#Myrddin Emrys

[leam1983]

This would be surprisingly on-brand for Disney's Merlin, too.

Merlin and Arthur have a chat

[keitorin3]

The Reckless King and the Old Storyteller

So I had this idea that came to me one night just sitting around watching this movie "Three thousand years of Longing" on TV. If you've seen it, you'll probably know which part of it inspired me just by the title of this post.

So the setting for this story is based in the 1200-1300s where there is a young boy named Arthur who was crowned king at the early age of 11.

At age 20 he leads his army's to war, fighting alongside his men in the battlefield. Stories are told of his recklessness, even with his own life, but still with his strength and the power of his armies, he conquered the surrounding lands and the other neighbouring kingdoms as well. He returns to his kingdom as a conquer, but his soul has rotten in war, making him unable to shed his bloody armor (Figuratively speaking).

His councillors, fearing his bloodlust tries to distract him with other gratifications. They gave him all one could desire, alcohol, exotic foods, beautiful women and entertainment.

None could quinch his thirst for violence. Until the court summons all of the kingdoms best storytellers and bards to the castle in a bid for one of them enrapture the King with their tales.

At first, after many of storytellers failed and try to flee from the kings displeasure and impatients, they almost lost hope. But there was one that was able to enchant him.

The old storyteller went by the name Merlin, and he was a different kind of man. His insolence and quips would have earned his neck the blade, but the tales the man told stole the kings attention and even his foolishness and blunt comments was a charming quality to Arthur. It made him laugh and soothed the harsh king.

Merlin became his first friend. And that friendship eventually evolved into love.

Arthur grew very attached to the old man, and eventually it became a very common sight to see the two together as Arthur didn't just seek Merlin for stories but for company, somebody to speak too. For Merlin was honest in a sarcastic way that Arthur appreciates.

The tales Merlin told were many and holding a lesson and point of truth to be told. But Arthur especially loved the stories of Artorius. A Roman General from the 4th century who later becomes king after many adventures that helps to gather his loyal men of the Stone Round Table.

Arthur especially loves the tales featuring Artorius and his secretly magical Manservant, Myrddin. Their tale was of loyalty, love and heartache. Once, Arthur told Merlin that he thinks Artorius was in love with Myrddin and not the Queen Guinevere with how much they had been through together. It saddens Arthur that Myrddin had to hold onto Artorius dying body alone, weaping for him by a lake.

When Merlin finally reveals to Arthur his magic one day by via magic butterfly, and there and then, Arthur knew love.

Arthur tried to place Merlin in his court as advisor or court magician, but Merlin denies both offers and chooses to be his friend instead.

Now, this is where things get interesting! There's an assassination attempt on Arthur after hearing of the king going soft, someone had balls to try and kill him. The attempt is thwarted by Merlin who took a blade to the back after pushing Arthur out of the way.

The King holds Merlin in his arms as he dies.

The assassin dies shortly after with his internal organs ripped out and his head set on a pike in the front gates. But as soon as the bloodlust depleted, Arthur found himself beside Merlin's body and weeping.

The people ran for the hills as news of the Storytellers death spread, fearful of the violence the Kings grief filled rage will ensure.

Arthur did none, he remained at Merlin's side crying for the man who held his heart.

(Now here I would have left it off and said Arthur dies after drinking himself sick, but I'm a suckered for happy endings.)

It was only due to him never taking his eyes off Merlin that he witnessed it.

The Magic.

It was glowing gold, much like Merlin's eyes when he practiced magic, it sprung from the very earth and wrapped him. Before his very eyes Arthur watches in shocked Wonder as Merlin's sliver white hair turned raven black and his wrinkles disappear and smoothed clear into flawless white skin.

The best part was when Merlin's lungs breathed air and his eyes opened. They were gold for a long while before turning into very familiar blue eyes.

It was Merlin, his Merlin, only not so old anymore, but it's him and he was alive. Arthur had no restraint in hugging the just revived man tightly. Sobbing again but this time in relief.

Merlin: I'm ok Arthur, everything is ok my King.

Arthur: Don't- don't ever do something like that again do you hear me! Never again Merlin. Thank god you're alive.

Merlin: Err, your not shocked that I'm young again? Sorry about that by the way, I was planning on telling you but it slipped my mind, being old wasn't fake, just temporary. But man, it feels good to not feel my bones ache.

Arthur: You idiot. *then proceeds to kiss him dumber.*

Arthur would later trick Merlin into marriage and make him become King Consort. Nobody questions about the Old Storyteller become an Young Storyteller, content and happy with the positive effect he has on the Once Reckless King.

