The Forest House

Rating:
Summary: "I loved it"
Review: "I loved it," It actually told of the times before morgaine of the fairies and other mysterious things in those times. I am glad that Marion Zimmer-Bradley had the guts to tell about a book that would frighten men, because it frightened my older brother that I had read a book giving me strength to go on, I was always feeble and shy before I read "The Forest House" and "The Mists of Avolon," Now I know that I am ready for the world.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written; a great read.
Review: Although it doesn't match Mists' emotional depth, The Forest House is a worthwhile read in its own right. A wonderful ending, though some of the war/political sequences are rather dull. Gaius and Eilan could both be more sympathetic. Still, though, MZB still managed to make me cry.

Rating:
Summary: This isn't the mists of Avalon, BUT IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE!
Review: While "The Mists of Avalon" is a grand saga on an epic scale, "The Forest House" is more of a personal story, dealing primarily with the relationship between two people, with the mythic connection as background. TFH is half as long as TMOA, covers a third the amount of time, and has about a fifth the number of characters. TMOA is mainly targeted at our minds. TFH is mainly targeted at our hearts, and as such it does it fulfils it's purpose perfectly.

Rating:
Summary: An easier read
Review: Of the Avalon Trilogy (Mists, Lady of Avalon, Forest), this is probably the easiest to read. The panning back and forth between Roman and early British settings was a nice touch. A bit slow at times, but all in all probably a lighter read than the companion books of this trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: A great prequel to the Mists of Avalon!
Review: After reading the Mists of Avalon I couldn't imagine a book any better but the Forest House just about does it. The deep story line makes the characters even more real. In all an awesome book!

Rating:
Summary: a tear jerker
Review: I loved this book, and you can bet that it made my cry. You can't help but get involved in the lives of the characters. Yet again, Marion Zimmer Bradley has shown what an exellent author she is.

Rating:
Summary: incredibly disappointing
Review: I guess the book seemed doubly worse because I've read THE MISTS OF AVALON. This book, although it has a good storyline and is historically accurate, was so dull. T\In THE FOREST HOUSE, the characters were dead, and well, everything else was too. I wasn't convinced of anything, like the emotions of the characters, the Goddess, the chain of events... I did enjoy the ending (Caillean was my favorite character) but it's not worth suffering through the boring book to get to Afallon.

Rating:
Summary: A great Addition to Mists of Avalon
Review: Though I was expecting something a little more linked to Mists of Avalon, The Forest House made an excellent addition of both backround and originality. It being set hundreds of years before Mists, The book is a little confusing at first. For those who have read Mists already, you will find yourself scrounging for links to the next book, they are both near and far. The book is more detailed then Mists, and uses far more factual information about the Roman occupation of England which makes the book both more well rounded and yet at times like 11th grade history. The Novel differs from Mists in the fact that Magic and War does not play as large a part as in Mists. The importance is placed on the Romance and the History instead. I found the book to be an important addition to Mists, though not nearly as enrapturing.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing prequel to Mists of Avalon
Review: Usually if MZB writes it, I love it. Unfortunately, that isn't the case with The Forest House. I're read Mists of Avalon at least 15 times over the years and will certainly read it 15 more, but the only reason I would read The Forest House again would be to confirm how truly mediocre it is. The concept of the book is wonderful and leaves MZB plenty of room for character development, social commentary, and plotting. However, the book only deliver social commentary. Eilan and Gaius, the main characters, just aren't believable. They meet and fall in love immediately, for no apparent reason. Eilan is supposed to become the High Priestess to take control back from the Druids, but she seems to go along with her grandfather, the Arch-Druid, just as her predecessor did. Gaius seems to be an idealistic young Roman who would risk everything for Eilan, but he caves in to his father's pressure and marries a Roman instead. Nothing seems to follow. The beginning and the ending of the book are the best parts; however, the entire body doesn't bear much relationship to those parts. Since I had put off reading this book for months until a time that I could immerse myself in it and a rereading of Mists, discovering that Forest House is so weak has been a real disappointment. This would be a fine effort for a first-time author, but pretty lame for MZB.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshingly foolish characters enliven the series
Review: What a relief to read this in comparision to Mists of Avalon! the main racter, Elaine, was basically stupid. But her follys and loves carried me through this book like a young girl again. Callian, the wise one, was the sole rock in a world of leaves. But she took a background role in this world of betrayal, deciet, and true (as well as false) love. A truly original book from an original time in Britian's History.