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rachelbowski's review against another edition
4.0
The Mists of Avalon took me a while to read, and I do wonder whether or not I would have finished it if I didn't have to read it for another class, having not finished it the first time I had to read it for a class. But I'm glad I finished it, because even though I know some general things about Arthurian Legend, The Mists of Avalon was my first real experience with it, and it's from a feminine standpoint. It's not only long, it's DENSE, but ultimately I did enjoy it. I guess.
shbailey's review against another edition
5.0
One of my top favorite books of all time. A feminist view of the Camelot era.
carladash's review against another edition
The worst thing about this book is not that it is totally and completely not a feminist retelling of King Arthur the way so many people supposedly claim it is. The worst thing is that it is boring and the characters are flat. Everyone just accepts their fate. Either characters don't want anything or they aren't willing to pursue their desires. I know women would not have had much power during this era, but I want to see characters wielding what power they do have, not lying down meekly (sometimes literally) and accepting whatever happens. Maybe it's just me, but I found this book dull, uneventful, and borderline offensive. I gave it a two instead of a one only because I can't claim the writing is poor. It is readable, even if uninteresting.
vickeyfoggin's review against another edition
3.0
I'd tried to read this as an Arthurian-obsessed preteen and couldn't get into it. Reading it as an adult I really enjoyed the first 3/4. Seeing the heroes of Camelot grow up was fun and the complexity of Morgaine's relationship with everyone around her was fascinating. I couldn't put it down. But the decline of King Arthur's court just dragged on and on and wasn't written in the same internal way--it read like a stale recap. I liked the first part enough to continue the series though!
romanadvoratrey's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Antes da metade desse livro, eu já sabia qual nota eu iria dar. Tipo assim, não é de todo ruim, mas também não apresenta nada extraordinário, acho que pela proposta poderia ser entregue muito mais! A premissa de dar voz a personagens femininas das lendas do rei Arthur é realmente muito interessante, quando bem executada, porque sinceramente, acho que até os escritos medievais davam mais profundida as personagens. É no mínimo cômico um livro que se diz "feminista" ter tantas implicações conservadoras, principalmente ao pôr quase todas as mulheres umas contra as outras, e usando excessivamente a trope da 'mulher malvada e sedutora'. Fiquei irritada na mudança repentina de sentimentos da Igraine em relação ao Uther, e também desse lance de almas gêmeas que a autora tentou enfiar. Também me incomodei muito com os claros ideias próprios sobre religião da autora dentro do texto, acho que as críticas dela podem até ser interessantes mas no fim o ponto dela acaba bem raso. No final das contas, não acho que seja uma obra "uau" mas consigo compreender porque foi considerada polêmica em seu tempo, mas existe tanta coisa melhor pra se ler em 2024, de preferência que não sejam escritas por uma pedófila estrupadora.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Violence
kathy_f's review against another edition
5.0
I've read this book three or four times, maybe even five, in the past 20 years or so - it's one of my absolute favorites. I've read heaven-only-knows how many books about King Arthur, including Malory's "Le Morte D'Artur", and have never enjoyed them the way I do this one.
mcribsy13's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
fernandaliberio's review against another edition
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0