(This was great to get out of my mind. I loved the part of the Gjinns tale because instantly my mind went to Merlin and Arthur, but Merlin is the magical Being so he don't stay dead.

In my mind, the stories Merlin tells are all real events, especially Artorius and Myrddin. If it wasn't obvious, Merlin is Myrddin of the story and has been waiting for his King to return for 5-6 hundred years. He went across the lands telling their story. Now he found him in young Arthur and it was time they make new tales to tell, one of a round table and a sword in the stone.

That's all for now, till next time fellow dreamers~! ✨)

[ellorypurebloodculture]

FSFF: Salazar Slytherin & Myrddin Emrys

Myrddin Emrys, Crown Prince of the Abyss, is millennia old when his divine father, Chaos, The Most High God, creates a second son.

"Salazar, Prince of The Void," Myrrdin whispers as he strokes his infant brother's wispy black hair over the edge of the gilt cradle.

Tiny fingers curl around one of his as too-aware emerald green eyes watch him with rapt attention.

It takes but a mere moment for Myrddin to love his brother as fiercely and possessively as he loves every babe his beloved princess has borne for him.

"Divine blessings be upon you, brother," Myrddin states, satisfied when the mark of his power bleeds across Salazar's tiny, chubby fingers, doubly-claiming him as Sacred.

[aerodynamicentity]

This fit's more for Merthur then the sun and moon trope (both are still amazing as eachother!!!!!)

[pyjamacryptid]

i'm in the middle of answering an ask on smoothie of a man Merlin, which means i've got like a hundred tabs open, which also means i'm reading stuff about his name i didn't include in my infodump about the etymology of his name, because there are so many debates and suggestions and accounts and theories and I am a FRAUD!!! (is being dramatic)

[thepinkseat-askthemoonbunny]

Arthurian "Headcanon" #367

Anytime Aurelius sends Uther anywhere, Uther takes Merlin along. Whether it’s a diplomatic mission abroad or to patrol the capital. Merlin points out that people whisper about it, Uther says it’s merely a part of his packing routine. “Clothes, food, horses, toothbrush, boyfriend.”

[skrytch]

So what you're saying is Merlin wasn't an eccentric, all-powerful, wizard who aged backwards and made questionable pacts With the fae.

He was just a Welshman.

It baffles me, and annoys the hell out of me, that so many people don't know the true origin of Merlin.

Merlin is Welsh. His real name was Myrddin Emrys, they just translated it to Merlin.

We literally have a town named Caerfyrddin which means Merlin's fort, legends say he was born in a cave there.

We celebrate him, a lot. There's Merlin festivals, and he's taught about in schools, and he even has his own statue in the town centre down whats called Merlins Walk.

Wish people would start to respect Wales and our history/culture.

[frecklenog]

there should be more media that refers to shit like “the ancient mythos of the folk hero jesus christ”

[daisymintt]

Merlin Fic Prompts

Arthur gets separated and injured while on patrol and is taken in by the kind forest Druid Merlin who nurses Arthur back to health. During this time Arthur sees a side of magic he’s never been exposed to before and questions everything he’s been taught.

A series of letters Merlin’s writes to his mom telling her about his adventures in Camelot

Winter Soldier AU where Morgana discovers Merlin had magic but doesn’t know he’s Emrys. Uses the Fomarrah on him and instead of killing Arthur orders him to swear undying loyalty to her, to do anything she asks. Merlin essentially becomes like her Winter Soldier and wrecks havoc on villages. When Arthur hears about a dangerous sorcerer named Myrddin attacking villages he goes to investigates, still depressed about the lose of Merlin, and is shocked to discover that it Myrddin is Merlin except Merlin doesn’t remember him or anything before the fomarrah was implanted. Arthur now has a new goal of getting his best friend back and break Morgana’s hold on him.

The Purple Tunic. Merlin’s birthday comes and goes with no celebration, Gaius being overrun with patients and Merlin stuck with an impossibly long list of chores from Arthur. When Arthur learns that Merlin’s birthday had passed he feels bad and leaves the purple tunic for him in his room as a gift.

