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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
A beautiful addition to both the Mists of Avalon and the Avalon series as a whole, as well as the literary community and the fantasy genre. We watch Elian (Helena) from birth to death, and follow a woman who not only extremely human, but extremely insightful about the world that surrounded her.
Every character in the novel was well developed, from the passer-by that just stopped for a drink to the people who shaped Eilan's everyday life. The novel was true to it's roots, true to it's genres, and true to humanity and the human history.
This book is much more than part of a series, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys taking their reality with a little bit of magic and mysticism.
Every character in the novel was well developed, from the passer-by that just stopped for a drink to the people who shaped Eilan's everyday life. The novel was true to it's roots, true to it's genres, and true to humanity and the human history.
This book is much more than part of a series, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys taking their reality with a little bit of magic and mysticism.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The final installment in the Avalon series, completed by Diana Paxon after Bradley's death.
Helena receives training as a priestess on the isle of Avalon, but when she marries against the wishes of the High Priestess, she is barred from Avalon. As the mother of Constantine, Helena struggles to navigate the perils of the empire and to balance her family and her responsibilities as empress.
Helena receives training as a priestess on the isle of Avalon, but when she marries against the wishes of the High Priestess, she is barred from Avalon. As the mother of Constantine, Helena struggles to navigate the perils of the empire and to balance her family and her responsibilities as empress.
Unlike [b:The Mists of Avalon|402045|The Mists of Avalon (Avalon Series)|Marion Zimmer Bradley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255747809s/402045.jpg|806813], this book is barely readable. I wish I could recall more of the plot or the characters, but all that sticks out in my mind is the painful prose, stiff dialogue, and boring premise.
The book is very entertaining, I enjoyed reading it, however I have not read any of the other books on the Avalon series and am not sure if I lacked context or something but I still don't get what the point of the story is.
I enjoyed reading about the Roman empire from Helena/Elian's perspective and about the early days of Christianity.
I'm giving the book 4 stars because I found it entertaining.
I enjoyed reading about the Roman empire from Helena/Elian's perspective and about the early days of Christianity.
I'm giving the book 4 stars because I found it entertaining.
In this book we are following Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great. It it much more Roman oriented than the other ones in the series and I liked it as it felt fresh. However, the second half of the book felt unnecessary stretched. I liked the ending, though, it was well-deserved.
Sometimes I cared for the characters, other times I didn't, but I truly enjoyed the overall atmosphere portrayed in the Roman empire, the travels of the main character, the way she experienced and saw the world - peacefully, without holding grudges, humble. Her son's character is not fully developed, in my opinion, he felt flat and very often the author mentioned his traits, instead of depicting them somehow in his actions.
Sometimes I cared for the characters, other times I didn't, but I truly enjoyed the overall atmosphere portrayed in the Roman empire, the travels of the main character, the way she experienced and saw the world - peacefully, without holding grudges, humble. Her son's character is not fully developed, in my opinion, he felt flat and very often the author mentioned his traits, instead of depicting them somehow in his actions.
I liked listening to this possible story of Helena's adventures in the Roman world, though the emotional involvement really goes down once Constantius leaves. It felt as though we were just marking time until the inevitable ending.
It seems whenever an author dies that does not necessarily mean the end of his or her career, as there is always at least one more book to be published posthumously which the world has never seen. Marion Zimmer Bradley, who shocked the world with her retelling of the Arthurian legend from the woman’s point of view in Mists of Avalon died in 1999. Coauthored with Diana L. Paxson who finished off the novel after Bradley’s death, Priestess of Avalon is the last book in the magnificent Avalon series from its creator.
The main character is Helena and the time is the third century AD. Rome is still relatively in control of Britain, but the barbaric tribes are eating away at its frontiers and the empire is slowly but surely withdrawing its troops from the far North Country. Even though Helena has a Roman background, she inevitably ends up in Avalon and becomes a priestess, then she also is exiled from Avalon, missing it greatly and unavoidable becomes part of Avalon again.
More importantly, she gives birth to a strapping young lad she calls Constantine who becomes one of the greatest emperors of the Roman Empire, and is the authority who makes everything and everyone Christian, in direct contradiction with the very teachings of Avalon. Sadly, after the magnificent pace and excitement of Lady of Avalon (sequel to Mists of Avalon) this drops down to the dragging pace and heavy wordage of the first in the series, The Forest House. Nevertheless, there is indication in some sort of progression in Bradley’s writing, as well as providing a fresh voice with its co-author Paxson.
Originally published on October 14th, 2002.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
The main character is Helena and the time is the third century AD. Rome is still relatively in control of Britain, but the barbaric tribes are eating away at its frontiers and the empire is slowly but surely withdrawing its troops from the far North Country. Even though Helena has a Roman background, she inevitably ends up in Avalon and becomes a priestess, then she also is exiled from Avalon, missing it greatly and unavoidable becomes part of Avalon again.
More importantly, she gives birth to a strapping young lad she calls Constantine who becomes one of the greatest emperors of the Roman Empire, and is the authority who makes everything and everyone Christian, in direct contradiction with the very teachings of Avalon. Sadly, after the magnificent pace and excitement of Lady of Avalon (sequel to Mists of Avalon) this drops down to the dragging pace and heavy wordage of the first in the series, The Forest House. Nevertheless, there is indication in some sort of progression in Bradley’s writing, as well as providing a fresh voice with its co-author Paxson.
Originally published on October 14th, 2002.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.