Mist of avalon, mistress of magic by marion bradley

[sugarbearmama]

the mists of Avalon is a 4 book saga of politics, religion, and magic. The first book, mistress of magic, focuses on the struggles that the women must endure during times of war, and political change.

As uther is about to become high king of Britain he falls in love with a married woman, igraine, and she with him. Under the tides of fate and destiny igraine is conflicted with this romance, especially while being a married woman with a baby girl. meaNwhile, in Avalon, igraines older sister, Vivian the high priestess is busy keeping their secret world afloat, and keeping the fate in motion as the goddess and gods intend.

this book has been on the new York times best sellers list for 3 months, and now that I have read the first book I know why. It tells of the medieval days from the woman's perspective, i find it is a refreshing take on the king Arthur era. Marion Bradley did an excellent job writing in old English tongue, at first it bothered me, but quickly realized with out the way she writes it you lose the passion that is instilled in each character. , I feel as though this is one I will keep on my shelf and reread through the years.

[roguexunited]

I do think that Bradley's Mists of Avalon is a wonderful rewriting of Malory's Morte D'Arthur and other Arthurian tales. She does a wonderful job when constructing her characters, which makes the reader become emotionally invested on them, even though many of them, like Morgaine, have been portrayed as villains. I think Bradley rescues the older versions of the female characters, before Malory and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and finds a way to tell their story in a very appealing way.
Personally I'd wish more people would read this book, because every time I see a new adaptation of the Arthurian tale and find the writer, or writers, falling into the same commonplaces -specially when it comes to Morgan le Fay- it saddens me, and makes me a little angry.

[Batesblogger]

I read this a good ten plus years ago and had completely forgotten! So good. Another to go on my must get list. Thank you!

[humanracer]

Isn't the author a pedophile? That would put me off reading them.

[Gravy]

Even searching on the internet...I can't find what you're talking about.

I love her writing.

[humanracer]

You can't have searched hard as it's all over the Internet.

[Lisalovecraft]

I loved this series!! I thought it was a great take on the King Author myth, and enjoyed the point of view of Morgan Lefay. I never heard anything about the author being a pedophile, I hope that's not true.

[methylaine]

I read those books when I was really young and I loved them ! I really enjoyed how everything was linked and with the Atlantis. It offered a very different point of view on a classic tale. Her Trillium serie was also really interesting. She also rewrote the Mozart's Enchanted Flute from a different point of view in the Night's Daughter.

She was a creative person and a good writer, no matter what her personal life was. We should enjoy her books for what they are and not what the author was or wasn't...

[zeldas_lullaby]

I read the Mists of Avalon in 1996. My campus counselor recommended it to me as a college student. It was amazing. A-may-zing. They made a miniseries a few years later, with that actress from the Good Wife. (I hate that show, BTW.) Julianna Marguiles? It was awful. It stripped this amazing book of its depth. I wouldn't watch it, assuming it's still out there.

But this book was just amazing.