Arthur kills a Druid women and as she lays dying she roughly grabs his arm and curses him to experience suffer any wound he deals. Arthur struggles with his self worth now that he can’t protect his people as a knight without hurting himself

Arthur and Merlin get cursed so that whenever one gets hurt the other suffers the same wound (like Barbara and Strickler from Trollhunters)

Merthur WandaVision AU

S3 E12 AU where Merlin does actually fight Gwaine and Arthur is the one that has to be physically held back

Seeing Double. Merlin has always had a lot of work what with helping Gaius, being Arthur’s manservant, and saving everyone’s lives in a near daily basis. One day he is so busy he tries a new spell that’s suppose to create a double of you that lasts for 24 hours. Arthur thinks he’s going mad because he keeps seeing double of Merlin.

Mama’s Boy. Hunith is taken prisoner by some bandits and that sets Merlin on a warpath to get her back with Arthur at his side.

Merlin gets captured by a dark sorcerer who knows he’s Emrys and has him chained up in cold iron. While he’s imprisoned the sorcerer bloodlets him, planning to sell the blood of Emrys on the black market keep Merlin alive enough not to fight back.

Arthur falls and hurts his arm. Merlin examines it and diagnoses it, “You’ve fractured your ulna.” Gwaine perks up at this, “Ulna? I think I dated an Ulna once.”

While picking herbs for Gaius Merlin finds an injured and orphaned fox kit and brings it back with him. One day it gets out of his room and chaos ensues. He nearly catches it in Arthur’s room when Arthur returns and he tries to play it cool.

AU where as Freya lay dying in Merlin’s arms they get married, using blades of grass as their rings. The knights don’t notice at first but eventually one of them asks about it and Merlin gets all sad.

Merlin wakes in the middle of the night to someone breaking into Gaius’s chambers, covered in blood

A servant of two masters AU where instead of sending Merlin in to assassinate Arthur she makes a sting bulb of Merlin and sends it in. A day after it gets sent away Merlin breaks out of Morgana’s and races to save Arthur. Stabs a sword through his clone’s stomach. When it dies it turns into a pile of humus. Arthur starts to get suspicious of Plant!Merlin when he stops eating and he swears he saw Merlin stick his finger in water and drink it. Plant!Merlin also gets weak after long period’s without sunlight and ‘wilts’. Gwiane refuses to give up on his search for Merlin and sets out on his own. Finds Merlin in Morgana’s hovel and together they escape back to Camelot.

Modern Day Merlin, Merlin starts suffering from symptoms of Mahd Wy'ry which affects and causes him to have psychotic episodes at random, due to the weight of his memories. Leon finds him during one of these episodes.

That scene from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron where Merlin holds an injured Arthur on the banks of a river when the bad guys find them and tear them apart despite their pleas. The knights find Arthur and once he’s stronger they set out to save Merlin.

Merlin and Arthur argue that the other wouldn’t last a day in the others shoes so Arthur comes up with the idea of ‘swapping places’ while they are visiting another kingdom that has never met Arthur before. The knights are in on it. They swap clothes and for a week Merlin is Arthur and Arthur is Merlin.

When kids start disappearing in the middle of the night Merlin sets out to investigate and is nearly killed

Morgana visits Gaius because she feels nauseous and while she’s there she throws up on her dress. Merlin lets her borrow some of his clothes and Arthur walks in sees her and thinks they’re courting. Arthur gets jealous.

That scene from Disneys Robin Hood where they dress as fortune tellers but it’s Merlin and Arthur and they do it in order to get into a bandits keep without arousing suspicion and getting something of importance they stole (Arthurs mothers sigil? His mothers ring?)

Merlin has parasomnia and often wanders the castle at night, often to Arthurs room

Merlin opens a haven for magical creatures/beings/people. Arthur wanders into and is nearly drowned by a naiad but Merlin saves him

Merlin Tarzan AU with a hint of Valka from HTTYD2. Balinor refuses to help Uther trap the last dragon and instead frees it. He takes shelter in Ealdor where he falls in love and has a child with Hunith. One day Uther finds them and, finding themselves cornered with no chance of escape, Balinor calls upon Kilgarrah. Balinor is killed and Hunith is taken prisoner to be used as bait for Merlin someday. Kilgarrah takes baby Merlin to a safe haven for dragons where he is raised by dragons. Many years later Merlin heard about the legend of the dragon egg and sets out to find it. During this journey he meets Prince/King Arthur. Although rivals at first they soon realize they have the same goal, return magic and dragons to Camelot.

Dragonlord side effects. The days following the activation of his Dragonlord powers Merlin starts to experience some side effects. Each chapter is a different side effect.

