Merlin's Nightmare (The Merlin Spiral #3)

Merlin's Nightmare Series: The Merlin Spiral
By Robert Treskillard
Published by Zondervan

Average Blogger Rating: 4.17 Stars

I loved the first two novels and was very happy to be able to read this third book. So they skipped Arthur's growing life when he was a baby to a teenager and puts him at the age of 18 now. Though it does mention that they lived in peace in all those years.

This was a great series. It was my first reading of anything about Arthur and Merlin. I only had known some basic info about them, so this was a great series to read and get perspective on them. I am glad i decided to read the first book which was what lead me to read the second and this third book.





Arthur, now eighteen, is missing, and Merlin must find him before a shadowy pursuer catches him first.
With the High King and his kingdom caught in a trap of sinister deceit, Merlin has to find a way out before all is lost. Having everything to fight for, and almost nothing to fight with, Merlin and Arthur must rally Britain’s warriors against three overwhelming enemies: Saxen hordes in the south, Picti raiders in the north, and a chilling new enemy that has arisen in the west. At the same time, Morgana brings Merlin’s deepest fear to life and sets a horde of werewolves loose to destroy Britain. But when the secret purpose of this nightmare is finally revealed, will Merlin and Arthur find a way to survive—without unleashing an even greater evil?










Book Description

The third book in a new fantasy series that enters into the world of King Arthur, Lady of the Lake, the creation of Excalibur, and the rescue of King Arthur himself as it retells the story of Merlin.

In book three of Robert Treskillard’s Merlin Spiral series, Merlin must find the missing, now eighteen-year-old Arthur before a shadowy pursuer catches him first.

At the same time, Mórgana brings Merlin’s deepest fear to life and sets a horde of werewolves loose to destroy Britain. But when the secret purpose of this nightmare is finally revealed, will Merlin and Arthur find a way to survive—without unleashing an even greater evil?

Merlin's Shadow (The Merlin Spiral #2)

By Robert Treskillard
Published by Zondervan

I have read the first book in this series, and wanted to continue reading of Merlin's life. It did not disappoint me. I loved reading it through and will continue to find the other book(s) and read them as I find them and they come out.

The book continues to follow Merlin and his sister through their continuing life. She hating him, he trying to keep Arthur living so he can one day take over his fallen father's throne. This book definitely grabs you as you are reading and keeps your attention.

This book falls in many Genres in the book, so this is a great read for so many different kind of people who like different things. I would definitely read the first novel first though, so you can better understand what is going on in this second book.










Book Description:

Betrayal.

After destroying the sinister Druid Stone and freeing his people from its dark control, Merlin finds himself a royal advisor without a king. Along with his friend Garth and Natalenya, his betrothed, Merlin treks north with the orphaned Arthur in hopes of keeping the young ruler safe from soldiers misled by their turncoat captain. Relentlessly pursued by his old nemesis Vortigern, Merlin and his band make for the fortress of Dintaga.

But dangers multiply when Merlin realizes that Vortigern is not his only enemy. Even his own sister appears bent on Merlin’s destruction. As the threat on all their lives increases, Merlin discovers their only hope is sailing to the lands of eternal darkness and once again cleansing the world from an ancient and powerful evil.

Stained-Glass Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for rolling
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Very finely crushed hard candy, such as Jolly Rancher, in various colors (1 cup total)




Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, 3 minutes. Add egg yolks and vanilla and beat to combine. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat to combine. Form dough into 2 disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Working with 1 disk at a time, roll out dough between floured parchment paper to 1/8-inch thickness. Stack dough in parchment on a baking sheet; refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes. With a 2 1/2-inch Christmas-ball-shaped cutter, cut out dough (reroll scraps, if desired). Place cookies, 1 inch apart, on two parchment-lined baking sheets. With a 1-inch star cutter, cut out dough in center of each cookie. Bake until cookies are pale but set, 8 to 10 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Remove sheets from oven; fill cutouts with crushed candy. Bake until cookies begin to brown at edges and candy is melted, 3 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.



Cook's Note

Quick Tip: To crush the hard candy, seal in a zip-top bag and pound with a meat mallet or small skillet.

Disks of dough can be refrigerated overnight or frozen, up to 1 month, and thawed in the refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature until soft enough to roll. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers, up to 1 week.