The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart
Review by Jerelyn (I-F-Letty)
A little bit of magic and genius; is Mary Stewart’s take on the Merlin myth. When I read this book for the first time it was in the late 1970’s, and it was a revelation. The Crystal Cave is one of those books that I just have to take out and re-read. It is timeless and still as good today as it was when published.
We meet Merlin as a six year old boy, the bastard grandson of a Welsh King. The myth about him starts very early because his mother refuses to name the boy’s father. She allows people to think that he is no man’s son, thinking to protect him, but it only places him in danger. There was something about the small boy, separateness, something dangerous, and something to be feared. He has the sight and untrained he cannot control it. Then as now what men do not understand they fear. The Romans have only just abandoned Britain The Saxons have come, Christianity is still very new to Wales and the old ways still hold sway but times are changing. The Saxon King Vortigern is aging and fears his much younger enemy in Brittany, who has spent his time gathering and training an army to take back is birth right.
Merlin meets his first teacher one day having escaped his tutor who has a bit of a drinking problem. Galapas the hermit has things to teach the boy whom he has waited for, living within the crystal cave of the hollow hills. Over the years, Merlin learns language and music and mathematics from Galapas, he learns herb lore and healing, and is beginning to understand his psychic powers, while the dangers of war come closer and even members of his own family want him dead. Finally he must flee into the unknown world, after an attempt on his life. He puts his faith in the Gods that he realizes have been guiding his path all along.
The Gods are good and Merlin finds himself in the house of Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon, in Brittany. Ambrosius has a claim on the throne of Britain and had plans to unify the many kingdoms into one. Under one High King himself. He too has been waiting for a sign; a sign which is Merlin.
I think the thing I love about this book and the others that follow is the completely different take on the Merlin myth, and Arthurian legend. Stewart is a master story teller and these books were a departure for her. She had been know up to this point for a genre she pioneered, romantic suspense. With the Merlin series she tried her hand at historical fiction/fantasy and it worked out very well Crystal Cave, Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment and the last The Wicked Day where her best selling novels. Crystal Cave is one of my 5 star reads. If you or your teen loves the dark ages and historical fantasy I really believe you will enjoy this book as well. It is already considered by many as a classic.
Thanks for the review, Jerelyn, and for the memories! I loved Stewart’s books, too, and her Merlin series was probably my favorite.