Rating: 
Summary: From the Feminine Point of View, Not Feminist
Review: Many of Marion Zimmer Bradley's books are rather fluffy fantasies, fun and light. This is not the case with the mystical, magical "The Mists of Avalon." This spendid book is a retelling of the King Arthur legend from the point of view of the women involved, principally, Morgaine, King Arthur's half-sister and Priestess of Avalon, and Gwenhwyfar, the Christian princess and future Queen of Camelot.Although "The Mists of Avalon" has been criticized as being a "feminist" book, I don't think this criticism holds up. Yes, the author chose to focus on the conflicts and emotions of the women involved, but their gender is far less important in the book than is their religion. Morgaine, as a Druid and Priestess of the Goddess, is struggling to keep her dying religion alive against the growth of Christianity and Gwenhwyfar. The main character in "The Mists of Avalon" is Morgaine and we follow her from childhood to her rise as a priestess on the mystical Isle of Avalon, the home of the druids of the Old Religion, the religion of the Goddess. Avalon, as can be deduced from the book's title, is surrounded by swirling, protective mists that cause it to be invisibe to all but the initiated. Morgaine's life, down to its very core, is shaped both by her desire to serve the Goddess and by her despair at seeing the Old Religion being tossed aside in favor of Christianity, by royalty and the common people alike. The book also focuses on Gwenhwyfar, and we are privy to her first meeting with Arthur when, as an innocent child, she crosses through the mists of Avalon to the other side. As Queen, she is a guilt-ridden figure who turns to Christianity in her desire to bear a child and begs Arthur to do the same, thus bringing about the fall of Camelot. While I found Morgaine to be a character of depth, intelligence and tremendous emotional range, Gwenhyfar came off as shallow, jealous and more than a little suspicious. Viviane, The Lady of the Lake, who also plays quite a role in this book, seems to be a little too manipulative, but very interesting, nonetheless. Anyone interested in Wiccan rituals will find this book extremely interesting. The transformations from ordinary woman to priestess and the effects of the Old Religion on the "modern" world are simply part and parcel of this book's magic. This is a long book, but don't let its length put you off. It is an extremely fascinating and pleasant read and it's quite easy to find a stopping place should you need to put the book down (though I doubt you'll want to). Those looking for historical accuracy regarding the rise of Christianity in Britain should look to another book. "The Mists of Avalon" is entertainment, pure and simple. The portrayal of Druidism and the focus on the priestesses of Avalon, descended from the lost island of Atlantis, the frequent visits to the land of the Fairy--all of this places this book squarely within the fantasy genre, rather than the historical realm. And, all to the good. I found "The Mists of Avalon" to be an all-absorbing book and one that gave me a new perspective on the Arthurian legend. The women involved became more real to me, with many new facets and aspects of personality. I am so glad I read this book. I found it magical, mystical and unforgettable and it's one book I am recommending to everyone I know, whether they are fantasy addicts or not.
Rating:
Summary: Excellently Executed
Review: This is an excellent rendition of the Arthurian legends. Since the legends of Arthur and his knights are very well known, there wasn't a whole lot of creative license Bradley could take with the tale. However, the point of view, and the developing of the female characters that tend to stay in the background is what makes this retelling so unique. Also, Bradley pays a great deal of attention to Avalon itself and the goings on there. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down!
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Summary: A book this good only comes out once in a lifetime.
Review: The author of this book is my new idol. I cried when something would happen to the characters. I have never been so inspired by a book and now all i can think about is how i wish i can be there and help the people. i know this might sound stupid but i love this book and anyone who says otherwise is probably not a fan of books. so if you do like to read i recommend this to you and only wish that you get a chance to read a masterpeice.
Rating:
Summary: A Lifetime
Review: To be perfectly honest, I didn't enjoy myself entirely while reading Mists because there are times when the language was too much for me. But then something would grab me. Something about the humanistic traits of the characters. Every one of them has some demon that they have to deal with, either emotional, religious, or in dealings with other people.
Morgaine became a real person to me, and I wish that I could have a real conversation with her, just to get her insight on what life is like. Her tale is one of love, vengeance, anger, happiness (though it is few and far between), and prophecy. Who could ask for more, eh? But in all seriousness, if Marion Zimmer Bradley was still alive, I would be the first one in line to have a simple conversation about the magic that this book is.
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Summary: My Favourite Book
Review: This is by far the best book i have ever read. It is captivating and extreamly realistic, with indepth charcters. I am a great fan of the arthurian legend, and of history in general. The first books i read that got me into king arthur was the warlord chronicles by bernard cornwell. I then went searching for king arthur books. i found mzb's avalon trilogy in a bookshop, all priced the same, and i chose the mists of avalon as it was the biggest and best value for money. after the first chapter i fell completely in love with the book. it enthralled me from the start. the story of igraine and utgur was fasci8nating, and i could not stop reading it. as i was at school at the time, i even read it during lessons, and whenever i could. i stayed up nearly all nights trying to read more and more of it. I found it difficult to find places to stop and put the book down for a while because interesting things kept of happening, it had my complete attention at all times. I loved the way the characters were described, they were not only different and interesting people but their characterisation by mzb went deeper than that. she made it possible for you to understand every character and why they did things. after the first time i read it i did not like some characters, but i understood them completely. One of the most important parts of the book is the fact that Morgaines fall is described so fully and with such sympathy. you can see it coming but it still takes you by surprise when it happens, her downfall is also completed by her son who tried to love his parents. Morgaine is the best character in a book i have ever come across she is the only one who truelly seemed real, and that anyone can connect with her and understand what she is going through. another thing i find fascinating is the religious issues involved in the story, in a way it seems biased, but its not really, both religions are spoken for by two main characters, and morgaine even says there is nothing wrong with christianity, it is a complete way of telling facts that were happening. I have read many other king arthur books, and never have i come across one so epic in its storytelling, and so magnificant. Mzb's other books are also amazing but they never quite live up to this, i dont think that anything ever will be able to.
