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Chasing Merlin
When Dyllan Carter ships off to London to start a Master's in Medieval Literature, she expects to spend a lot of time in the library, to write a lot of papers, and to develop acute tendinitis before she finishs her thesis on the difference between Merlin the myth and Merlin the man. What she didn't expect was Emrys. After their initial crash-meeting in the tunnels of the underground, she seems to bump into him everywhere: in the library and even on the street. He knows almost as much as she does about her subject area - and he's not even in school! His actions are sometimes awkward, and very out-of-the-blue - often to the level of absurdity. So when he offers to give her a tour of the old places in Wales - not far from his home - she can't help but wonder who fate has brought her. As the legends get closer and the journey becomes more dangerous, Dyllan finds more questions and fewer answers. Will she be able to finish her thesis? Or is this her life’s final chapter?
- GenresContemporaryArthurian
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2012
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305 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 6, 2016
Originally published at Lisa Loves Literature
The idea behind this book is really unique! The main character is Dyllan, and she is going to London to work on her Master's degree in Medieval Literature. Her subject is to learn more about Merlin, not really all the myths exactly, but more about him as a real man. There are several surprises for her when she arrives. One is that she has a roommate, which she didn't expect, but soon is very happy to have Gina around. Another surprise is the guy she bumps into when she first arrives. His name is Emrys, and there is something about him. He's cute, and seems to know a lot about her topic of Merlin. And it isn't just once chance meeting, soon he is showing up other places unexpectedly. So she gets together with him, finding his information on her topic very helpful, if very much a different aspect than she'd ever thought about. Gina doesn't know whether Dyllan should trust this guy that keeps just popping up, it's very stalker-like. And when they find out that Emrys's brother is someone Gina had to deal with in the past that wasn't someone she was really a friend of, it makes it even more of a bad idea in Gina's opinion, to hang out with Emrys. And Emrys himself doesn't always act like it is a good idea, although he keeps showing up and even needing Dyllan's help at times.
All of the strange things going on are keeping Dyllan from getting her thesis done, and then, when Emrys takes her back to his home for a tour of the places that are where Merlin lived and was known to be, things really start to change. She learns just how real Merlin was, or maybe even still is! Who Arthur was/is, and just what all of it means in the fabric of even today's world. And the romance isn't a big issue, but it is there, and I don't know if the ending satisfied me, or made me sad. I feel like I could definitely read another book with these characters, I want to know if Dyllan can get a happily ever after, or if it is just impossible, with Emrys especially.
While I wish for more, I feel the ending totally worked for the tone of the story, and fit perfectly for what the author was trying to do. I definitely will recommend it, and that is why at the end of this post, you'll find a giveaway for this book!
The idea behind this book is really unique! The main character is Dyllan, and she is going to London to work on her Master's degree in Medieval Literature. Her subject is to learn more about Merlin, not really all the myths exactly, but more about him as a real man. There are several surprises for her when she arrives. One is that she has a roommate, which she didn't expect, but soon is very happy to have Gina around. Another surprise is the guy she bumps into when she first arrives. His name is Emrys, and there is something about him. He's cute, and seems to know a lot about her topic of Merlin. And it isn't just once chance meeting, soon he is showing up other places unexpectedly. So she gets together with him, finding his information on her topic very helpful, if very much a different aspect than she'd ever thought about. Gina doesn't know whether Dyllan should trust this guy that keeps just popping up, it's very stalker-like. And when they find out that Emrys's brother is someone Gina had to deal with in the past that wasn't someone she was really a friend of, it makes it even more of a bad idea in Gina's opinion, to hang out with Emrys. And Emrys himself doesn't always act like it is a good idea, although he keeps showing up and even needing Dyllan's help at times.
