Review: Young Crusaders, Merlin’s Rings book 1 by Virginia Hoyt, narrated by Steven Ritz-Barr
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.
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Victor Dima
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