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jwels's review against another edition
3.0
I usually love the world of Avalon and although it didn't take me much time to get through the book because I was sick and I couldn't do anything else this book was not as enjoyable as usual. I was never connected with any of the characters. I believe the author wanted to describe a period of time that had never been addressed but the story was never really fleshed out enough for me to care. I liked the characters but I never connected with them, never saw really what drove them. There was something missing as far as tying them to the story, they were there and then the did something. There wasn't much of a connection between their actions and their personalities. Not a waste of my time to read but I won't read it again.
joanabrookfernandes's review against another edition
3.0
If you’re in the mood for some light reading, about a Celtic warrior-queen and aren’t expecting too much historical detail, this book might be a good choice. Better yet if you’re a Marion Zimmer Bradley’s fan and therefore are curious about the ancient Celtic culture and creed. Although this was not written by the author of “Mists of Avalon”, her colleague Diana L. Paxson does justice to her investigations about Boudica.
“Ravens of Avalon” is set in Britannia like most of the Avalon series and shares the religious background that “Mists of Avalon” magically presented us to. Nevertheless, it’s the only aspect they share, since the historical onsets are quite different.
Being this fictional, I was presented with a much more insecure and subdued (perhaps, more human?) main character than I expected and found the writing quite plain. Another downside of this novel was the anticlimactic lack of detail, mainly in the battle chapters. When you’re reading about a bellic legend that finally asserts herself and her people against the Romans, you certainly don’t expect her to lose consciousness to the Lady of Ravens and simply wake up after the warfare is over, do you?
All in all, it’s a useful read to learn a bit about Boudica and the romance she lived in such harsh times for the Celtic people, but I’m afraid it didn’t live up to my expectations.
“Ravens of Avalon” is set in Britannia like most of the Avalon series and shares the religious background that “Mists of Avalon” magically presented us to. Nevertheless, it’s the only aspect they share, since the historical onsets are quite different.
Being this fictional, I was presented with a much more insecure and subdued (perhaps, more human?) main character than I expected and found the writing quite plain. Another downside of this novel was the anticlimactic lack of detail, mainly in the battle chapters. When you’re reading about a bellic legend that finally asserts herself and her people against the Romans, you certainly don’t expect her to lose consciousness to the Lady of Ravens and simply wake up after the warfare is over, do you?
All in all, it’s a useful read to learn a bit about Boudica and the romance she lived in such harsh times for the Celtic people, but I’m afraid it didn’t live up to my expectations.
studyingwlilyevans's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
carolachiusi's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-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
3.0
rachelking's review
4.0
After reading this book, I did a little research about the historical Boudica. For the most part, I would say that Paxson holds well to the historical record of Boudica while incorporating the mythology of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Avalon series. From the outset, I expected the battle that Boudica is famous for to occur within the first half of the book, but the whole thing actually leads up to it as the final climax.
The book progresses in typical Bradley fashion, following the lives of Boudica and Lhiannon as they intersect and divide, like two parallel lines on a page. The sub-plots build and taper off, dealing with the typical issues of romance, religion, and cultural differences. Lhiannon stays in her role as priestess, seemingly never allowed to realize her full potential, despite prophecy and ambition. Boudica leaves Mona to be wed to the powerful King Prasutagos in the midst of a Roman takeover. Despite the power that these two women are certain resides in Brittania, their people lack the organization and man-power of the Roman Empire. Defeat after defeat only gives them more reason to seek out peace.
Lhiannon's role seems to be that of victim, as she loses first in religious ambition, then in romantic ambition, and finally losing her best friend. Even so, I can't help feeling sorry for her and hoping that something will work out in her favor. The one thing that seems to go her way is when she adopts a girl, Caillean, whom the reader never actually gets to meet.
Boudica's role morphs as the plot progresses from wife, to mother, and finally to Queen. For me, the most moving sub-plot was Boudica's miscarriage - I cried. This also involved the only "loose end" that really bugged me - the Morrigan addressing her lost son without really giving her an answer. Despite that, what drove her to become the great Queen that she is most known for is her love for her children and her anger at their treatment by the Romans. The way that she responded to these kinds of injustices are what humanized her and made her choices relateable. In the end, it was obvious that though she knew she had no room for regret in her choices, she likely wondered if there was truly any way that the peoples of Britannia could have defeated the Romans.
