Monday, March 22, 2010

Review #49: Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton (BLOG TOUR and GIVEAWAY)

Title: Merlin's Harp

Author: Anne Eliot Crompton
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Format: ARC from Publisher
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-1-4022-3783-6
Price/Pages: $7.99/app. 241
Release Date: March 2010
*Originally published in 1995

Description from back cover:

Nivienne never thought she'd be in direct contact with barbaric Humans-let alone help them. She's only heard stories of the evil that occurs outside the forest. But her dear friend Merlin has brought word that Arthur's kingdom-where Humans dwell- is threatened by the Saxons. If Nivienne doesn't help, it could be the end for her own peaceful home. Nivienne must now learn to trust the Humans and her heart. Even more difficult than going to war alongside your enemies is discovering you are falling in love with them. Anne Eliot Crompton will immerse you in a world of fantasy, passion and adventure.

My Review:

Honestly, I was really excited to read and review this book. From the front cover and the mini reviews I had read compared it so strongly to The Mists of Avalon, one of my favorite books. From the first line "When I was yet a very young woman, I threw my heart away", I thought I would be swept up in a romantic adventure.

Unfortunately I was only swept up in a garble of flowery fantasy. I'm ashamed to even say that I could not finish this one and that honestly rarely happens to me. The author has a lucid way of piecing together her words that I think would be better suited for poetry and not an attempt at a linear story.

I had a hard time understanding the flow of the story and did not see the comparisons to The Mists of Avalon at all. Crompton's characters were not fleshed out or real to me. Feminist take on the Arthurian legend? Hmm...from the perspective of a fairy?

This is geared towards young adult readers but I would certainly plant it firmly in the fantasy genre. The cover art is wildly beautiful and deceptive. The reader has to go into it with an attention to detail and patience for a weaving story line.

It is hard for me to be so harsh and give a negative review. Though released recently this month, it was actually originally published in 1995. With that said, I think as a reader of current young adult fiction/fantasy/horror, it did not compare in style and that was my own issue of comparison to overcome.

Rating: Due to not finishing it, I leave this book unrated. My review sums up my thoughts.


GIVEAWAY:
I do have 2 copies to give away. This book has an audience. Don't be discouraged. The audience just wasn't me but I've never been a strong fantasy reader. The fantasy books I have read are few and far between and generally hold enough romance to get me through. ! My curiousity in exploring and discovering new authors and books is what paired me with Merlin's Harp. I do not regret it.

If you are interested in a copy, please leave a comment below with an email address. I will pick a winner by Monday March 28. If you are a lover of fantasy, you may find the heart of this book.

Check the other stops on this blog tour for other reviews.
http://litbites.blogspot.com/20-Feb
http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/22-Feb
http://fayeflamereviews.blogspot.com/23-Feb
http://www.devourerofbooks.com/23-Feb
http://yainsider.blogspot.com24-Feb
http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/1-Mar
http://booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com/2-Mar
http://ultimatebookhound.blogspot.com/2-Mar
http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/3-Mar
http://bookworm0440.blogspot.com3-Mar
www.thebookjournal.com3-Mar
http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/4-Mar
http://www.howlinggooddbooks.com5-Mar
http://thebookowl.blogspot.com/7-Mar
www.jenrothschild.com8-Mar
http://alwaysriddikulus.blogspot.com/9-Mar
http://stephsureads.blogspot.com10-Mar
http://bookalicio.us/11-Mar
http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com12-Mar
http://www.galleysmith.com/13-Mar
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/15-Mar
http://thebookpixie.blogspot.com/15-Mar
http://www.jennsbookshelves.com15-Mar
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com16-Mar
http://reveriemedia.blogspot.com/17-Mar
http://www.thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com/18-Mar
http://darkfaerietales.com19-Mar
http://edward-cullen.net20-Mar
http://redheadedbookchild.blogspot.com22-Mar
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com23-Mar
http://dolcebellezza.blogspot.com/23-Mar
http://www.capriciousreader.com/24-Mar
http://examiner.com (Portland)25-Mar
http://www.theveronicaproject.blogspot.com/26-Mar


As always, thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading.

red headed book child

17 comments:

Jenny said...

Hmm, well that's disappointing. The cover is so pretty!

Michelle (Red Headed Book Child) said...

Jenny, I know. It was a tough one to review.

Anna said...

I love the cover too. Count me in please. :)

annasbookblog@gmail.com

throuthehaze said...

I really love fantasy and this sounds like something I would enjoy.
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Ryan said...

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it all the much, but I'm willing to give it a try anyway. Hopefully your next read will be better.

My email addy, is fforgnayr@yahoo.com

thaeter7 said...

I love fantasy books.
rally_thade17@hotmail.com

WonderBunny said...

That cover is wonderful it is so disappointing to hear it wasn't very good.

Krista said...

I'm sorry you didn't really like it but I LOVE FANTASY!!! And this cover is so pretty!

I would love to be entered, thank you!

kristacole64(at)yahoo(dot)com

Aimee said...

I do love fantasy. Sorry it wasn't your cup of tea; no book is for every one. Please accept my entry. Thanks!

gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com

Sheila Deeth said...

Disappointing - I love Mists of Avalon. I'd still like to give the book a try though, so hope you can enter me.

sdeeth at msn dot com

Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...

Sorry to hear the book was not for you. I think I would like to give it a try as well.

hayden392@comcast.net

Tales of Whimsy said...

Oh
Oh
Oh
Please count me in :)
suitejuju(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to give it a swing :)

E.J. Stevens said...

I love fantasy and still would like to give this book a try!
xx,
E.J.

e.j.stevens.author[at]gmail[dot]com

Dr. Bill (William L.) Smith said...

Thank you for the offer.

Bill ;-)

billsmith2003 (at) gmail (dot) com

Hope you'll check out my book giveaway:
http://drbillsbookbazaar.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-giveaway-reliable-wife.html
http://eduscapes.com/v2a/back_to_the_homeplace.html

I ♥ Book Gossip said...

Please count me in. Love this post!

cindyc725 at gmail dot com

misskallie2000 said...

I love the cover and it does sound interesting. I would like to read this book.
Thanks for the great giveaway.


misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Michelle (Red Headed Book Child) said...

Thank you all for entering my contest for Merlin's Harp. One more day and it may be yours!