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| The Hollow Hills (Coronet Books) | 
 enlarge | Author: Mary Stewart
Publisher: Coronet
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £6.98 (100%)
New (9) Used (207) from £0.01
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 21291
Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Pages: 464
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 0340186119
Dewey Decimal Number: 398
EAN: 9780340186114
Publication Date: October 1, 1983
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 More Merlin Magic - I can't recommend it enough... March 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Hollow Hills is the second book in Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy. Although it would undoubtedly stand alone itself, I would recommend starting with The Crystal Cave. This volume follows Merlin and Arthur from the future king's conception through to his coronation, and I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Stewart's style has Merlin telling the story as he remembers it, which allows her to gloss over or skip through time periods which are not wholly relevant to the plot. She does this with aplomb, giving us a brief spattering of anecdotes from Merlin's travels as Arthur, hidden away, grows up. Her second strength is in attempting to link the legends with historical facts - finding the real places to link to the stories which have entertained and entranced people for hundreds of years.
This doesn't mean she skimps on the magic, though, and Merlin as an enchanter, engineer, mathematician and general schemer is a believable and enjoyable hero.
This is not, however, a rip-roaring blockbuster of a book which will keep you glued to all the pages and constantly turning them. It is, however, a very comforting read which I look forward to when getting into bed every night. And that is something which I value very highly!
I read this when it first came out..... August 18, 2003
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
....... and have been re-reading it at regular intervals ever since.It's a truly magical book with a very impressive interpretation of the Merlin legend. It sounds genuine and believable. Read the Trilogy and then read The Wicked Day. Impressive stuff from an impressive writer
Compelling May 31, 2001
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
This is the second book in the trilogy, and anyone who read the other two books first and didn't notice the events weren't in a logical chronological order must've had their eyes closed. It deals with the bit in between what everyone knows about Arthur's conception (and the deceipt therein) and the Camelot bit and the bad ending. The whole of the Arthurian legend is a myth built on a hint of a legend, and Mary Stewart weaves a rich and compelling tapestry from the few threads we have relating to this period of Merlin's and Arthur's lives. She openly confesses the story to be a work of the imagination, and continues to write with skill that allows you to taste and feel the relevant era. If you have the imagination to be immersed into her supposition, it won't matter whether this conforms with your preconceptions of the Arthurian legend or not. This is escapism that is so well written it feels like historical reality.
 Just like the other two April 3, 2001
2 out of 19 found this review helpful
Well, having managed to struggle through the first two I thought I should finished the trilogy. Ug, it was the same, nothing seemed to happen. Within about two pages she would describe three months worth of action and then spend a whole chapter telling you about an event that was completely pointless. Technically there is nothing wrong with Stewart's style; I didn't mind that at all... i just wish something actually happened!
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