The first part of the book was extremely confusing, in part my fault for jumping into book two without having read book one. After that I found the language choices confusing, a lot of sentences didn't flow and felt chunky and wrong. Also the Pictish language almost made me put the book down, it was painful to read the way it had been written. I had a really hard time getting through the book and would not recommend it. ( )

Hmmm, I have a review all typed out and waiting to be edited, but I think I might just chuck it and go for something short(er) and sweet.....
I didn't like it.
The drama between Merlin and Natalenya was way over-the-top and unnecessary..... and pretty stupid most of the time. And I get that this is supposed to be somewhat historically accurate, but given how much Merlin supposedly respects Natalenya, I thought he would treat her better than a pack animal. I found it pretty ridiculous that he;
1: wouldn't have a mature conversation with her when she approached him with concerns (he literally looked off into the distance and pointed out the shore as a response, then completely ignored her)
2: Was planning on breaking up with her because he "wasn't good enough" (cue tiny self-righteous violin) and completely ruining her reputation and honor, seeing as she had run away with him;
and 3: Let her continue to carry her share of the supplies PLUS A BABY when she was noticeably ill beyond reasonability.
To sum up, I found the characters inconsistent, their motives ill-conceived, and the storyline of the second book pretty disappointing. I had hoped the series would go uphill, since the first book was fairly enjoyable, but no such luck.
Quick Disclaimer: I know someone who liked this series (?) A lot (?!?) I did read an arc, but I doubt the things I mentioned would be edited out of the final proof, since they're pretty key points. I guess some people just have more of a stomach for this stuff. ( )

I received an ARC through Goodreads.
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I would give it 3.5 stars.

This is the first book of the series that I have read. In hindsight, I highly recommend reading Book 1 first! Although, it isn't too hard to pick up on the storyline and characters if you started on Book 2 like I did.

This was an interesting interpretation of Merlin's back story, with hints of Arthur and Morgana. Let's be honest, I was totally expecting Merlin to be using a little more magic on his part, instead it was mostly focused on his faith in Christianity, or lack of throughout the book. For a young man, still learning the ways of the world and being thrust into such an important position according to legends, Merlin comes off as a stubborn and often doubtful boy. Yes, everyone learns from their mistakes, yet Merlin doesn't seem to always remember the consequences of his decisions, which effected their entire group.

There was plenty of magic on the druid's end and every other place. Pretty much Merlin and his group don't use magic at all. Which is somewhat of a bore. The whole thing that Ganeida went through with the Voice and the druids left me a little skeptical and hesitant, seeing how for little more than a child, she could carry such hatred for Merlin, who had shown nothing but kindness and love whenever possible. Ganeida seems to reach towards the dark magic yet hesitates at times, uncertain of everything. This is a poor child who is lost and confused in the world, which obviously a lot of people are taking advantage of given how much power she would one day wield.

I would like more time spent on developing Merlin and other members of his group.

Cannot wait to read what adventures they will embark on next. ( )

I was so excited to receive this book. Seriously. My poor husband didn't get a warm meal and a clean house until I had finished reading it. Good thing it only took me a couple of days to complete it! ;)

This is the second book in the Merlin Spiral series. I loved Merlin's Blade and hoped the second would be as appealing and interesting as the first. It was. I would highly suggest you do NOT read these books out of order. They are priced very competitively, so save up and buy the whole series.

At the end of the first book, something miraculous happens to Merlin and we are left knowing that things aren't finished and Merlin has a lot he's going to have to deal with. One thing I loved about Merlin's Blade was how, blinded for 7 years, he was always praying. I very much enjoyed that. Things are very different in Merlin's Shadow. Now, instead of much prayer, we find Merlin trusting in himself more than he ought - and unfortunately, it's a long and arduous journey until he realizes that God is the One who is truly in control and we see him coming back to his wavering faith. There's a reason this happens, but I don't want to wreck the story by giving a little more information here. Trust me. Just because things look like they are blessings, they could very well end up being curses in disguise if used/treated improperly. This is where Merlin is at.

Leading a misfit band in order to protect Arthur from the evil Vortigern (boo!), we see him trying to rely on himself more often than he did in the first book. While at times this made me want to reach through and smack him, it was very real to life and I wouldn't change the way the author wrote it. I mean hey, sometimes we learn the hardest lessons the best, right?

Now, I'm not a humongous fan of book series. I've read a few, but generally I stay away from them because the second always seems to fall a little flat. This one did not. Following the pattern he set in the first book, Mr. Treskillard gives us a rich detailed history with pronunciation guide and important people/places and there's even more to enjoy in this one.

There was one particular character I found very disquieting. In the first book, I couldn't stand little Ganieda (what a BRAT), but in this one, I actually felt sorry for her. It became very clear how much a parent can color a child's vision and the way they perceive things, and Ganieda is no different. I found I wanted a different story for her, but still, she's a work in progress, and I look forward to seeing her in the third book.

I felt so very sorry for poor Natalenya. I wanted to punch Merlin a few times for her sake, but I can't go into details for fear of revealing something that I shouldn't. Let's just say, if I was her, he'd be in the doghouse for a long, long, long time. ;)

Overall, I have nothing to complain about with this story. The characters are excellently written, the plot is more than interesting, the scenery vivid, and I can't wait to see what Mr. Treskillard has in store for us in Merlin's Nightmare.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves the Arthurian Legends, Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit. My thanks to the publisher, Blink Young Adult Fiction, for providing me a copy of this book to review. These thoughts are my own, and this review was not obligated to be positive. ( )

Merlin’s Shadow is the second book in The Merlin Spiral series by Robert Treskillard. Using a framework of Arthurian legend and Druid mythology, the book presents a tale of Merlin’s early protection of the young King Arthur. Orphaned through the betrayal of his uncle, Arthur is rescued by Merlin and a diverse group (bards, Christians, druids, and warriors) all with Arthur’s survival as their focus. Forced from their home to a strange and dark land, the band meets with treachery and danger at every turn.

Merlin’s Shadow is a very dark book, not only in its setting, but in the evil that surrounds those seeking to kill Arthur. Faith in Christ is sorely tested and attacked. And while the character of Merlin is central to the story, it is his sister, Ganeida (Morgana) that I was drawn to. A young girl at the beginning of the story, she is lured into evil by her grandfather and a mysterious Voice that provides her with visions and power. I found her story very compelling, even as she sinks deeper and deeper under the thrall of evil.

If you like Arthurian legends and are looking for something that presents a new twist, then I recommend you try Merlin’s Shadow. But be sure to read book 1, Merlin’s Blade first.

(Thanks to the CSFF Blog Tour for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )