Book Review: The Sorcerer

I totally agree with the other reviewer, in his experiencing frustration at Whyte's ending of this book. And from what I've read of the Lance Thrower, there is very little to resolve that issue.

Background:

In the preceding book, The Fort At River's Bend, we find Merlin taking young Arthur Pendragon and a trusted group of friends, and fleeing Camulod, after an attempt on Arthur's life.

They ultimately end up staying at the Fort for 5 or more years, during which time, huge changes are occurring in Britain. Through the realistic advice of the King of Ravenglass-Derek, Merlin realizes he must return home to Camulod, and quickly. He has also received ill-tidings from his brother Ambrose.

As the Sorceror opens, they are leaving the Fort, and experiencing every obstacle nature can throw at them. In addition, they come upon an enemy force that has effectively trapped them in an untenable, nearly indefensible position. I had trouble with this, because in every other book in the series, Merlin has proven himself a superbly able commander, and where he might falter in judgment, his trusted lieutenants Daedalus and Doneuil amongst others, always find the flaws, and aid in hardened successful strategies.

Merlin's carelessness here is appalling, and to me, unbelievable. Because of it, there are a large number of casualties. Two of them closest to Merlin. Because Whyte has already gone a long way in the preceding books to develop the beginnings of Merlin's repute as a sorceror, it is my opinion, he could have easily used some other plot line to bring this forward completely.

Merlin wakens in Camulod, after a long bout with fever and illness, he discovers he does indeed have the leprosy he feared so greatly. Maddened with rage and grief, he decides to embark on a course of revenge that will permanently isolate him from his former friends and family.

Using what today would be described as covert ops, alone he travels deep into enemy territories, creating terror and destruction wherever he lands. His enemies dub him The Ghost, as he is never seen, yet manages to inflict terrible damage, then vanishes, leaving a "signature" using bodies to let them know it is he who has struck them down.

In a climactic scene, he penetrates the camp of the madman and putative heir to Pendrangon's Cambria, Carthac. Deformed at birth, and by a later accident, this is a creature followers believe is unkillable. Using his "magic" Merlin ultimately slays Carthac, after witnessing the horror of Carthac holding his brother Ambrose's head in his bloodstained hands.

But Merlin also loses, as he is badly burned and injured during the slaying. By the time he is returned to Camulod, it takes months before he can finally walk again, though his left hand is permanently damaged. It is Shelagh who suggests he hide both his leprosy and injuries, by always wearing a hooded black cloak, guaranteeing his separation from others.

As an interesting side note, Whyte has very cleverly introduced the growing political influence of the Church in Britain. In fact the whole idea of Arthur's coronation, its location and arranging of the crowning are at the behest of the Church itself.

I didn't like this book much, in comparison to the others in the series. The plotline is flawed and at times stretches both patience and credibility. Maybe in part because Merlin from the start was such a man of incredible integrity and compassion, it's just too difficult to see him gradually degraded into a semi-monstrous Church tool. A Church by the way that would have certainly shunned sorcery.

For those of us who have been faithful readers of the Camulod Chronicles, I suggest reading it, if only to finish this part of the Arthurian history, if you must. Otherwise don't bother. The long hoped for answers are just not there.