THE WINGS OF MERLIN The Lost Years of Merlin, Book 5

In this fifth installment, Merlin finds himself needing to unite all the creatures of Fincayra against the threat of Rhita Gawr. An introduction, read by the author, sets the stage for Merlin’s story. The American accent employed by Barron contrasts sharply with Kevin Isola’s dramatic British, which draws the listener in from the very beginning. Isola also provides unique voices for each character. He handles the male characters and magical creatures well but delivers the female voices in a breathy tone. However, the sheer variety in the tones and pitches utilized—from those of the booming giants to those of the squeaky smaller creatures—will make any deficiencies in the portrayals of Merlin’s sister and mother unimportant to listeners caught up in the magic of this epic tale. E.N. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2011]