Very intriguing and magical. Couldn't put it down for long. Can't way for next book. ( )

Thank you to Viking Books and Bookishfirst for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Other Merlin by Robyn Schneider is the first book in a series and an exciting new feminist take on Arthurian legend. The story revolves around Emry Merlin, the famous wizard Merlin's daughter. One day, she's playing a boy in a theater when a soldier arrives summoning Merlin's son, her twin brother Emmett, to court. She decides to take his place and arrives at the castle disguised as her brother. Soon, she's catching feelings for the handsome prince Arthur and entangling with other famous characters like Lancelot and Guinevere. Will Emry be able to keep up the ruse? And how will she be able to find true love when everyone thinks she's a boy?

Here is an interesting excerpt from an opening chapter, which is from Emry's point of view:

"It was all so enormously unfair. This was why their father hadn’t wanted
to teach her. Why he’d brought her dolls and ribbons and had frowned
when she’d mastered spells faster than her brother. He’d known this would
happen.
...
Emmett drained his second glass of wine and rambled on about his
day, but Emry had stopped listening. All she could think was, Emmett’s going
to London, to live in a castle and learn magic. And not because he’s smarter than me, or older, or more talented. Because he’s Merlin’s son, and I’m just his daughter."

Overall, The Other Merlin will appeal to fans of Tamora Pierce's classic Song of the Lioness quartet and this year's Half Sick of Shadows. This book was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. I was so looking forward to a book that combined "teen rom-com" and high fantasy, according to the synopsis I read. I enjoy both of those genres, so I was expecting to really enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. I took off one star, because the characters barely leave the castle. I was so interested to learn more about the world, but I didn't get to see much of it. I took off another star, because the jokes felt a bit "young" / immature to me. A lot of YA fantasy books appeal to adults, but this one did not appeal to me. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, you can check out this book when it comes out in September! ( )

Everything you wanted in an Arthurian legend and more. Start with Arthur as if he were a kind hearted nerd on the yearbook staff, add in Merlin as the original wizard's daughter who has to overachieve and outshine her twin brother when it comes to being respected for magical ability. Have her brother receive an invitation to become an apprentice wizard at court, but royally (no pun intended) screw up things, necessitating Emry to disguise herself and take his place. She's expecting the switch to last only a week, but when her brother bails, she's stuck. However, she loves learning from the current court wizard and her snarky back and forth with Arthur and Lancelot make her feel like she belongs. However, things keep getting more complex when other players including Guinevere and Sir Gawain enter the picture. By the end of this first book of a duology, you've bonded with several characters, shaken your head at all the intrigue and gender bending and are, I hope, eager for the second book. ( )

Imaginative Retelling

I absolutely enjoyed every second of reading time with this fun and fresh Arthurian reimagination. I lost track of how many times I laughed out loud while reading. I loved, loved the banter and sarcastic, irreverent discussions between friends. And yes to the immediate danger of a girl pretending to be a boy and risking her life if the truth were exposed. It's so fun being a reader and knowing the secrets that other characters are unaware of.

The characters are going down in history as some of my all-time favorites. I adored Emry, Gran, Arthur, and Lancelot and their fierce loyalty to loved ones. The diversity represented amongst them made my heart full with respect for this author and I will be seeking out more of her books. My favorite part of the characterization was the belief that girls are worthy and can do great things.

The pacing and world building are spot on perfect and from the very beginning I was living in a world in which magic was a part of every day life. I envisioned the foods, the architecture, and the gardens. I never found myself disbelieving in the people and events.

This book is now one of my favorites of the year and I'll be recommending it to everyone and have already. ( )

I couldn't put this book down, so thank you Robyn Schneider for a very long, sleepless night. So be fair warned, don't start this late at night or if you can't finish it all in one sitting.

I've always loved Camelot and tales of King Arthur and his knights, so I love this gender-bent, feminist version. It was a little hard to see so many things in this book diverge from the original tales, but the writing, stunning plot, and fantastic characters made up for it all. Emry practically jumps off the page, and I love her relationship with Prince Arthur. And her relationship with the rest of the knights is the best thing about this book for me. The knights are amazing and I want to go join them in their world.

This book had me laughing out loud several times, which is something that hardly ever happens in a book. The characters are sassy and not afraid to say something even if it's not widely accepted. ( )