The Mists of Avalon

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Summary: An interesting view of the Women behind Arthur's throne.
Review: Marion Zimmer Bradley was brilliant when she gave the world a different view of the legend of King Arthur through this book. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. It took my interest and held it until the end. It gave an interesting aspect of the characters Gwenhyfar and Morgaine. I didn't know much about these characters... until now. I felt as though I was with the characters. I felt their pain, their happiness, and their grief. I loved this book and I'm going to read it again. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read the legends of King Arthur and wants to get a different view of it. A view that hasn't ever been shown the way Marion Zimmer Bradley shows it.

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Summary: Wonderful reading
Review: I love this book. I am particulary impressed with the depth of the main characters. To hear their thoughts; to feel their pain and joy; to see what they see. This is a magical book, regardless of the inconsistency of history. It is a beautiful piece of literature. I will recommend it for years.

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Summary: I will continue to read it over and over!!!
Review: Bradley (in my opinion) accurately portrayed the Arthurian legend. It is so believeable. I cried through the whole epilogue it was so sad. I just love this book. I want to read it forever!! I wish it would never end!!

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Summary: Great reading, romance, magic, wonderful characters.
Review: If someone you know hasn't already suggested you read this book then let ME suggest you read it. Ms. Bradley re-creates the people of Camelot. She makes them more real, their behavior more understandable, their lives rich and interesting. I know people who love this book, they read and re-read it. I found I didn't want it to end either. Maybe that's why the legend exists? Arthur only sleeps and is not dead. He is alive now, in the pages of this book.

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Summary: I grieved when I finished this book!
Review: This is the best book I have ever read! I adore Arthurian legend and snatched this one off the shelf when I accidentally ran into it. MZB gives a totally new perspective to the Arthurian legend--a believable one! I now find myself comparing all other books on King Arthur to this one. When I learned that there was more to follow, I went and bought THE FOREST HOUSE and LADY OF AVALON. I couldn't wait for paperback, so I bought hardback so great was my need for them. When I finished MISTS, I felt like I had lost my entire world. I had visited and lived with these characters every day for two weeks and was dismayed to come to the end. I find myself revisiting MISTS every now and again just to refresh my feelings for the characters because it's hard to let them go when you have lived their lives through MZB's wonderful writing. Yes, it's long, but you'll wish it was longer when you're done!

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Summary: A truely enlightening experience
Review: Needless to say, this is a solid piece of work by Bradley. However, I would like to point out the more subtle qualities of the novel. Mists of Avalon is a history lesson for Christian readers. Her presentation, through the eyes of those who worshiped the goddess in her many forms, may surprise those who thought they "knew" the story of Arthur. Elements of myth invariably surface throughout and can be read as a history lesson in the transition from goddes based religion which once dominated civilization through the emerging dominance of the Judeo-Christian God. Her female characters are strong and her inventiveness breathes new light into an old mythical tale. The down side of the novel is its overly verbose presentation and its unwillingness to surrender to the standard plot of a novel (i.e., it lacks a proper climax and resolution along with "flow" problems). However, the novel contains a wealth of information.

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Summary: Ancient Britain was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING like this!!!!!
Review: MS. Bradley is one of the most repugnant writers of our time! I read some of the other reviews on this page, the ones praising this hideous book. How easily some people are led down the wrong path! Just because it's in a book, doesn't mean it's 100% true. Ms. Bradley certainly tries hard to milsead the reader into the FALSE belief that the alternative history she lays down in here is historical truth. I, and many other serious scholars scholars of ancient Celtic mythology and Arthurian lore are laughing at the fact that some of her readers see this book as "a retelling of Arthurian legend from the womens' point of view". Nothing could be further from the truth! Yes, the ancient Celts did worship a "mother goddess" of sorts, but she was by no means the supreme deity of the Celtic people, in Britain or elsewhere. Indeed, in his Gallic Wars, Caesar says that they revere a male god called "Dis-pater" as their creator. Certainly, there were a "mother goddess" and a "horned god" in the Celts' mythology, but they weren't the only deities.

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Summary: This book captures the spirit's imagination.
Review: This is an enchanting novel full of images that spark an inner core of feeling that leads the reader page by page through a spellbinding adventure. Marion Zimmer Bradley has masterfully escaped from the routine myths of male orientated womanizing and war, to give the reader a new and unique version overflowing with allure and magnetism of the women encircled about Arthur's throne. Mrs. Bradley has proceeded with exemplary diligence to create an enriched, authentic, medieval environment that is easy to visulaize with the mind's eye. She describes the castles with excellence, and even leaves the reader with the sounds of banquet halls, sometimes empty, and sometimes full of laughter and stories of battle. Her descriptions of the Holy Isle of Avalon evoke feelings brimming with serenity. Marion Zimmer Bradley has truly accomplished a very commendable portrayal of the greatest of all legends.

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Summary: Wow!
Review: This book is possibly the best book I've ever read. Arthurian times are exactly what I like, but mixed with feminist Morgaine and Kevin the Harper, it's even better! I don't think I can tell you how great it is to read a book that at times you have to tell yourself to go to sleep, you have school tomorrow! I especially love th fact that it's 900 pages- that'll keep me occupied. I just had to write this review to tell everybody what a great book this is!

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Summary: Probably the best book I ever read
Review: This book is not just a book, it is a window into another world, The story is compelling, the characters are multidimensional.When you read it, you become Morgaine, Gwenhyfar, Morgause and Vivaine. I would recommend this book to anyone.