The Last Enchantment cover art

The Last Enchantment

Arthurian Saga, Book 3

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Last Enchantment

By: Mary Stewart
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

By land and water shall it go home, and lie hidden in the floating stone until by fire it shall be raised again. Arthur has raised the sword and claimed his birthright as High King of Briton, determined to unite the many tiny kingdoms that make up his country. Now he sits upon his throne at Camelot with Merlin by his side, his most trusted adviser.

But Merlin is growing old, and his sight is dimming. He knows that Mordred, child of Arthur's unknowing union with his half-sister Morgause, will be Arthur's downfall. But he cannot see the future clearly enough to know why, or how - or when. And he's distracted: his gifted young apprentice, Niniane, is more than meets the eye. As Merlin teaches her to control her powers, he seems to lose his own.

Merlin has secured Arthur's place in history. Now he must take his own.

The Arthurian Saga, begun in The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment, continues in The Wicked Day, the story of Arthur's last battle....

©1979 Mary Stewart (P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Fantasy Fiction Historical Fiction Medieval Arthurian Royalty Magic Middle ages

Listeners also enjoyed...

 Nine Coaches Waiting cover art
This Rough Magic cover art
Madam, Will You Talk? cover art
My Brother Michael cover art
Touch Not the Cat cover art
The Ivy Tree cover art
Thornyhold cover art
Wildfire at Midnight cover art
The Moon-Spinners cover art
Airs Above the Ground cover art
The Gabriel Hounds cover art
The Mists of Avalon cover art
Thunder on the Right cover art
Rose Cottage cover art
The Gold-Son cover art
Sidroc the Dane: A Circle of Ceridwen Saga Story cover art
All stars
Most relevant  
I read the hardback copy years ago,and the audio version is even better. I only read the trilogy back then so looking forward to the 4th and 5th also now on audio.

Better than I remembered!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I am 4.5 books through the 5 book Arthurian series by Mary now. I suspect that this series has had a wider impact than many modern Arthurian writers care to admit, maybe because Mary spent the rest of her time writing romance novels. This foray into Arthuriana at a time when nobody else was doing it (this is pre Mists of Avalon) must have seemed a bit left field at the time for her existing fan base. I loved the first book, particularly young Merlin, I could have happily stayed in young Merlin’s world for the entire series. Towards the end of the second book I decided to switch to Audible instead and found it easier to get through the third book. I’m now halfway through TWD but haven’t picked it up for a while. I’m struggling to understand why. It may be because the portrayals of women feel dated at times, and even two-dimensional. Yet the portrayals of men are rich and multilayered, particularly the leaders of men types. I do wonder if this series prompted the feminist retellings that came in the 80s. Mary really doesn’t do women justice, perhaps the final book will be slightly better in that way. Regardless of these criticisms, these books have a bizarre and uncanny magic. At times, I feel they are revealing little truths rather than telling a story. The level of detail and research is extraordinary. The insight into the past the books have given me for my spiritual journey into British mysticism has felt like sitting down for a lesson at times (and Mary was a former lecturer and schoolteacher). There is something here in these books that is rare and I’m not surprised they are largely forgotten by modern Arthuriana fans. I would say they are worth the time and perseverance, particularly if you are on a spiritual path. Also the narrator is excellent.

Dated depictions of women sometimes yet memorable

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
+What can I say ? This brilliant novel completes the series. It takes me back to the early 1970's, when I read it for the first time. I remember being enthralled at such good writing, imbued with atmosphere and adventure. Merlin can appear somewhat arrogant - but who wouldn't be with such immense power. A great book and series that has retained its "pulling power " and enjoyment.
I still cannot praise the narrator highly enough. He made the book even better than it is.

Great

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I live in North Wales. I was invited for High Tea at the home of a very close friend. She knows that I’m a follower of Arthurian Legend. She also invited a close friend, godmother to his daughters, who is one of the World’s leading authorities of Arthurian Legend who was at Oxford University. My friend lives on Anglesey,also known as Mona, which is one of the last strongholds of the druids. The extension of their home was built with nails and wood From the Spanish armada. We talked for hours in before we left I ask him where is the closest place that is mentioned in many the books …a place that kept falling down. He said there was a white and a red dragon living in a lake underneath where they were building the foundation.It is in snowdonia. We live in a secluded small holding with no neighbours that overlooks the mountains of Snowdonia. One day we made a day trip to Snowdonia and which is the place in clambered up the side of what used to be

Red and white dragons

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’ve really enjoyed rediscovering these books with Derek Perkins. As a child I remember being disappointed with this final book but listening to it now, as an adult, I appreciated it more. I was so relieved with the ending!

Perfect end to the Merlin trilogy

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I enjoyed this book for the detail and description of everyday matters. Not an exact match to Mort de Artur, but this was written several centuries after the time of Arthur. Good story though.

Arthurian legend from Merlins pov

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I first read this series when I was young and impressionable and found them to be captivating and wonderful. Now that I am old and impressionable I am happy to find joy in these excellent spoken editions.
A wondetful author transformed by an excellent narrator telling timeless tales.
Thank you.

Enchanting. Entrancing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Having listened to the three Merlin books in succession, I feel truly submerged in that history.
I first read these books as a teenager and still have my battered paperback of The crystal cave.
I was a bit worried that the story and the reading would not live up to fond memories, but no such thing.
Provided you can listen to long, in depth descriptions and explanations, this trilogy is a wonderfully immersive experience of Merlin's life.
Derek Perkins's narration is calm but never boring and thoroughly convincing.
Highly recommended all round.

A legend told in true style

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I first read this book in the 80s it was nice to return.. to the Merlin story so well thought out.

A story revisited

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Read this trilogy several times and really enjoyed it. The audible books are well read and enhance the drama of the Arthurian legend. Well worth listening to.

Best trilogy

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews