I read this book quite some time ago but it has to be one of the best books I have ever read. Mary was born into a world of jewels, silks, and countless pleasures, despite the fact the she was not the son Henry VIII wanted so dearly. Showered with royal titles by the age of three, Mary was what every girl wnated to be-unitl her beloved father met Anne Boleyn, sister to his former mistress and lady-in-waiting to Mary's mother, Catherine of Aragon. Now, she fears for her jewels, titles, and above all-her life, every day! Mary is reduced from the richest girl in England to a servant, awarded no titles whatsoever, to become a bastard-illegitimate to the English throne. Although she achieves a commoner's title compared to a royal's, Lady, she declares that she will become a queen,and get rid of her new sister, Elizabeth. She can't help but loving this little baby, but she must hold back the love, in order to achieve her goals. Now living in the servant's quarters to Elizabeth( Mary, who is seventeen, is Elizabeth's servant while Elizabeth is a few months old!) Mary achieves the kindness of her former nursemaid and other servants and escapes the dreadful prison of serving her baby sister. This is a sad story- one of the girl everyone has hated for her religious intolerance, Bloody Mary. But when you finish this book, you will love Mary and pity her, and hate Anne and Elizabeth. But when you read the sequel Beware Princess Elizabeth, you will definetly hate Mary instead! This is one of Meyer's best works, and as a devoted Royal Diary fan, it is better than her two titles-Anastasia and Isabel. I highly recommed this book to anyone of historical interest or fans of English history. Make sure to read the sequel and the third book-Doomed Queen Anne!

This is a first-person account of "Bloody Mary", Queen Elizabeth I's older half-sister. "Mary, Bloody Mary" is fun to read and very well-written. I especially like the parts when she is excluded from her father's love. It really makes you feel for Mary - especially because it's all true! Although I have always disliked Mary for her cruelty to Elizabeth, this book gave a sympathetic look at how Anne Boleyn (and eventually Elizabeth) took away Mary's rights. While I was reading this book I, too, started to feel sorry for Mary, but it ended too soon for me to really feel sorry for her. And the epilogue reminded me that no matter how rotten a deal Mary got because of Anne Boleyn, she had no right to be so mean to Elizabeth (and the countless other people she murdered - hence "Bloody Mary").

Mary, Bloody Mary is a wonderful find for a history teacher. It is historical fiction that is exciting and full of vivid detail. Kids will not have to be nagged to read this riveting story of Henry VIII's eldest daughter whose life was a rags-to-riches story in reverse. From being her father's precious jewel to living in worn-out clothes, forbidden to see her mother, and pressured to sign documents stating that her own birth and birthright were illegitimate, Mary's story is told in a compelling and sympathetic manner by author Carolyn Meyer. This meticulously researched book adds detail that brings the era to life. We are pulled into Mary's universe: her studies, her daily life, her friendships, and, of course, the intrigue of court life under Henry VIII all are vividly recounted in this book. Mary emerges as a complex character who kids will find fascinating and relatable. I'm so pleased to see such high quality writing targetted for young adults. I plan to use it in my seventh grade history classes and know the kids will love reading and discussing it.

This is my favorite mystery. I love Mary Higgins Clark. Her books are fast paced, suspenseful with wonderful characters that all interconnect. I always take one of her books on vacation with me! I have read and enjoyed them all.

This one was just a cut above. She mixes more supernatural elements with her usual murder mystery. The Cape Cod setting is extremely intersting- almost a character of its own. Menley is a wonderful heroine that seems even more finely drawn that Clark's usual young protagonists. There are really several interconnecting stories- all exciting and well written.

This is one of the few mysteries that I curl up with again every so often- definately worth reading!

