The Other Merlin follows Emry Merlin as she pretends to be her brother and takes on the position of court wizard in Camelot. This is a retelling of King Arthur and the knights of the roundtable with a refreshing take on the characters. I really enjoyed the depth of Emry, Arthur, and Lance, and I loved their trio dynamic. There were also a lot of side characters that felt very real. While I loved the characters and found myself laughing out loud often, the plot was very weak. There never felt like there was an overarching “problem” or something that the trio was working towards. If you enjoy character based stories, this one is great! However if you are a plot driven reader, The Other Merlin feels slow at times. I’m not sure if I’ll be picking up the sequel- ideally I’d like to, but I’m not sure if I’ll continue to be interested as the series develops.

This book was so much fun!! I love Arthurian retellings and this was a very interesting and unique take on the story! I loved the representation and the decisions made in altering the world in that way (very fresh)! The characters were so love-able and I really enjoyed getting to watch them develop.

there’s just such a strong story here, with solid sub plots, and just amazing character development, fantastic, & full of whimsy world building, and just so much to love here.

"The Other Merlin" by Robyn Schneider takes readers on a whimsical journey to Camelot, where Prince Arthur's unexpected rise to heroism sets the stage for a tale of deception and enchantment. Schneider weaves a delightful narrative, blending Arthurian legend with a refreshing twist. Emry Merlin's clever impersonation of her twin brother adds humor and complexity, while the court's intrigues and scandals provide a rich backdrop. As Emry navigates the challenges of court life and grapples with her growing feelings for the prince, the story unfolds with a perfect balance of magic and romance. Schneider crafts a captivating world that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages, making "The Other Merlin" a magical addition to Arthurian-inspired literature.

I didn’t write this review immediately after I read the book, so I don’t have any in-depth thoughts, but I really enjoyed it. The characters were fun to read about, and the plot was captivating. I definitely want to read the next book because there’s so much more to explore in this world and with these characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

(i received this e-arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

a uniquely spun retelling of Arthurian legend that introduces an unforgettable new character to the canon.

This book did not grip me as I hoped it would. I think the idea is fun, but it wasn't quite executed.

I am not familiar with the original King Arthur story or Merlin's story so this was a great read. I was invested not only in the story the whole time while reading it but also in each of our characters.

Robyn Schneider Puts a Fresh Twist on Ancient Myth in “The Other Merlin”

What do King Arthur, Disney’s Mulan and She’s The Man all have in common?

All three have a hand in inspiring The Other Merlin (Viking), Robyn Schneider’s bold new YA fantasy. In this fresh vision of the Arthurian Legend, Camelot hangs in a precarious balance. As warring kingdoms close in on all sides and King Uther’s grip on power grows shaky, Prince Arthur will have to fight to keep Camelot in Pendragon hands. There’s one problem, however. The role of court sorcerer has been open ever since the mysterious disappearance of the wizard Merlin. Magic is waning in the veins of Camelot’s citizens and it’s a desperate race to see who can fill the position before it’s too late.

Enter Emry Merlin, stage left. Despite being the daughter of the great wizard Merlin, Emry is used to being overlooked. Being a girl, she’d never be allowed to practice magic as a court-appointed witch. Instead, she has to settle for work as a stagehand, performing parlor tricks for the theater’s special effects while her brother Emmett gets to learn the real magic.

But when one of Emmett’s spells backfires and leaves him incapacitated, that’s the moment when King Uther calls to demand for his new court wizard. To save Emmett from the consequences of ignoring King Uther’s summons, Emry disguises herself as her brother and takes his position at the royal court.

What happens next is a thrilling, hilarious and heart-stirring adventure sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Robyn Schneider’s voice is sharp with witty, memorable characters that carry the story forward. It’s no surprise that the writing shines; while this is Schneider’s first professional foray into fantasy, she’s far from being a publishing novice. Her other books include The Beginning of Everything, Extraordinary Means, You Don’t Live Here and Invisible Ghosts.