Though this book did take a long time for me to read, I still felt that it stayed true to the writing style of the late Bradley and was an appreciated addition to the Avalon series.
The book progresses in typical Bradley fashion, following the lives of Boudica and Lhiannon as they intersect and divide, like two parallel lines on a page. The sub-plots build and taper off, dealing with the typical issues of romance, religion, and cultural differences. Lhiannon stays in her role as priestess, seemingly never allowed to realize her full potential, despite prophecy and ambition. Boudica leaves Mona to be wed to the powerful King Prasutagos in the midst of a Roman takeover. Despite the power that these two women are certain resides in Brittania, their people lack the organization and man-power of the Roman Empire. Defeat after defeat only gives them more reason to seek out peace.
Lhiannon's role seems to be that of victim, as she loses first in religious ambition, then in romantic ambition, and finally losing her best friend. Even so, I can't help feeling sorry for her and hoping that something will work out in her favor. The one thing that seems to go her way is when she adopts a girl, Caillean, whom the reader never actually gets to meet.
Boudica's role morphs as the plot progresses from wife, to mother, and finally to Queen. For me, the most moving sub-plot was Boudica's miscarriage - I cried. This also involved the only "loose end" that really bugged me - the Morrigan addressing her lost son without really giving her an answer. Despite that, what drove her to become the great Queen that she is most known for is her love for her children and her anger at their treatment by the Romans. The way that she responded to these kinds of injustices are what humanized her and made her choices relateable. In the end, it was obvious that though she knew she had no room for regret in her choices, she likely wondered if there was truly any way that the peoples of Britannia could have defeated the Romans.
Though this book did take a long time for me to read, I still felt that it stayed true to the writing style of the late Bradley and was an appreciated addition to the Avalon series.
grayduck's review
Reviewed 10/29/2007
This book was written by Diana Paxson, longtime friend and collaborator of Marion Zimmer Bradley. Like the other post-Mists of Avalon books, it has MZB’s voice but there’s something lacking. The vastness and dept of Mists just isn’t present in this book (or in The Forest House, Priestess of Avalon etc). But, I enjoyed it for what it was. Diana Paxson is an excellent writer and I think she’s done a good job continuing Avalon when when Marion Zimmer Bradley died in 1999.
Boudica is the daughter of one of the chief-kings in Britain. She is sent to the Druid Isle for education, and meets the young priestess Lhiannon. The two become close friends, even though they have very different paths. Boudica, lacking the talents and patience to be a priestess, leaves to marry Praustagos and become Queen of the Iceni in the north. Lhiannon becomes a priestess who fights alongside the Druids against the invading Romans in the south. Boudica’s father had been a Roman collaborator, and she and Praustagos continue to live under Roman rule. This affords them a bit of peace. However, when Praustagos dies, the Romans deny Boudica and her daughters their rule and brutalize them. Pissed as hell, Boudica raises an army and marches through Brittania, destroying not only Roman legions, but those Britons who collaborated with them.
Diana Paxson doesn’t pretend anything like “Oh, even though they were defeated the Britons really won in their own special way” (kind of like in The Mists of Avalon…but I didn’t really mind that). The Britons were slaughtered. I’ve read about how 10,000 Romans killed somewhere around 300,000 Britons. It was kind of depressing to read…but I never got so sucked into the book that I FELT it.
I did enjoy this book. I don’t think that there’s anywhere else for the series to go (unless Diana Paxson wants to start writing about Atlantis). I wonder: if given the chance, would I read the Avalon series in chronological order (leaving The Mists of Avalon) for the end)? Hmm. Well, if she writes more, I’ll read them. I probably won’t re-read them, though.
This book was written by Diana Paxson, longtime friend and collaborator of Marion Zimmer Bradley. Like the other post-Mists of Avalon books, it has MZB’s voice but there’s something lacking. The vastness and dept of Mists just isn’t present in this book (or in The Forest House, Priestess of Avalon etc). But, I enjoyed it for what it was. Diana Paxson is an excellent writer and I think she’s done a good job continuing Avalon when when Marion Zimmer Bradley died in 1999.
