Rating: 
Summary: I'm sorry, but I have to go with the tedious approach...
Review: I picked up this book because I was awaiting Mists of Avalon, for which I was number 17 on the hold list at the library. The Forest House looked okay, and it was all on the way, being a prequel to the Mists. At home, I opened the book and read, but found the text so lengthy and dull! Maybe I was just too anxious to skim through the book and get the basics needed to enjoy the Mists, but in my opinion, Marion Zimmer Bradley stretched out the story at least 200 pgs. more than necessary. The plot was simple enough and we could have gotten the point without the extra babble. Eilan is a young priestess in training in the Forest House (where Druid priestesses have gathered in recovering from Roman conquer and the rape that came of it). Eilan is in love with a young Roman soldier named Gaius, also called Gawen. (Not to be confused with the story of Priestess of Avalon.) Their love is forbidden - this is before the Beltane tradition - but obviously it happens anyway. They have a son (Gawen) who appears to be just one of the background in the long run, though he is constantly said to be fated as the Sacred High King. The book finally ends with Eilan and Gaius's death, together and in love. Gawen (the son) is sent to Avalon with Eilan's friend, the priestess Caillean, who had reestablished the Driud house there. If you're a huge Marion Zimmer Bradley/Mists of Avalon fan and crave more, then you'll probably like this book, but it is definitely not worth your time if you just wanted the Mists.
Rating: 
Summary: Go estrogen go!
Review: The set up-- that a young Druid Priestess shares a forbidden love with a half-breed Roman soldier that threatens to destroy both their worlds-- promises gory battles, love scenes, triumphs and tragedy. Marion Zimmer Bradley delivers all in spades. Focusing primarily on the females characters, she does a great job of arcing the main character, Eilan from care-free child to Warrior-Priestess. Zimmer Bradley gives us an interesting, extremely dense story that mixes action, magic and romance into a female-empowering tale. The characters are fairly sympathetic, especially when suffering frustrated love pangs, and thesub plots are just as intriguing as the main story line. Though the story sometimes strays too much into Female Empowerment Land (thanks to chapters devoted to menstrual blood rites and spell casting), Forest House presents lots of cliffhangers and surprises. MUCH better than its sequel, LADY OF AVALON.
Rating:
Summary: Slow
Review: As a huge fan of Bradley's, and holding "The Mists of Avalon" up high as my favorite book of all time, I must confess I was very disappointed in this book. I was so excited when I heard there was a prequel to the "Mists of Avalon" I rushed out to get it. Owning and cherishing Bradley's other books. This book went along very slowly and did not keep my interest as does so many of her other books. I had to force myself to read it though.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow.
Review: This book really stayed with me. I received it as a gift, and since I do not normally enjoy British/Druidic lore, I really started reading it out of politeness. But almost as soon as I began it I was hooked. Extremely well written, encompassing fascinating themes, and with a haunting reality to the characters and to pagan lore and rituals, it was riveting throughout. I also found the Roman history and politics involved interesting, and the changing/dying role of the 'old' religion with the onset of Christianity. I have now read it twice, and will definitely be reading Mists of Avalon, since I feel as though I would like to "stay in touch" with the characters and their descendants. I am very interested to see how this book will tie into Bradley's retelling of the Arthurian legend for which I understand it is the precursor. I reccomend it highly!
Rating:
Summary: Spell-binding!
Review: I read the series backwards, and all three books were equally wonderfull. The Mists of Avalon I actually think is the best one, but the Forest House is the first in the series and is positively beautifull. I wish I would have started out in the right direction. This book practicly glues you to the story in the first chapter and keeps you there till the end. You endur the trials and feel the strength of the characters as if you were really there. Bradley works her magic bringing you into a realistic story that spins you into a world full of magic, action and romance. This is a can't miss book.
Rating:
Summary: Historical Novel of Avalon & The Lady Of The Lake
Review: Marion Zimmer Bradley's "The Forest House" is a prequel to her bestselling Arthurian novel, "The Mists of Avalon." Both novels revolve around the goddess religion in early Britain. "The Forest House," set in 1st century Roman ruled Britannia, is the home of Druidic priestesses who keep the ancient rites of learning, healing, and magic lore. Ms. Bradley writes of the Roman conquest of Celtic Britain and the political and religious implications of the occupation. Roman rule also impacted the role of women in Britain. Goddess worship, women's freedom and power waned under the Romans. This novel gives the author's historical version of Avalon and the Lady of the Lake. Eilan, the daughter of a Druidic warrior and granddaughter of Ardanos, Arch-Druid of Britannia, is gifted with the "sight" and has longed to serve the Goddess as a healer-priestess in the Forest House. She meets and falls in love with Gauis, a half Roman-half British youth, and son of the Roman Prefect Macellius Severus, second-in-command in Britainnia. They want to marry but are forbidden. Heartbroken, Eilan fulfills her original wish and dedicates herself to the Lady. Ms. Bradley blends a fascinating story with accurate research to give the reader a good picture of early Britain and the various political, cultural and religious factions, both local and Roman, which vied for power there. Bradley's narrative is clear and her plot is believable, as are her characters. I prefer "The Mists of Avalon," not just because of the subject matter, but because the plot and characters are more complex. However, this is a solid novel with a sound plot and worth the read.
JANA
Rating:
Summary: Truly Wonderful!!!
Review: I loved this book. It was fantastic, thou maybe not a great as the Mists of Avalon it was amazing. I recommend it to people that are interested in early Britain times. And also I think that you will like it more if you read this book first. It is the story of Eilan Guis two people from completely different in a way, places and falling the love. The book then follows their lives, for around 30 years when they are reunited for one last time.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: I just had to buy this book after I had read the other Avalon books. But this one sort of stood out. It's really well written and Bradley has this way of hooking you onto her books. It is really uncanny on how a person could have written something so incredible. It went really well but, I sort of thought Gaius as a sissy almost at the end because he just couldn't let go of the fact that it was beyond Eilan's wishes to marry him. Even though they loved each other to death. It was kind of a Romeo and Juliet drama thing. But I really do love this book. It does end in really sad ending, but thats what makes you love the book even more, because it makes you think and use your own mind and you can then relate it to yourself with the same event and see if you would've done the same thing. I do urge every Marion Zimmer Bradley fan to atleast read this book once in your lifetime. You probably won't regre it.
Rating:
Summary: Do yourself a favor and don't get the audio version
Review: I read the book and I also listened ot it on tape(I know go figure). The story is a classic forumla boy meets girl, girl loses girl and so on. It is excellent and a nessacary step for all "Avalon" lovers-5 stars for the book Now to the bad part The audio edition: Only problem is the narator. She just goes on and on in a monotone no vocie inflection(I don't even think she stopped to breath!). Overall-Read the book, don't get it on tape
Rating:
Summary: The Forest House
Review: Not the best in the series, but great in and of itself. This is the beginning, where the line of Morgain and Viviane is rooted.
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