Once again, Mary Higgins Clark creates a new psychological thriller through Remember Me, an engaging tale of suspense revolving around the condemnation of a young mother. Step by step, she captures the legend of Cape Cod with the rising tides of terror and the grip of menace that hover over its inhabitants. Menley Nichols, the young wife of a high-profile criminal defense attorney has never stopped blaming herself for the accident that cause the death of her two-year-old son Bobby. As the aftermath, her marriage to her husband Adam, starts to fall apart, but the birth of their precious daughter Hannah promises a new life for them in the Remember House Adam rented at Cape Cod. Nonetheless, strange incidents start to occur__incidents that make Menley relive the horror of the accident and make her fear for Hannah. Again, Menley and Adam are drawn into a dark and entangled web of lies that threatens to shatter their marriage, and foreboding events that disrupts the seemingly peaceful town of Cape Cod. Among them, an Alzheimer's victim, a teenage baby-sitter, a suspect of murder, a flamboyant woman with a link to the suspect, and an attractive real estate agent who belong to Adam's past on the Cape. Who is the menace? Remember Me is another of my favorite novel by Mary Higgins Clark. Unlike Loves Music, Loves to Dance, by Mrs. Clark, Remember Me focus itself on the bitterness of Menley and Adam's marriage that was terrorize by a sinister force rather than the puzzle of the killer's identity. This furthers the complication as well as the fragility of their relationship, and provides a deeper meaning of marriage. As incidents after incidents occur, the story rises to an electrifying climax that led one's heart to a wrenching stop. I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to try a riveting tale of suspense.

Remember me, by Mary Higgins Clark, is an interesting suspense novel. The theme of the novel is trust. If you are into who done it? Why? And where? This is the book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Once you pick up this book you can't put it down. This novel can be emotional since it deals with the death of a loved one and also can be helpful, in away. It deals with the troubles in a marriage and the trust issue between wife, husband and ex-girlfriend.
Mary Higgins Clark wrote this book in the Cape. The characters are so real that you can't help but feel for the mother after she loses her child. Does she go crazy? Is she really crazy? Those are some of the questions you ask your self when reading the novel. You are also so involved with the book because cleverly, the author has not given a hint as to who and why they did it till the very end. Once you read the ending, you are shocked. I know I was really shocked because who I thought had done it was not who it was. This novel also leads you to believe, well for me it did that if you truly are in love with your significant other than you could handle anything. It also makes you wonder if you had a lot of money, would your significant other only love you for that?
Many surprising outcomes in this novel. The title says it all and really applies to the novel. Remember me, applying to a loved one recently lost. This book is very interesting and I recommend it for those who like mystery and suspense, and yes, Romance!

I think that Mary Higgins Clark's novel, "I'll Be Seeing You", is great. I have read several of her books, but I found this one to be the best. I really enjoy Clark's style of writing. Throughout reading this book there were times when I thought I had the plot all figured out, but it turns out that the plot only thickens. The plot involves a television newsreporter known as Meghan Collins who is covering a story of a victim who has been stabbed. When Meghan sees the girl's face she is terrified by how much the victim resembles her and becomes determined to pursue the incident. Meghan's life is filled with tragedy when her father, Edwin Collins, is believed to have died in an accident which occurred on Tappan Zee bridge. Unfortunately, they are unable to find his body or any remains which belong to Mr. Collins. The fact that they are unable to issue a death certificate affects Meghan's mother, Catherine, who falls into debt and is worried about keeping up the family inn. When the people of the town become aware of the fact that Edwin had withdrawn substantial amounts of money the day before the accident, many people became suspicious of him as being a murder suspect. Meghan is out in search to save her father's name while covering a story on the Manning Clinic. A clinic where in vitro fertilization is performed. Throughout the many aspects that Meghan has uncovered she has been forced to change her way of living. I personally enjoyed reading this book because of the suspense throughout the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in mystery and suspense.

This was my second Mary Higgins Clark novel. The two that I have read are the same in some ways. You never know what could happen next and you do not know what all the characters know one or the other in some form. In the two novels that I have read I noticed that until you get to the end of the book you do not know how all the characters will meet up. Her novels are the same style of writing but you can never put the novel down. Mary Higgins Clark novel I'll Be Seeing You is a suspense that will keep you guessing until the end. The novel is set in the area around New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Philadelphia. The novel takes place in modern times. The novel is about a reporter named Meghan Collins whose father just died but they can not find his body. Meghan and mother need to find the body of Meghan father. If they do not find his body then Meghan's mother inn will go under. Meghan one sees the body of a dead girl who looks just like her. The novel is about Meghan trying to find answers to her father's death and why this girl looks so much like her. On Meghan's quest to find answer the story comes more and more unbelievable. With everything that Meghan finds it seems the less she knows about her father and the people around her. The more Meghan finds out about people the less she feels she trusts them and in the end the betrayal that Meghan never saw coming. In the novel you will feel for Meghan and her mother. You will see the heart ship that they go threw and you will ask yourself why. The novel will keep you guess till the end. In the novel Meghan has a conflict with her dead father. Meghan does not know what to think of him after she found some things about her. Meghan has conflicts with the people that she can trust and can not trust. I liked the novel. The reasons I liked the novel are that you never know what is going to happen next. You will be thinking one thing and then something else will come up and you will change your mind. In the novel you can never be sure of one thing or the other. The novel does fallow the style of Mary Higgins Clark. Where you never know quite what is going till you get to the end of the novel. You never know what will come next, with each new discover that the characters find. Then at the end the story makes sense why everything happens. The novel just like the other one I read. You will keep guessing what will come next and be surprised at what does end up happening.