All of the strange things going on are keeping Dyllan from getting her thesis done, and then, when Emrys takes her back to his home for a tour of the places that are where Merlin lived and was known to be, things really start to change. She learns just how real Merlin was, or maybe even still is! Who Arthur was/is, and just what all of it means in the fabric of even today's world. And the romance isn't a big issue, but it is there, and I don't know if the ending satisfied me, or made me sad. I feel like I could definitely read another book with these characters, I want to know if Dyllan can get a happily ever after, or if it is just impossible, with Emrys especially.
While I wish for more, I feel the ending totally worked for the tone of the story, and fit perfectly for what the author was trying to do. I definitely will recommend it, and that is why at the end of this post, you'll find a giveaway for this book!
February 10, 2013
I really liked the story. It shows that in legends there might be a bit of truth and for those of us who have never stopped looking out for unicorns, it's a great book to read (though there are no unicorns in the book :-D )
What I wasn't too happy about were the typos, the fact that British people used American words like "gotten" or "auto", and the fact that the writer is convinced that men are "blonde".
I find quite amusing that she states in the book that the Europeans drive on the left. Last time I checked, very few did. Oh, and I think she's never set foot in Stonehenge.
But never mind, I really enjoyed the story.
What I wasn't too happy about were the typos, the fact that British people used American words like "gotten" or "auto", and the fact that the writer is convinced that men are "blonde".
I find quite amusing that she states in the book that the Europeans drive on the left. Last time I checked, very few did. Oh, and I think she's never set foot in Stonehenge.
But never mind, I really enjoyed the story.
December 2, 2021
2.5 Stars
I found the concept behind this story very appealing but the execution was often lacking.
Every chapter is introduced by a quotation from different works about Merlin, which I found a nice touch that binds in well with the theme of the protagonist writing her thesis on Merlin.
There were elements to the story that I found moving and I often had a good time reading overall.
The quote “To those who are only human, but strive to be nothing less.” is an example of such an element which demonstrated that the author does have the skill to write something impactful and beautiful.
Sadly, for the most part, this book lacks aforementioned beautiful writing style. There were inconsistencies with characters and plot and the descriptions of the UK were often not very “true to the original”.
In sum, the story had great promise and it is possible to enjoy oneself while reading it and even be moved. At the same time, a lack in many qualitative aspects caused my 2.5 star rating.
Writing style: ⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Originality: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotional impact: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reading experience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reading satisfaction: ⭐️⭐️
I found the concept behind this story very appealing but the execution was often lacking.
Every chapter is introduced by a quotation from different works about Merlin, which I found a nice touch that binds in well with the theme of the protagonist writing her thesis on Merlin.
There were elements to the story that I found moving and I often had a good time reading overall.
The quote “To those who are only human, but strive to be nothing less.” is an example of such an element which demonstrated that the author does have the skill to write something impactful and beautiful.
Sadly, for the most part, this book lacks aforementioned beautiful writing style. There were inconsistencies with characters and plot and the descriptions of the UK were often not very “true to the original”.
In sum, the story had great promise and it is possible to enjoy oneself while reading it and even be moved. At the same time, a lack in many qualitative aspects caused my 2.5 star rating.
Writing style: ⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Originality: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotional impact: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reading experience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reading satisfaction: ⭐️⭐️
August 6, 2013
A spectacular new take on the Merlin legend. True, some parts are a little unbelievable, but the book is fast-paced in comparison to others on the same subject and is a fun read. I was truly glad that I got it.
July 5, 2017
This book ended up encapsulating most of the sides of my connection to the idea or character or person Merlin, and it caught me off guard. It gets at the captivation of the idea of Merlin, the pursuit to find out more, the stone wall of trying to get past the scholarship to a person, reconciling oneself to get past the myth to form a deeper relationship with the character, and ultimately finding the power of Merlin, sought originally outside oneself-- from within.
