The Crystal Cave cover art

The Crystal Cave

Arthurian Saga, Book 1

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The Crystal Cave

By: Mary Stewart
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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The spellbinding story of Merlin's rise to power.

Vivid, enthralling, absolutely first-class - Daily Mail

So begins the story of Merlin, born the illegitimate son of a Welsh princess in fifth century Britain, a world ravaged by war. Small and neglected, with his mother unwilling to reveal his father's identity, Merlin must disguise his intelligence - and hide his occasional ability to know things before they happen - in order to keep himself safe.

While exploring the countryside near his home, Merlin stumbles across a cave filled with books and papers and hiding a room lined with crystals. It is the home of Galapas, who becomes Merlin's tutor and friend, and who teaches Merlin to understand the world around him... and to harness the power of the crystal cave to see the future.

Merlin will rise to power and enter history - and legend - as advisor to King Arthur. But all stories must begin somewhere. And this is his.

The Crystal Cave is the first of Mary Stewart's brilliant Arthurian Saga, telling the story of King Arthur from the perspective of the extraordinary, mysterious Merlin.©1970 Mary Stewart Fantasy Fiction Historical Fiction Medieval Arthurian Royalty Magic Middle Ages
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I was so excited to see these books released as they're old favourites. But the reader, while very competent, has a colourless and cold style that made it a very unengaging read. Unlikely to get the rest of the series.

Competent but uninspiring reader

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I was expecting the story to be more fantastical and mythological but the mix of math and science with the bits of magic was a great blend which culminated to a great backend and ending. Listening to the legend of Merlin chapter made the whole story even better, hearing the differences between the events and how they were told was really funny.

Great Introduction

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i read this book years ago and loved it. this audiobook brought the magic back

wonderfull story

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I read this first 50 years or so ago. I have reread it many times. It is still, in my opinion, the finest set of books on the legends of Myrddin Ambrosius and Arthur ever written.

Still a masterpiece.

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this recording is great sets the scene for the rest of the books in the series

great story revisited first read about 40 years a

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