Saturday

3 Book Review: My Merlin Series (The Complete Trilogy) by Priya Ardis (Fantasy)



Book Blurb


The end of the world. The final battle. And Prom.
The sword of Arthur returns only when the land needs it the most.

This bundle includes the following three novels:

My Boyfriend Merlin, Book 1. He was a little older than he was letting on. By a few eons...
Seventeen-year-old Arriane Dulac, aka Ryan, gets more than she can handle when a young Merlin goes to high school to recruit candidates to pull Excalibur from the stone. Life and love gets complicated when Merlin ends up battling his brother, Vane, for control the sword.
(Length: 308 pages)

My Merlin Awakening, Book 2. Excalibur has been pulled, but what does it mean? On the trail of the Fisher King, the past meets the present as the rift between the brothers intensifies and we must decide whose side to be on--the brother who struggles to do right or the brother who dares to break the rules. One wrong decision and Ryan loses. One wrong decision and the world. No pressure. (Length: 340 pages)

Ever My Merlin, Book 3. The conclusion.
He was the right one, the fated one, but was he right for her? Two wizard brothers. One girl. One Healing Cup. One chance to save the world. With every scrap of life hanging in the balance, can a teenage girl reconcile a fifteen-hundred-year rivalry between two brothers and make it to Prom? Which choice leads to doom and which one to salvation? (Length: 412 pages)

Set in today's time, enjoy action/adventure and romance in this mix of Arthurian and Greek mythologies. This bundle of the My Merlin Series consists of three full-length novels. The total series is over a 1,000 pages in length.

Links


Book Excerpts

Prologue Excerpt

"My eyes sought the girl. She looked broken; golden-brown hair splayed around her still face like a torn halo. She wasn't, though. She was strong, surprisingly so. Her name was Ryan. Odd name. A man's name. Yet, I liked it.
I liked the way she laughed, freely yet with a hint of yearning. The way the light caressed her profile when she stared off into space, almost as if she could sense me in the shadows.
For weeks, I watched her. I shouldn't have.
Then why did I linger? Why did just looking at her make me want to forget every purpose and every vow? Why did I feel as if I waited more than a thousand years for a chance to know her?"

Book Excerpt

"I noticed him right away. No, it wasn't his lean, rugged face. Or the dark waves of shiny hair that hung just a little too long on his forehead. It wasn't the slim, collarless biker jacket he wore, hugging trim shoulders. It was the way he stood. The confident way he waited in the cafeteria line to get a slice of pizza. He didn't saunter. He didn't amble. He stood at the center, and let the other people buzz around him. His stance was straight and sure.
He could have ruled the world."

Toot's Review by Stacy Sabala



My Boyfriend Merlin by Priya Ardis

Arriane, or Ryan, lost her mother and is in the process of being adopted by the Ragnars. She is inheriting two siblings Grey and Alexa. Her life is definitely changing. Then a mysterious sword embedded in a stone appears out of thin air. Things get weirder when a shadow dragon comes after her when her almost boyfriend Matt gives her a ride home. As a result of the attack Ryan loses someone special.

She is then whisked away to a wizard academy. She is one of the chosen ones to try and pull the sword. She has feelings for Matt but he keeps her at arms’ length. When she learns his secret she is shocked and doesn’t know who to trust. Matt has lied to her and his brother Vane shows he is a complete jerk. Both of them are training her and the other chosen. They continually battle each other.

As time progresses Ryan develops feelings for both but she may never be able to choose. Time draws near as do the Gargoyles. They are determined to kill her and get the sword for themselves. There are also traders among the group. Things get dangerous as Matt’s visions come true. Ryan has to make major sacrifices and tough decisions in order to protect everyone she loves.

This book is the first book of the series. The book I felt, began kind of in the middle. I was confused right from the beginning because I felt like I was kind of dumped in. Matt and Ryan already had a past together. Yet it had already happened. I think it made it harder to believe the connection they supposedly had. The reader never really saw it in its beginning stages.