In terms of cons, I did think the prose was simple (but whatever-- it wasn't pretentious, and that was cool), there were a lot of stereotypical British references, I thought the H.E.R.B.S. bill should have been about a more pressing crisis than student aid, and there were a lot of typos I wanted to fix for her, but whatever--I was still really impressed with where it went. First book I've been able to finish this year (been in kind of an overarching slump). Thank you :)
In terms of cons, I did think the prose was simple (but whatever-- it wasn't pretentious, and that was cool), there were a lot of stereotypical British references, I thought the H.E.R.B.S. bill should have been about a more pressing crisis than student aid, and there were a lot of typos I wanted to fix for her, but whatever--I was still really impressed with where it went. First book I've been able to finish this year (been in kind of an overarching slump). Thank you :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2019
I have no idea what to rate this book. I loved the concept, it's like Twilight but with Arthurian Legend rather than Vampires. I also loved the reference to other texts (although the academic in me would prefer that they were correctly referenced within the text). But there is no denying thay it could do with a good proofread. Perhaps this was more obvious to someone living in Britain, but the grammar was more American English even for British characters.
I enjoyed the book and read it quickly, but admit to finding the ending a little anticlimactic and found Emrys to be a bit of a knob. Odd for something that reads as fan fiction after the BBC TV show.
I enjoyed the book and read it quickly, but admit to finding the ending a little anticlimactic and found Emrys to be a bit of a knob. Odd for something that reads as fan fiction after the BBC TV show.
August 3, 2019
It needs editing, though that may be because it was written during NaNoWriMo 2011. That being said, the story itself is really well done, and the first person point of view was executed very well (I usually don't like it). I'm giving it 4-stars for two reasons, mainly. The first is that some sentences were left incomplete, leaving thoughts out that could have changed the mood of some pivotal scenes. The second is that this is touted as a trilogy, and the ending is really unsatisfying if it isn't actually going to be continuing. It ends like a book should, but it leaves you wanting more.
January 26, 2023
I was not impressed with this book. Although the beginning was intriguing, the climax and resolution felt very rushed. In addition, I don't think the book really came full circle at the end. It's a nice, easy read, but I would rather read something else.
May 4, 2021
First book of the 2016! I got it for my birthday and was excited to read it that I dived into it a couple of days after I got it! I've had a busy schedule this past week and it's taken me a while to get through it!
I liked that this book read as a contemporary with the elements of magic being weaved into the story very nicely. However, I did have a few issues with the book as a whole. Especially some parts near the ending that I don't want to get into because of spoilers. What I can say is, I feel that the ending lacked explanation. Some events occur near the end and as a reader I felt like I didn't understand why and how it happened.
The characters were enjoyable enough to read about. Dyllan as a main character is interesting, I liked the fact that there is nothing extraordinary about her. I felt that maybe she trusted people a little too quickly and Gina, her flatmate, was right to a certain extent on certain occasions.
Emyrs was a times bland and just a bit too mysterious for me to really connect with him. I feel like we didn't get to know enough about him, and I know that part of that is a part of the story but even so.
I did like that the relationship between Dyllan and Emyrs didn't get all romantic and fluffy. I think they have a very strong connection that could lead down that path but I liked that the book didn't revolve around their budding relationship.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I'm happy to have finally picked up a book involving the Arthurian legends. Hopefully, I'll get round to another one in the near future!
I also nearly forgot, I'm still not sure if this is a series or not. The ending even though satisfying to an extent leaves the possibility of at least another book.
I liked that this book read as a contemporary with the elements of magic being weaved into the story very nicely. However, I did have a few issues with the book as a whole. Especially some parts near the ending that I don't want to get into because of spoilers. What I can say is, I feel that the ending lacked explanation. Some events occur near the end and as a reader I felt like I didn't understand why and how it happened.
The characters were enjoyable enough to read about. Dyllan as a main character is interesting, I liked the fact that there is nothing extraordinary about her. I felt that maybe she trusted people a little too quickly and Gina, her flatmate, was right to a certain extent on certain occasions.
Emyrs was a times bland and just a bit too mysterious for me to really connect with him. I feel like we didn't get to know enough about him, and I know that part of that is a part of the story but even so.
