The Crystal Cave

Not sure if this is the right fit?

Consider The Once and Future King by T. H. White. Recommended by 3 sources.

“Starts as a whimsical, fable-like education story and widens into a long, humane retelling of Arthur's rise, mixing playful episodes, moral debate, and aching melancholy. Most useful as vivid character scenes—Merlyn's odd lectures, wartime passages, and quiet domestic moments—rather than a tight, action-driven saga. Main limitation: uneven tone and periodic authorial intrusions that can slow narrative momentum and feel dated to modern tastes. Best read when you have time to settle into its digressions and mood shifts.”