02/25/2024
Girl Power 5 Star Review! Yay! Shauna Hadsell, the reviewer, said Nimue: Freeing Merlin is one of the best books she's read. Well, that is certainly a compliment!
"Talk about reading a book that grabs your attention and pulls you in deep! I want more of it, had my mind so lost in this book (BUT YET SO FOCUSED).
This is what I love the most about authors!!!! Great job !!! Highly recommending this to my peers.
The fact that it was something about Celtic mythology blows my mind even more because normally I personally wouldn't get into books of this genre. Round of applause for keeping it so interesting and wanting to be fed more.
She uses her in-depth knowledge of the Old Religions and obvious shear love of the legends to create a vivid world and charming characters revolving around the Ladies of the Lake, Merlin, Avalon, and Modern England. The story, is wonderful written, easy to follow, and the book is very difficult to put down! Though it falters slightly in the shift of character perspectives, NIMUE: Freeing Merlin is well written and researched and successfully flips the Arthurian tradition on its head to reveal a powerful, feminist look at the hidden potential within us all
The story is also well researched, with several figures and items from legend making an appearance. Unlike legend, however, Sullivan’s retelling roots hard for girl power, focusing on strong and witty female characters. When Nina’s love interest, Owen, tries to take control of the narrative, he’s told, “Right now, we need a Heroine.” This theme continues throughout the novel, all the way to its empowering climax and Nimue’s realization of her own potential — a perfect reminder for today’s readers, especially those of the “gentler” s*x, that they too have unmatched potential and agency. Along with the captivating story of NIMUE: Freeing Merlin, Sullivan has filled this book with original artwork. Her sketches feature a deliberate use of light and shadow, reflecting the novel’s motifs of dark and light, good and evil. Plus, the author provides readers with short blurbs that give more information about the characters, practices for honoring those mythological figures, and even a meditation for healing. These extra tidbits are a blessing for those who don’t want to leave the world of magic just quite yet.
Rating 4 out of 4 excellent, very good.
5 out of 5 amazing one of the best books I’ve read."
[Following is a volunteer review of "Nimue: Freeing Merlin (Barnes & Noble Edition)" by Ayn Cates Sullivan.] 5 out of 5 stars. Nimue: Freeing Merl