Boudica is the daughter of one of the chief-kings in Britain. She is sent to the Druid Isle for education, and meets the young priestess Lhiannon. The two become close friends, even though they have very different paths. Boudica, lacking the talents and patience to be a priestess, leaves to marry Praustagos and become Queen of the Iceni in the north. Lhiannon becomes a priestess who fights alongside the Druids against the invading Romans in the south. Boudica’s father had been a Roman collaborator, and she and Praustagos continue to live under Roman rule. This affords them a bit of peace. However, when Praustagos dies, the Romans deny Boudica and her daughters their rule and brutalize them. Pissed as hell, Boudica raises an army and marches through Brittania, destroying not only Roman legions, but those Britons who collaborated with them.
Diana Paxson doesn’t pretend anything like “Oh, even though they were defeated the Britons really won in their own special way” (kind of like in The Mists of Avalon…but I didn’t really mind that). The Britons were slaughtered. I’ve read about how 10,000 Romans killed somewhere around 300,000 Britons. It was kind of depressing to read…but I never got so sucked into the book that I FELT it.
I did enjoy this book. I don’t think that there’s anywhere else for the series to go (unless Diana Paxson wants to start writing about Atlantis). I wonder: if given the chance, would I read the Avalon series in chronological order (leaving The Mists of Avalon) for the end)? Hmm. Well, if she writes more, I’ll read them. I probably won’t re-read them, though.
gerypro's review
3.0
This sequel to the Avalon series follows Boudica's life and rebellion as well as her friend and mentor Lhiannon's active participance in preserving the Druid's beliefs and culture.
If you want to read this book because of the mysticism and the atmosphere of "The Mists..." be ready to be surprised as it has nothing in common. The style of the book is completely different and I liked it because it suits the story more as it is action driven and Boudica is not a priestess, but a hot-blooded and rebellious young woman. Lhiannon's character is more bleak and a bit flatter, in my opinion.
There is a part towards the end which I found forced and scamped - the rebellion could have received a bigger part of the book, in my opinion. Also, the ending is really cringy, in my opinion.
If you want to read this book because of the mysticism and the atmosphere of "The Mists..." be ready to be surprised as it has nothing in common. The style of the book is completely different and I liked it because it suits the story more as it is action driven and Boudica is not a priestess, but a hot-blooded and rebellious young woman. Lhiannon's character is more bleak and a bit flatter, in my opinion.
There is a part towards the end which I found forced and scamped - the rebellion could have received a bigger part of the book, in my opinion. Also, the ending is really cringy, in my opinion.
readingthroughthelists's review
3.0
This was my first foray into the world of the Avalon novels, and I must say, I enjoyed it and will be coming back for more. Without having the benefit Marion Zimmer Bradley's framework, however, I must judge Ravens of Avalon solely on its own merits.
First of all, I listened to this on audiobook, which was a mistake. The reader's voice is grating, and all the Celtic names and places are impossible to keep separate while you're also trying to get into the far left lane and not get your car smashed by the jerk who just cut you off. It also doesn't help that all the male characters all sound like middle-aged female smokers.
That being said--things I liked:
1. Boudicca and Lhiannon and Prasutagus and Ardanos and all the other major characters. Boudicca's relationship with her husband was especially, unexpectedly, tender and endearing, and really rounded her as a character.
2. The focus on relationships. I expected a book about war, but this was really a book about peace, whether its presence (Boudicca) or its absence (Lhiannon) and the effect this has on societies.
3. Coventa's eloquent little speech on why she wants to save the baby conceived by her rape.
4. The Morrigan's battle fury being blended with sorrow at the human cost of war.
5. The organization of Mona. Seems like a nice place to live.
Things I disliked:
1. The focus on relationships. Peace is wonderful, yes, but Boudicca a historical figure known for her battles and for kicking Roman butt, and anyone reading a book about her is going to expect that. Ravens, however, meanders along through years and years of Boudicca's life and by the time we finally get to the battles, she's all but possessed by the Morrigan and then *hey!* The book's over.