After Arthur becomes king he reinstates the holiday Saturnalia. Merlin gets elected the “Mock King” giving him a free pass to cause as much mischief and mayhem as he would like

[bigdreamsandwildthings]

Review: A Study In Drowning (Ava Reid)

Rating: ★★★★★/5

"The danger was real. Effy and Angharad had both proven that, with their wits and their mirrors. The danger lived with her; perhaps it had been born with her, if the rest of the stories about changeling children were to be believed. The danger was as ancient as the world. But if fairies and monsters were real, so were the women who defeated them."

I am OB. SESSED. This was so excellent and so much more than I expected.

Effy Sayre has been haunted by visions for her whole life. She sees the Fairy King everywhere; she can't sleep unless she takes a pill, and she just knows that he is out there, waiting for her. She's an architecture student, but only because women aren't allowed to study literature in Caer-Isel. All she truly wants is to study Emrys Myrddin and his famous work, her favourite book, Angharad. When an opportunity arises for Effy to redesign Emrys's home after his death, to go to the place where he lived and wrote, she jumps at the chance. But all is not what it seems at decrepit Hiraeth Manor...

I went into this book expecting some kind of dark academia-esque story. The cover and the blurb certainly give it that air, and I do enjoy that genre, but it's not typically my end-all, be-all. This has some elements of it, for sure, but overall, it's instead this mash-up of DA and fantasy and horror and magical realism and romance, and I just loved how everything fit together in such a unique, interesting way.

I absolutely loved Effy, so, so much. She's been THROUGH IT and she has survived, but she feels it's not enough, and my heart just immediately went to her and stayed with her through her story. Her story is at once original and the story of so many women. She has survived, but she feels it's not enough, that she needs to do more, that she needs to be more, and the feminist message of the book just hit me so hard because it's done so seamlessly and so emotionally.

Equally, Preston stole my affections from the moment we meet him, gruff, snobby guy that he appears to be; he just feels so genuinely sweet, and just so right for Effy, without it ever feeling like Ava was trying too hard.

This quote sums things up for me (and made me clutch the book to my chest and my heart ache):

"Effy laughed again. 'I thought you weren't a romantic.'

'I wasn't,' Preston said, cheeks still pink. 'Until you.'"

💀😭❤️

And the world-building! The lore! I was so taken into this story for the world alone. It's modern-ish, with televisions and phones and cars, but high-fantasy-ish at the same time with some divisive politics at play and a history that I wish we got to explore more. I love how literature is most important here, and though feminism still feels a long ways off, I'd love to find out how Effy contributes to its inevitable rise.

I just. I loved this so much. I can't say enough about it.

[pyjamacryptid]

#don’t hide these golden tags#I would love to be info dumped upon in regards to Arthurian legend and names because I too have an interest in both 👀#bbc Merlin (via @loreylia) Hi hello the screenshot in the reblog above are my tags! I was rather flattered lol but got distracted, forgot about it (thank you adhd), and randomly - for no reason at all - remembered this and so here I am at 10pm on a Sunday night with 30 tabs open to double-check my own claims, so I can talk all your ears off about my niche interests. I hesitated on whether to add to this post or make my own, as I didn't want to hijack OP's post any further, but I thought the context of how this discussion came about would be interesting and helpful! (Sorry OP, I hope this is cool with you). By the way, OP did reblog with further name additions according to suggestions.

Disclaimer before I begin: I'm not an expert in any of these topics, I only find them extremely interesting. Also, I don't claim any of these to be hard cold facts, especially since this is arthuriana we're talking about and there are many different iterations and interpretations and theories, especially with regard to what Geoffrey of Monmouth took inspiration from, debates on what was embellished fact and what was fable. Yadda Yadda. Ok, you got that? You with me? Awesome!

What's The Deal With Merlin's Name?