I read the novel I'll Be Seeing You by Mary Higgins Clark. The book went into detail about how a man named Edwin Collins led a secret life for over twenty years. Mary Higgins Clark did an excellent job of describing the details of why he did this and how his family coped with his dissappearance. While all this was happening, she wrote about someone getting murdered and a fraud in a doctors file. This added a great thrill to the story and made it a page turner from the start. I reccomend this book to anyone who likes a murder mystery from The Queen of Suspense. It was a wonderful novel in which Mary Higgins Clark showed her exquisite writing style while including an enteresting flare to a murder mystery.

I am amazed that I was kept on the preverbial 'edge of my seat' with this book! I read it in 6 hours and could not put it down! The suspense and twists were enough to make me wince and become anxious! Unbelievable suspense from what I now refer her to, THE Queen of Suspense, Mary Higgins Clark...

~'All Around the Town' is a simple childs rhyme, but not to little four year old Laurie Kenyon. She has been abducted and held mercilessly for two long and torturous years, suffering abuse and horrible mind games so severe that when she is released at age six, she doesn't even remember what has happened to her!
Now at age 21 she is found accused of murdering her English professor, Allan Grant, but she has no memory of the gruesome crime!

Apparently during those horrible years of being held prisoner, she has developed multiple personalities, one of which is a sex kitten calling herself "Leona". Leona has been writing crazed love letters to Allan Grant and has been secretly entering his home! She watches him sleep and wishes she could be with him...but the host personality, Laurie, is unaware of the many other 'people' living inside of her.

When things seem to go farther downhill for a suffering Laurie, her sister and best friend, a reknowned prosecutor,Sarah, takes up her defense and brings her to a psychiatrist Justin Donnelly, a specalist in MPD, Multiple Personality Disorder. Justin must be the one to help Laurie unlock her forbidden memories from those missing two years of captivity. But evil is lurking in the shadows...Laurie's abductor, now a famous televison evangelist, is still hopelessly obsessed with little Laurie and is determined to get to her one last time.

This story has twists upon twists that will leave you gasping for air and wanting more! The sad tale of a tortured woman trying to save herself by remembering who she is and what has happened all those years past. We get to see her world through her mind's eye and what we see is horrible and obscene. The preacher will never let her remember, but can Laurie beat him to the punch? A real rollarcoaster thrill-ride packed with suspense, enough to keep you on the edge of your seat until the wee hours of the night!

(...)

Mary Higgins Clark has done it once again! Her outstanding skills of writing suspense novels prevail in her novel, All Around the Town. All Around the Town is the story of a girl who is snatched from her home at the age of four and dropped off at a local school two years later. To deal with the trauma of this event, Laurie, the girl, makes up alter personalities. The personalities become nearly dormant until she blames herself for her parents death is a car accident. The personalities come out again to help her deal with the trauma of losing her parents. One of the personalities is then accused of killing one of Laurie's college professors, and none of the personalities remember killing him. The twists and turns in this story keep you reading it all night long. You just can't put it down. All Around the Town is a book to be read over and over again.

If you like other Mary Higgins Clark books, You'll love this one! Laurie Kenyon was kidnapped at the age of 4. Two years later, her kidnappers left her on the steps of a school building. When she was returned to her parents, she acted shy and afraid of everything, unlike what she used to be. What they didn't know is that she developed Multiple Personality Disorder(MPD). After the death of her parents, Laurie, now a college student, falls in love with Proffesor Allan Grant (or,at least, one of her personalities does). When Allan Grant is murdered, Laurie becomes the main suspect. Lauries sister, Sarah, switches sides of the courtroom and becomes Laurie's defendant attorney. Sarah convinces Laurie to see Justin Donelley, a phyciatrist specializing in MPD patients, to help her. As Laurie unveils all of her personalities and discovers what happens the night Allan Grant was stabbed to death, her kidnappers are closing in on her. And this time they mean murder.... This is my favorite Mary H. Clark book. If you love mystery and suspense, you'll love "All Around The Town".

