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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
lostinfrance's review against another edition
1.0
Thank the GODDESS. I finally finished this tome of UGH.
I acquired this book when I was 13 from my stepmother who knew I loved King Arthur and Merlin stories and thought this story told from a woman's perspective would be perfect for my non-stop reading soul. I picked it up--- read about 100 pages and then it has sat on my bookshelf since. A couple years back when she got sick, I tracked down a copy at the used book store in my town and grabbed it....and continued to ignore it. So, yay for READ the tomes year....get it out of my life, year....I cracked it open and started.
This is the story of Morgaine Le Fey--- and King Arthur. Gwenhwyfar, Lancelet, Elaine, Viviane and all of the players in Morgaine's life. It is of her upbringing as King Arthur's older stepsister who had to protect him. Her time in Avalon becoming a priestess, her time at Camelot serving as one of Gwenhwyfar's ladies, her time hidden away when she gave birth to Gwydion--- and then left him to be raised by her aunt Morgause, her time plotting Arthur's downfall when he didn't uphold his side of the bargain, and her time suffering from grief with the loss of so many friends.....sorcery, Merlin, love triangles, and lots and lots of agonizing text.
This book could have been half the length. I found myself 500 pages in DONE. Too long. Too much. And hence I put it aside for a month or two....bc UGH.
It did not help, that once I bought my second copy, I learned of Zimmer Bradley's crime against children, helping her husband exist as a pedophile and the abuse acted upon her daughter....I am grateful I only got a used copy...but I spent quite a bit of time deciding if I should even read the book. I am still grossed out and will not be recommending this book to anyone.
Read--- just don't. If you love King Arthur/Merlin and need some fun....watch the Sword in the Stone and track down some better written stories.
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2021:
I acquired this book when I was 13 from my stepmother who knew I loved King Arthur and Merlin stories and thought this story told from a woman's perspective would be perfect for my non-stop reading soul. I picked it up--- read about 100 pages and then it has sat on my bookshelf since. A couple years back when she got sick, I tracked down a copy at the used book store in my town and grabbed it....and continued to ignore it. So, yay for READ the tomes year....get it out of my life, year....I cracked it open and started.
This is the story of Morgaine Le Fey--- and King Arthur. Gwenhwyfar, Lancelet, Elaine, Viviane and all of the players in Morgaine's life. It is of her upbringing as King Arthur's older stepsister who had to protect him. Her time in Avalon becoming a priestess, her time at Camelot serving as one of Gwenhwyfar's ladies, her time hidden away when she gave birth to Gwydion--- and then left him to be raised by her aunt Morgause, her time plotting Arthur's downfall when he didn't uphold his side of the bargain, and her time suffering from grief with the loss of so many friends.....sorcery, Merlin, love triangles, and lots and lots of agonizing text.
This book could have been half the length. I found myself 500 pages in DONE. Too long. Too much. And hence I put it aside for a month or two....bc UGH.
It did not help, that once I bought my second copy, I learned of Zimmer Bradley's crime against children, helping her husband exist as a pedophile and the abuse acted upon her daughter....I am grateful I only got a used copy...but I spent quite a bit of time deciding if I should even read the book. I am still grossed out and will not be recommending this book to anyone.
Read--- just don't. If you love King Arthur/Merlin and need some fun....watch the Sword in the Stone and track down some better written stories.
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2021:
venla_reads's review against another edition
1.0
I really loved the prologue, so it wasn't all bad, lmao. Okay, based on the reviews I knew this might not be my cup of tea, but I wanted to see for myself, because I absolutely love the legend of Avalon and I used to be (well, I still am) obsessed with BBC Merlin. But after the first few chapters it became clear that I shouldn't waste time on this book, so I skimmed to the end, reading a paragraph here and there. Thanks for the summary, Wikipedia.
Anyways, from what I gathered, this book is way longer than it needed to be and soooo boring. How is it, that all the characters were so boring and one-dimentional, when they have so much potential?? Especially Morgaine??
I could see this being an amazing book, if it was 400 pages shorter and written now, instead of the 80's.
Anyways, from what I gathered, this book is way longer than it needed to be and soooo boring. How is it, that all the characters were so boring and one-dimentional, when they have so much potential?? Especially Morgaine??
I could see this being an amazing book, if it was 400 pages shorter and written now, instead of the 80's.
phexx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bibliosexual's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Incest, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Abortion
revamanda's review against another edition
2.0
You get to a point in a book where you say, "eh, might as well finish reading because I've come this far." And, maybe it'll get better?!?! Yep, I got there. I sooo wanted to like this more. I remember the mini-series and liked it. But the characters didn't have any depth (don't get me started on Gwenhwyfar). Women used sex to get their way and that's deemed strong somehow. And there's a pull between Christian and pagan theology, which I understand for a story about King Arthur but seems almost like the author was working her own issues out through the characters. I had hoped for more in a retelling about King Arthur and his legend.
tjorven_meret's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
autumnxrose's review
It was a bit slow and daunting, but I do want to try again sometime. Too many books checked out from the library to try to push through this one right now
nicirw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
bsalazar89's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a sucker for the King Arthur myth. This is a fantastic book that tells the story from the perspective of the women particularly Morgan le Fey and Guinevere. Although it includes all the fantastical elements of the legend from Excalibur and the Holy Grail quest, the setting really cements the story in a certain realism. The story begins with a power vacuum left by the Romans who had pulled back to Rome to settle problems there. The factions of Britain were warring to seize control. The Romans left their influence on the country and the people particularly in the form of Christianity. Throughout the book, the struggle between Christianity and Celtic religions was one of the main motivations for the events in the legend.