World-Building: Annoying
Characterization: nonexistent
Plot: pacing way too slow, plot doesn't seem to exist beyond describing every tiny detail
This is becoming a trend. I've been trying to read this book for a few days, but it's just downright boring. It's very descriptive. So overly descriptive that the first three chapters are all about this one tiny pebble. I'm sure it sounded like a good idea in the Author's head, but it just doesn't work.
Also, the speculative element is... overdone. There are so many different creatures and weird magical incidents happening and I don't know if any of them are at all relevant to the story that will eventually be told or if they're just there to be background details.
One problem with this overdone descriptiveness is that contradictions begin to occur. For example, one that got on my nerves was that at first the pebble was described as being just an ordinary pebble, so insignificant that it wasn't worthy of notice among all the other pebbles. Then, a couple of paragraphs later we're told that all kinds of creatures are after it, trying to eat it, fighting over it, etc. If it's not worthy of notice then how did all the creatures notice it?
This kind of thing goes on for ages. Merlin is introduced, but the voice in which he's introduced is so uninspiring and we're not given any reason to care. We know there's some kind of battle that's going to occur between Merlin and some random dark creature, but we don't know why and what anyone's motivations are. This may be part of a series, but I picked the book up off a shelf and it wasn't attached to anything so it should be coherent on its own.
Overall, this book is very slow, overly descriptive and I wasn't given a reason to care and keep reading so I have not finished it - and I'm sure I will never bother to finish it. I was unimpressed and wondering what kind of youth (because it was written like young adult fiction) this was aimed at. No wonder kids don't like to read anymore...>.>
I would recommend skipping it.
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