Ygraine (Arthur’s mother) is about the most complex female character you’ll encounter and the best that Merlin has to say about her is that she is almost like a man in being able to set aside her emotions for the greater good. Guenevere is only mentioned in passing and we see nothing of her character. The only other female characters with influential roles are Arthur’s sisters Morgause and Morgan. Both are cast as evil witches. Morgause in particular is seen as a witch but with power that is not remotely as valuable or noble as Merlin’s. She is said to have weak, corrupt, sexual, womanly, witch-like powers and her role is unwaveringly evil. Morgan is even less noble, a minor witch who ends up lusting for power while still managing to appear weak and pliable.
In the third book of this series we finally get a female character that contains a hint of dignity. Ninian/Nimue, Merlin’s apprentice, disguises herself as a boy in order to learn from Merlin. Merlin would never have considered educating a girl. Merlin eventually falls in love with Nimue, she earns his respect, and becomes equally powerful in her time. In NImue there is a character that women might admire, but her role is relatively minor, only appearing in the last half of the last of three books.
Arthur himself actually gets a bit lost in this telling. I found that by the end I didn’t really know him. This is truly a series about Merlin and it is only his character that comes off as multi-faceted.
All this said, I read all 900 pages of these books with enjoyment. The trilogy has a sparkle of ancient history, mythology, magic, and the power of ancient gods. There is much here to engage the imagination. Just read The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley afterwards so you can get the women’s side of the story!
One additional note: one of the reasons that this series is so male focused is because Stewart works hard to stay true to the most historically and traditionally accurate versions of this legend. I admire her care in laying out the story in ways that get at the legend's origins.
I’ve been fascinated by Arthurian Legend for a long time and have read a number of versions of the story. This trilogy is one of the most popular versions and I enjoyed it, but with some reservations. I liked getting the story from Merlin’s point of view. One of the most exciting things about these books is the way that magic and the mundane coexist. Merlin does possess real magic, but he’s also a skilled engineer, able to achieve architectural feats that appear magical but are really just good science. He sees the future while remaining deeply human, flawed, and conflicted.
However, if you want to read these books without becoming annoyed you’ll need to set aside any feminist leanings. This is a book about men, about a man’s world, and women are not portrayed as much other than vessels, props, ornaments, or evil witches. You have to give Mary Stewart a break on this front because she’s writing about an era in which women were not given much value apart from their ability to bear children or male heirs for their royal husbands. But still...I would have liked a slightly more sympathetic portrayal. Generally we don’t hear about the women or their experiences at all. Ygraine (Arthur’s mother) is about the most complex female character you’ll encounter and the best that Merlin has to say about her is that she is almost like a man in being able to set aside her emotions for the greater good. Guenevere is only mentioned in passing and we see nothing of her character. The only other female characters with influential roles are Arthur’s sisters Morgause and Morgan. Both are cast as evil witches. Morgause in particular is seen as a witch but with power that is not remotely as valuable or noble as Merlin’s. She is said to have weak, corrupt, sexual, womanly, witch-like powers and her role is unwaveringly evil. Morgan is even less noble, a minor witch who ends up lusting for power while still managing to appear weak and pliable.
In the third book of this series we finally get a female character that contains a hint of dignity. Ninian/Nimue, Merlin’s apprentice, disguises herself as a boy in order to learn from Merlin. Merlin would never have considered educating a girl. Merlin eventually falls in love with Nimue, she earns his respect, and becomes equally powerful in her time. In NImue there is a character that women might admire, but her role is relatively minor, only appearing in the last half of the last of three books.
Arthur himself actually gets a bit lost in this telling. I found that by the end I didn’t really know him. This is truly a series about Merlin and it is only his character that comes off as multi-faceted.
All this said, I read all 900 pages of these books with enjoyment. The trilogy has a sparkle of ancient history, mythology, magic, and the power of ancient gods. There is much here to engage the imagination. Just read The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley afterwards so you can get the women’s side of the story!
One additional note: one of the reasons that this series is so male focused is because Stewart works hard to stay true to the most historically and traditionally accurate versions of this legend. I admire her care in laying out the story in ways that get at the legend's origins.
ladyethyme's review against another edition
3.0
Frankly a disappointment after the first two…top notch narration still- but Merlin, after 2.5 books of being a fantastic protagonist, decides to make constant ignorant decisions like lying constantly to Arthur, prevaricating rather than being honest, not being on guard next to a woman he KNEW was a poisoner and hated him…..for no reason other than ‘plot’.
He flat out goes from insightful, brilliant and cunning…..aaaand becomes stupid and idiotic.
Oh, and you have an illness that makes you faint and appear dead? To the point they BURIED YOU ALIVE??? Yeah let’s plan a long ass sea voyage alone right after you drag your half dead ass out of the ground…without anyone to help you.
Merlin also complains in EVERY BOOK that his ‘power is gone now’, sadly referencing a time when he could “threaten/kill men with magic”….which….he never did. Ever. His magic never worked like that in any of the books. I guess…the author didn’t keep track of her own story???
Also author has a bizarre obsession with sexualizing 12 year old girls/‘young’ girls. And girls in sexual relationships with old men.
Even in the early Middle Ages-even in the 1-2 century-the average age of marriage was NOT 12. It happened, rarely-but SO rare it was a big deal and much commented on. If a 12 year old WAS married, it was in name only-and actual consummation was held off until she hit puberty and could actually bear children as safely as possible.
And I’m sorry….no 12 year old girl is lustfully looking at a 50 year old man.
Just…no. Gross.
He flat out goes from insightful, brilliant and cunning…..aaaand becomes stupid and idiotic.
Oh, and you have an illness that makes you faint and appear dead? To the point they BURIED YOU ALIVE??? Yeah let’s plan a long ass sea voyage alone right after you drag your half dead ass out of the ground…without anyone to help you.
Merlin also complains in EVERY BOOK that his ‘power is gone now’, sadly referencing a time when he could “threaten/kill men with magic”….which….he never did. Ever. His magic never worked like that in any of the books. I guess…the author didn’t keep track of her own story???
Also author has a bizarre obsession with sexualizing 12 year old girls/‘young’ girls. And girls in sexual relationships with old men.
Even in the early Middle Ages-even in the 1-2 century-the average age of marriage was NOT 12. It happened, rarely-but SO rare it was a big deal and much commented on. If a 12 year old WAS married, it was in name only-and actual consummation was held off until she hit puberty and could actually bear children as safely as possible.
And I’m sorry….no 12 year old girl is lustfully looking at a 50 year old man.
Just…no. Gross.
comfycozytomes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
lnbrittain's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite of Mary Stewart's Arthur series. Maybe because I read it in a crisp, first edition hardback that looked never read.
This series gets better and better. Nothing current seems to come close.
I enjoyed the details about 5th century metalworked items and the counterpoint between Celtic myth and early Christian lore.
Passages in the writing were very atmospheric and evocative, just beautiful.
After finishing this series (one more book left, a r telling of Mordred's tale that starts out wonderfully), it will be nice to reread A Once And Future King. Nothing compares to that book!
This series gets better and better. Nothing current seems to come close.
I enjoyed the details about 5th century metalworked items and the counterpoint between Celtic myth and early Christian lore.
Passages in the writing were very atmospheric and evocative, just beautiful.
After finishing this series (one more book left, a r telling of Mordred's tale that starts out wonderfully), it will be nice to reread A Once And Future King. Nothing compares to that book!
alina_kkn____'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kk1311's review against another edition
3.0
This was well written, and I liked the ending and appreciated the historical notes. However, it was really quite boring. Given the chance, I wouldn’t read it again.