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Summary
Summary
Basil becomes Merlin's partner as they battle the mysterious shadows that threaten the new Avalon.
A dark magic has been spreading across Avalon. Initially, the events seemed unrelated: a war in Fireroot between the dwarves and the fire dragons, blight in Stoneroot, and disputes throughout the realms. But as Merlin and Basil scour the realms, they begin to realize that looming behind the growing chaos is a single dark threat--an enemy that they've never encountered. One that must be stopped before all of Avalon is lost.
In this jaw-dropping sequel to the mega-hit Merlin's Dragon, T. A. Barron sends Merlin, Rhia, and Basil, the greatest dragon ever, on a mission across Avalon to root out this new enemy. But sacrifices will be made, relationships will be tested, and precious lives will be lost.
Author Notes
Born Thomas Archibald Barron in 1952, author T. A. Barron grew up in Colorado's "ranch country". He graduated from Princeton University and also attended Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. Before writing, Barron had a successful career as a venture capitalist manager in New York City. In 1989, Barron became a full time writer and conservationist. Many of his books incorporate nature and ecological concern into their themes, garnering him two Nautilus Visionary Book Awards in 2005 and 2007. He has also received International Reading Association and American Library Association awards for his works. He resides in Colorado with his wife, Currie and their children.
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-Basil has become accustomed to his large size as a powerful dragon, his new name, and his greater role in the fate of his world. With Avalon teetering on the edge of catastrophe, he and Merlin search for ways to squelch the violence erupting throughout the realms. The action is packed with battles between dragons and dwarfs, crows and terns, and many more creatures of Avalon. Readers will also find new love, loss, and relationships on the brink. Unfortunately, the book suffers extensively from middle book syndrome. Too many subplots cause Basil, Merlin, and readers to lose sight of Rhita Gawr. As for Doomraga, readers will have to wait for the cliff-hanger ending to learn who he is, and for book three to read about his revenge. Of course, even with the problems, no one can compare to Barron when writing about Merlin or Avalon. Once again, he brings texture, color, and love to the seven realms. His many fans will gobble up this new offering, but new readers will need to start with book one.-Lisa Marie Williams, East Gwillimbury Public Library, Holland Landing, Ontario (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Though the giant leech Doomraga is busily fomenting war among the magical races of Avalon, a personal loss sends grief-stricken Merlin scurrying off to Earth to help out King Arthur leaving the mountainous dragon Basilgarrad to broker truces or, more often, choose sides in a series of raids and battles. Infused with Barron's usual sharp consciousness of the natural world (and typically overwrought prose), this episodic middle volume of the Merlin's Dragon trilogy ends with the forces of evil ascendant and sets the stage for a grand finale.--Peters, John Copyright 2009 Booklist