Merlin, as we know him today - the old wizard, advisor to King Arthur, and known throughout pop culture with his many iterations - is thanks to Geoffrey of Monmouth. Geoffrey of Monmouth was an Anglo-Norman cleric and historian who compiled a History of the Kings of Britain in the 12th century, hundreds of years after King Arthur was said to have "lived" (which he very very very much did not [sorry], but it's theorised to be the 6th century, around the end of the Roman occupation of the British Isles and when the Saxons began to invade. Keep in mind; I am generalising SO MUCH because that's not the focus). Before this, Merlin had his own legends, folklore, beliefs, stories. His place in folklore is older than King Arthur's. And that version of Merlin is not precisely what modern culture knows him as. Geoffrey of Monmouth was inspired by two to three different "Merlins" that he mushed together. A smoothie of a man. Another way of looking at this, is that there were two main stages: pre-Geoffrey, aka the pre-Galfridian Welsh stage in which Merlin was known as a legendary prophet. And then the second stage; Geoffrey transforming Myrddin Wyllt into an internationally renowned wizard named Merlin who plays a crucial role in bringing about the conception of Arthur (he helps Uther out, instead of Nimueh, as we see in BBC Merlin.) So, let's discuss the name of Myrddin Wyllt, which I also mentioned in my tags when I reblogged OP's post. This version of his name is my personal favourite because it's the most Welsh. Most of Geoffrey's writings were inspired by Celtic - specifically Welsh - folklore, legends and history and I will continue to bring this up every time someone refers to King Arthur, Merlin, and Arthuriana at large as only English, no matter what. It had Welsh-inspired origins. ANYWAY Myrddin Wyllt was known as, in short, a Welsh warrior-bard that went mad after seeing his friends die in battle and lived the rest of his days as isolated as he could be in the forest; therefore, a wild man of the woods. Myrddin is a Welsh name meaning "sea fort" and Wyllt - which is more of an epithet - means "the Woods" or "the Wild". Therefore; Myrddin of the Woods/Myrddin of the Wild. This name, in itself, has several versions as well. Such as Merlinus Caledonensis (of Caledonia, the name of a forest in Scotland) and Merlin Sylvestris ("of the woods" in Latin). If you're interested, here's a recorded pronunciation for Myrddin Wyllt in Welsh. So, how did we get Merlin from Myrddin?

It's only the first name but here's my favourite fact ever about Merlin's name and it's about why he's called Merlin in the first place.

Seriously, I will try and bring this fact up whenever I can because it brings me so much stupid joy and is also a great ice breaker.

Geoffrey of Monmouth made his smoothie of a man and then set about naming him, and of course went with one of the names he already had, so as to make him recognisable. He chose Myrddin. However, he couldn't exactly leave the name as it was. He was an Anglo-Norman man writing a book of legends for his fellow non-Welsh people, and thus he had to latinise Myrddin.

However, writing Myrddin in Latin results in Merdinus. Now, if you speak a latin-based language, I bet you're already laughing. I really hope you are.

For everyone wanting me to just fucking get on with it already!!!! .. C'mere. No, come closer. Halve the name. Yeah, just halve it. Do it. You get "Merdi", don't you? Sounds rather a lot like "merde", doesn't it?

"Merde" in Anglo-Norman means "feces". (From the Latin "merda")

He'd named him Shitinus.

Can't have that. The other cleric historians would laugh at him. He'd be a laughing stock. He'd scandalise every elderly woman who could read. Or, if illiterate like most of the population at the time, listen to audio books (some guy orating in the town square).

So, big brain Geoffrey decided he'd switch out the D for an L. Thus Merlinus. Which, eventually, became Merlin.

This also means that; no, sorry but Merlin was not named after the bird. Yep, this bitch me is also into birds. A merlin is a type of kestrel (which is a small falcon). And as much as I adore the homonym, and as much as it is appropriate as Merlin himself is known as a shapeshifter in Arthuriana and loves to be a bird from time to time-- yeah sorry to burst your bubble. His name is not derived from the bird of the same name. It's a crab evolution situation (carcinisation).

Sorry, had to get that off my chest. ANYWAY. Time for the name Emrys. You see, Emrys is also a Welsh name, and it means "Immortal". (Now, connect that to BBC Merlin, and how fucking cool is that. You're called Immortal for a decade or more - maybe far more - of your life before you finally find out what it means and they tell you it means power, it means reverence, it means you stand alongside the sun in what keeps the world turning, but you just feel burdened, empty, tired, and like the mountain you stand on will erode away long before you feel peace.)

Wow where'd that come from. Anyway. Back on track.

I'm also OWO over this graph I found over it's popularity as a baby name and wow, yep, there are baby Emryses out there rn... Back on track back on track back on track back on tr--

In BBC Merlin, I feel like Emrys acts as a title and epithet more than anything, the name of his role as magic itself, what he truly is at his core. It belongs to Merlin and no one else. So, it always feels weird to me when - especially in modern fic - his mother is called Hunith Emrys. I mean, it's cool, it's just that my nerd-brain with too much unnecessary knowledge short-circuits a little bit lol. This is because, as a surname, it means it's typically inherited from your ancestors - exceptions to the rule aside - and so it sort of removes the significance of the name (especially in the context of BBC Merlin, rather than Arthuriana as a whole).

