Skip to main content

Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ancestors of Avalon: A Novel of Atlantis and The Ancient British Isles (Avalon #5) by Diana L. Paxson: A Book Review

Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Ancestors of Avalon: A Novel of Atlantis and The Ancient British Isles (Avalon #5)
Author: Diana L. Paxson
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Viking Penguin
Release Date: 2004
Pages: 360
Source: My State Public Library
Synopsis: Marion Zimmer Bradley’s beloved Avalon saga continues the dramatic story of the ancestors of Avalon from their life on the doomed island of Atlantis to their escape to the mist-shrouded isle of Britain.

     My Review: Ancestors of Avalon is the direct sequel to The Fall of Atlantis. It is also a prequel to The Mists of Avalon. Tiriki and her husband, Micail are both the high priestess and high priest of Atlantis. They are also part of the royal family of Atlantis. Yet, their comfortable life is shattered when they feel earthquakes and know that their beloved island is about to fall into the sea. They also learn that they are to found a new temple in a distant land. When Atlantis falls, Tiriki and Micail are separated. Yet, they managed to settle in different parts of Britain. Could Tiriki and Micail find each other again? Also, could  they both fulfill their destiny by building a new temple?


      In The Fall of Atlantis, Tiriki was a very mischievous girl and was very loving. In Ancestors of Avalon, Tiriki has become a mature, young woman. She is deeply devoted and loves her husband. She wants to become a mother. Tiriki must also learn how she can adapt to a new environment. Thus, I really admire Tiriki as she continues to hope to be reunited with her husband. 


     Overall, this novel is about love, loss, and hope. I love revisiting the characters from The Fall of Atlantis. I like the new characters in the book. I really loved the world-building in Ancestors of Avalon, especially the creation of Stonehenge. There were some parts of the book that I thought dragged a bit. Still, there is plenty of magic, romance, and feminism that will make this novel very enthralling. It is an incredible joy getting to know these characters and their journey. I can’t wait to read Sword of Avalon to learn how Tiriki and Micail have impacted the series! Thus, the Avalon series has been a very compelling and enjoyable read so far! I’m excited to get into the world of Avalon!


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Eleanor of Castile: Queen and Society in Thirteenth Century England by John Carmi Parsons: A Book Review

Eleanor of Castile: Queen and Society in Thirteenth Century England Author: John Carmi Parsons  Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography  Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan  Book Release Date: 1998 Pages: 388 Source: Personal Collection  Synopsis: Medievalist feminist studies' early concentration on the lives of prominent women has more recently given way to an interest in their less exalted sisters. Historians have seemingly avoided the careers of medieval queens, creatures of romance and legend, women who enjoyed rank and wealth merely as a consequence of birth or marriage. A renewed interest in such women has, however, followed the opening of new avenues to the study of women and power in the Middle Ages. That the lives of these women will reward reconsideration has been amply proven in the works of such historians as Pauline Stafford and Janet Nelson. Eleanor of Castile studies the wife of Edward I of England, a woman eulogized since the sixteenth century as a model of ...

The Formidable Miss Cassidy (Miss Cassidy #1) by Meihan Boey: A Book Review

The Formidable Miss Cassidy (Miss Cassidy #1) Author: Meihan Boey Genre: Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Fantasy Publisher: Harper Perennial  Book Release Date: 2025 Pages: 288 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: A Scottish governess arrives in Singapore to take up her new post, only to find a host of problems await that require her very unique skills in this award-winning and incredibly entertaining historical fantasy novel.        There has never yet been a crisis that Miss Leda Cassidy hasn’t been able to fix, be it a lovelorn young charge, perpetually distracted students, or an unruly and malevolent ghost. When she arrives at her new employer’s home and discovers the family is being terrorized by a vampiric spirit, she sets about righting the situation without delay.        But it seems that as soon as she puts one supernatural creature to rest, another appears to take its...

Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business by Dolly Parton: A Book Review

Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business  Author: Dolly Parton Genre: Nonfiction, History, Autobiography & Memoir Publisher: HarperCollins  Book Release Date: 1994 Pages: 352 Source: Borrowed Synopsis: The successful country singer reveals her life since leaving home at the age of eighteen to pursue a singing career, while discussing her personal philosophies, her marriage, her friendships, and achievements.             My Review: Dolly Parton was one of America’s most beloved stars. Her death caused many people across the country to mourn her. Even Nashville International Airport is remaining their airport in her honor. She was the co-owner of Dollywood and founded the non-profit organization, Imagination Library. In this autobiography, Dolly Parton tells the story of her success. She tells of her childhood growing up poor in the Smoky Mountains. She also talks about how she got started into show business and became a hu...