2. Boudicca being possessed by the Morrigan. Perhaps I just haven't read enough of Marion Zimmer Bradley, but something about the concept of Boudicca not being in control of what happens after her rape bothered me. It feels like cheating, somehow, as if Paxson couldn't quite work out how to make a peace-loving Boudicca, grieving for her beloved husband, suddenly rise up and want to kick Roman butt. So...hey let's make the goddess of war possess her! It also felt...well, slightly disrespectful, as if implying that Boudicca didn't have the strength or the guts to rise on her own, and had to be possessed by a goddess in order to make it happen. Unless you believe in a real Morrigan, the real Boudicca didn't have the luxury of not having to feel anything until the battle ended. And yes, I think it was also a cop out to avoid having to take the reader into the battles--Boudicca could just black out and then the reader rejoins her once it's over.
3. No major Roman characters except Polio (and I don't think he really counts), no explanation of the Roman mentality, no larger story taking place outside Britain. I'm not saying you need to justify the terrible things the Romans did, but to set up another scenario of 'evil invaders destroy the righteous natives' is to continue to perpetuate an 'us vs. them' mentality, especially if 'they' never get a voice. If the Romans are evil because they do terrible things, then yes. But if they are evil just because they are invaders, without any development of any Roman characters...that's lazy writing.
4. The priestesses drowning the daughters conceived by the Romans but saving the sons. Sorry, but things like that will never not bother me.
Overall, 3.5 stars.
First of all, I listened to this on audiobook, which was a mistake. The reader's voice is grating, and all the Celtic names and places are impossible to keep separate while you're also trying to get into the far left lane and not get your car smashed by the jerk who just cut you off. It also doesn't help that all the male characters all sound like middle-aged female smokers.
That being said--things I liked:
1. Boudicca and Lhiannon and Prasutagus and Ardanos and all the other major characters. Boudicca's relationship with her husband was especially, unexpectedly, tender and endearing, and really rounded her as a character.
2. The focus on relationships. I expected a book about war, but this was really a book about peace, whether its presence (Boudicca) or its absence (Lhiannon) and the effect this has on societies.
3. Coventa's eloquent little speech on why she wants to save the baby conceived by her rape.
4. The Morrigan's battle fury being blended with sorrow at the human cost of war.
5. The organization of Mona. Seems like a nice place to live.
Things I disliked:
1. The focus on relationships. Peace is wonderful, yes, but Boudicca a historical figure known for her battles and for kicking Roman butt, and anyone reading a book about her is going to expect that. Ravens, however, meanders along through years and years of Boudicca's life and by the time we finally get to the battles, she's all but possessed by the Morrigan and then *hey!* The book's over.
2. Boudicca being possessed by the Morrigan. Perhaps I just haven't read enough of Marion Zimmer Bradley, but something about the concept of Boudicca not being in control of what happens after her rape bothered me. It feels like cheating, somehow, as if Paxson couldn't quite work out how to make a peace-loving Boudicca, grieving for her beloved husband, suddenly rise up and want to kick Roman butt. So...hey let's make the goddess of war possess her! It also felt...well, slightly disrespectful, as if implying that Boudicca didn't have the strength or the guts to rise on her own, and had to be possessed by a goddess in order to make it happen. Unless you believe in a real Morrigan, the real Boudicca didn't have the luxury of not having to feel anything until the battle ended. And yes, I think it was also a cop out to avoid having to take the reader into the battles--Boudicca could just black out and then the reader rejoins her once it's over.
3. No major Roman characters except Polio (and I don't think he really counts), no explanation of the Roman mentality, no larger story taking place outside Britain. I'm not saying you need to justify the terrible things the Romans did, but to set up another scenario of 'evil invaders destroy the righteous natives' is to continue to perpetuate an 'us vs. them' mentality, especially if 'they' never get a voice. If the Romans are evil because they do terrible things, then yes. But if they are evil just because they are invaders, without any development of any Roman characters...that's lazy writing.
4. The priestesses drowning the daughters conceived by the Romans but saving the sons. Sorry, but things like that will never not bother me.
Overall, 3.5 stars.
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