Geoffrey also took Emrys. And he also latinised it. Boom, you get Ambrosius.

Add them together and you get Merlinus Ambrosius.

Emrys/Ambrosius was also the name of a British general/commander/warrior, also known as Ambrosius Aurelianus. Though recently it's apparently?? i think?? been suggested there were two men named Emrys, possibly father and son whose stories were conflated. Anyway, this figure is also part of the smoothie Geoffrey blended to make his Merlin. This figure is said to have led a Romanised Britain against the invading Saxons (and so it's also theorised Geoffrey took a bit of this for his inspiration for King Arthur), and also confronts Vortigern (Uther's father) about his jenga tower having a dragon problem, the same way you might say "yeah mate you got termites".

Ambrosius Aurelianus is also the name of Uther's brother who, in Geoffrey's accounts, led a Romano-British army against the invading Saxons. Wow, familiar. However, this man is not Merlin - in Arthuriana, that is - as they are two people existing at the same time within the legend.

There's far more I want to say but it's 2 minutes to midnight, I have an early start, and my single brain cell is tucking itself in. So. Final thoughts:

Merlin's possessed many names, many epithets, many selves that were blended by Geoffrey of Monmouth armed with a nutribullet, and he also has many stories from his multiple origins that can provide names, too.

Names, such as:

Wild/Wilde

Woods

maybe he tries out Forest/Forrest

Caledonia/Caledonensis

Sylvestris/Sylvester

Silverwood if you want to have something that's pretty subtle but still an homage.

Ambrose

If your Merlin's had many identities thanks to a thousand plus years of existence, I bet he's had some wild ones like Draig (meaning dragon in Welsh). I can also seem him taking on Hunithson for a few lifetimes here and there, in honour of his mother.

You could even do something like Applewood, which is less to do with a name Merlin's been called and more to do with one of Myrddin Wyllt's most well-known legends (in short; after he went mad and ran into the woods, he took a rest in a crabapple orchard, bit into an apple and could now prophesise the future. Typical tuesday.)

Apples were considered to have great significance in celtic lore. How much significance do you ask? Well. Avalon means the Isle of Apples. That's how much significance lmao

I seriously could talk myself in circles about this forever, but I think I'll end this long-winded infodump here. I very much wanted to further infodump about some wild shit Myrddin Wyllt did and Lailoken and demon baby Merlin and and and-- but I tried my best to keep it to the names only, or this post would be longer than it is already.

If you want to know more, or have any questions, feel free to come say hi! I love talking about this stuff! And if you have anything to add, go for it!

In the meantime, thanks for reading! ---

EDIT: I corrected my Latin. I said "merde" was Latin for feces, when actually "merde" is Anglo-Norman for feces, which comes from "merda", the actual Latin word for feces. Oops. When I first typed that, I thought it wasn't quite right lol. In my defence, I did write this near-midnight lmaoooo. I also want to expand on the bit about the Merlin, the bird: the bird's name is derived from the Old French esmerillon via the Anglo-Norman merilun or meriliun. Despite the similarity, and the argument that Geoffrey of Monmouth was Anglo-Norman so there's a possibility; yeah nah. The bird was not named after Merlin and Merlin was not named after the bird. However, the homonym is VERY cool and allows for a lot of fun symbolism.

Choosing Merlin’s full name for your modern au fic alignment chart

(insp)

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 3.5/5

Book Blurb: Bestselling author Ava Reid makes her YA debut in this dark academic fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Elana K. Arnold.

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she’s had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad—Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him—is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it’s her destiny.

But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

Part historical fantasy, part rivals-to-lovers romance, part Gothic mystery, and all haunting, dreamlike atmosphere, Ava Reid's powerful YA debut will lure in readers who loved The Atlas Six, House of Salt and Sorrows, or��Girl, Serpent, Thorn.

Review:

A gothic dark academia mystery featuring two rivals-to-lovers who find themselves hunting down the truth about the author of a famous story... only to find themselves fighting against the Fairy King and other dangers as the truth will come at a price. Effy Sayre lives in a world where women aren't afforded the same opportunities as men, and as the only woman in the architecture college (when she wants to be a literature student but it is forbidden for women to be in the literature college), life is hard enough, especially since she is still reeling from the scandal with her advisor... the one in which people think she slept with him to get ahead when the truth is that she didn't want any of it. Effy's only solace from her haunted visions, her terrible childhood, and the assault she faced is her book Angharad, a book that tells the epic story about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King and destroys him. Effy idolizes the author, Emrys Myrddin and the author himself is shrouded in mystery. Yet when the Myrddin family is offering to let a architecture student redesign the house, Effy knows its her chance to find out more about her author. What she didnt expect was that she would be going with Preston Héloury, a literature scholar who wants to expose Myrddin as a fraud and not the true author of Angharad. Things to also note about this universe is that Effy's home land is at war with its neighbor and one of Preston's parents is from the neighboring war land and he is also faced with prejudices. Effy immediately dislikes Preston because he rented all the books on Myrddin when she wanted them, she is also jealous that he is able to be a literature student. Though they both get off on the wrong foot they both find that they are hunting down the truth of the Fairy King, yet Effy is plagued by visions of the Fairy King and she doesn't know what's real and what's in her head. Yet the more they try to find answers the more danger closes in on them. Will they be able to find the truth before it's too late or will they die trying?

This is Ava Reid's third book and her first young adult novel, it features her gorgeous writing and its definitely an atmospheric read. The story deals with a lot of triggers: sexism/misogyny, a sexually-exploitative power imbalance, grooming, rape and dubcon, ableism, mental illness, an emotionally abusive parent, alcoholism, PTSD and intrusive memories, mentions of drowning, and child abandonment. Effy isn't really a likable character and comes off very very young and the writing feels a bit juvenile at times when it comes to her. I did like the overall mystery but I wish there was some character work on Effy and Preston, I wanted them to be a bit more fleshed out and kind of wished there was a better flow to their romance. I liked the book overall but it's definitely not my favorite of all her books. This is her first young adult novel and it definitely feels young as the characters read a bit more juvenile despite being in college. Overall, it's a beautiful atmospheric gothic read with a dash of mystery, romance, and fantasy!

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[ellorypurebloodculture]

For the ficlet ask: Merlin/Morgan because I love this pairing when you do it.

Aww. Thank you! 💜

Morgan le Fay strokes her hands through her prince-husband's ivory hair as he nuzzles against her silk-clad thigh, the moonlight bathing them in a pool of iridescence. When she leans forward, her loose ebony locks of hair spill forward like the branches of a willow tree, sheltering them from the outside world, rippling with magic.

"How long will you be away?" Morgan queries, already dreading the answer, for she despises any distance between them, even though she knows watching over the Beloved House of Pendragon is one of his duties, for it will eventually ascend to Royal status not long before she and Merlin depart for the Divine Realm.

"Three days," Myrddin Emrys answers, his magic caressing across her skin possessively and protectively, his voice whispering down their bond in her soul, An eternity to be parted from you, my princess.

She kisses him, fierce with want, and states, "You will return to me whole and hale or I shall unmake every living thing on this planet."

[tiodolma]

myrddin the bard of emrys and his 9 attendant bards who went to sea in a house of glass and morgan le fay with the 9 ladies of the blessed isle ...they sure make a pair.

[pippin-katz]

Oh are we gonna start using this name now? I found it on trivia page but I have literally never seen people in this fandom using it, so I didn’t bring it up when I did a poll on Merlin’s last name lol

I’m fine with using it lol

Arthur finding out what Merlin’s actual birth name is:

Arthur: MERLIN! Merlin: *appears* Yes? Arthur: Your name ISN’T MERLIN?? Merlin: I don’t know what you mean Arthur: I just got off the phone with your Mother Merlin: Mmmmm, she promised she wouldn’t tell you Arthur: YOUR NAME IS MYRDDIN WYLLT?? Merlin: Ah, she told you my last name too…got it Arthur: We’ve been dating for 3 years, and you didn’t tell me??

[arisenreborn]

Uno reverse card I am asking you to do questions from your ask game first >:3c Answer my riddles three: The Pawn #3, Arisen & Pawn #2, and Miscellany #3!

You still got me first! XD Now let's see if I can keep my answers roughly condensed. (comes back afterwards) yeah I failed.

(Dragon's Dogma 2 Ask Game)

Pawn #3 - If they were infected with the Dragonsplague, are there any specific ways they would act differently?

Because of that one time Dragonsplague just vanished in his presence, I like to think Rann has a particularly high immunity to it (this maybe has something to do with his red eye also who knows it was there before I knew what DP was), which translates later into actual infection being more subtle and less pronounced. Depending on how well the Pawns around him know him, Reverie is probably the only one who'd actually notice because he'd basically just be glued to her. Much less restrained in being a bit of a mother hen but any tiny fragment of personal space is gone between them also (Reverie is a tea kettle whistling trying to grapple with this). Overprotectiveness goes up considerably so meteor sightings and maelstrom activity has increased in the area. Laughing imagining you don't have to worry about him being a danger to your world because he's just gonna go jump in the brine to go back home to Reverie.

