Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: This was one of the best books I have ever read. It contains all the great characters from the Arthurian legend and provides us with an in-depth characterization. I loved the plot-line and the wonderful descriptions. I have recommended this to friends and they have read it and loved it. This is a slightly long book, but the intensity at which it was written makes the pages turn quickly.
Rating:
Summary: Entrancing! You'll want to be a born-again pagan.
Review: A brilliant reinterpretation of the Arthurian Legend as told from the perspective of the women arround him. More than just the story of Arthur's kingship; it is the story of what went out of their world forever when christianity (male) supplanted wicca (female). Contrary to their usual portrayal, Arthur and Lancelet are not heroes and Gwynyfar is far from perfect (in fact, she's despicable). All the characters are tragic, but Morgaine is so finely and beautifully drawn, that I have read the book several times over the years.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING!
Review: I read this book last year and I loved it so, so, so much that I am reading it again. The character I liked best was Gwenhwyfar (believe me), and I think her a great woman, a strong one, despising some bad things she did. Morgaine too made bad things and anyone complained about that! But, anyway, the 2 are the best and I care for them very much. I gladly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: The definition of a good book!
Review: I had forgotten my love for reading after going through so many books that didn't hold my attention. The Mists of Avalon reminded me of my love for a good book and got me hooked on Marion Zimmer Bradley. This book is a perfect blend of romance, action, magic and just plain creativity that binds you to the story and leaves you begging for more. This book tells the Arthurian legend through the eyes of the women around King Arthur's life. It tells the story of the strength of Morgain (his sister), Igraine (his mother) and Guenivere (his wife). It wonderfully portrays the bravery of these women in such a brutal time, without taking away the romance and insecurity's women feel. Beautiful book. Be sure to read the Forest House and Lady of the Lake also, which take place before The Mists of Avalon although Bradley wrote them afterward. I started with the Mists of Avalon and had no trouble at all. Marion Zimmer Bradley was a genious. I'm terribly gratefull to her for giving me something to refresh my mind.
Rating:
Summary: Fantabulous!
Review: Huge long books, I love 'em, and I think that this is a largely female thing. I know very little about Arthurian legend, despite being a Brit. It all seemed a bit Hawkwind to me. But I first read this novel in 1988, and have read it twice since. It has become my second favourite novel after Gone with the Wind. They're both about strong women at odds with society, lusting after weak men who'll never be any good for them! I feel for Morgaine. What is the attraction for niminy-piminy Gwenhyfar? So what if she's a blonde bombshell? Morgaine sounds far sexier with her black locks, tattoos and sorcery. She has the better life as well, studying witchcraft, seeing the future and roaming the land. Thumbs up to Marion Zimmer Bradley and what must have been exorbitant research. It reads extremely well, the characters are realistic, the stories keep you glued to the page. I am not aware of other interpretations of King Arthur and his ilk. I get the impression that Morgan le Fay doesn't get dealt a good hand in many of them. Another look at the legend.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST Arhturian Sage ever written
Review: This story is a definate must for any lover of Arthurian History. Marion Bradley's telling of the story of Arthur is unlike any I have ever read. The story is told mainly by Morgaine (Arthur's half sister) and Vivianne (Arthur's aunt)and the lady of the lake. They fight to keep the old (pagen) reigion alive in Brittania. Arthur is sworn to be the Defender of Avalon who will keep the Goddess alive in the world of men. Plans seem to go correctly until Arthur marry's Gwenyfar(a pious and Fanatical Christian) who manipualtes and persuades Arthur to Betray his oath to Avalon. Written in perfect detail the characters seem almost non-fictitious as this book will capture you relentressly from beginning to end. Their are not enough words in the world to describe the impact this book will leave.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book
Review: I really loved they authors tecnique and style that was used in writing this book. She shows you sides of the King Arthur charactors that you have never seen before. Everyone has done some evil and no one is all good which adds contrast an texture to each characture. This novel is written from the view of women in that period of Britain, these smart, cunning, seductive and beautiful characters are cast away in other novels as just the bearers of children. This novel helps bring them the appreciation they deserve. At first I did not want to read this book because it appeared to long but once I had read the first few pages I was drawn into the book and couldnt put it down. I became one with the characters and felt all the sorrow that was in their hearts especially the lady Morgaine who in mosst other novels is cast of as a witch and a sorceress. This novel touches upon her deep love for Arthur that views him as the child she was sworn to protect, her religion and vows to the Godess which force to her commit horrible crimes that she wishes not do. This novel has everything adventure, romance, action, religion and many other wonderful elements. If you read this novel which I strongly suggest you do you will remeber it forever as the reading expierence of a lifetime. Ride away to the beuatiful Avalon and explore enchanting castle of Camelot. READ THIS BOOK!:}(forgive my spelling it is very late)
