The Firebrand: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Plain...
Review: Unfortunately this book pales in comparison to "Mists of Avalon": although the mythology is as legendary as the ones of King Arthur's era, characters are plain, one-dimensional and some of them simply deserve to be killed because of their stubborness or arrogancy. Lady Cassandra seems to be the one sober among them, but as noone listens to her prophecies, they will end up in troubles, it is clear from the start. Positive side: if you want to know who was who in legend of Troy, read this book...

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Summary: Political Correctness
Review: This is the women's lib version of the Trojan War. While I'm a big fan of the author's Darkover novels -- at least the ones I've read -- this didn't do a thing for me. I normally find the subject matter quite interesting, but Bradley puts a ridiculous late-twentieth century spin on it to express her feminist beliefs, as she's done in print quite a few times. It's all here: all the men are out-of-control, animalistic warmongers, and all the women are admirable. Even Helen, who in the legend is the cause of the war, is presented as a faithful (at least to Paris) wife and a good mother to her children. And of course there are Amazons, those strong and invincible and really really capable women. It's not hard to imagine the author while writing it visualizing her female readers shouting out loud, "Right on, sister!" when they come to a particularly effective passage. I did make it all the way through, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone but a not-very-discerning feminist. Everybody else, stick with Homer and Virgil, and with Christa Wolff.

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Summary: Bryonny on 'The Firebrand'
Review: Having read numerous books on the fall of Troy and The Mists Of Avalon and the other Avalon books, I was overjoyed when I found this book. It was rich, enthralling rendition of ancient Troy, although it was a bit heavy on the feminist themes. I read it over and over again, as my battered copy will testify. I would strongly recommend this beautifully woven novel to most readers. Marion Zimmer Jones is an inspiring author whose books I will always enjoy.

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Summary: My favourite book in the entire world.
Review: I am an avid historical fiction reader, and this book embodies everything I look for in a good book. Kassandra is definitely a role model for all women because she is strong and unique in everything she does. I have read this book many times and enjoyed it more with each reading. The story of Troy is tragic, and to think that she had to live with it before it happened is just mind boggling. Marion Zimmer Bradley provides deep insight into an area previously left in the dark. This story of poor Kassandra is very moving.

Rating:
Summary: How can Marion Zimmer Bradley do such books!
Review: The Firebrand is one of my favorite books. I read it very fastly and I thought it amazing. Not so good as The Mists of Avalon, but still a great doing of Mrs. Bradley. I gladly recommend it.

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Summary: What a shame it is out of print
Review: This book is as enjoyable as Mists of Avalon, more so than The Forest House. I was totally enthralled in the story of Troy from Cassandra's point of view. It is a rollicking and sympathetic telling of the tale. Of course it isn't "history", but that is one of the wonderful things about the traditon of Troy. There is no "official history", so matters are open to interpretation and retelling by any author, either in the oral tradition, or nowadays written. Zimmer Bradley makes a good job of it.

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Summary: EXCELLENT!
Review: After reading "The Mists of Avalon" (which I adored) I was only too happy to find out that MZB was re-telling another epic legend in "The Firebrand"! The story is so captivating that you feel you're living it yourself and you don't realize you've gone through 560 pages, you'll feel sorry that it's already finished. You'll get to adore Kassandra, Helen, Hector and Andromache and hate Akhilles and even Paris... Also, for your information since I see that this title is out of print in the States, you can get it from the UK Amazon site (http://www.amazon.co.uk) This book is great and I recommend it to anyone interested in greek mythology or who has enjoyed the avalon series.

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Summary: great book. a must
Review: awesome. i love this boo

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Summary: This story is a feast for the imagination.
Review: I consider The Firebrand to be the best of MBZ's books. Kassandra is totally 3-d, and is a totally believable character just like Morgaine is in Mists of Avalon. MBZ has a great talent for taking a myth and breathing life into it. I would willingly recommend this story to anyone, whether they are men or women. Everyone should experience this breathtakingly realistic book.

Rating:
Summary: Another MZB Masterpiece.
Review: Before reading this book, I had read a lot of criticism about it, alluding that Ms. Bradley tried too hard to make the character of Kassandra too much like Morgaine from her more popular "Mists of Avalon" epic. While I can see some definite similarities, I feel that Bradley's Kassandra has enough of her own "personality" to withstand such criticism and take her rightful place among the few strong female characters of contemporary fiction. The story was inspired and, while deviating substantially from the Kassandra mythos of "The Illiad", had enough of a ring of truth to make an unbelievable Grecian fable come to life -- by dispelling the nonsensical misogyny that is characteristic of Greek mythology. As we've come to expect from Ms. Bradley's historical novels, "The Firebrand" is superbly written and a welcome collection to my personal library. Who else but MZB could convincingly bring rationality to ancient patriarchal myths without destroying the sacredness of the goddess lore from which they sprang?