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
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Guest Post: The Ladies-in-Waiting: Lady Isabel Baynton by Alexandra Walsh

    Today's guest writer is Alexandra Walsh. She is the author of The Catherine Howard Conspiracy , which is a historical thriller surrounding the infamous Tudor queen. In this guest post, Mrs. Walsh discusses the life of Catherine's lady-in-waiting, Isabel Baynton. This post will be sure to fascinate fans of Tudor era. If you enjoy her post, please pick up a copy of The Catherine Howard Conspiracy ! Thank you, Mrs. Walsh! The Ladies-in-Waiting – Lady Isabel Baynton by Alexandra Walsh     One of the most enjoyable things about writing an historical novel is discovering the tiny details that make the period real on the page. While I was researching The Catherine Howard Conspiracy , I spent a great deal of time hunting out the life stories of the women who surrounded the young queen in order to create a group of realistic friends and confidants.       There are some well-known names linked with Catherine and her downfall: Lady Jane Boleyn,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar: A Book Review

Thief of Corinth Author: Tessa Afshar Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Release Date: 2018 Pages: 400 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis : First-century Corinth is a city teeming with commerce and charm. It’s also filled with danger and corruption―the perfect setting for Ariadne’s greatest adventure.     After years spent living with her mother and oppressive grandfather in Athens, Ariadne runs away to her father’s home in Corinth, only to discover the perilous secret that destroyed his marriage: though a Greek of high birth, Galenos is the infamous thief who has been robbing the city’s corrupt of their ill-gotten gains.      Desperate to keep him safe, Ariadne risks her good name, her freedom, and the love of the man she adores to become her father’s apprentice. As her unusual athletic ability leads her into dangerous exploits, Ariadne discovers that...
Post a Comment
Read more

Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint (Women in Antiquity) by David Potter: A Book Review

Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint (Women in Antiquity) Author: David Potter Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, History Publisher: Oxford University Press Release Date: November 4, 2015 Pages: 288 Source: Publisher/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Two of the most famous mosaics from the ancient world, in the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, depict the sixth-century emperor Justinian and, on the wall facing him, his wife, Theodora (497-548). This majestic portrait gives no inkling of Theodora's very humble beginnings or her improbable rise to fame and power. Raised in a family of circus performers near Constantinople's Hippodrome, she abandoned a successful acting career in her late teens to follow a lover whom she was legally forbidden to marry. When he left her, she was a single mother who built a new life for herself as a secret agent, in which role she met the heir to the throne. To the shock of the ruling elite, the two were married, and when Justinian...
Post a Comment
Read more