An excellent take on the Arthurian saga that I wish I had read earlier. The old wizard Merlin serves as our narrator, and this first entry tells the story of Merlin's birth as a bastard Welsh prince, up through his childhood and the conception of the future king Arthur. It paints a vivid picture of sub-Roman Britain, much like Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles, which I recently read and also enjoyed. The Crystal Cave is less gritty than Cornwell's take, less grimy and violent, and filled with a bit more magic and wonder. The pace is slow, almost plodding; Mary Stewart definitely takes her time. This novel doesn't even feature Arthur as a character, though his prophesied coming is a constant background hum for those who recognize the bits of myth and legend Stewart is pulling from.

The writing is excellent, the prose is rich and evocative without straying into flowery territory, and bits of semi-modern slang are woven into the dialogue in a way that feels really natural, which keeps conversations lively and avoids the stiltedness that some older novels can fall victim to.

There's a reason this series is one of the most recommended on lists of the greatest Arthurian tales. Anyone with an interest in Arthur and native British/Welsh history and culture who has already read the Warlord Chronicles and wants something in a similar vein would do themselves a favor reading this novel.