Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Sword of Avalon ( Avalon #7) by Diana L. Paxson: A Book Review

Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Sword of Avalon (Avalon #7)

Author: Diana L. Paxson

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Publisher: Ace

Release Date: 2009

Pages: 450

Source: My State Public Library

Synopsis: Epic in its sweep and peopled by the remarkable women who have always inhabited Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon expands the legendary saga that has enchanted countless readers over the years and is sure to please Bradley's loyal readership and anyone who loves wonderfully told stories of history, myth, and fantasy.

My Review: Sword of Avalon is a sequel to Ancestors of Avalon. It is also a prequel to Mists of Avalon. Anderle is the Lady of Avalon. She is given a task to save an orphan prince who is destined to be king of Britain. In order to help make him king, she must work with a Greek prince to forge a sword fit for a king. Thus, the Sword of Avalon tells of the origins of Excalibur.

I absolutely adore Anderle! She is a very strong woman! Anderle risks her life to save an orphan prince who is destined to be a great king. Anderle is full of love and compassion. She is very intelligent and entirely devoted to her goddess’s will. There are a few times that I thought she made wrong decisions which led to dire consequences. I also love her relationship with her daughter, Tirilan! It is very realistic and difficult. Even though they often were in conflict with each other, their bond was very deep. Thus, Anderle was a flawed but fleshed out character.

Overall, this book is about friendship, motherhood, and sacrifice. I greatly enjoyed how Sword of Avalon touched on all aspects regarding love and relationships. All of the characters were engaging and intriguing. Each of them were very complex. I love Velantos (the sword smith), who labors tirelessly in his craft to craft the best sword he has ever made. I found Mikantor interesting (the orphan prince) as he struggles to fulfill his destiny to become a great king. The only thing that I did not like about the novel was its slow beginning, and I thought it ended abruptly. I wanted more and did not want it to end! Therefore, Sword of Avalon is an enthralling novel that made it hard to put down! By the time you finish the novel, you feel like you know each of the characters as if they were your friends! I also love how Ancient Britain came alive, and I was fully immersed in the world! I can’t wait to read its sequel, Ravens of Avalon, to find how these characters have impacted Ancient Britain!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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