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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'll fully admit that I didn't know what this book was about when I picked it up. I bought it probably a decade ago when I was going through my King Arthur phase and when I saw Avalon, I assumed it was about King Arthur and bought it. I also was going through my "go into books blindly" phase and didn't read the back. Obviously, had I done that, I wouldn't have picked this up.
So from the beginning, I was disappointed to discover that not only does the story not revolve around King Arthur, it actually takes place after he died and it instead revolves around Isolde. I've only watched the 2006 Tristan & Isolde once, so I don't have much of a frame of reference, but figured I was in for a super dramatic, sweeping romance. I sure wasn't.
I didn't enjoy Isolde as a character. I'll also say that historical fiction isn't my go to because of how women are treated. In the beginning, it felt like it was a lot of things happening to her and Isolde not really making a lot of decisions. Also the book is ridiculously slow. The whole thing takes place in just a week or two (I wasn't keeping exact track), but things don't even start coming together until the 50% mark, which is way too long for me to begin to get invested.
Then when Trystan is introduced, I started getting excited that things were going to develop between them. Instead we get these weird conversations where so much is left unsaid, but I was willing to see it through. Then for the part that made me the most angry. So angry in fact, I went back to pull receipts word for word.
When telling Isolde of his plan to pretend to trade her for Hereric, Trystan says, "I'll give you my word that you'll not be actually taken by Marche's guard--and that I'll see you find your goldsmith." Then later when she doesn't believe him because he literally told her that he'd trade her for his freedom, he gets butthurt, gives her a knife, and says, "If I break our agreement and let you come within reach of Marche's guard--or even leave you on your own before you've found your man--you can cut my throat."
Can you guess what happened? He either on purpose or on accident left her alone to get taken by Marche's guard even though he told her that she'd likely be raped by them (she wasn't), thrown into a prison cell, attempted to get raped again (the man was impotent and got called away), got beaten, got put up on trial as a witch, and was sentenced to death. Oh, and he never helped her find the goldsmith, which is what she's trying to do for a good portion of the book. I'd say he broke his vow pretty fucking thoroughly.
And the author only wrote that she wasn't raped so that Trystan can still be a good guy because nothing actually happened. Sorry, but that shit does not and will never fly with me. Then later when they're escaping he doesn't kill the guards because he's just such a good and moral guy. I was rolling my eyes so hard. I guess everyone has their line, but putting a woman in a situation where she will likely get raped and put to death is mine. I don't care how many nameless men you save.
Then later he has the absolute AUDACITY to be offended when she thinks he gave her up on purpose. Like, he said that he wouldn't leave her, then tells her that he saw her get captured, so obviously she's going to assume he had something to do with it since he did absolutely nothing to try to help her. Then after he's captured also, he doesn't apologize or try to explain and says that they're even.
Like, the fuck? She only sold him out because he left her alone. If he'd kept his promise, then there wouldn't have been anything to get even with. Finally, at the end when Isolde asks why he left her alone to get captured, he says, "I thought you'd made up your mind already what I'd done." Literally grow the fuck up bro. You're not cool or mysterious or morally gray because you don't want to explain your actions. Just be a fucking adult and communicate.
I have absolutely zero interest in Trystan as a character and even less in the supposed "romance" happening between them, of which there is none in this book. They actually both refer to the other as being like siblings and this book doesn't set up them working together in the next book, so I'm not really sure what the basis for the romance is or how it's supposed to grow.
I know that I'm a heavy sleeper, but on THREE separate occasions, Isolde woke up to a knife to her throat or being surrounded, once where she was tied up in her sleep. I just don't see how that's possible without being drugged. It was very annoying and made Isolde hard to root for if she can't even have the most basic survival instincts.
Also, there was way too much talk of rape in this book. I know that it happened in that time, but it didn't have to be talked about or alluded to or threatened throughout the whole book. It just felt like a big looming thing and I didn't like it.
I bought the rest of the books in this series, so I will finish it out, but if I hadn't, I probably wouldn't continue it and I don't see myself reading another book by this author, but that's because I don't do historical fiction much. I know that people do like this book, but I can't see myself recommending it because it's such a weird mix of history and different myths that I don't know anyone in my life that would like it.
So from the beginning, I was disappointed to discover that not only does the story not revolve around King Arthur, it actually takes place after he died and it instead revolves around Isolde. I've only watched the 2006 Tristan & Isolde once, so I don't have much of a frame of reference, but figured I was in for a super dramatic, sweeping romance. I sure wasn't.
