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Merlin #0
Giant: The Unlikely Origins of Shim
A prequel to the bestselling Merlin saga starring Shim, a young giant who must embark on a dangerous adventure when he's shrunk to the size of a man's knee.
*"An excellent jumping-in point for new readers as well as pleasurable reading for established fans...Simply delightful."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Read it before you see it! The Merlin saga is soon to be a major motion picture!
Shim has only ever known a world of peace. Unusually big and strong even for a young giant, he lives on the magical isle of Fincayra, immersed in nature as well as tales of wizards, mer folk, and dragons.
Suddenly that world explodes in chaos. A terrible attack forces Shim and his mother to flee -- and take a hazardous journey to reach the only person who could possibly help them, the mysterious Domnu. But when a wager goes horribly wrong, Shim shrinks down to a tiny fraction of his size. Now only as tall as a man's knee, he finds himself lost in a deadly swamp. Worse yet, he has forgotten something important, something truly essential. But what?
As small as he is now, Shim must find giant-size courage. He embarks on a perilous quest to discover what happened, what secret he forgot, and what it really means to be a giant.
Combining his trademark passion, adventure, and spiritual depth, T. A. Barron tells the origin story of this beloved character from his highly acclaimed, international bestselling series, The Merlin Saga. As the Prequel to the Saga, this story is as big as a giant... and as magical as Merlin.
*"An excellent jumping-in point for new readers as well as pleasurable reading for established fans...Simply delightful."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Read it before you see it! The Merlin saga is soon to be a major motion picture!
Shim has only ever known a world of peace. Unusually big and strong even for a young giant, he lives on the magical isle of Fincayra, immersed in nature as well as tales of wizards, mer folk, and dragons.
Suddenly that world explodes in chaos. A terrible attack forces Shim and his mother to flee -- and take a hazardous journey to reach the only person who could possibly help them, the mysterious Domnu. But when a wager goes horribly wrong, Shim shrinks down to a tiny fraction of his size. Now only as tall as a man's knee, he finds himself lost in a deadly swamp. Worse yet, he has forgotten something important, something truly essential. But what?
As small as he is now, Shim must find giant-size courage. He embarks on a perilous quest to discover what happened, what secret he forgot, and what it really means to be a giant.
Combining his trademark passion, adventure, and spiritual depth, T. A. Barron tells the origin story of this beloved character from his highly acclaimed, international bestselling series, The Merlin Saga. As the Prequel to the Saga, this story is as big as a giant... and as magical as Merlin.
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2021
About the author
T.A. Barron
71 books1,366 followersT. A. Barron is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 highly acclaimed books, including the Merlin Saga, being developed into a feature film.
Awarded the de Grummond Medallion for “lifetime contribution to the field of children’s and young adult literature,” he also serves on a variety of environmental and educational NGO boards. In 2001, he founded the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, a national award for outstanding young people.
A lifelong adventurer and conservationist, T. A. Barron draws inspiration from the natural world, especially the mountains of Colorado, where he lives.
Follow along on Instagram or TikTok and sign up for his newsletter — he loves staying in touch with his fans!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 16, 2022
When was the last time you read a book just for warmth?
Friend, I’ve got the book for you! T.A. Barron’s newest book and prequel to The Merlin Saga, GIANT, is such a lovely adventure that excites and wraps the reader in a world they don’t want to leave.
Growing up, I was such a fan of T.A. Barron. His worlds were like dreamscapes that I visited again and again. What a gift- to come back to a reading space that not only ignited my imagination, but was also a place of warmth in my life.
And, I adore the core line of his story- 'Bigness means more than the size of your bones.' Honestly, who doesn’t need to hear that? Or be reminded of it? GIANT reminds us that our strength stems from our heart, our conviction.
Shim is also a charming main character whose vernacular I really enjoy. I’m also a fan of how community is described in this book. And if you’re looking for description that is brilliant but succinct? You’ve found the right author.
I’m highly recommending this book for anyone, young or old. Sometimes, we need a world that is like an old friend; a place we can come to again and again. Fincayra, the magical island, is such a place. And if you haven’t read the rest of the Merlin series, you should rectify that immediately.
