Sons of Avalon: Merlin's Prophecy
Author: Dee-Marie
Publisher: C.I. Publishing

Where to begin? Why, at the beginning, of course! Beginning with the birth of Merlin, this novel traces Merlin's youth and his growth into his role as visionary of Britain's destiny, and the complex struggles and events that lead to the conception of King Arthur. Right from the Prologue in this retelling of an ancient legend, you catch a sense of great things to come...a mixture of magic, suspense, and mystery. All the elements for a great escape are right here in this first novel in a planned trilogy, written by none other than Renderosity's long-time member and current Front Page News Columnist, Dee-Marie.
 

Let's talk first about the characters in this novel. Dee-Marie expertly brings forth complex qualities in each of the main characters to give you the feel that you know them well. Interaction between the characters is also very engaging. Emotion and dialogue are definitely high points in this novel.

Now, I'm not one for heavily detailed battle scenes in novels, but I felt that the battle passages were touched on in a way that they were detailed just enough and not overdone. The real struggles in this novel are with the characters themselves, and the situations at hand. In fact, what I enjoyed most in this novel was Merlin's own personal struggles coming to grips with his destiny, and his feelings about himself and those around him.

The novel really flows at a great pace and I found it very hard to put down. In fact, rarely did I, but to attend to certain necessities of life. I found myself in a place I didn't want to leave, and I certainly can't wait to get back there again with the next installment in this trilogy.

Also, I must say that I especially enjoyed the included map at the beginning of the novel and the appendices at the end which list the Lords, Ladies, Beasts, and Places. This helped me to get a better sense of who's who, and also follow along with where events were taking place. I found myself drawn to these great extras while reading. 

Now, as for the reading age, I would have to place this at about 14. This comes partly from seeing the books my own children are reading at this point. There are a couple of possibly uncomfortable passages in the book for a younger audience, but also the fact that certain elements of the story may be harder to grasp.

This is definitely a character driven book, and I feel Dee-Marie has really found a great joy in bringing this story into a new light. I highly recommend this novel to both fans of the legend, and those who are looking for a truly adventurous read. I am very much looking forward to the next installments in this trilogy. Dee-Marie has expertly breathed new life into an ancient legend, with her knowledge and intense research, and it clearly shows in the pages within.

 

Price: $19.95 (USD)

Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Book Depository

We invite you to visit:

Sons of Avalon Official Website
Conceptual Images Publishing
Dee-Marie's Renderosity HomePage
Dee-Marie's Renderosity Articles

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Nick C. Sorbin is a digital artist, sculptor, writer, and Managing Editor for Renderosity's Front Page News.
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