The Raging Fires: Enjoyable well-written fantasy for youngsters

The Raging Fires by T. A. Barron

“The Dragon Avenges His Dreams Yet Unhatched…”

The third book in T.A. Barron’s MERLIN SAGA, chronicling the adventures of the young wizard before his famous exploits in the Arthurian legends, continues on from The Lost Years and The Seven Songs of Merlin. Merlin has been reunited with his mother and sister on the magical island of Fincayra and is looking forward to continuing his learning in the magical arts. But it is not to be, for elsewhere on the island the ancient dragon Valdearg has awakened from his decades-long slumber to discover that his unhatched eggs have been destroyed — and he’s not happy.

A prophesy hints that Merlin will be the one to end the scourge of the dragon — but at the cost of his own life. Furthermore, he will need the precious gemstone known as the Galator to complete his quest, a treasure that he bartered away back in the first book to save a friend’s life. Further trouble arises in the form of Urnalda, a dwarf-enchantress who has the power to strip Merlin of his magical power, and the kreelix –monsters that feast on magical abilities. Beset on all sides by these opponents, Merlin struggles to complete his goals and face the terrible dragon before it’s too late.

Barron keeps the story flowing at a brisk pace, helped along by the short chapters and the breezy prose. Told in first-person narration by Merlin himself, there is a sense of immediacy to the proceedings, as well as rich descriptions of the landscape and travailing of Fincayra. Old characters are present (requiring foreknowledge of the previous books) and new ones are introduced, and the tapestry of this land and its history has further layers and details added to it. Hallia takes the place of Rhia as Merlin’s female companion, but the deer-woman is not quite as interesting or endearing as the forest-girl, though Valdearg the dragon (also known as “Wings of Fire”) makes for an intriguing not-quite villain.

Although the knowledge that Merlin gleans and the development that he goes through is not as pitch-perfectly mapped out as that of Taran in Lloyd Alexander‘s THE CHRONICLES OF PRYDAIN (a series that I was continually reminded of whilst reading the Merlin saga) it’s clear that he’s on his way to becoming the wise wizard of the legends. I can easily imagine this youth as the mentor of a future King Arthur. Though there are twists and turns throughout the story (some clever, some pedestrian), it is ultimately Merlin’s kind heart that sets him apart from the rest of his kind, and Barron is clever enough to sow some seeds that will no doubt come to fruition in future books.

Young readers who enjoy the likes of HARRY POTTER and THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA will probably appreciate Barron’s take on a young Merlin, and though they don’t *quite* reach that level of classic storytelling, they’re enjoyable and well-written fantasy for the younger crowd. The Raging Fires suffers a little from middle-book syndrome, with what with a lot of follow-on from previous books and set-up for future instalments, but will have readers eager to press on with The Mirror of Fate.

Be warned that this publication used to be titled The Fires of Merlin. There’s bound to be some confusion, so make sure you double-check exactly what you’re getting before ordering. Other than the title-change, the text remains entirely the same.