MERLIN'S RINGS

A group of teens discovers a shared connection to Camelot and becomes humanity’s protectors in this YA fantasy debut.

In San Antonio, Texas, 15-year-old Lucas Moreno plays the flute, runs high school track, and loves video games. This average teen’s life is upended when his architect father, Tomás, is gravely injured at a construction site. Before dying in a hospital, Tomás tells Lucas about a box with a silver ring that may only be a “fairy tale.” Six weeks later, Lucas finds a beautifully carved rosewood box among his father’s belongings. The silver ring inside is accompanied by a note explaining that it was “forged by Merlin” to battle evil and was passed down to Moreno men, beginning with Round Table Knight Don Vasquez of Spain. While researching this incredible claim on the internet, Lucas interacts with Oxford professor Morgan Dunmoore, an Arthurian scholar. In a dream, the teen speaks with Don Vasquez and learns that there are other Arthurian artifacts besides the Holy Grail, including the Eye of Buddha and the Hands of Allah. These relics must be saved from the clutches of Mordred, “the bastard heir to Camelot,” whose dark power brings violence into the world. With the help of other ring-powered teens, Desmondo “Des” Jafar Moboto, Maya Hosokawa, and Ryan Casey, Lucas must save humanity from evil. Hoyt’s series opener is a globe-hopping adventure that will rivet budding history and mythology fans. While the heavy hand of “destiny” often steps in to steer the plot, the diverse cast proves entertaining and flaunts a realistic edginess. Ryan, for example, scoffs at the teens’ mission by saying, “Destiny me arse. It’s what the bloody Pope tells the poor to keep ’em down.” Mordred and his agents are a pervasive malevolence, responsible for killing each teen’s father but also inspiring global villainy, such as Japan’s Aum Shinrikyo cult. Deep tensions strengthen the narrative’s second half as the group discovers a potential traitor. Magic helps shorten the travel time between countries, and the grisly action is well choreographed. Fleshed-out antagonists who are truly frightening hint at a compelling sequel.

An immersive tale that effortlessly merges fantasy, history, and mythology.