Book 5 was not as enjoyable as the previous ones.  Perhaps part of the reason is that I have not liked Uther, have not trusted him, and I missed Cadal, who was absent much of the time during the action of this section.  I accept that the ending had to be as it was, but still was a bit of a downer.  It's a good thing that I have The Hollow Hills standing by.

Linda

Isn't it interesting that no matter what version of the "Arthur" tales you read that Uther is always portrayed as more or less the same type of man?

So true Cheryl,   But in this one you can see a bit more of what drives him. 

I agree with Linda, book 5 was the one I enjoyed least. The last 20 pages or so felt really disjointed compared to the rest of the novel.

Overall though, great read! I will read the next in series, probably later this year.

Ok here goes...I didn't care for the book! I felt the voice soooooo monotone. i couldn't get excited because I didn't read any emotional output from Merlin. I think that was the authors intent, to show him as a thinker but I need a little more swashbuckling than this.

Bonnie - yes, it was a "slower" book :-)

Great writing, though.

Yes great writing for sure, but rather than lazying down the river on a tube I wanted to be fighting the rapids...

Bonnie The Hollow Hills is a bit more fast paced as it deals with Arthur.  It is my favorite of the series.

I just might try that after I am done with the Welsh (although is anyone really ever done with them?) I did think she wrote beautifully. 

The Hollow Hills is my favorite of the three as well although all of them are wonderful.

I finished this last week and really enjoyed it. I'm excited to read the next book and about Arthur! Her writing is beautiful. *sigh*

So Book V prepares the reader for Arthur's birth.  I understood Uther's anger.  It seemed well founded to me.  I mourned Cadal's death.

REK, I could see where Stewart was coming from in regards to Uther's anger too.  Once his obsessive infatuation had cooled a bit, and hearing that the Duke was dead...he probably felt guilty, and had to pin the blame elsewhere. 

Why not wait one more night?  Yeah, right, Uther.  Do you remember your hot pants, for crying out loud??    Uther doesn't understand that he's just a pawn in a larger picture, but I think he suspected it, and that pricked his pride too.

I was so sad to see Cadal die!  I loved his character.

REK,  I think Uther's anger was based on his fear, and that he so wanted to be High King that he could not conceive of Merlin's lack of interest in being King.  The fact that Merlin was a bastard would not have played a role in him being considered Ambrosius heir.  The Welsh never made that distinction between their legitimate or illegitimate heirs.

I don't think Uther wanted to feel beholden to anyone either and this gives Merlin power over him certainly.