Friend, I’ve got the book for you! T.A. Barron’s newest book and prequel to The Merlin Saga, GIANT, is such a lovely adventure that excites and wraps the reader in a world they don’t want to leave.
Growing up, I was such a fan of T.A. Barron. His worlds were like dreamscapes that I visited again and again. What a gift- to come back to a reading space that not only ignited my imagination, but was also a place of warmth in my life.
And, I adore the core line of his story- 'Bigness means more than the size of your bones.' Honestly, who doesn’t need to hear that? Or be reminded of it? GIANT reminds us that our strength stems from our heart, our conviction.
Shim is also a charming main character whose vernacular I really enjoy. I’m also a fan of how community is described in this book. And if you’re looking for description that is brilliant but succinct? You’ve found the right author.
I’m highly recommending this book for anyone, young or old. Sometimes, we need a world that is like an old friend; a place we can come to again and again. Fincayra, the magical island, is such a place. And if you haven’t read the rest of the Merlin series, you should rectify that immediately.
December 20, 2021
T.A. Barron's series on Merlin was always one that I found enjoyable & discovering a prequel to it made this reader even more exciting. With "Giant: The Unlikely Origins of Shim" we the reader go through a 3 part storyline involving who Shim is and the adventures that made him a big part of the latter series. The first piece of the story explains just how Shim got his name & also discusses what would be the fall of the giants. Part 2 has us seeing him on a quest to rescue a jewel to keep from Stangmar's hands & seeing Shim get used to his fate. The final piece wraps things up as we go back to the layer of Domnu & have him face his fears as well as the person holding his mother captive. Barron honestly could've had this be multiple short stories but instead seamless weaves his way through each of them giving we the reader a book that does what it intends to. While not perfect by any means, fans of the original Merlin series will delight in this simple & yet poignant book for dealing with the smallest giant of all in Shim.
April 10, 2026
Giant: The Unlikely Origins of Shim
After a long pregnancy, lasting thirteen months Vonya gives birth to a hefty newborn. Vonya wants to nickname him “Big Feet” until he gets his true name (despite her mid-wives objection to give him another more respectable and fitting of Fincayra’s oldest race). Vonya, we learn his lost her husband (Jonkl) when he was called to fight against Gawr (an evil warlord). Vonya wishes she could see him again. Gargolyn tells he she well in the Realm of the Spirits.
Twelve years go by. Big Feet already stood taller than all the other young giants in Varigal. “Big Feet” gives his mother the nickname “Motherly”. She gives him the nickname “Jelly Roll” (which he thinks he’s too old for). After sewing up his britches for the umpteenth time, she tells him to go have some fun, but warns him to stay away from wyverns. He argues that she still treats him like a baby and she says he is (hers).
After filling his appetite with honey, he hears giant’s voice and goes off to find some adventure. He comes across Greeno, Lumpster, and Sister Behemoth near the edge of the cliffs against the wall of mist that surrounded Fincayra’s coast. Its said that the Living Mist is alive with magic and has powers no one understands. Sister is trying to throw rocks into the Mist, but gets to close to the edge and starts to take down herself and “Big Feet”. Lumpster and Greeno grab him and haul them both back up. Sister is so grateful she gives him a kiss on the cheek. He feels good and hurls a rock through the mist and it passes through.
All of a sudden, where the hole was, he sees his face. It scowls then contort in agony. The face then starts to shrink down to the size of a dot. Then it vanishes. He collapses. None of the others saw what he saw. They head home but he tells them he wants to be alone and stays behind.
On the way back home, “Big Foot” comes across a wyvern attacking a bunch of Luminous Fairies. He fights him off and he runs off. One of the fairies is alive and thanks him. She says she lost everything that day but found someone brave. He gives her the name LF (elf) and she gives him the name “Big Friend”.
At home, there’s a bonfire celebration going on with all kinds of tasty foods. He finds out the celebration is for him saving Sister’s life. His mother says he’s finally learned the most important lesson of being a giant. “Bigness is more than the size of your bones.” Blaster (the mayor of Varigal honors him with the traditional Giants Salute. Then he gives him his true name Shimastimomolegavendernoodleterianoleeyami. Shim for short. Blaster says it’s a night of great joy but someone interrupts him and says it isn’t.