I didn't enjoy Isolde as a character. I'll also say that historical fiction isn't my go to because of how women are treated. In the beginning, it felt like it was a lot of things happening to her and Isolde not really making a lot of decisions. Also the book is ridiculously slow. The whole thing takes place in just a week or two (I wasn't keeping exact track), but things don't even start coming together until the 50% mark, which is way too long for me to begin to get invested.
Then when Trystan is introduced, I started getting excited that things were going to develop between them. Instead we get these weird conversations where so much is left unsaid, but I was willing to see it through. Then for the part that made me the most angry. So angry in fact, I went back to pull receipts word for word.
I have absolutely zero interest in Trystan as a character and even less in the supposed "romance" happening between them, of which there is none in this book. They actually both refer to the other as being like siblings and this book doesn't set up them working together in the next book, so I'm not really sure what the basis for the romance is or how it's supposed to grow.
I bought the rest of the books in this series, so I will finish it out, but if I hadn't, I probably wouldn't continue it and I don't see myself reading another book by this author, but that's because I don't do historical fiction much. I know that people do like this book, but I can't see myself recommending it because it's such a weird mix of history and different myths that I don't know anyone in my life that would like it.
A retelling of the medieval tale of Trystan and Isolde.
As King Constantine lies dead, his wife Isolde must now decide her future. She knows his death was no accident and fears the man she suspects is responsible but also knows that as a woman she has few choices. When a lord proposes marriage many expect her to accept however Isolde has other plans and enlists the help of a once traitor to aid in her escape.
An interesting twist that I sadly didn’t care for. Call me old fashioned, but I much prefer the romanticized version of Tristan and Isolde. I blame the 2006 movie version for my biased view. That movie was perfection and it’s because of that, that I just couldn’t get into this particular tale. Nothing personal..just not my favorite.
As King Constantine lies dead, his wife Isolde must now decide her future. She knows his death was no accident and fears the man she suspects is responsible but also knows that as a woman she has few choices. When a lord proposes marriage many expect her to accept however Isolde has other plans and enlists the help of a once traitor to aid in her escape.
An interesting twist that I sadly didn’t care for. Call me old fashioned, but I much prefer the romanticized version of Tristan and Isolde. I blame the 2006 movie version for my biased view. That movie was perfection and it’s because of that, that I just couldn’t get into this particular tale. Nothing personal..just not my favorite.
I enjoyed the story once I could get away from how different it is from what I "know" about Avalon. Not sure how I can place it with the other Avalon stories I have read, but it was a nice escape. now to find the next one.........
I totally ate this book up. I love the myth and the legend behind it, and the unique twist that Anna puts on it. You've heard of the legend of King Arthur. Picture grey skies, howling winds and cold seas; the cover is perfect for this tale. Quite a legendary story it is with Arthur and his son Modred, who are both killed at Camlaan fighting each other. Though Lancelot is not present in the legend that the author pulls from, Anna Elliott's story begins with Modred's daughter Isolde as she learns that her husband of seven years, the High King Constantine, is killed fighting the Saxons. 6th century Britain as they know it is shifting, with its many kings with their own lands all vying for power. Isolde cannot trust anyone as she tries to make sense of what flashes she sees in her mind, and what is truth.
Elliott meanders slowly through Isolde's path of Dark Age Britain so that we are treated to descriptive characterizations and settings which are well illustrated as she struggles with her thoughts of the past and the present. Isolde used to have the power for visions (The Sight) but as we meet her, we learn she had been stripped of those powers somewhere about the time that she had married Constantine. Yet, somehow, she sees the event of Constantine's death, and learns that his death is not due to battle wounds but someone, although his face covered, supposedly on her side has murdered him. This knowledge she wisely keeps to herself as she treads lightly among the council members. She and the murderer know the truth, as she is quite alone in the world struggling for survival amongst power hungry warlords who believe Isolde to be a sorceress or a witch and would love to see her burnt at the stake.
Isolde is lucky to have crossed paths with Trystan, and she embarks on an adventure to save both her life and the Britain that her late husband had struggled to maintain. There is death, magic and survival all intertwined beautifully in the story that is legend for a reason. Anna Elliott uses the myth and lore to recreate the consequences of the Battle of Camlann in an enchanting tale that captures the reader from the start as we follow Isolde on her bitter journey.
