Young Crusaders

Merlin’s Rings, Book One

By: Virginia Hoyt

Narrated by: Steven Ritz-Barr

Elaine "The Mink" LaCroix has just cat-burglared into a temple in Japan and reaches for the Eye of Buddha - a blazing green emerald as big as a man's fist - when she slumps to the ground. A white bony hand strips the glowing silver ring from her finger. Half a world away, Merlin opens his eyes and whispers, "It is not to be, little Mink", then drifts to the sleep of the enchanted.

The year is now, and the only ones standing between light and darkness are four unlikely teenagers and an Oxford professor. The defeat of the Dark Powers depends on their locating the legendary wizard, Merlin, and finishing a quest begun by their Camelot forefathers...all over the course of a one-week Spring Break.

Lucas Moreno lives in Texas, and he is joined by the others - from Morocco, Japan, and Ireland. They share only two things: the inheritance of medieval rings forged by Merlin, and the murders of their fathers. The rings set the Crusaders on a path where they must battle human monsters and fantastical creatures to save the world and each other. It could be right out of one of Lucas's video games. Only this one's for real.

©2021 Virginia Hoyt (P)2021 Steven Barr

Loved this book…

Loved this book…story was amazing and kept me on the edge. If you liked Harry Potter you will enjoy this book.

Wonderful blend of history, magic and adventure

The first book in the Merlin's Rings saga is a promising start by author Virginia Hoyt and enthusiastically narrated by Steven Ritz-Barr. This globe-trotting adventure mixes Arthurian legend, world cultures and chosen teens as heroes poised to defeat the appropriately sinister villains. It's clear a lot of research has gone into portraying the different cultures' myths, artifacts and customs in a way that is a fun read for kids and young adults. Perfect for libraries and youth centers looking to entice the young to world history and mythology. Ritz-Barr does an admirable job incorporating the teens, villains and the titular wizard Merlin into his repertoire and the chapters fly by as the adventure takes its many twists and turns, setting up the series for more perilous adventure to come.

Perfect for fans of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson

Young Crusaders is the first excellent adventure in the Merlin’s Rings series of YA Fantasy novels written by Virginia Hoyt. The writing is good, the action flows naturally, the good characters are endearing and the bad ones are worthy of our hatred.

The story follows four unlikely teenagers and an esteemed Oxford professor as they try to save the world from the approaching darkness that threatens to plunge humanity into chaos and despair. It seems that the Legend of King Arthur is real and in this epic tale, our heroes are tied to the Knights of the Round Table and must find the legendary wizard Merlin, because he is the only one that could stop the threatening evil before it’s too late.

Narrator, storyteller, voice Actor, and SAG-AFTRA member for more than 30 years, Steven Ritz-Barr delights and entertains the listener with a top-notch performance. His voice is pleasant, he reads, he acts, he brings to life all the characters, locations, epic adventures and events of Young Crusaders with enthusiasm and talent.

Steven switches seamlessly and effortlessly between voices and credible accents, while at the same time striking a perfect balance between the narrative and the dialog. I consider him an excellent choice as the narrator for Young Crusaders and I really hope that he will continue to record the series.

I highly recommend Young Crusaders for kids of all ages, young adults, teenagers, and grown-ups alike because it is well-written, entertaining, thrilling, dramatic, and filled with fantastic adventures. If you like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, you may also enjoy Young Crusaders tremendously.

Young Crusaders could turn out to be the perfect gift for yourself, for your kid, your favorite nephew, niece, or for anyone else who enjoys this kind of fantastic stories.