I continue to enjoy this book.  I need a pile of stickies close by - I read a sentence or piece of dialog that I think I want to save and share, but just keep reading and then can't find it later.  Love the writing.  During book one, I wondered when we'd learn the identity of Merlin's father.  Pleased to have that little mystery solved.

Linda

Linda:  I was thinking the same thing as I was reading the book last night.  The author has some wonderful phrasing.  Don't you love how Merlin finds out?  Everyone seems to realize the truth except him.

There are lots of little things in this section that made me go "oh, must mention this" ... but I too read on and lost them.  Now that I'm reading the e-book, I'll highlight them and share.

I found it interesting how she incorporates the different belief systems into the book.  I hadn't thought about how many could be present at that particular juncture of place and time.  Besides early Christian, there was ancient British, Welsh (not entirely the same) Saxon, Roman, Roman military, as well as some other strands that could, conceivably, have found their way in with the Romans and their (mostly) religious tolerance.  I liked how she has Merlin examining each, cautiously, for the truth in each, and coming to the conclusion so casually that  "oh, I think there's just one God ..." 

I see that too Sharla, and as Merlin starts his education in all things and incorporating them, he seems fearless in his pursuit of knowledge.  And has no fear or prejudices that block the absorption of that knowledge. 

Holy crap, though ... imagine trying to parent such a child? 

The fearlessness ... It's probably farther into the book than this section, so at the risk of jumping the gun, I how she made that believable.  He's "seen" his "death" and knows it's not for a long time off, therefore, knows he'll survive anything that happens now.  Egads, but only the young could truly trust that ... and he is, so it's believable.

The other thing I liked was the clear distinction between the "feel" of the "good" power and the "evil" power. 

I'm fascinated by the overlap of pagan and Christian religions, and I love the way Stewart handles it.  I think Rosemary Sutcliff introduced me to Mithras in Sword at Sunset.  Stewart just gives us snippets of the story of Mithras: born in a cave in the winter, with a bright star over his birthplace; his mother was a virgin, don't you know; his last meal of bread and wine before he ascends to Heaven.  We Christians in the 21st century think we're so orignial.  

I liked the part where he explained his fearlessness also. Seemed quite believable. I am amazed at the beauty Merlin sees, reminds me of the saying "...stop and smell the roses." Too often I forget and even read too fast to enjoy each word.

Stewart is one of those authors that for me is easy to savor.

Finished Book 2 this morning and am really loving this story! I love how Merlin is so confident about his own fate and can bypass fear and worry when he knows there's no need. I'm very intrigued by these stepping stones, I think they're called. And the rock wall. I know something is coming with that, with Merlin's visions of images in the stone. He seems to see something there that the everyday folk never notice. One of those things that are hidden in plain sight it seems.

Kelly I think they are called standing stones...I can't wait to see what happens with them!

Standing stones! Yes, thank you Bonnie! I was just being lazy and didn't want to go look it up, hehe. I've never even heard of standing stones, so I'm having a hard time even picturing what they're talking about. Just flat stones on the ground? Or are these monument type deals? Hmm...off to google to see what I can find.

eta: Ah, so the standing stones are just very large free-standing stones. The kind you see at and around Stonehenge. There are a LOT of standing stones in Wales it looks like. I remember a story within Frank Delaney's book, Ireland, where the storyteller is telling of an ancient builder who had a bunch of very large stones moved and assembled to build a large monument. Others were used to indicate a burial place or a sacred spot. Druids used them in circles for their ancient rituals, too. I just didn't realize they were called standing stones. Neato. :)

Finished Book II.  It's a marvel that Merlin takes such control of his life even when it doesn't seem to go his way.  And, to finally discover his father after all the dreams and imagining he had about who he might be.  Am anxious to bring Book III now.    

I love that scene when he realizes who his father is.  Cool that he is Arthur's cousin.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Those of you who have read The Hollow Hills, don't you love the part where Merlin finds the sword and picks it up and he realizes he is the rightwise born King because of his family line though?  It gives me the tingles every time I read it.

The engineer in me wanted to hear more details about Merlin's theory on how the standing stones were erected.  But all these years later, it's still a mystery! 

I really wondered how Stewart would handle that. I kinda liked that she DIDN'T take any theory, but just left the answer itself a mystery revealed in an unknown folk song.  Still, not at all satisfying. :)