Emrys would be significantly harder to tell until the very final stages tbh. His eyes already had a tint of red to them, and he already had a bit of an attitude problem/streak of defiance, so it's not until it's about too late that you'd start to worry - if you even knew what to worry about. Lots of wandering off (not so weird, but it's the length of time and how far he goes), and starting fights (with monsters, mostly, but that's pointedly not like him, so apologies if he suddenly drags a drake into your fight o7). With Olivia he's icy cold one second and burning hot the next; ignoring and keeping his distance from her or being really possessive and domineering the next.

Arisen & Pawn # 2 - For each of them - Who is their favorite and least favorite NPC?

Reverie has a fondness for Sven, she respects his desire to break free of his circumstances and rise above them, to do and be better - and believes he'll be a positive influence on Vermund in the future. (A bit of my WoL - Alphinaud dynamic leaks in here tbh ^^) She also has a slightly complicated relationship with Srail; they were very close once, but things have changed a lot. Still, she feels a lingering fondness for him, and feels like she can rely and trust him instinctively. There are obvious options for least favorite, but Fiska is the only one she actually invited gratuitous violence on, so I think that might say something... (I think when she arrived at the excavation site she had some pretty severe PTSD going on...) Rann has a scholarly respect for Myrddin, but really gets along with his daughter Trysha. (oh no I'm gonna start spiraling) Just imagining them studying magic together, him teaching her and indeed learning from her as well, and ending up with this incidentally really fucking adorable almost father-daughter relationship that Myrddin (in my eyes) clearly doesn't have with her. And this being one of those areas outside of Reverie where Rann starts to have legitimate human feelings and desires like the thought wouldn't necessarily occur to him yet but definitely that seed, yeah, of maybe he'd like to have kids one day. 😭 He is also deeply intrigued by Phaesus, but it's... complicated... I'd say Phaesus falls into a very hazy zone of 'dislike' because of wariness and a discomfort of coming too close to something keenly similar to himself (that he can't entirely remember, so it's just a Feeling, almost like instinct, which makes it more unnerving.) On the flipside he absolutely cannot abide Lady Elena, the fact that she would harm those she was meant to heal is appalling to him, and Radcliff isn't too much better for being so self-serving in the face of others suffering.

(I just looked back and realized I still have Em and Olivia omfg I can do this I can be brief and concise)

Olivia loves everyone. Except assholes. It's pretty simple, really. But she really loves Wilhelmina and Srail (my Srail simping strikes again). And Ursula. And Keltse, and Sigurd, and- Shorter list of dislikes, apart from the usual suspects, she can't stand Albert, and Philbert is an old racist arse. Deep down, Emrys would claim not to care for anyone. It's what he'd prefer. Unfortunately, deeper down, he's a softie, and has a lot of fun drinking with Keltse, or playing with Daphne and the other kids in the slums. He's a big fan of everything Wilhelmina is doing, and Srail and him have some "history" that made things a bit awkward initially when they met again with Olivia, but they're on above-average good terms now. He surprisingly gets along well with Glyndwr; at first he's just kind of sardonically intrigued by him and yeah, kind of an ass, but Glyndwr doesn't really pick up on that. In the end he can't help but understand what it feels like to not 'fit in' with your kind the way you 'ought to', but finds it... 'inspiring' might be a bit strong, but sure, that he still finds his own way to do so and connect with his people.

Misc. #3 - What would be their go-to fast food order?

I recently went on vacation and we don't have Bojangles where I am but it will haunt me now (KFC wishes it could be Bojangles imho). So Reverie would get a 3pc leg and thighs with double side of Bo-tato rounds and a large sweet tea and a bo-berry biscuit. Live my dream, girl. At Panera Rann gets the pick two order with half a bacon turkey bravo sandwich and half fuji apple chicken salad, and an iced tea. I feel like Olivia would get the Panda Express orange chicken and rice… But Kristi and I both agreed she'd go either way depending on mood from light refreshing salads to a triple cheeseburger. She'd be the type to really customize her order too "no pickle, extra mayo-" etc. And often trying the latest spicy thing on the menu even though they always kill her. I'm giving Emrys my taco bell order: steak grilled cheese burrito and a side of nacho fries - except he's a big energetic guy he'd probably be able to down two burritos.