The Mists of Avalon - Marion Zimmer Bradley

Now a well known part of the fantasy and legends canon it seems, I'm glad I finally got round to reading this engrossing book. Essential for anyone moved by the tragic but eternal Arthurian saga, this one has less cinematic description (as in the old simple tales), but all the deeper emotion and intrigue of the court and some thrilling tensions between characters. All this is deftly handled through the wisdom and skill of the author, who succeeds in covering the whole period. My only criticism that stops me giving it 5 stars is it's a bit overlong, due to often and unnecessarily reminding us of the character backgrounds. However, the great story ...  Read the complete review

Mists of Avalon What is life doing with us? What do we do with our life? You can read a book, you can understand a book but it is also possible to live a book. In the human fantasy is enough space for a fairytale that we would like to belief in. Didn't we trust in the fairytales that grandma told us? Are you still fascinated from fairytales, which can be in your mind live and seems to be true? Books aren't for me Pages, who wanted to be reed in the meaning of consume. There is always a new space in my mind that wanted to be filled with Marion Zimmer Bradley words. The reading will be unconscious and the thoughts find ...  Read the complete review

This is the finest novel about the Arthurian legent, although it really focuses on the the much maligned Morgan Le Fey. The beauty of this book is in its delightful characterisations and earthy dark age feel which puts me in mind of the wonderful works of Henry Treece. Marion Bradley takes a sensitive view of the clash of religion and of a King who despite his strength wavers weakly between serving the old Gods and the demands of the new faith. Marion also seems to be very knowledgeable about the Old Faith and the mysteries of the Goddess and with his knowledge she really allows you to peep from the darkness and into the ceremonies of a bygone time. Please give ...  Read the complete review

This is yet another Arthurian retelling but it is so much more than that. It takes legendary but cardboard cutout characters and turns them into real people. It takes black and white mythology and turns it into every shade of grey. This is more than worth reading. The best thing about this book is that no-one does it right although everyone tries to. Which makes it very real. Everyone is trying to do what they think best and in the end they all lose in one way or another. It is the story of a family of sisters brought up by the eldest, Vivian, who becomes the Lady of the Lake on the mythic isle of Avalon. Her sisters are Igraine, mother of ...  Read the complete review

Traditionally, the women in the Arthurian myths have appeared only as shadowy figures in the background, mothers, wives and betrayers who get little explanation. The Mists of Avalon is a retelling of the story from the perspectives of the female figures within it, Igraine, Arthur's mother, Morgaine - sister and seducer of Arthur, Viviann -lady of the lake, Guinever - Christian and adulteress, Nimue - betrayer of Merlin and many others. Rich, diverse and offering a brave alternative to the well known story, this tale treats all of the protagonsist with equal sympathy as it watches a pagan King transformed into a Christion idol by the efforts of his wife. As the old ...  Read the complete review