This book was one of Mary Higgins Clark's best! My cousin lent it to me about a month ago, and I finished it in a week. It's about a young divorcee named Jenny. She has two little girls, named Tina and Beth. One day, she meets an artist named Erich Krueger, and her life totally changes. Married within the month, whisked off to Minnestota,and adored by all, Jenny is living the life others dream of. When herex-husband is murdered and she is accused, Jenny is caught in a frighten- ing whirlpool of events that threaten to shatter her sanity...
I recommend this book for ages 12 and up. It's one of my favorites. Anyone who likes Mary Higgins Clark should read this book. It was AWESOME! ...

After finishing the incredibly stale LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART, I was about ready to give up on Mary Higgins Clark. If you're someone who, like me, was beginning to wonder what all the Clark hoopla was about, run out quick and get a copy of A CRY IN THE NIGHT, which can be described as a sort of modern cross between PSYCHO and REBECCA. This is a very well-done book, and it succeeds on many levels.

Jenny MacPartland is a divorced mother of two who is swept off her feet by Erich Krueger, a kind, handsome artist who marries her and takes her back to his sprawling farm in Minnesota. Not long after she arrives, she begins to sense tension in the air. Erich begins to behave strangely. Her ex-husband, Kevin, comes down to visit her, stirring up trouble. The whole place is overshadowed by the strange presence of Caroline, Erich's long-dead mother, to whom Jenny bears a striking resemblance. Soon Jenny begins to have dizzy spells and wonders if she is sleepwalking during the night. What began as a dream for both the protagonist and the reader has transformed into a horrific nightmare.

Clark handles this transformation with considerable deftness, demonstrating her masterful control of pace and characterization. The plot is especially convoluted and intricate; in fact, there are as many surprising twists as there are pages. Unlike LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART and WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN?, in which the terror kicks in only in the last few chapters or so, A CRY IN THE NIGHT turns on the suspense less than halfway through the novel and never lets up the pressure. This is an unusually chilling book, but aside from all the suspenseful pleasures of the story, it is also a very sad and emotionally involving drama. There is no pat resolution or happy ending here, but the denouement, if bittersweet, is wholly satisfying. This reader is, I'm happy to report, an officially converted Clark fan.

Mary Higgins Clark is an outstanding mystery author. The book,A Cry in the Night, is a good book you won't want to put down. I really enjoyed the book. The book is about a rich painter, Erich, who comes to New York City to show his paintings in an art gallery. He meets Jenny, a woman who works at the gallery, and falls in love with her. The thing is she looks exactly like his dead mother. The two get married and move to his ranch in the West. After awhile Jenny notices things are changing. She wonders if she is losing her mind or if her husband is. That is all I can say without giving anything away. I believe, A Cry in the Night is a perfect title for this book. I can't explain why, because I don't want to ruin it for those of you who haven't read the book yet.

If it weren't for the fact that Mary Karr has seemed to have survived her horrible childhood in East Texas (with a sense of humor and ability to love intact), this book would have bordered on tragic. Not that her survival means it is any less mortifying - but sometimes it is important for people who aren't raised in such circumstances to believe that children are, in fact, resilient and that people can escape their upbringings. It was difficult to put this book down because even though her drunk mother (of many marriages) and slightly unbalanced father were unsettling - there was, it seemed to me, still a significant amount of real love for the children. Once of the other reasons to read this book is that Mary Karr is just plain and simple an excellent story-teller. In our world of sound bites and gloss-overs it is a luxury to read (listen) to the stories of the world, of real people, not the pilot's wife or the terrorist's child or the entertainer's mistress - but of people who grow up in the dangers of life wherever and however they exist.

The Liar's Club is an emotive story with relatable and powerful characters, which makes the book so brilliant. From the Oil Refinery Town of Leitchfield, Texas to the mountains of Colorado Mary Karr humorously describes her tumultuous and chaotic childhood. The book emphasizes the destructive impact that alcohol can have on people. While reading the book you begin to compare and contrast the Karr family with your own and by doing so the reader will realize the importance of family unity. Mary Karr is able to describe her childhood with such accuracy that when you have finished the book it seems that you experienced her upbringing. Even though the author endured a frenzied past, The Liar's Club contains an even amount of humor and sadness. The Liar's Club is a great read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys wit and dark humor.

