"Great YA fantasy"
While his stepfather is away on business in Australia,
twelve years old Peter FitzArthur visits his Uncle Paul
and Aunt Angela Merrilyn in New Zealand. Angela's twin
sister Marian was Peter's deceased mother so they share
their grief though several years have passed since the car
accident took her life. Peter and Paul's dog Dreyfus wander around the land
exploring as lads often do. However, someone abducts
Peter, trying to determine if the youngster is the one.
Peter manages to escape, going back to Paul's home, but
says nothing about his ordeal to his relative. When
Dreyfus is injured while fighting the three headed
Cerberus, Peter is forced to reveal his secret to Paul so
that he can help the canine. On the trek to the spot
where the canines battled, Peter and Paul find a stone
wall blocking their passage. Informing his nephew that he
is Merlin the Magician and persuading the lad that they
have a world to save, Paul and Peter risk their lives
seeking the Chosen and to reconstruct the Obsidian Orb to
accomplish their quest. Though obviously aimed at the Potter crowd, this exciting
Merlin tale is a solid fantasy that does Camelot proud so
that adults will want to join the intrepid twosome on
their adventure. The story line is non stop action from
the moment Peter is abducted to the final confrontation
with stops in between on the globe and in time. Readers
of the Arthurian sagas will welcome this fabulous entry
and look forward to the remaining two novels in what looks
like a triumphant return of Merlin. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted March 12, 2004
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