History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

  The Mists of Avalon (Avalon #1) Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy  Publisher: Ballantine Books Release Date: 2001 Pages: 912 Source: Personal Collection  Synopsis: The magical saga of the women behind King Arthur’s throne.       In Marion Zimmer Bradley's masterpiece, we see the tumult and adventures of Camelot's court through the eyes of the women who bolstered the king's rise and schemed for his fall. From their childhoods through the ultimate fulfillment of their destinies, we follow these women and the diverse cast of characters that surrounds them as the great Arthurian epic unfolds stunningly before us. As Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar struggle for control over the fate of Arthur's kingdom, as the Knights of the Round Table take on their infamous quest, as Merlin and Viviane wield their magics for the future of Old Britain, the Isle of Avalon slips further into the impenetrable mists of memory, until the fissure be...

  Priestess of Avalon (Avalon #4) Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley and Diana L. Paxson  Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Ace Release Date: 2008 Pages: 418 Source: Personal Collection Synopsis: In the long-awaited return to Avalon by the beloved author of The Mists of Avalon and her collaborator, bestselling author Diana L. Paxson, Marion Zimmer Bradley fuses myth, magic and romance in a spectacular unfolding of one woman's role in the making of history and spirit...        My Review: Priestess of Avalon is the prequel to The Mists of Avalon . It follows the life of Helena Augusta, the mother of Emperor Constantine. In Priestess of Avalon , Helena is a British princess called Eilan. She trains to be a priestess of Avalon. Eilan eventually learns that she is destined to give birth to a child who will change the world. Therefore, Eilan walks a journey that no priestess of Avalon has ever walked before.      Eilan ...

  Lady of Avalon (Avalon #3) Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Ace Release Date: 2007 Pages: 404 Source: Personal Collection Synopsis: Journey to a time before King Arthur in this prequel to The Mists of Avalon —a spellbinding story of three remarkable women who alter the fortunes of Roman Britain as they fight to reclaim the magic and traditions of a once glorious past.        Caillean, the young priestess fated to become Lady of Avalon, who rescues and raises the orphaned Gawen—heir to a mystic and dangerous royal line...Dierna, who must use all her strength, wisdom, and love to guide Avalon through treacherous political waters and veil the island from a hostile world...Viviane, Lady of the Lake and keeper of the Grail, destined for true greatness as she prepares Avalon for the coming of a legendary king...      Bestselling author Marion Zimmer Bradley brings the mesmerizing world of ...

The Forest House (Avalon #2) Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Ace Release Date: 1995 Pages: 434 Source: Personal Collection Synopsis: The New York Times bestselling science fiction and fantasy author of the Avalon series introduces the prequel to the beloved and enduring classic The Mists of Avalon in this mesmerizing epic of one woman’s legendary role at a turning point in history.      In a Britain struggling to survive Roman invasion, Eilan is the daughter of a Druidic warleader, gifted with visions and marked by fate to become a priestess of the Forest House.      But fate also led Eilan to Gaius, a soldier of mixed blood, son of the Romans sent to subdue the native British. For Gaius, Eilan felt forbidden love, and her terrible secret will haunt her even as she is anointed as the new High Priestess. With mighty enemies poised to destroy the magic the Forest House shelters, Eilan must tr...

Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Ravens of Avalon (Avalon #6) Author: Diana L. Paxson Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy  Publisher: Ace  Release Date: 2007 Pages: 416 Source: My State Public Library Synopsis: Marion Zimmer Bradley's beloved Avalon saga continues in 'a fine tribute to Bradley and the real-world triumphs and tragedy of Boudica.' ( Publishers Weekly )      Epic in its sweep and peopled by the remarkable women who have always inhabited Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ravens of Avalon expands the legendary saga that has enchanted millions of 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: Ravens of Avalon is a prequel to Mists of Avalon . In this installment, it tells the story of Queen Boudica. Boudica trains with the priestesses of Avalon. When she is of age...

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 ad...

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...