A review by d_karlshausen
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Kind of impossible to rate this book, considering the author’s history. I knew Marion Zimmer Bradley (in addition to knowingly being married to a member of NAMBLA... Dear lord.) had been accused of sexual abuse by her daughter, after Bradley’s death, but I sort of forgot about it until partway through this book. It’s weird, because if I didn’t know about those accusations, the incest (and even pedophilic) apologism is just covert enough that it probably wouldn’t raise any red flags. She uses religion and feminist spirituality to kind of work it in and make any objections to it seem close minded. She gives the main character just enough angst about it all to give it a vibe of "it’s complicated", which helps subvert disbelief and makes you want to buy into it. Knowing about the allegations, though, it all seemed more obvious and darkly self-justifying. It’s such a shame, because I love the story, but you can’t really put that all aside.