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

Blog Tour: Guest Post by Shelley Stratton: Trolley Cars, the Metro, and Bringing Historical Settings to Life

      Shelly Stratton is the author of She Wears the Mask .  This interesting guest post discusses how she incorporates realistic details and facts about streetcars from the early 20th century, which were common long before her birth. Mrs. Stratton describes her love of these older modes of public transportation as well as how she felt a joy and kinship with those who patronized these iconic symbols of urban transportation throughout the industrial age. Thank you, Mrs. Stratton! Trolley Cars, the Metro, and Bringing Historical Settings to Life By Shelly Stratton      Decades ago, whenever I visited my great grandmother and great aunt in NW Washington, D.C., they would always ask me, “Did you drive in or take the trolley car here?” As I removed my coat or stowed away my umbrella, I would politely correct them with “I took the metro.”  But after correcting them so many times and both of them persistently referring to the metropolitan transit ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Interview with Melanie Dickerson

     Today, I have the honor to host Melanie Dickerson, who is not only the author of The Healer’s Apprentice , but also of her latest novel, The Captive Maiden . She is a young adult author that spins classic fairy tales into a historical and Christian perspective. I have all of her books. I am still in the process of finishing her series, but the books that I have read, I love them. I even went to her book signing to get her to sign my copy of The Healer’s Apprentice . This interview gives readers a good insight to her writing and style of her novels. I would like to thank Mrs. Dickerson for her time and cooperation with the interview and generosity to give my readers a book giveaway. 1. Can we learn from fairytales, and why do they appeal to you? Fairy tales have amazing themes, and I think we can learn from them. Most of  them have some sort of moral or takeaway, a lesson we can learn. I like  them, but it's hard to say what it is about them that ap...
2 comments
Read more

Interview with Melanie Karsak

Today, I have the pleasure of having an interview with Melanie Karsak! I have read and enjoyed her many series of books on some of history's more obscure or misunderstood women. Often, little is known about their true histories, either from not being recorded because of their gender and the unimportance given to women or else intentional character assassination. Mrs. Karsak seeks to bring light where much is shrouded in darkness. As a result, we are enriched by their lives and these fascinating women can speak to us through the centuries. In this interview, Mrs. Karsak talks about what drew her to these women and her writing pro cess! Thank you Mrs. Karsak! You have written books on Lady MacBeth, Hervor, Queen Boudica, Queen Cartimandua, and now Freydis. What drew you to write about these women? I like the unsung and maligned heroines. Hervor is a significant character in the Norse Hervarar Saga . In fact, there are two Hervors in that tale—grandmother and granddaughter. But ...
3 comments
Read more