Great Greek Gods. Someone must claim Excalibur. She is so not the right person…Boston, Massachusetts. Trouble follows seventeen-year-old Eowlyn Patience around. Desperate for her current foster family to like her, it all falls apart when the actual Sword in the Stone drops like a dead bird into the heart of London. And suddenly she of all people has to attend some weirdo school in England with … with the irritating smart kid from science class who turns out to be Merlin.
After a teenage Merlin wakes from a fifteen-hundred-year nap, he takes the name Matt Emrys. Now he must track down the next Arthur before the apocalypse begins. But the Avalon Academy trials are being sabotaged by vicious gargoyles, and his growing feelings for exactly the wrong girl are getting in the way.
As Eowlyn desperately tries to master the skill of freeing Excalibur, she’s plagued by her attraction to immense power and to the two hot boys who are so not her type. And Matt fears the troubled path the girl is on will end with his heart broken and him sacrificed to a dark god.
Can the destined duo assemble the Round Table before the world ends in fire and blood?
Gods of Merlin is the first book in the unique Immortals of Merlin YA contemporary fantasy romance series. If you like plucky heroines, sizzling love triangles, Greek Gods romance, and innovative twists on Arthurian legends, then you’ll adore Priya Ardis’ captivating academy tale.
Buy Gods of Merlin to find the Once and Future King today!
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This book was an exciting, intriguing, adventurous read filled with magical, mystical, and paranormal elements!!
I really enjoyed that this book was a modern day follow up to the classic Sword and the Stone fairy-tales and mythologies that many of us have grown up with.
I liked that Miss Ardis made sure all the lore love was ever so present front and center as she made sure King Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, Lady of the Lake, Excalibur, and Camelot were all included and incorporated into the modernization story line.
I love when authors can pull a time-honored story and put a decent spin on it that allows the reader to reconnect with a favorite pastime read and build on to the story with a fascinating, but fitting story line that even the original authors would approve of. I’d like to say for the most part this book does just that.
I liked Eowlyn (pronounced A-O-Lin) and I definitely felt for her character arc. As she struggled through so many hardships such as being a foster kid; it was hard to not want success and positive opportunities for her. I liked her strength, determination, tenacity, compassion, and stubbornness.
I enjoyed all the crafty, (some of them) evil and creepy, and intriguing characters and creatures that were featured such as the gargoyles, shadow dragons, wizard candidates, and wizard guardians. I have always been curious, but also fearful of gargoyles so it was interesting to have them be a top antagonist and a main rival of securing the sword. However, I did enjoy learning more about them and their mythology.
I liked the training school angle at the Avalon Preparatory Academy that focused on teaching the students regular and irregular magic and preparing them for battle. However, it was very similar to the Hogwarts set up in the Harry Potter Book Series. Still it was enjoyable and entertaining but felt very familiar.
I enjoyed the race to find the successor of the sword and it was interesting to see so many characters come out of the woodwork trying to prove their powers, virtue, and claim as the champion and rightful heir of Excalibur, the one and true ruler of Camelot.
Miss Ardis did an excellent job of world-building and keeping up with the complexities and details of a fantasy, paranormal story. I felt the author did a skillful job at making sure all her bases were covered and that everything seemed to sync up. Although this was a fantasy, paranormal-based genre filled with magical and mystical influences, for every out-there scenario the author seemed to have a way to explain her reasoning, how it was possible, or how it came about.
I also would like to point out that I think the author did a fantastic job with the historical content and authenticity of the Arthurian Legend. It was very clear she was well-versed on the tales and myths and used that knowledge to really bring the story to life.
There are some predictable scenes. However, there are still a few very unexpected twists and turns that you won’t see coming!
This book has a creative modern story line spin, excellent writing style with vivid and detailed scenes, intriguing characters and creatures, is steady paced, and keeps you entertained.
This book is not part of a book series at this time and therefore, can be read as a standalone.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it! I think all young adult, fantasy, and paranormal readers will like this book too! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading – you won’t be disappointed!
***Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.***