Lady of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Published by Recorded Books LLC May 1, 1998

Genres Fantasy, fiction, historical fiction, Arthurian, historical, science fiction, mythology, romance, historical fantasy, Avalon, magic, adult, feminism, Pagan fiction, retelling

Pages 460

Format Hardcover and audiobook

Set in the time before King Arthur, this novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley brings the mesmerizing world of Avalon brilliantly to life with epic grandeur-telling the 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…

This book has 3 parts, and it continues from right where The Forest House left off. It’s actually remarkable that this was written after Mists of Avalon, because it connects so well. The first part is the story of Caillean, the Priestess who first found Avalon. She was the first High Priestess of Avalon. She fosters Gawen, who is revealed as the Pendragon, and who falls in love with the half fairy daughter of the fairy queen. Caillean is the one to create the mists that hide Avalon. This part takes place between 96 C.E. and 118 C.E.

The second part takes place about 200 years after the first part. Gawen is reincarnated as Carausius in this part, and Sianna is reincarnated as Dierna. Unfortunately, Dierna makes sacrifices for Avalon, which is a running theme in the rest of the books, and plots the political marriage between Carausius and Teleri instead. I honestly need to reread this part, because a lot of it I couldn’t focus on when I was listening to it, so I skipped a lot of parts. In the beginning, everyone was in the wrong spot. Teleri was married to Carausius instead of the priestess she was meant to be, and Dierna was left pining for her past life lover, who was married to the woman who was supposed to be a priestess! In the end, everything is set to right, and Teleri becomes the successor of Dierna. Also, I did not know that the book Priestess of Avalon overlaps with this part. I wondered where this book fell in the timeline, because it doesn’t fit perfectly. It is meant to be read in conjunction with the second part of Lady of Avalon. So, it’s actually perfect that I need to read this part again, and this time I will read Priestess of Avalon along with it to have a better understanding. This part takes place between 285 C.E. and 293 C.E.

The third part brings us directly to the time of Mists of Avalon, finally. The whole series has been leading up to this. In this part, Gawen is reincarnated as Vortimer, and Sianna reincarnates as Vivianne. This part takes place between 440 C.E and 452 C.E.

This is a very moving novel, it touches your heart and leaves a lasting impression that will stay with you for long after you put the book down. It will make you see the world in a different light, it will make you think. New doorways will open, and your mind will be expanded. Although this is fantasy and mythology, a lot of this is also mostly just very spiritual and deep thinking. There actually is not much fantasy in this novel, it is mostly action mixed with thought provoking dialogue. Even the magic could be explained by science, and even they question it at times. The magic and rituals is not fake showy magic like in tv, but the meditative journeys of real Pagan rituals.

Overall, I will rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for reading my review of Lady of Avalon! Stay tuned for my next review, which will be of a self-published novel called A Dream of Blood and Magic.