We spoke with Robyn Schneider to hear more about the writing process and inspiration behind her new release. Find out about all the magic that went into creating The Other Merlin, which is available in bookstores now.

Read the full Q&A here:

https://booktrib.com/2021/09/23/robyn-schneider-puts-a-fresh-twist-on-ancient-myth-in-the-other-merlin/

I love everything that Robyn writes and this is no different. I loved reading this. I love that we have a new magical world to read about and one where a girl is the hero! I loved this!

I absolutely adored this book. I am a huge Arthurian fan and I love BBC Merlin so I had high hopes for this book, which definitely met my expectations. The retelling of the tale of Merlin and Camelot was so good and I was so happy to see some LGBTQ+ representation.

The writing in this book was so well done and I was actually quite surprised at how well the perspectives worked out within the story. Overall it was such a good read and I had a lot of fun embracing a new look into the world of Camelot.

i loved this book so much. i’ve forgotten my love for merlin and king arthur and this just brought it back.

THE OTHER MERLIN was a really endearing and entertaining read, one that deals with issues related to legacy, destiny and following your heart in the face of duty. I really enjoyed Emry as a main character as she poses as her brother to become the court Wizard, and how she finds herself embroiled in court intrigue and games of thrones and crowns. There is a lot of nuance in relationship and identities in this one that was great to see. I also loved the humor that Schneider's writing brings to the table that is just refreshing to read as a reader of fantasies that are typically heavier and darker in nature. I also really enjoyed the way the relationship between Emry and Arthur develops and found myself swooning at multiple points as I read about them. Side characters like Lance, Guinevere and Gawain also shine in this story and you can't help but love the lot of them. I also loved the feminist themes and issues that Emry faces head-on as a female wizard in a patriarchal world. THE OTHER MERLIN is a fresh Arthurian retelling that really snuck up on me with how much I enjoyed it, and if you're looking for a lighter fantasy read, this is it!

This historical fiction retelling of King Arthur was everything I could have hoped for and more. For one, I was not expecting to enjoy the multiple perspectives as much as I did! Dual POV in romance books is always amazing, but this book provides the POV of other side characters at times as well. It was incredibly well-done and I was never bored during any of the perspectives. The characters were just so interesting and fun. I especially loved the witty banter.

Basically I love this book and want everyone I know to read it. Historical fantasy, romance, queer rep, magic—this book has it all!

This book. This book!!!! Why did life get in the way and cause me to wait to read this book?! This book was absolutely fantastic. Everything you want in a YA fantasy story: great setting, wonderful characters, banter, romance, etc! Love the King Arthur legends but this story is a modern take with a female Merlin and fantastic queer representation. I highly recommend this book!!! Need book 2 because I need more Emry, Arthur, Lance and Gawain!

I love Merlin stories and this is one of them! I really enjoyed the characters especially the Merlin and Arthur relationship! I cannot wait to read what happens next!

4/5 stars

I would describe this book but the little Goodreads blurb will do a better job than I ever will so read that! So let's get into the review

Well call me surprised...I thought the premise of this book sounded very interesting but I was a little thrown off by the cover. So much so that I almost didn't give this book a fair chance. Which would have been a mistake because this was actually really good! It's very funny in fact I laughed aloud several times which doesn't happen often. The characters were seriously pretty amazing. Emry, Arthur, and Lancelot are literally my favorite. Their group dynamic is so good and really reminds me of BBC Merlin. This book was super easy to read and I never felt bogged down by the plot. Honestly, I can't say much more than give this book a chance. Also, while there is only a little romance (I wish there was more) it was really well done and we see some LGBT+ representation which is always awesome. I seriously can't wait to read the next book.

Give me anything and everything Arthurian legend. What a great title to suggest to younger readers who love magic, history, folklore, and King Arthur. This is one of the books that has made me look at YA differently this last year.