Rating: 
Summary: Original, complex take on the Arthurian legends
Review: "The Mists of Avalon" is much more than a simple reformulation of the traditional Authurian legends. First, it is one of the premier fantasy novels of the late 20th century. Not only does it successful incorporate most of the themes of the fantasy genre, but it also sets a new standard by which all later works will be judged. I was particularly impressed with the way Marion Zimmer Bradley was able to incorporate all the elements of the Arthurian myths in such a unique and creative way. Second, there is no denying that the book is a significant statement of feminist philosophy. Bradley carefully explores the transition from matriarchal to patriarchal society with the advent of civilization. At times I felt like I was reading textbooks from my college Women's Studies courses. Third, "Mists of Avalon" explores the rise of Christianity and its inevitable clash with pagan religions. Here is where I thought the book stumbled. Bradley spends most of the book exploring the idea that Christianity was intolerant of other religious beliefs and aggressively sought to eradicate them. I found the ending (which I won't reveal) inconsistent with Bradley's formulation of Christianity and the beliefs of Avalon. Nevertheless, there are many layers to this beautifully crafted novel. Whatever their personal philosophy or beliefs, readers will be challenged by the multitude of viewpoints. My biggest complaint about the novel is that I felt it could have used a better editor. I love long, complex books, but this is a story that could have been told in 450-600 pages, not the 800+ of my paperback edition. When I found myself getting bogged down in the middle of the book, I skipped about 100 pages and didn't feel like I'd missed a thing in terms of plot, character development or theme.
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Summary: Fresh Foray Into Arthurian Times
Review: You could almost swear by the way it was written that The Mists of Avalon tells of real historic personages and not just those whose existence is still disputed by scholars today. We get more than just the usual peek at the characters, especially the women, than is usual in Arthurian novels; Marion Zimmer Bradley, through writing that gives the impression of being well researched, bares the psyches of her characters to us, giving compassion and kindness to even those considered villainous (Mordred and Morgause), and a hardness typical of being very human to some usually admired (Guinevere/Gwenhwyfar).
The only thing here that could possibly dismay close followers of Arthurian stories is the lack of the Merlin's immense participation all throughout. For although we are told that he is present at the important events in society, not much is gleaned about what he is really like on the inside, as he is uncharacteristically written about more casually than some other protagonists of the story. However, maybe this is the tale that diminishes the Merlin's role so that readers could more substantially know about the others. After all, there have been other books written about the Merlin, as well as of the escapades of the Knights of the Round Table. The Mists of Avalon takes but a different approach to the oft-repeated yarn, albeit one that is a uniquely sensitive and very three-dimensional retelling. It is a beautiful book.
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Summary: Beyond a fantasy tale
Review: As a non-native English speaker and non-believer in any religion, it's the first time that I've ever heard of King Arthur. I fell in love with the book immediately. Sure enough, the enchanting mists and an ancient saga are captivating; but what shaked me to my very bone is its depth in describing a world of conflicts: a falling culture (tribes lived by hunting) and emerging new culture (agricultural society with strict feudal hierarchy); male dominance vs female dominance; one fading religion which embraced life force vs a new religion which denied life denouncing them as 'sins'; spiritual vs secular; love vs lust; faith vs judgment... This is a book that I will cherish for a long time.
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Summary: nothing like this before
Review: i read this book with skepticism of it because it is a fantasy novel but it is the best book i ever read. It also has a lot of feminist overtones which is another reason why i love this story.
Rating:
Summary: Labyrinthine Tale of Change and Intrigue
Review: Written from the point of view of several, influential women at Arthur's legendary court, Marion Zimmer Bradley weaves a tragic tapestry of intrigue, doubt, and nostalgia. As the characters step into a new world, each one deals with the insecurities created by the shifting paradigm in varying ways. The tale is not just a sweeping, alternative retelling of the Arthurian legend but a more personal story of trying to cope with change: first by acknowledging its inevitability (and the perils of resistance) and then by improvising unique ways to adapt one's life to transition. The author includes enough historical and literary linkages (e.g. references to Beowulf and Oedipus, St. Patrick and St. Brighid, the withdrawal of Rome from Britain with only a few Roman-British warriors to help natives counter the barbarian invasion). The length of the book proved to be a barrier in that some of the plots and information garnered in the beginning of the story receded into the mists of memory by the second half. I found it difficult to keep up with all the support cast. The personalities of the characters were also subject to sudden changes that in a few instances seemed arbitrary, but perhaps the mystery surrounding the identities of the characters inhabiting Bradley's Britain is part of the mists that become a grand motif. Transience of all things and the dynamic flux that controls every aspect of the land and its people are the dominant themes, far outweighing the clash of religions and cultures that visually overshadows the underlying story. One would think, though, that not all Christians were so simple-minded and petty and that many more people would tread the path of Taliesen or Kevin than their more zealous peers. Despite these drawbacks, few and far in between, the epic deserves an equal place next to T.H. White's Arthurian tale.
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