I found each page to be a thrill and I completely relished the story itself. I loved the easy writing style of Anna Elliott, the picturesque narrative was complete and fulfilling. The author had to explain to the reader certain events of the past in order to make the present story work, requiring a lot of flashbacks with Isolde's grandmother Morgan appearing in quick visions or as a voice. Sometimes it fit well, other times it was a tad out of place as if it were forced in to help prove a point. But most of the time the cohesiveness gelled with the flow of the story so this is a minor issue. Using the strong-willed Isolde as a central character in this story the reader immediately bonds to her and empathizes with her as she endures issues that a modern day woman can relate to. I am not going to go further into the events of the story because I know you are going to want to read this book on your own and follow Isolde's journey yourself. If you are familiar with the love story of Tristan and Iseult, this is not the same story. Perhaps the characters are the same but there is not a strong resemblance, at least in this first book. There is no romance here, and nothing alludes to it either. This is merely the story of how Isolde tries to honor her promise to her dead husband in saving Britain from the traitorous Lord Marche.
The only warning about Anna Elliott's book I would give is that her Trystan has a mouth on him and likes to invoke the Lord's name in vain. I believe the author is trying to prove a small point here in which the world of Isolde had once been one tolerant of witches yet is now the new Britain who recently became Christian.
Do you remember the days in high school when you would adorn your bedroom walls with posters and pictures you loved? A blow up of this book cover would be one of them, complete with its title and wording, so that the feeling of the magical story can be remembered each day. Anna Elliott's interpretation of the aftermath of Arthur's Britain is a wonderful addition to the myriad of Arthurian books, as I am anxiously awaiting Book 2, Dark Moon of Avalon due out in May 2010. The prologue to Dark Moon is up on Anna Elliott's website; the working title of Book Three is Sunrise of Avalon. I can't wait to see those covers as well! The Bridgeman Art Library has had the best book covers I've seen this year. Thank you so much to Anna Elliott for weaving this fine tale, now hurry up and get the rest of series published!!
If you watched Tristan & Isolde, the movie with the gorgeous James Franco, there is also no resemblance from this particular book to the movie, and I also loved the movie. I have not read Rosalind Miles' trilogy or the classic by Bedier, but I will. Recommended to me was Mists of Avalon, twice over, so I will add that to my shelf also. I have a growing Arthurian Book Collection.
See the full review at The Burton Review that has great links to visit regarding King Arthur and the legend.
Also see this post at The Burton Review for a wonderful Guest Post by Anna Elliott.
Elliott meanders slowly through Isolde's path of Dark Age Britain so that we are treated to descriptive characterizations and settings which are well illustrated as she struggles with her thoughts of the past and the present. Isolde used to have the power for visions (The Sight) but as we meet her, we learn she had been stripped of those powers somewhere about the time that she had married Constantine. Yet, somehow, she sees the event of Constantine's death, and learns that his death is not due to battle wounds but someone, although his face covered, supposedly on her side has murdered him. This knowledge she wisely keeps to herself as she treads lightly among the council members. She and the murderer know the truth, as she is quite alone in the world struggling for survival amongst power hungry warlords who believe Isolde to be a sorceress or a witch and would love to see her burnt at the stake.
Isolde is lucky to have crossed paths with Trystan, and she embarks on an adventure to save both her life and the Britain that her late husband had struggled to maintain. There is death, magic and survival all intertwined beautifully in the story that is legend for a reason. Anna Elliott uses the myth and lore to recreate the consequences of the Battle of Camlann in an enchanting tale that captures the reader from the start as we follow Isolde on her bitter journey.
I found each page to be a thrill and I completely relished the story itself. I loved the easy writing style of Anna Elliott, the picturesque narrative was complete and fulfilling. The author had to explain to the reader certain events of the past in order to make the present story work, requiring a lot of flashbacks with Isolde's grandmother Morgan appearing in quick visions or as a voice. Sometimes it fit well, other times it was a tad out of place as if it were forced in to help prove a point. But most of the time the cohesiveness gelled with the flow of the story so this is a minor issue. Using the strong-willed Isolde as a central character in this story the reader immediately bonds to her and empathizes with her as she endures issues that a modern day woman can relate to. I am not going to go further into the events of the story because I know you are going to want to read this book on your own and follow Isolde's journey yourself. If you are familiar with the love story of Tristan and Iseult, this is not the same story. Perhaps the characters are the same but there is not a strong resemblance, at least in this first book. There is no romance here, and nothing alludes to it either. This is merely the story of how Isolde tries to honor her promise to her dead husband in saving Britain from the traitorous Lord Marche.