Lunahlia (a seer and one of the oldest giants) speaks to Shim telepathically and tells him to remember as much of what he heas as he can and always remember that he IS a giant. She tells them they’re doomed and that great troubles are upon them. The first thing is that the wizard king (Tuatha) died fighting to save them from another attack from Gawr. He sent him to the spirit realm but died himself. uatha’s son Stangmar, born without any magic of his own and envious of anyone who possesses it, has now taken the throne.
His wife ran away with their son. Even Stangmar’s mother, Olwen, has fled. She says that not only that Even though he was banished to the realm of the spirits, Gawr still has ways to reach Stangmar—and to bend the new king to his will. Stangmar’s anger runs deep, and his resentment of magic runs even deeper, making him easily corrupted. Gawr has convinced Stangmar to assemble an army of undead warriors—the ghoulliants. Together with their allies the gobsken, they have started work on the ancient temple of Lorilanda, built long ago over the sacred spring of Eagles Canyon. Their goal is to transform it into a fortress. Stangmar has ordered his agents to search for the famous Treasures of Fincayra, our island’s most powerful magical objects. he Flowering Harp, whose music can bring springtime to devastated places; the sword Deepercut, which can slice into anyone’s soul; and the Wise Plow, which can till its own field forever. What he plans to do with the objects she doesn’t know.
She also tells them of a prophecy that says that only giants can destroy the evil castle. The giants want to immediately overthrow the castle, but Lunahlia says he plans to kill them all and that they should all leave for the hills at once. Blaster and some of the others want to fight but she says they’ll perish. Some flee. Some stay to fight. The battle then begins. he army of Stangmar poured through the main gates of Varigal, efore long, Stangmar’s forces overwhelmed the last of their foes. Giants old and young lay lifeless. Among the dead lay the seer Lunahlia.
The only survivors are Vonya and Shim. They head for the Haunted Marsh to find the sorceress Domnu. She’s dangerous but probably the only person on the island with magic strong enough to help. When they meet, Vonya offers a wager with Domnu. Domnu says whoever can pick the tallest bone from a vase will win. Domnu wins (of course) but she says they can bargain. Vonya offers her life to serve her for the rest of her days. Vonya agrees to this. She needs someone to clean her lair. In exchange, she asks Domnu to make Shim small so no one will harm him because he’s a giant. This also comes with erasing a part of his memory.
He won’t remember Vonya or anything that happened in the lair so he won’t come back to rescue her. Vonya agrees. Domnu keeps her word and then kicks him out. Shim now has fragments of memory with the words “Bigness means more than” in his head. Something tells him he needs to leave, but he falls into a pit and something drags him down. A serpent welcomes him to the den of Slaylo and introduces himself as the king of the swamp serpents. He leaves to find more food and Shin is able to release himself from his bounds and get free. But he’s then picked up by a hawk (just as the serpent returns).
She takes him to her den and introduces herself as Rowallon (guardian of the nest). She says she won’t eat him and says the serpent stole her child. Shin just so happens to have stolen the egg and returns it. She carries him across the Marsh. No one Shim talks to believes he used to be a giant. That is until he becomes reacquainted with (Lf) again. Lf and Shin now have something in common (the lose of family). LF says she lost something else-a magic crysta (the Leaper which can transport you to another place) Legends say the Leaper can only be used by someone whose heart is true and whose motives are right but it can be corrupted and be turned to death and destruction. Shin remembers he saw the Wyvern with it (Gasher).
She realizes that Gasher must serve Stangmar, who must have promised him great rewards for doing the king’s dirty work Shin declares they have to get it back. Just then, a hand reaches out of the waterfall. Underneath the waterfall, is a secret hideaway. There they meet Olwen (the kings mother). She tells them where to find Gasher. She tells Elf that getting the crystal is her quest but it’s only part of Shim’s. The rest is for him to discover. Before leaving, they’re treated to an apple-pear.
