If you’re looking for a different type of fantasy, action-filled adventure, look no further. This book has earned two 5 star reviews from Readers’ Favorite.
I have read several adaptations of King Arthur, but The Secret of Excalibur is a fast-paced, urban fantasy by Sahara Foley. She has created a sci-fi theme that is intriguing, and the main characters – who are not afraid to speak their minds or express their feelings – narrate it. She writes very nicely and allows all her characters to participate in the drama, whether it is a big scene or a minor one. This strengthened the story, which has witty dialogue and adventure. Just when you get comfortable with the events unfolding, Sahara Foley pulls another creative twist without warnings or previous hints that divert The Secret of Excalibur onto a new route. Although the conclusion is unexpected as well, I still liked it and recommend this entertaining book. – 5 star review by Michelle Stanley for Readers’ Favorite
If you come to think of it, Sahara Foley, author of The Secret of Excalibur, is a literary magician. It’s a wonderful page turner right from the beginning: when a cocky yet endearing Arthur Merlin exhibits his superpowers, it makes us want to read more. She writes a very compelling narrative, tickling the fancy of adult readers – it almost feels like she brings back the magical air of childhood stories in The Secret of Excalibur. It’s an adventure readers will not want to miss out on. The characters in this book are well defined and the main protagonist is easy to empathize with, that is, many of us would like to be transformed from an average human being into one with special abilities who can save the world. Extremely consistent with a clear theme, this book is certainly an enjoyable read! – 5 star review by Maria Beltran for Readers’ Favorite
More 5 star reviews:
I don’t want to say too much about the book’s story – I think too much has been said about that already, and, after all, it’s up to us to find out for ourselves. And besides, it doesn’t take long to find out; this book moves along, reads, as rapidly as a Bond film.
The story is narrated by our mind-reading super-powered hero, Arthur Merlin, and when he’s not around, the author affords us the choice of either assuming she has taken over as omniscient author, or – and this is clever – that Arthur is still telling the tale because he can be where he wants when he wants…
Clever.
But back to the “Bond” thing. I can’t help thinking that, along with his own experiences, had ‘The Paranormal’ been so big in Ian Fleming’s day, he might have written something like this. Arthur Merlin is a wonderful fantasy figure, though hardly the alpha hero in that, to be honest, he’s very tongue-in-cheek too: he’s non-negotiable on most things – as for terrorists, they’ve got no chance – he’s a governmental loose cannon… Oh, and he has a sex-drive like mine. Except he can pull it off, as it were – hell, he can even convert the staunchest lesbian to come out of the closet and see what she’s missing: a man. He’s a real man, you see, and he just can’t get enough. Anyone remember Bond doing that, by the way? Well, Arthur can spy on her taking a shower while pouring brandies in the kitchen. Can Bond do that? No!
Maybe I’m exaggerating a tad, but the book is great fun.
And then there’s the whole King Arthur angle, adding a whole new dimension – Bond meets Merlin, it’s a fantasy world gone mad. And yet the author somehow pulls it off; she has a wonderful imagination.
I recommend this book to anyone wondering what to do at the weekend. Escapism at its best.
The Secret of Excalibur by Sahara Foley is a fantasy about a modern day young man named Arthur Merlin, who struggles with mastering his phenomenal psychic powers.
After a head injury that gave him incredible psychic abilities like pyrokinesis, astral projection, telekinesis, and resistance to nuclear explosions, Arthur is finding his way in life. His new abilities frightened old friends. Now, he wanders. No government agency or military can hold him because he teleports to safety at the first sign of boredom.
His journey has landed him in London. At a paranormal studies lab affiliated with MI6, he finds a lovely telekinesis expert named Doctor Ruth Burns. His powers make for an unusual romance. He ends up working for the government, and the dangerous work turns Arthur’s life into an exciting twirl.
But something draws him to a mysterious lake shrouded in Arthurian lore. The Lady of the Lake, and the legend of the sword Excalibur waiting in its depths, is a mystery that only Arthur’s fantastic powers can unravel. The truth under the waters is nothing like Arthur imagined.
The Secret of Excalibur is a delightful entwining of Arthurian mythos, a modern Merlin, and clever supporting characters. Arthur, despite his fantastic powers, is an ethical young man with a refreshing innocence. Ruth is a brainy and practical counterpoint to Arthur’s impulsive approach to life. The plot kept me guessing, and I could not wait to learn what was waiting in the lake. Contrary to the legends, Arthur’s fate was a delightful surprise.
For readers who are fans of King Arthur stories, The Secret of Excalibur is a satisfying blend of the legend with a modern day wizard. Be warned, because the real sword under the lake is nothing like the legend.
A wonderful meld of magic, paranormal powers and myth. What happened to Excalibur? Did it exist? Did Excalibur give Arthur special powers? I have always been fascinated by the story of King Arthur and Knights of the Round Table. This book takes me back to those original tales of legend or fantasy, I doubt if we will ever know which.
If you think this is just another Arthurian tale, you’re mistaken. It combines fantasy with intrigue and suspense and with the reality of the world we live in now. It takes you on a lovely trip through the English countryside to the lake where Excalibur is said to lie. The author must have done a lot of research on the book and it is very interesting to read all the legends of Excalibur.
The characters are full of quirks and you will find them amusing. I got a bit confused at the end with all the revelations, since there were Russian subs and aliens popping up. I feel like the story has been left dangling a bit at the end. I’m not sure whether it was intentional, and if we will be hearing more about Arthur Merlin soon but I do hope so. I wouldn’t mind meeting these characters again. I recommend this book to all lovers of fantasy and lore. Great job, Sahara Foley!
