The Birth of Merlin vs The coming of the king: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Merlin, Wizards, Adaptations, Arthurian romances
vs
The coming of the king
Was Merlin only a legend—or a man of history?In The Quest for Merlin, acclaimed historian and author Nikolai Tolstoy undertakes a bold and fascinating investigation into one of Britain's most enduring and enigmatic…
The verdict
- Readers rate The coming of the king highest: The coming of the king 4.1 · The Birth of Merlin 3.5.
- The Birth of Merlin is the quickest read — about 1 hours vs 11 for The coming of the king.
- The coming of the king has the widest readership — 174 ratings behind its score.
- The Birth of Merlin runs the darker storyline; The coming of the king stays the lighter read.
How to choose
Want a one-evening read?
The Birth of Merlin
≈ 1h vs 11h for The coming of the king
New to the genre?
The coming of the king
Moderate vs Demanding for The Birth of Merlin
In the mood for something dark?
The Birth of Merlin
a darker storyline than The coming of the king
Want something lighter?
The coming of the king
an easier tone than The Birth of Merlin
Scores by source
| The Birth of Merlin | The coming of the king | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.3 (43) | 4.2 (174) |
| Hardcover | — | 3.0 (3) |
Reception
| The Birth of Merlin | The coming of the king | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 43 | 174 |
| Editions | 15 | 8 |
| Film adaptations | — | 1 |
| Want to read | 50 | 70 |
| Reading it now | 2 | 8 |
| Written reviews | 6 | 29 |
| Wikipedia attention | 374 | 243 |
| Pages | 55 | 607 |