Shin and Elf sneak into the cavern of six wyvern, distract them, get the Leaper, then figure out how to use it. It gets them out of there just in time as Gasher recognizes Shim (even in his small size) and is about to make him dinner. The Leaper takes them to the fortress. The castle starts to spin and Shin and Elf are then chased by gobskin’s but they escape. They swim to shore and begin to talk about losing their families. The island starts to tremble (and rise out of the lake) and a voice says “You may not know who you are young giant but I do.” (Shin also speaks of losing his memory to Elf).
Umdahla (whose was a neighbor) She’s been hiding from the enemies of giants and thought she was the only one that survived. She tells Shim that his mother must have wanted to protect him from the attacks by transforming him.
She says no one but Domnu would have that kind of magic tho. An ancient sorceress that lives in the Haunted Marsh. Whatever spell that was holding Shim’s mind hostage breaks and he remembers everything. He knows he has to go back there and save her. She also tells Elf her twin sister is still alive. Shim returns to Domno’s domain and tries to make a wager with her for the crystal but Vonya tries to stop him. Domno chains Vonya to the wall with a swept of her hands. Shim says he’d like to play the same game of bones. He loses.
She says she’s decided to give him a job as his mother’s commander. If he doesn’t accep his mother will die. He takes out the Leaper and makes a wish on it to take him and his motherly far away. The liar starts to collapse. They crash down on Domno . Only it doesn’t kill her because her magic is too strong. Reunited with his mother, he explains the Leaper and tries to give it to her but she says he wants him to keep it and keep it safe.
My Thoughts:
I didn’t think that I would like this one. Considering that the giant themed books that I have read have been bland. I was hoping to get through this one and move on to the rest of the Merlin series (which I had more interest in). But this was actually the best of the giant books I’ve read so far. Not once did my mind wander and get bored while reading this. Or did the story drag. Shim was likeable and this has a good message about size not making you big. Rather what's on the inside.
Rating: 6
After a long pregnancy, lasting thirteen months Vonya gives birth to a hefty newborn. Vonya wants to nickname him “Big Feet” until he gets his true name (despite her mid-wives objection to give him another more respectable and fitting of Fincayra’s oldest race). Vonya, we learn his lost her husband (Jonkl) when he was called to fight against Gawr (an evil warlord). Vonya wishes she could see him again. Gargolyn tells he she well in the Realm of the Spirits.
Twelve years go by. Big Feet already stood taller than all the other young giants in Varigal. “Big Feet” gives his mother the nickname “Motherly”. She gives him the nickname “Jelly Roll” (which he thinks he’s too old for). After sewing up his britches for the umpteenth time, she tells him to go have some fun, but warns him to stay away from wyverns. He argues that she still treats him like a baby and she says he is (hers).
After filling his appetite with honey, he hears giant’s voice and goes off to find some adventure. He comes across Greeno, Lumpster, and Sister Behemoth near the edge of the cliffs against the wall of mist that surrounded Fincayra’s coast. Its said that the Living Mist is alive with magic and has powers no one understands. Sister is trying to throw rocks into the Mist, but gets to close to the edge and starts to take down herself and “Big Feet”. Lumpster and Greeno grab him and haul them both back up. Sister is so grateful she gives him a kiss on the cheek. He feels good and hurls a rock through the mist and it passes through.
All of a sudden, where the hole was, he sees his face. It scowls then contort in agony. The face then starts to shrink down to the size of a dot. Then it vanishes. He collapses. None of the others saw what he saw. They head home but he tells them he wants to be alone and stays behind.
On the way back home, “Big Foot” comes across a wyvern attacking a bunch of Luminous Fairies. He fights him off and he runs off. One of the fairies is alive and thanks him. She says she lost everything that day but found someone brave. He gives her the name LF (elf) and she gives him the name “Big Friend”.
At home, there’s a bonfire celebration going on with all kinds of tasty foods. He finds out the celebration is for him saving Sister’s life. His mother says he’s finally learned the most important lesson of being a giant. “Bigness is more than the size of your bones.” Blaster (the mayor of Varigal honors him with the traditional Giants Salute. Then he gives him his true name Shimastimomolegavendernoodleterianoleeyami. Shim for short. Blaster says it’s a night of great joy but someone interrupts him and says it isn’t.
Lunahlia (a seer and one of the oldest giants) speaks to Shim telepathically and tells him to remember as much of what he heas as he can and always remember that he IS a giant. She tells them they’re doomed and that great troubles are upon them. The first thing is that the wizard king (Tuatha) died fighting to save them from another attack from Gawr. He sent him to the spirit realm but died himself. uatha’s son Stangmar, born without any magic of his own and envious of anyone who possesses it, has now taken the throne.
His wife ran away with their son. Even Stangmar’s mother, Olwen, has fled. She says that not only that Even though he was banished to the realm of the spirits, Gawr still has ways to reach Stangmar—and to bend the new king to his will. Stangmar’s anger runs deep, and his resentment of magic runs even deeper, making him easily corrupted. Gawr has convinced Stangmar to assemble an army of undead warriors—the ghoulliants. Together with their allies the gobsken, they have started work on the ancient temple of Lorilanda, built long ago over the sacred spring of Eagles Canyon. Their goal is to transform it into a fortress. Stangmar has ordered his agents to search for the famous Treasures of Fincayra, our island’s most powerful magical objects. he Flowering Harp, whose music can bring springtime to devastated places; the sword Deepercut, which can slice into anyone’s soul; and the Wise Plow, which can till its own field forever. What he plans to do with the objects she doesn’t know.
She also tells them of a prophecy that says that only giants can destroy the evil castle. The giants want to immediately overthrow the castle, but Lunahlia says he plans to kill them all and that they should all leave for the hills at once. Blaster and some of the others want to fight but she says they’ll perish. Some flee. Some stay to fight. The battle then begins. he army of Stangmar poured through the main gates of Varigal, efore long, Stangmar’s forces overwhelmed the last of their foes. Giants old and young lay lifeless. Among the dead lay the seer Lunahlia.
The only survivors are Vonya and Shim. They head for the Haunted Marsh to find the sorceress Domnu. She’s dangerous but probably the only person on the island with magic strong enough to help. When they meet, Vonya offers a wager with Domnu. Domnu says whoever can pick the tallest bone from a vase will win. Domnu wins (of course) but she says they can bargain. Vonya offers her life to serve her for the rest of her days. Vonya agrees to this. She needs someone to clean her lair. In exchange, she asks Domnu to make Shim small so no one will harm him because he’s a giant. This also comes with erasing a part of his memory.
He won’t remember Vonya or anything that happened in the lair so he won’t come back to rescue her. Vonya agrees. Domnu keeps her word and then kicks him out. Shim now has fragments of memory with the words “Bigness means more than” in his head. Something tells him he needs to leave, but he falls into a pit and something drags him down. A serpent welcomes him to the den of Slaylo and introduces himself as the king of the swamp serpents. He leaves to find more food and Shin is able to release himself from his bounds and get free. But he’s then picked up by a hawk (just as the serpent returns).
She takes him to her den and introduces herself as Rowallon (guardian of the nest). She says she won’t eat him and says the serpent stole her child. Shin just so happens to have stolen the egg and returns it. She carries him across the Marsh. No one Shim talks to believes he used to be a giant. That is until he becomes reacquainted with (Lf) again. Lf and Shin now have something in common (the lose of family). LF says she lost something else-a magic crysta (the Leaper which can transport you to another place) Legends say the Leaper can only be used by someone whose heart is true and whose motives are right but it can be corrupted and be turned to death and destruction. Shin remembers he saw the Wyvern with it (Gasher).
She realizes that Gasher must serve Stangmar, who must have promised him great rewards for doing the king’s dirty work Shin declares they have to get it back. Just then, a hand reaches out of the waterfall. Underneath the waterfall, is a secret hideaway. There they meet Olwen (the kings mother). She tells them where to find Gasher. She tells Elf that getting the crystal is her quest but it’s only part of Shim’s. The rest is for him to discover. Before leaving, they’re treated to an apple-pear.