Mary Karr has nailed the language, smell, taste, sounds, colors and feelings of a childhood in Texas and Colorado in the 60's and 70's. She tells us the story that only a child raised on adrenalin can tell - one of humor, fear and alert, honest observation. Her memories are sharp and clear and exactly what a child would have chosen to note. This is the painfully honest and extrordinarily funny (as only the truth can be) story of two little girls trying to raise their alcoholic parents and the pasts that led the parents to that point. What is so wonderful about this memoir is that, in spite of the tribulations these little girls go through, their love for their parents and their willingness to protect them surpasses all other emotions. If for no other reason, read this book for the language. I've heard people say that it's exaggerated or embellished for this book. I can tell you that she must have a memory like a steel trap because she brought back words and sayings from my childhood that I had long forgotten. If you are only going to read one memoir this year, forget "Angela's Ashes", forget "The Color of Water". They both pale in comparison to "The Liar's Club".

I have read this book at least six times, and it still captivates me that the author kept such a close feel on the character, Mary. Ms.Lenski took her imagination to the extreem. I believe that she took into herself the emotions and the heart of Mary and used it to her advantage. The whole setting of the book and especially the other characters in it make it a wonderful experience and it sends a feeling inside me that nastalgia seems too small a word to speak. It reminds me of where I lived as a child, and the person, Mary, sounds so much like I was. She talked like she knew much more than her age should alow her to. She spoke with clarvoyance and dignity that many other characters did not have. She learned the language of the Indians quickly and learned their culture with no complaint. I only wish Ms. Lenski would write more about Mary Jemison. I want to know what happened to the girl who did not return to her people when she had the chance. This book has changed my outlook on books. I read it for the first time in the fifth grade, and it touched me in such a way I cannot describe. I love how Ms. Lenski put her descriptions into words. I can never seem to do it exactly how I plan. I am currently writing two books, neither of which would, or could compare to Indian Captive. I only hope that my books will get published and appreciated like this one. I am sorry that I made this so long, but like I said, I can never really quite put into words exactly what I want to say. Thank you for listening to my opinion.

INDIAN CAPTIVE is a wonderful book for children of all ages. I recommend it to everyone. Mary has to face all kinds of problem and I don't know about you but I was bewildered to see how she handled them so wonderfully. I'm only 13 and I could understand this book very well so I'm sure kids younger than me will have no problem. Please pick up this book and read about the Indians and the way that they act, if you thought they were bad you will be totally swayed after reading this book.

12 year old Mary Jemison took life on her family's farm in Philadelphia for granted. But on a Spring day in 1758, her family is taken captive by Indians and her life is never the same again. It's bad enough to be taken captive by Indians, but even worse to be separated from her family forever. This book is a Newberry Honor book, which certainly deserves the honor. Indian Captive tells about a captivity, a relationship, and a girl who finds a new family. This is a heart warming book, that will bring you closer to your family than ever.

This book Loves Music, Loves to Dance is an amazing suspense novel. It kept me on the edge of the seat and I couldn't put it down. I never would have thought that personal ads were as creepy as they are and that they draw madmen out of their cave.
TV producer, Nona, wants to do a show about why people respond to personal ads and who they are. Nona convinces her two best friends to do some research for her. Erin and Darcy both agree and Erin answers ads for the both of them. After a date with an "ad person" Erin isn't heard from again, but a few days later her body is found strangled to death and wearing a dancing slipper and her own shoe. Darcy soon finds out that many other girls who answered the ads are missing but still Darcy wants to find the killer of her best friend. Darcy keeps trying to find out who killed her friend, not realizing she is the next victim. The story jumps back and forth to show you what the murderer is feeling. It gives you huge creepy feeling; yet you understand how crazy he is. You would never guess that the killer is who he really is. He started killing 15 years ago when he had a huge crush on Nan Sheridan and he got jealous of her. He was invited to her party so he decided to give her her gift the next morning, a pair of dancing slippers. If you love suspense novels this is one you should read. You won't put it down and you will stay up half the night trying to read it.

