Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	The Lost Years of Merlin Series
	Author:	Barron, T. A.
	Date Published:	1996
	Genre:	Fantasy
	Grade Level:	6 - 12
	Booktalker:	Sam Marsh

Booktalk:
We have all heard of Merlin, the mysterious, captivating wizard of Camelot. But, we know little of his younger years, nor how he came to gain the powers he so casually employed in his Camelot days. TA Barron attempts to answer that question with his series about Merlin’s formative years. Book 1--The Lost Years of Merlin In the first book, The Lost Years of Merlin, Emrys is washed up by the sea at age 7 with no memory, and raised by Branwen in the village of Caer Vedwyd. Blinded by the ungoverned use of his powers, Emrys swears to never again use his powers if his sight is returned and gradually learns to see by use of a mysterious ‘second sight.’ Setting out to discover his past, Emrys discovers the enchanted island of Fincayra, which exists between the earth and the land of the gods. There he saves a merlin hawk, which becomes a somewhat dubious companion. He also meets Rhia, an orphan girl who talks to the trees and animals, and Shim, the pint-sized giant whose bravery outweighs his fear. Emrys also discovers that his fate is entangled with that of Fincayra. Eventually, one of the companions will make the ultimate sacrifice when they are forced to confront the evil Rita Gawr and his henchman Stangmar in the revolving Shrouded Castle. Emrys and Shim will test their true character over the Cauldron of Death, and Emrys will find his true name, Merlin. Book 2--The Seven Songs of Merlin Tasked with restoring the health of the land with the use of the Flowering Harp, Merlin is distracted by his need to be reunited with his mother Branwen. When she becomes a victim of the evil still threatening Fincayra, Merlin must learn the soul of the Seven Songs of Wisdom in order to try to save her. With the help of the persistent Rhia and the dour jester Bumbelwy, Merlin must pursue the soul of the thongs throughout the land to learn the secrets of wizardry and gain entrance to the underworld to obtain the precious Elixir of Dagda. Book 3--The Fires of Merlin Someone has awoken the giant dragon Wings of Fire from his centuries long sleep by killing his hatchlings. The vengeful dragon is a threat to all of Fincayra. Further, he is convinced that Merlin was the perpetrator of his children’s demise. Book 4--The Mirror of Merlin Merlin uses his healing powers to save the life of a ballymag. When he attempts to return the creature to his home in the Haunted Marsh utilizing a leaping spell, however, he inadvertently transfers himself and his friend Hallia (an equine shape-changer) to the swamp as well. Once there, they find that the spooky and dangerous Swamp is mysteriously extending its noxious borders, and the marsh ghouls are organizing to drive neighboring Fincayrians from their homes. Merlin determines to find the cause and put an end to the reign of terror, however he loses the sword that will determine a king (Excalibur) and is stricken by a blood noose that threatens to end both his quest and his life. With the help of the mysterious Ector and Hallia, he finds the lost Seventh Treasure, the Key that will undo any spell. Rather than using the key to save himself, however, Merlin uses its powers to free the marsh ghouls from the evil Nemue. To save himself and stop the growth of the swamp, Merlin must travel through the mirror mists from Fincayra to the mortal realm to seek help from Ector’s mysterious master.