One of my favourite books of all time. Zimmer Bradley really pulls you into the world of Avalon. It is such a fresh perspective on the whole Arthurian period. It is so through yet remains so interesting. A book which span lifetimes but leaves you wishing it would never end. I would recommend this to anyone. ( )

An extremely long book, but that's hardly surprising considering it covers the span of Arthurian Legend, from Ambrosius to Mordred and beyond. Though this tale is from the viewpoint of many of the women of the legend (Igraine, the Lady of the Lake, etc.), the primary characters are Morgaine (whom you probably know as Morgana or Morgan Le Fey), half-sister of Arthur, and Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), Arthur's queen. Many of the names are unusually spelled: Lancelet (Lancelot), Caius (Kay), Ectorius (Ector)...and yet, along with all these crazy names, Taliesin's successor as the Merlin is named Kevin Harper. The name sticks out awkwardly, making me wonder if Bradley was honoring a friend named Kevin. But all that aside, it's still a good read. The length isn't all that noticeable because the story does not drag much at all. I did get bored of the near-constant religious arguing, with each side mindlessly clinging to notions just as crazy as the other, but in the end things are more or less resolved peacefully. I liked Morgaine, for the most part. Gwenhwyfar was an obnoxious harpy and I couldn't figure out why Lancelet and Arthur were so smitten with her, but whatever. This book is perhaps better for those who, like me, are already quite familiar with the legend, because the way things are worked into this version are often quite ingenious. All in all, I'm glad I read it, but it didn't make a lasting impression on me. ( )

I read this book 14 years ago when I was 16 years old. I read it mainly on my work break while bagging groceries at Albertson's grocery store in Port Angeles WA. This, of course, took a good couple months to complete. One thing I learned is its not necessarily advisable for a 16 year old boy to be caught reading a feminist fantasy interpretation of the King Arthur legend. I do remember getting away with just saying it was about King Arthur. I do however remember some of my more erudite female acquaintances being somewhat impressed with my taste in books. I have to admit that I at the time, I had no idea how well respected the book was, nor did I fully grasp what Marion Zimmer Bradley was writing about. Gender theory, feminism, and mythology were not in the front of my mind. What I do remember was being completely sucked in and suddenly becoming exposed to the idea that Christianity was once just a petty cult, and other, more older ways dominated before hand. Pretty common sense now, but Bradley got me turned on to the idea with this book. I haven't reread it yet and I'm kind of afraid to, because I have such fond memories of being fully engrossed and enlightened. Someday I will go back and read it and perhaps I will read the other Avalon books first. Until then, I will just let it sit on my shelf and remind me of the pleasures of reading in my youth. ( )

As I read this long (876 pages) fantasy book retelling the Athurian leen, I was often bored by the 'magical' parts, but there are periods of great excitement. One is disturbed that the pagan advocates are portrayed as superior to the Christians, but since Christians triumph one gets some satisfaction that the good wins in the end. ( )

This book tries to address what may or may not have been the political motivations at the time of potentially fictional people. With all those intangibles, I feel Bradley did a good job, but the story does falter at times. Hardly difficult to believe, seeing the length. ( )