I did like that the relationship between Dyllan and Emyrs didn't get all romantic and fluffy. I think they have a very strong connection that could lead down that path but I liked that the book didn't revolve around their budding relationship.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I'm happy to have finally picked up a book involving the Arthurian legends. Hopefully, I'll get round to another one in the near future!
I also nearly forgot, I'm still not sure if this is a series or not. The ending even though satisfying to an extent leaves the possibility of at least another book.
April 19, 2014
LOVED IT! SO GLAD I BOUGHT IT! WOULD'VE BEEN VERY VERY SAD IF I HAD TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE LIBRARY! One of the rare occasions when I've bought a book before reading it and I'm so glad I did. It was fantastic. I loved the story, so cool. Gotta love mention of BBC's Merlin and Colin Morgan. Problem with that was when it came to Emrys I saw him as Colin Morgan so bit freaky.....
Towards the end I was super super scared that he'd die and Dyllan would be the new guardian of the Pendragons and such but THANK THE GODS nope! he's still alive and magic to the best of my knowledge.
Yeah there were some written mistakes, namely missing words, missused words, extra words...but it wasn't so crude that I couldn't reread and figure out what the sentence was. Just took a second glance. HAPPY HAPPY! ANNNNDDDD I EVEN FINISHED IT BEFORE MIDNIGHT!! WOOHOO!
K, onto Searching for Arthur another book where I jumped the gun and bought it before reading it. Something I haven't done in years...like 8 years. so.....has to be good.
Towards the end I was super super scared that he'd die and Dyllan would be the new guardian of the Pendragons and such but THANK THE GODS nope! he's still alive and magic to the best of my knowledge.
Yeah there were some written mistakes, namely missing words, missused words, extra words...but it wasn't so crude that I couldn't reread and figure out what the sentence was. Just took a second glance. HAPPY HAPPY! ANNNNDDDD I EVEN FINISHED IT BEFORE MIDNIGHT!! WOOHOO!
K, onto Searching for Arthur another book where I jumped the gun and bought it before reading it. Something I haven't done in years...like 8 years. so.....has to be good.
November 12, 2015
Merlin is one of those characters who, in one form or another, has been written about more times than a person can count. In my experience, there is no in-between portrayal of Merlin, it is either good or bad. This story is one of the really good ones. I liked that the story addressed both Merlin as myth and Merlin as man and that both aspects were worked into the story. I liked that there was magic present in the story but that it wasn't the main focus and didn't drive everything that happened. I didn't like the ending though, because I felt like there was nothing leading up to that particular conclusion. Overall though, it was a really good book and I would recommend it to anyone.
June 30, 2020
This was not the story I was expecting out of this book for some reason. I thought I was going to get some cool, modern retelling of Merlin, but instead I just got some romance book where most of the characters were just annoying (including Merlin, how dare you!) and the romance just wasn’t doing it for me. I liked some of the references to the myth, but I was not super into the execution of it. The main character was just so dense, even if she LOVED the myth.
March 2, 2015
It was riveting in a way that you can't put it down. I hadn't actually been able to devote time to this before today--not in the way I wanted to. Dyllan and Emrey are the characters that make you hope for a better tomorrow. The fact that humanity can be more important than a very old myth-- and that's what is really important. Good work, Sarah!
February 9, 2015
Great plot, loved it! the whole idea of it just got me! nicely written too, but edition was a little poor. loved the sentences at the beggining of chapters and, gosh, best Epilogue ever!
took a star off cause of characters - emrys was an ass and dyllan looked like she was pretending to be blind - or dumb. But Gina was awesome and great book anyways!
took a star off cause of characters - emrys was an ass and dyllan looked like she was pretending to be blind - or dumb. But Gina was awesome and great book anyways!
December 30, 2015
I truly enjoyed and loved the book. I've always enjoy Merlin and Arthur legends and to see it written so differently in this book was amazing. I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the last one, also the mention of BBCs Merlin. Over all the story was alittle rushed and had a few gaps but it was amazing. One of my favorite books of the year so far.
April 8, 2016
3.5 stars
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