The Lost Years: Book 1 (Merlin Saga) Paperback – May 12, 2011

Great product, great service. Thank you.

When I was a kid I had a very, very hard time finding books to read that I found enjoyable. I was lucky enough to come across this series of books and it made meeting the reading requirements for school much easier. This series is one of the few I have truly enjoyed.The thing I love about T.A. Barron is that he doesn't overdue it with the magic, his use of magic is far more subtle. That's not saying the magic is "weak", he just doesn't beat you over the head with it. Which is a good thing!Many years later I decided to rediscover that magical book series I read as a child. It took some time but I finally found the author and title of the series and purchased all the hardcovers.The cover you see above is the specific re-publication series I purchased. The artist who did the new covers did a fantastic job.I recommend anyone who likes fantasy novels, magic, stories of a young hero discovering himself and his place in the world to give this series a read.I also recommend looking into a few of T.A. Barron's other books.*Side note* There are things that the main character does that actually makes me upset/angry, but I still enjoy the series. If anything the fact I get upset with the main character shows the series made me invested in the character and his actions.

You know when you're looking for a book to capture your kids' imagination, or find one that'll make them realize that they actually like to read? Maybe you make your kids keep their brain's active during the summer, like me, or you have a child that's a voracious reader and are struggling to keep up with their demand for books. Or maybe you're an adult looking for a fanciful read yourself. For all of you, I recommend Merlin: The Lost Years, Book 1 by T.A. Barron. It's one of those books that is just fanciful enough to enchant even the most recalcitrant reader, but plenty fanciful for those who like a good escape. I read it for the first time as an adult a few years ago, and enjoyed it alot. Merlin: The Lost Years, Book 1 is a great book.What Is Merlin, The Lost Years About?From Goodreads:A raging sea tosses a boy upon the shores of ancient Wales. Left for dead, he has no memory, no name, and no home. But it is his determination to find out who he is - to learn the truth about his mysterious powers - that leads him to a strange and enchanted land. And it is there he discovers that the fate of this land and his personal quest are strangely entwined. He is destined to become the greatest wizard of all time--known to all as Merlin.Who Would Like The Lost Years And Why?The Lost Years reminds me slightly me Penric's Demon by Louis McMaster Bujold, as well as The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge. They're mysterious, rural, a little bit moody, with young protagonists. It also shares a lot of elements with The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper, which I also highly recommend; it's about kids on a quest that brings them in touch with ancient powers. If you or your kids like "quest" books (think 39 Clues), books about kids with powers, or books set in wild, old England, you'll like this book. There are seven books in the series, mind you, so if you get started with one, you'll probably have to read the rest.

Merlin is, and pretty much always has been one of my favorite (male) characters in literature. I agree with the author, it is fun to see him as a child and not just as an adult. A friend recommended this series after I binge-watched the BBC show Merlin and while I am only on the third book of this series I can say that it would be one I'd use for my late elementary school students because it is fun and offers an interesting idea to the man who helped King Arthur before the fact. The constant fighting he does with himself, not wanting to use magic but at the same time wanting very much to learn what he knows he's capable of brings out a piece of his personality that anyone could easily relate to. Recommended for anyone who likes the idea of Merlin and learning about his childhood. Those 'lost' years, his childhood are just as important to his person as what he did as an adult.

I read this series back in middle school and absolutely loved it. Many years later, I decided to reread the series thinking my mindset might have changed. Well, it has but the story is still as good. I think that middle schoolers will enjoy this series with its easy to understand wording and great storytelling. 5 stars from me because T. A. Barron is just a wonderful writer.

I read these when I was a kid and rediscovered them as an adult. I struggled to read when I was younger, but these books were some of the few worth the struggle. The writing is pure and simple; the story moves at a continual, exciting pace. These books provide a little of the magic and wonder that we seem to lose as adults.

I have been following Merlin on Netflix and hated to see it end. So I was delighted to find the books by T.A. Barron and even happier to be able to read it using the Kindle App on my iPad.Looking forward to reading all of these wonderful books.Thank you so much.

It’s just a good book. Audio was great and not boring.