The only warning about Anna Elliott's book I would give is that her Trystan has a mouth on him and likes to invoke the Lord's name in vain. I believe the author is trying to prove a small point here in which the world of Isolde had once been one tolerant of witches yet is now the new Britain who recently became Christian.
Do you remember the days in high school when you would adorn your bedroom walls with posters and pictures you loved? A blow up of this book cover would be one of them, complete with its title and wording, so that the feeling of the magical story can be remembered each day. Anna Elliott's interpretation of the aftermath of Arthur's Britain is a wonderful addition to the myriad of Arthurian books, as I am anxiously awaiting Book 2, Dark Moon of Avalon due out in May 2010. The prologue to Dark Moon is up on Anna Elliott's website; the working title of Book Three is Sunrise of Avalon. I can't wait to see those covers as well! The Bridgeman Art Library has had the best book covers I've seen this year. Thank you so much to Anna Elliott for weaving this fine tale, now hurry up and get the rest of series published!!
If you watched Tristan & Isolde, the movie with the gorgeous James Franco, there is also no resemblance from this particular book to the movie, and I also loved the movie. I have not read Rosalind Miles' trilogy or the classic by Bedier, but I will. Recommended to me was Mists of Avalon, twice over, so I will add that to my shelf also. I have a growing Arthurian Book Collection.
See the full review at The Burton Review that has great links to visit regarding King Arthur and the legend.
Also see this post at The Burton Review for a wonderful Guest Post by Anna Elliott.
I liked this much better than [b:The White Raven|1214365|The White Raven|Diana L. Paxson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387738076l/1214365._SY75_.jpg|1332828]. This book is kind of slow and it seems like not a lot happens, but it is well written and definitely can keep you engaged.
This is not your traditional tale of Trystan and Isolde; be forewarned there is no romance or epic love story in this book. Instead Elliott makes Isolde the daughter of Modred and Guinevere from Arthurian legend. Isolde is raised by Mogan la Faye, who teaches he the Old Ways and herb craft. These blood ties lead to Isolde bearing the labels of witch and a traitor's bastard. As the novel begins Isolde is faced with the murder of her husband, the high king. This novel is very much a story of a girl (Isolde is only 20) struggling to come to terms with her past and hold together a kingdom facing onslaught by Saxons as well as traitors from within. Isolde struggles to find her voice and maintain some power over herself and her country's destiny in a time when women were little more than chattel in their husband's estates. The label of witch is not just a hurtful slander, but potentially a life threatening charge. This is the first book in a planned trilogy and was an interesting enough spin on both the traditional Trystan and Isolde tale as well as Arthurian legend to make me anxious to read the next book in the series.
It's a nice novel for those who are not familiar with Marillier's work, otherwise Twilight of Avalon has too much paralelism with "The son of shadows". It's a bit disappointing because I thought it was going to be fresh, but in the end is pretty much "Marion Zimmer Bradley meets Juliet Marillier married to George R. R. Martin". I MIGHT buy Dark Moon of Avalon to see how it ends, but it won't be soon...
This book just didn't do it for me. The concept is an interesting one- weaving the King Arthur concept with the romance of Trystan and Isolde is somewhat inventive- but the writing lacked a certain strength. I also found it hard to get into the book until the final one hundred pages of the novel.
I wouldn't recommend this novel to any hardcore fantasy fans.
I wouldn't recommend this novel to any hardcore fantasy fans.
I'm not sure if my dislike of this book is due to my unfamiliarity with the genre, but man, I found myself rolling my eyes constantly throughout the book. I take issue with the amount of sexual assault in the book. As a reader, I can understand that the evil warlord is bad because he is an evil warlord- he doesn't have to be a rapist on top of it as well. The characters don't feel fully realized and their actions were often predictable because of this. When Hedda FALLS ON THE KNIFE and 'dies' I truly looked up from the book and went "are you kidding me". It'd truly ridiculous, I guess the two protagonist are not allowed to kill her because then the reader might have conflicted feelings about their inherent goodness? Hated it. Very dumb.