The Fall of Atlantis

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Summary: My Introduction to Fantasy
Review: A love story in an age before time. Micon, a prince of Atlantis, suffers a tradgedy that emits good as well as evil karma for generations to come. Domaris, an acolyte of light, finds the course of her life irrevocably and forever changed by her love for the prince. Torn by resentment and fear of the pain that love can bring, her sister, Deoris, vowing never to become a slave of love, unwittingly begins a dark journey that will bind them all in a web of darkness

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Summary: Get away from it all fantasy
Review: Absorbing story, excellent for a summer's day. Unfortunately the paperback fell apart in my hand after the first ten pages, very poor binding.

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Summary: Just not very good . . .
Review: After reading several of her books, this was a major flop. At no time was I swept away with the story as in "The Firebrand." At no time did I think "now this could happen" as in "Mists of Avalon." Nor would I ever want to return to its people or places as in "Forest House." This was not up to expectations. Certainly not up to the standards I have come to accept as Bradley's. I could not, would not, will not recommend this book to anyone

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Summary: her best book
Review: Having read countless Fantasy books, I thought this one was by far the best and if I had to decide I would probably call it my favorite book ever. Micon is the most complex and interesting character I have ever read about, and he came to life in the book as well as in my dreams. The entire atmosphere is alive and makes you feel frightened even as you read. The story is deep and complex, yet never too long or lacking action. Read this book as soon as you can!

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Summary: An Early Book of MZB!
Review: Having read Marian Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon, I expected the Fall of Atlantis to be just as gripping and well-written. And although this book wasn't a complete disappointment, it cannot compare.

The book is set to be a prequel to the Mists and the basis of the religion of Avalon.

Domaris is a serious young woman who will become a priestess and later a Guardian of the Light in the Ancient Land, a place where people worshipped many deities, but the Great Mother before all. Daughter of a priest herself, Domaris has raised her younger sister Deoris all by herself, since their mother died at Deoris' birth. Her life is basically repetition until a stranger from Atlantis comes to their Temple seeking assistance.

Domaris learns that the stranger, Micon, has been tortured at the hands of a group Black Robes (a sort of magician that dabbles into dark arts), and has gone blind from looking upon one of their faces. Micon knows who one of his torturers is but will not reveal anything, much to the fury of Revieda, the leader of the Grey Robes, whose duty it is to purge his flock of any who abused their powers.

Domaris and Micon grow to love each other but Domaris' happiness is short-lived. After she bears him a son, Micon will die. And as she grows to love Micon more and grow more devoted to him, she drifts further apart from her sister, who rushes into Revieda's arms for comfort.

Their lives are all intertwined and they all have a responsibility in bringing about the fall of Atlantis.


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Summary: Different
Review: I am loath to give any of MZB's books less than five stars. Yet something in Fall of Atlantis disturbs me...there were quite a few times when I was very tempted to throw up. It is a dark and stormy book, a maelstrom of death and evil magic and concealed betrayals, oh, and it does NOT have a happy ending. It doesn't even have a MZB-esque cryptic-semi-happy ending. As for the characters...Domaris (Isarma) and Micon to me were rather simple, existing only for the making of their son, who had a minor role as well. Rajasta and the other priests are just too...GOOD and one-sided to be interesting. However, Deoris (Adsartha) was who really made the book worthwhile for me. She was in many ways a hypocrite, and was often unjustified, but above all was decidedly human. Unlike the "good" and law-abiding Domaris, Deoris risked everything she had to support those she loved (namely Riveda) yet was not just a "giver" - she herself possessed real, dangerous power that she was not afraid to use. About Riveda...the book doesn't really cast him in a complementary light. It doesn't cast him in any sort of light, really. He's mysterious, even his origins are unknown, and he commits heresies so great that the Fall of Atlantis is brought about from his meddling. Nonetheless, he has real emotions, and to his credit, he does love Deoris, insofar as he can love anybody. I can't condemn him or pardon him, and I think it would be hard for anybody to...
In short, The Fall of Atlantis is a book filled with corrupted people trying to cling to their long-lost innocence, and failing. Read it and take it as you will; I recommend it for those with strong stomachs.

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Summary: another great work from a true master
Review: I have owned the Fall of Atlantis for a long time now and everytime I pick it up Bradley never fails to draw me once more into the intricate depth of the story that lays down the heritage of her exquisite Avalon novels. The heartache and pain that the characters in her book go through (from Domaris to Deoris, from Micon to Demira), constantly has your emotions at a boil.

Bradley has a gifted ability to weave intrigue and magic into the complex web of her stories and the Fall of Atlantis is a clear expression of her talent. Every detail concerning the Atlanteans is so perfectly thought out that the reader is easily immersed in this strange, spell-bound realm and its tragic destruction.

The women again figure prominently in this story and through their loves and losses, their actions and consequences, we see again their femininity is laced with a strength and determination that inarguably turns them into the heroines of an epic saga. Despite the dark overtone of the plot, the Fall of Atlantis is a enthralling, enduring story that captivates from the first page to the last.

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Summary: But Atlantis Didn't Fall!
Review: I liked the book a lot, but it had little to do (that I could determine, at least) with the fall of Atlantis. The topic just pops up in the last few chapters. Perhaps I missed something! The sister relationship in MZB's books continue to be my favorite theme.

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Summary: A slow beginning, but grows better.
Review: I liked this book, even though it started out to seem a little borring. The first part about the romance of Micon and Domaris is a little borring - its all very nice, but it's not very exciting - I missed some of the intrigue that marked the ingenious "Mists of Avalon". Later on, when the focus is moved to Deoris, the book catches better, because the plot becomes more subtle - where stands Rivera etc.

So the last two thirds of the book makes it defenitely worth reading. The ending is a bit too sweat, though - I liked the bitterness of the "Avalon"-books.

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Summary: This book was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I love this book,I read it over the summer at camp and I couldn't put it down, so I sat and read it in my room for four straight hours. MZB really captures your attention and doesn't let it go throughout the entire novel. I have heard that some people say this is not one of her better works, but I DISAGREE. This book was great and I recommend it to anyone who loves to read or anyone who wants to read a really great story with an interesting plot and believeable characters. I recommend this book to everyone . Read it, you won't be disapointed!!!!!!!