Mary Stewart

The magnificant Arthurian legend, especially the life of Merlin.

The Crystal Cave

Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myridden Emrys -- or as he would later be known, Merlin -- leads a perilous childhood, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man's-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of Uther Pendragon . . . and the conception of Arthur -- king for once and always.

Book One of the Arthurian Saga

Slow burn reimagining of a real-ish backstory for Merlin and the conception of Arthur. The Crystal Cave is an historical fiction take (even though I categorized this as fantasy), bringing to life the wild period of Great Britain after the Romans left and during the early Saxon invasions. The treatment of these mythical characters as historical people (and most are real people) is engrossing and magical, even minus real magic. I first read this book during a car trip through mountains and the images of the Welsh landscape have stayed with me ever since. This book took me down my Welsh mythology rabbit hole in my late teens/early 20s. 

Some day, I’ll visit Wales and hike the mountains that will make me think of this book.

Margaux Yiu

Slow burn reimagining of a real-ish backstory for Merlin and the conception of Arthur. The Crystal Cave is an historical fiction take (even though I categorized this as fantasy), bringing to life the wild period of Great Britain after the Romans left and during the early Saxon invasions. The treatment of these mythical characters as historical people (and most are real people) is engrossing and magical, even minus real magic. I first read this book during a car trip through mountains and the images of the Welsh landscape have stayed with me ever since. This book took me down my Welsh mythology rabbit hole in my late teens/early 20s. 

Some day, I’ll visit Wales and hike the mountains that will make me think of this book.

This is what happened. I saw it, and it is a true tale. So begins the story of Merlin, born the illegitimate son of a Welsh princess in fifth century Britain, a world ravaged by war. Small and neglected, with his mother unwilling to reveal his father's identity, Merlin must disguise his intelligence - and hide his occasional ability to know things before they happen - in order to keep himself safe. One beautiful afternoon, while exploring the countryside near his home, Merlin stumbles across a cave filled with books and papers and hiding a room lined with crystals. It is the home of Galapas, who becomes Merlin's tutor and friend, and who teaches Merlin to understand the world around him... and to harness the power of the crystal cave to see the future. Merlin will rise to power and enter history - and legend - as advisor to King Arthur. But all stories must begin somewhere. And this is his. The Crystal Cave is the first of Mary Stewart's brilliant Arthurian Saga, telling the story of King Arthur from the perspective of the extraordinary, mysterious Merlin.

Arthurian Saga, Book 1

THE CRYSTAL CAVE by Mary Stewart: A historical fantasy about the early years of Merlin that spends more time on cultural, religious, and political upheaval than, like, cool wizard shit. And it's good!

I first read this version of the Merlin origin story as a young teen, having run through all the YA iterations I could get my hands on. This one really felt different then, and while it's not as novel to my adult palate I still had a good time.

Grounded by its 5th-century setting, CAVE is a story about the evolution of the British people and national identity—a combination of Welsh, Briton, and Saxon with some leftover Roman. But Stewart has some fun with it, giving us druids and mystery cults, knights and hermits.

This Merlin's power comes largely from his intellect and ability to read people. He's an engineer of both the physical and social kinds, cultivating his wizardly image for its symbolic value. But he's also a lonely kid trying to find his way through a violent world.

This is a story with a lot of mysteries. Stewart doesn't avoid the supernatural elements of the story, but also doesn't feel the need to explain them. There's an epic scope to this story, but Stewart's direct, evocative writing keeps it personal.

Mark Wadley

THE CRYSTAL CAVE by Mary Stewart: A historical fantasy about the early years of Merlin that spends more time on cultural, religious, and political upheaval than, like, cool wizard shit. And it's good!

I first read this version of the Merlin origin story as a young teen, having run through all the YA iterations I could get my hands on. This one really felt different then, and while it's not as novel to my adult palate I still had a good time.

Grounded by its 5th-century setting, CAVE is a story about the evolution of the British people and national identity—a combination of Welsh, Briton, and Saxon with some leftover Roman. But Stewart has some fun with it, giving us druids and mystery cults, knights and hermits.

This Merlin's power comes largely from his intellect and ability to read people. He's an engineer of both the physical and social kinds, cultivating his wizardly image for its symbolic value. But he's also a lonely kid trying to find his way through a violent world.

This is a story with a lot of mysteries. Stewart doesn't avoid the supernatural elements of the story, but also doesn't feel the need to explain them. There's an epic scope to this story, but Stewart's direct, evocative writing keeps it personal.

Laura Allen

Love this book! It's a very cool take on Merlin.

Caroline Boone

Sonia Grgas

Darcy Lambert

Pierke Bosschieter

Sang Park

Michael W

Katie Ravenwood

Kali Olson

Taylor Mears

Allison King

Cynthia

Marissa Burdett

Rebecca Laparra

Aleena Korell

Katie Holem

Erin Minner

Rachel Rozdzial

Riley Young

Randy Robbins

Jordan Springs

Fifth century Britain is a country of chaos and division after the Roman withdrawal. This is the world of young Merlin, the illegitimate child of a South Wales princess who will not reveal to her son his father's true identity. Yet Merlin is an extraordinary child, aware at the earliest age that he possesses a great natural gift - the Sight. Against a background of invasion and imprisonment, wars and conquest, Merlin emerges into manhood, and accepts his dramatic role in the New Beginning - the coming of King Arthur.

The Crystal Cave

Reviews

Highlights