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Book Review By Rebecca
The Crystal Cave - Arthurian Saga 1 by Mary Stewart

The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart, the first of a series, is about Merlin the Wizard's childhood and a little after that. Merlin is born in Maridunum, Britain. His mother is the daughter of the king of part of Wales. No one knows where or who his father is, except for Merlin's mother, who won't tell anyone. Merlin's grandfather is allied with the High King of Greater Britain. In the story Merlin runs from his home in fear of being killed by his uncle and to-be king Camlach. He flees to Less Britain and there finds out who his father is, and what his purpose in life is, wizard and confidante to the British kings. He can manipulate people with or without magic and lives a solitary life. Merlin only occasionally uses his magical talents, and could not predict when he could use them. He more often uses physics and optics to achieve his stunts and illusions, not unlike Hank in Mark Twain's Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - King Arthur
Coming of age Yes
Youngster becomes - a powerful magician
Inner Struggle Yes
Plotlet: - coping with mental/magical powers
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - a teen

Main Adversary
Identity: - none

Setting
Earth setting: - during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - actual description of sex
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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