Rating: 
Summary: HEY YOU! Wipe that Mist off of your Glasses
Review: What is 40% Arthurian legend, 20% Celtic mysticism, 20% religious commentary, 15% feminist diatribe, and 5% harlequin romance novel? M.Z. Bradley's "Mists of Avalon" is."Mists" is the epic tale of the legendary king of Britain and his companions of the round table, recounting the whole of Arthur's life, from cradle to grave. Unusual to "Mists" is the point of view. It is written entirely from the perspective of the female characters: his half-sister, Morgaine; his wife, Guenivere; his aunt, Morgase. As a result battles and invasions are often talked about as hearsay and recollection, but seldom occur in the story itself. Instead, the reader is privy to those events that the female characters would have been present for: feast days, love scenes, and endless hours of bantering and spinning in the royal court. Taking this a step farther, the narration is only omniscient for the female characters - an affective literary device. The characters have plenty of time to develop over the course of six decades and 800+ pages. Bradley is good at describing the changes in personality that come with age, and isn't afraid to give each character individual strengths, flaws, and idiosyncrasies. For example Guenivere is portrayed as near sighted and agoraphobic, while the brave Sir Lancelot has a propensity towards sweet music. However, some of the characters are inconsistent in their behaviors, changing their minds from one chapter to the next. Perhaps is it was due to poor nutrition. Bradley takes the well known story of Arthur and casts it in a different light, using the opportunity of a captive audience to discuss just about every hot button issue there is: abortion, rape, adoption, homosexuality, senility, and various types of mental illness. Chief among her issues to discuss was the narrow mindedness of the brand of Christianity that was spreading throughout Europe. After a while, I felt as if Bradley had made her points, and was beating a dead horse. Also, the sex scenes were a tad overdone for my buck. The adjectives were straight out of a cheap romance novel. This novel has a bit of everything: magic and mysticism, romance and betrayal, plotting and plodding. It is a fresh perspective of a familiar story, written with a definite worldview.
Rating: 
Summary: Not to my taste...
Review: This book is well written, but too long. Perhaps as a male I need some more action in my books, but this book really could have benefited from having about 200 pages cut out. Also, the soap-opera basis of the character interaction got old very, very quickly. I couldn't finish the book. I must say that I found the religious argumentation quite interesting, but overall it was not for me.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: Astonishingly well-written....beautiful and often terribly painful and poignant....definitely not your old Once-and-Future-King stuff! This book is full of culture (by the time you finsh, you'll want to run out into the mists yourself, with a blue crescent painted on your forehead!) and characters....whoever imagined Lancelot, portrayed so often as sickeningly good and noble, plagued by doubt? Guinevere (of all people) ridiculously pious (and agoraphobic, and nearsighted)? Morgan le Fay....she's usually dismissed as one of Arthur's crazy half-sisters snd dealt with in less than two pages, but this book (all 867 pages of it) is dedicated to her. This is her story. Traditionalists beware. The old stories are here - the Holy Grail, the birth of Mordred - even some of the lesser known ones, like Lancelot mistaking Guinevere's cousin Elaine for Guinevere and the imprisonment of Merlin (who is another surprise) in an oak tree by Nimue....but they are not as they have been told before. They are new. This is how the women saw it. Feminists and pagans will undoubtedly rejoice; for those at the opposite ends of that spectrum, a warning: this book does go rather heavily into issues of women's rights and religion....religion, religion, religion; for a few chapters, you'll hear so much of war and religion you'll be sick! But this story is not just a retelling of the old legend in a pretty way, pleasing to feminists and pagans; if it were, not so many people would care. It's also about a generation growing up in a time of great change and conflict, about having to take sides against your best friends and your family and hating it; about love and war and peace and justice and truth and seeking truth and religion and life and death and friends and family and questions and what binds them all together. And that, dear readers, is why you will want to run into the mists.
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