Merlin is a flawed hero, yet he rises to each new challenge. Arthurian legend is used as the starting point for a delightfully original story of magic and myth that retains the spirit of the classic tales. While readers may never doubt the outcome, they will eagerly devour the chapters to arrive at the satisfying conclusion. This richly layered fantasy is filled with harrowing escapades and many surprises. In the village of Slantos, Merlin finds the magical sword that will one day belong to King Arthur. The trio encounters giants, a huge spider with a voracious appetite, and a treacherous one-eyed monster. Adventure follows adventure as Merlin seeks wisdom and learns that his pride is his worst enemy. He is accompanied by Rhia, a girl who possesses a mystical relationship with nature and Bumbelwy, an annoying and pessimistic court jester. In one month's time, he must discover the soul of each song and journey to the Otherworld to obtain a magical elixir to save his mother's life. In this sequel to The Lost Years of Merlin (Philomel, 1996), 13-year-old Merlin faces down the powers of darkness on the island of Fincayra and masters the traditional Seven Songs of Wisdom.

Here’s the synopsis for The Seven Songs of Merlin: The Fincayran portion of the story is very much like Lloyd Alexander's 'Prydain Chronicles': a young boy and girl team up with a cute non-human to save a kingdom from the force of evil, with Welsh-style names abounding. Emrys also learns the truth about his origins. In the process, he befriends a young Fincayran girl and a dwarf who becomes a giant through a brave deed. He lands on Fincayra, where he plunges into a dangerous quest to rescue the island from the destructive blight caused by a pact between its king and an evil power. However, he learns to see without eyes?using his 'second sight.' Desperate to know about his past, Emrys, now 12, sets off on an ocean journey. One day he discovers that he has some unusual powers using them to kindle a fire in Branwen's defense, he is blinded by the flames. For years, they share a hovel, but Branwen tells him nothing about his past. Young Emrys washes up on a Welsh beach with a woman who claims to be his mother. This first installment in a planned trilogy about Merlin's shadowy youth takes some intriguing twists. Here’s the synopsis for The Lost Years of Merlin:

The lost years of merlin