I was definitely pulling for Ryan and Matt, then came along Vane. I’m not sure how I feel now. I am torn over who she should choose. This book definitely left off with a cliffhanger and shocking words from Matt. I’m ready to read book two. I want to see what happens next. I give it a 4 out of 5.



My Merlin Awakening by Priya Ardis

In the second book of the series, Ryan survived the trial and is now the sword bearer, but she has gone home. She couldn’t handle her new responsibility right now. She needed to feel normal. Vane is her protector now and he goes where she does. He is currently her history teacher and La Crosse coach. He is pushing her to be better just like he did before. He knows she will have to accept her destiny eventually. That eventuality becomes a reality when Matt, aka Merlin, shows up. He is there to persuade her to come back and meet with the Gargoyle King. Things are unsettled and the Gargoyle Prince, Oliver, is trying to take over the throne. He is also on a path of revenge against Ryan. In order to thwart his plans Ryan, Matt, Vane and the Candidates enter a quest to find the trident of the Fisher King and the cup of life. The cup is needed to save the Gargoyle King’s life. Their search takes them to Greece. They are led to the Kingdom of Mermen and Mermaids. Ryan becomes the champion chosen to fight for their survival. She also has to deal with the dilemma of her feelings for Vane and Matt. She will have to make a decision.

This book was full of adventure and nonstop action. The second book picked up where the first one left off. Friendships have continued and grown between the Candidates. However Grey doesn’t seem himself. He also seems to have changed his mind about Gia. Vane and Matt are still fighting over Ryan. They don’t trust each other and make things difficult as the quest gets underway. Vane pushes Ryan to make a decision. I felt sorry for her. She has feelings for them both and is trying to stay alive. She is devastated when Vane turns on her. She feels like this is her fault and when he becomes lost, she blames herself.

Ryan’s character was overwhelmed with her destiny and ran from it. But she stepped up to the task when she needed. It shows how human she is. Of course it shows her age, she is still a teenager. I like the characters, the storyline and the struggles the author continues with in this book. I give it a 4 out of 5.


Ever my Merlin by Priya Ardis

In Book three, the underground volcanoes are erupting and causing Tsunamis all around the world. Ryan, Matt, Grey and the others are in India trying to stop the inevitable. Ryan calls on Vane for help. Vane wants Matt’s magic in return. Ryan has to make the decision. Matt feels betrayed and he uses Excaliber to help them escape. Matt enters a quest to find the cup of life. Ryan sneaks on to the trip and accompanies Matt. They end up in Sri Lanka at a famous Shrine looking for some kind of sign they are on the right track. Matt finds an artifact that once taken causes the mountain to shake. Ryan has to call on Vane for help against Matt’s wishes.

Ryan is then thrust into an adventure that she is the only one that can take. She is the sword bearer and only she can get the golden apple and Cronos’ eye. The fate of the world rests on what the eye can show in a vision. Total devastation awaits unless they can figure out what to do to stop it.

Ryan believes she can still save Vane and works along with Matt to find a solution. Matt keeps his plans close so Vane won’t learn what is going on. They still fight each other. Ryan is determined to find a way to save everyone from the destruction that is coming. She will have to sacrifice and take the leap of faith that Matt is unable to do.

This is the third book in the My Merlin Series. It has been a wild ride of sacrifice, sibling rivalry, death, destruction and love. This final installment being about the end of the world. It is action packed and full of dueling groups trying to stop what is coming. I really like Ryan. She is a regular girl with a big job. She also makes mistakes but tries to follow her heart. She is torn between the two brothers. She is fighter and protects fiercely. I knew she would be the one to make it come together and do what needed to be done. She put things together with Vane’s help and took control.

The book was a great adventure with loss and fear sprinkled in. Ryan has lost a lot and guilt rules her at times which adds to her humanity and likability. I love her sassiness and her intelligence. Great ending to a great series. I give it a 4 out of 5.






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