Merlin's Shadow (The Merlin Spiral)
Gr 8 Up—Merlin's story continues in this second installment of Treskillard's Arthurian series as the protagonist makes his way from village boy to mighty wizard and king's advisor. Along with his friends and a boy named Arthur, Merlin hopes to find safety and shelter from his murderous enemies. Before he can realize his destiny, more challenges to his life and his faith loom in the future-including a confrontation with his own sister who has vowed his death. His is a quest of good against evil, but to win the day, and safety for the future king, he must once again cleanse the land of a great evil. This weighty epic with a cast of dozens of characters and places is an attempt to re-create the origins of Merlin from a Christian perspective. While mature readers with heads for detail and patience for plot may enjoy the ongoing story, it's a daunting prospect for someone unfamiliar with the first book or less willing to invest time. Fans of Merlin's Blade (Zondervan, 2013) will certainly want to pick up this next book in the series, but new readers will want to start with the first title.—Stephanie Whelan, New York Public Library