LOVES MUSIC, LOVES TO DANCE is a mystery written by Mary Higgins Clark. Erin Kelley and Darcy Scott, best friends, have just finished college, and move to the big apple in hopes of finding suiting careers. To help their TV producer friend out, they start answering personal ads in the newspaper. They are curious to see what the people are like who place the ads. They both are carefree until Erin disapears and is found, dead, on a Manhattan pier, one foot in her boot, the other in a dancing shoe. The police soon find out that Erin wasn't the first to die on the "dance crazed" murderer's list. What the police do not know, however, is that Darcy is next on the serial killers list. All of these events tie together to make a compelling mystery that seems unsolvable. Mary Higgins Clark ties things together in such a manner that the events may not even seem possible. She's done it again!

This was a wonderful book by MHC. I had to stop reading it when I was alone in my house. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. Darcy and Erin have been best friends since college and now they both live in NY. The two of them start answering personal ads as a favor to a friend. Erin and Darcy have fun comparing who they meet until the day Erin mysteriously disappears. Her body is found on an abandoned pier. She is oddly wearing a dancing slipper on her foot. Though the police disagree, Darcy knows Erin was murdered by the person Erin answered the personal ad to. Darcy is determined to find Erin's killer. Little does she know, Darcy is the next victim!

The book The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart tells of the life of Merlin the Enchanter from when he was six to about 24. His adventures are vividly described, whether its roaming the tunnels under his grandfathers castle or sneaking his uncle into the fortress of Cornwall. There is almost never a dull moment in this book. It takes awhile getting started, but it gets interesting around page 50, so hang in there. One part of the book I really enjoyed was when 13 year old Merlin takes a ride in the forest with his servant and catches his tutor up to no good. Overall, I'd say this book is excellent literature because it really describes everything. You can picture every scene and character in your head. I really felt like I knew each character and was genuinely upset when one died and outraged when one betrayed another. The book also teaches you a lot about the Middle Ages. There were castles, knights, maidens in distress, and all the usual stuff, but it also told about normal people. It tells of everyday life in medieval times. If you like this book, I recommend you read the 2nd and 3rd books in the Merlin Trilogy, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment. Both are just as good as The Crystal Cave. If you are fascinated with the legend of Arthur and Merlin, and are a patient reader who likes long, detailed novels like I do, you will adore this book!

I was required to read this book for summer reading for my highschool freshman honors english class. I started it a couple of days ago, and finished it last night. This is truly a great book. It's a unique take on a classic and well-known story. I'd always associated the name Merlin with an old man witha long white beard and robes with pointy hats. I'd never thought of Merlin as a young man. I also learned a lot about the legend of Camelot from the information in the back of the book .This book may have some faults, but I'm not a historian or camelot buff, and I'm also no author or literary expert. But as a 14 year old girl who loves to read, I am giving this book 5 stars and two thumbs up. The Crystal Cave is a must read!

The Series Story: "The Crystal Cave" is Book One of Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy, and focuses on the childhood of Myrddin Emrys, the illegitimate son of a princess in southern England. Myrddin, nicknamed "Merlin" (a falcon), does not know who his father is, and is not very welcome in his grandfather's home. He is welcome by Galapas, a local hermit, who teaches Merlin magic, geography, and medicine. Merlin's grandfather eventually dies and Merlin's uncle, who succeeds the king, has no love for his unwanted and mysteriously mature and intelligent nephew. Merlin flees and ends up in Brittany, where he finds his father, the deposed High King of England, who is readying to for a return to power. Ambrosius, the deposed High King, acknowledges his son and helps him feed his insatiable thirst for knowledge. Merlin also discovers that he has the "Sight" which is the ability to glimpse the future by staring into fire, water, or the night sky. He gradually learns more magical ability, and acquires a strong fund of knowledge in medicine, engineering, music, and poetry. Merlin eventually accompanies his father in the reconquest and reunification of Great Britain. Ambrosius succeeds, but soon dies, leaving the throne to his brother, the womanizing warrior, Uther. Uther falls in love with his ally's wife, Ygraine, and, with Merlin's help, is able to secretly see Ygraine and conceive the future High King, Arthur, whom Merlin has seen in his visions. Merlin, now a famed wizard, because of his vision, prophecies, knowledge, and luck, retires to his cave to await the day when Arthur will need him.

Technical: The writing of Mary Stewart is highly detailed and takes patience, but nothing is extraneous or irrelevant. Ms. Stewart's writing style reminds me of Sir Walter Scott's writing style in "Ivanhoe".

Overall: A great epic begins, but the reader must be patient and up to the challenge of a long, intricate, and detailed saga.