Shin and Elf sneak into the cavern of six wyvern, distract them, get the Leaper, then figure out how to use it. It gets them out of there just in time as Gasher recognizes Shim (even in his small size) and is about to make him dinner. The Leaper takes them to the fortress. The castle starts to spin and Shin and Elf are then chased by gobskin’s but they escape. They swim to shore and begin to talk about losing their families. The island starts to tremble (and rise out of the lake) and a voice says “You may not know who you are young giant but I do.” (Shin also speaks of losing his memory to Elf).
Umdahla (whose was a neighbor) She’s been hiding from the enemies of giants and thought she was the only one that survived. She tells Shim that his mother must have wanted to protect him from the attacks by transforming him.
She says no one but Domnu would have that kind of magic tho. An ancient sorceress that lives in the Haunted Marsh. Whatever spell that was holding Shim’s mind hostage breaks and he remembers everything. He knows he has to go back there and save her. She also tells Elf her twin sister is still alive. Shim returns to Domno’s domain and tries to make a wager with her for the crystal but Vonya tries to stop him. Domno chains Vonya to the wall with a swept of her hands. Shim says he’d like to play the same game of bones. He loses.
She says she’s decided to give him a job as his mother’s commander. If he doesn’t accep his mother will die. He takes out the Leaper and makes a wish on it to take him and his motherly far away. The liar starts to collapse. They crash down on Domno . Only it doesn’t kill her because her magic is too strong. Reunited with his mother, he explains the Leaper and tries to give it to her but she says he wants him to keep it and keep it safe.
My Thoughts:
I didn’t think that I would like this one. Considering that the giant themed books that I have read have been bland. I was hoping to get through this one and move on to the rest of the Merlin series (which I had more interest in). But this was actually the best of the giant books I’ve read so far. Not once did my mind wander and get bored while reading this. Or did the story drag. Shim was likeable and this has a good message about size not making you big. Rather what's on the inside.
Rating: 6
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2024
The prequel to The Lost Years of Merlin saga by T.A. Barron. After the holy city of giants,Varigial is attacked by Stangmar's gobsken, Shim's mother Vonya takes her son to the lair of Domnu, an ancient hag who deals in wagers, though not always honest. They make a deal and Shim is utterly "shrunkelled"! Now, he must try to remember his memories, navigate through Fincayara, avoid the gobsken, and learn that "bigness means more than the size of your bones".
What can I say about my favorite character? This book answered a lot of questions I had about The Lost Years of Merlin. As I read the prequel, I felt 12 again sitting on the back stairs of my middle school and reading about Shim as I waited for the bus. I love that after all this time, I could still enjoy the world of Fincayra that T.A. Barron has so lovingly created. I am never disappointed when I venture into that world. I do believe that this prequel was made to introduce a new generation to Fincayra in preparation for the Merlin Movie that Disney is developing with T.A. Barron.
10/10 stars
What can I say about my favorite character? This book answered a lot of questions I had about The Lost Years of Merlin. As I read the prequel, I felt 12 again sitting on the back stairs of my middle school and reading about Shim as I waited for the bus. I love that after all this time, I could still enjoy the world of Fincayra that T.A. Barron has so lovingly created. I am never disappointed when I venture into that world. I do believe that this prequel was made to introduce a new generation to Fincayra in preparation for the Merlin Movie that Disney is developing with T.A. Barron.
10/10 stars
June 23, 2026
This book to me right back to shim and his adorable personality. I was a joy to revisit some old friends and even a few new ones. It would be great to rad this before little shim shows up. Absolutely positively it would be.
March 3, 2022
Not a fan of giant-speak, a little like the BFG.
April 26, 2022
Reads a bit like a folk tale.
November 23, 2022
This is a delightful story! Can't wait to read more!!
December 22, 2022
I loved the Merlin books as a kid, and was instantly transported back to Fincayra! A quick, cozy read.
June 29, 2023
This is a great tale about Shim who is a friendly giant eager and ready for adventure. He is separated from his family and robbed of his memories and his immense size. He travels and faces danger and demonstrates his courage and kindness to all he meets. He shows that largeness is something more than the size of his bones.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews