The forest house

This book, a prequel to Bradley's more reknown Mists of Avalon, reminds me of a little sister of the Mists of Avalon. The story is not as epic, the characters are not as interesting, but it's an overall well-written novel and honestly if you liked Mists, you'll enjoy this read.

Bradley, at least in

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this series, does not write in typical fantasy style. I believe I would characterize it as tragic fantasy. Most fantasy novels develop flawed, human characters that persevere despite their flaws and end up saving the world/themselves (i.e. Hobb). Still another motif is to create a practically flawless character and just pit them against extraordinary circumstances to have fun watching them eventually kick ass (i.e. Goodkind, Jordan). I'm convinced that Bradley (at least in the Avalon series) creates good characters, spends the first third of the book getting you to like them and showing their point of view, and then breaks them down. She does this through not only plot movement but also strange unexplained character shifts. Her characters tend to be not just complex, but also fickle. So you spend most of the novel watching this downward spiralling train wreck that usually leads up to some ultimate tragedy. Then in the end you are left crying not bittersweet tears, but just bitter ones. This novel follows that formula to a T; the end of the novel is characterized by a series of seemingly random, unfortunate incidents that result in disaster, for very little moral or world gain.

I find it likely that I will read more of her, but I definitely will have to mix it with some books that don't take such a bleak outlook on the outcome of life.

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Eilan is the daughter of a rebellious druid, and destined to become a priestess of the Goddess. Gaius is the son of a high official with the occupying Roman forces. But when chance brings these two together, they are struck with a mutual passion that will change the destiny of Britannia and

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zzzzzzzzzzzz…

Marion Zimmer Bradley can write, and this is a well composed epic handling a large cast and a changing country. But there is not a single thing in this book you, me and the neighbor’s donkey haven’t seen a hundred times before. Your mileage will vary, but I’m officially bored.

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One of the prequels to Mists of Avalon, Forest House tells the story of Eilan, a British priestess and Gaius, the Roman soldier she falls in love with. It can be rather slow at times, but overall the story is still compelling, and the world well-realized. It has more of a historical setting than

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Mists.
If you really liked Mists, and want to know the backstory, read this and the other prequels, but don't compare it to Mists. It's pretty good in its own right, but don't expect it to be as good as Mists.

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not the greatest. i think i outgrew marion's works before this was published.

Fascinated by "The Mists of Avalon" I immediately bought this prequel in 1994, but was bitterly disappointed, it turned out to be just one of the usual, not so special Zimmer-Bradleys

This was the second book I read by Marion Zimmer Bradley and really loved it. After reading it, of course I had to read Mists of Avalon. :)

Quite enjoyable but not to be compared with 'Mists' or 'Atlantis'

Interesting take on the Arthurian legend. I don't like all the Gods---goddesses stuff, but the rest was fascinating.

I enjoyed reading this book but as I have stated many times I like the fantasy around the time of King Arthur. This book was the last but it explained the beginning circumstances that was explained in the other books of the series.

This is a book with strong characters that is dealing with

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Priestesses and Druids. It is well written and held my attention though the final chapter. I do have to say the ending surprised me. If you like paranormal, fantasy, you will like this book. I could read it again and probably will later on.

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Prequel to the Mists of Avalon! Wonderful! If you loved Mists, you'll love this. Magic, pagan vs. christian characters, forbidden love and all of that good stuff.

Pleasant continuation of the Avalon Series

Definitely a prequel to The Mists of Avalon, tells of the beginning of the women's culture and how they came to be at the lake. I found most of it very slow and I didn't get really sucked in until the last 60 pages.