The sequel to Taliesin, I couldn't help reading it because Taliesin was so good. Spoiler: Merlin is the son of Taliesin and the Lady of the Lake Charis, and his story picks up where the other leaves off. Merlin's early life, and rise into manhood has a lot of surprises. But so much of the Merlin myth is of his involvement with Arthur, and the book makes a very believable back story to that myth. It also makes Merlin out to be a prophet of God, not a sorcerer. A definite twist on the usual myth, but it fits better with the Arthur/ Grail myth and the time the book is set in. Merlin becomes sort of like an dark ages Elijah full of the power and purpose of the Lord.