Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ravens of Avalon (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Marion Zimmer Bradley (Author)
Key Phrases: white mare, blessed isles, druid order, High Priestess, Lys Deru, Dun Garo (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This stirring prequel to The Forest House, Paxson's first collaboration with Marion Zimmer Bradley (1930–1999), is sure to please fans of the late author of The Mists of Avalon. In The Forest House, they introduced the Society of the Ravens, sons of the Druid priestesses who were raped and tortured by Britain's Roman invaders. Now Paxson explores the events circa A.D. 60 that inspired the mythical group's formation. Strong women surge to the forefront, most notably Druid priestess Lhiannon and her headstrong student and friend, Boudica, a Celtic princess who forgoes becoming a priestess to marry Prasutagos, High King of the Iceni. The uneasy peace with Rome shatters after Prasutagos dies, and Roman soldiers, refusing to recognize Boudica as queen, beat her and rape her daughters. Vowing vengeance, Boudica raises an army infused with the battle goddess's magical power and strikes back at the Romans. Paxson's bright fusion of fact and myth is a fine tribute to Bradley and the real-world triumphs and tragedy of Boudica. (Aug.)
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Review

“Stirring.” —Publishers Weekly

“Marion Zimmer Bradley would be proud of this… The story line smoothly combines ancient history with fantasy elements to please fans…Readers of the delightful Avalon series will appreciate learning what occurred that led to the formation of the Society of the Ravens.”
—Midwest Book Review --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (August 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670038709
• ISBN-13: 978-0670038701
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #275,438 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars New to the Series? Start with the Other Avalon Books, August 14, 2007

By	Wantz Upon A Time Reviews "www.wantzuponatime... (Chicago) - See all my reviews

RAVENS OF AVALON is a prequel to the Avalon series by the late Marion Zimmer Bradley. Diana Paxson was a longtime collaborator with her and therefore the Avalon universe well. A mixture of history, myth, magic and a touch of romance, the book touches on many genres.

In this story, we learn about Queen Boudica and the conquest of Briton by the Roman legions. Trained by Lhiannon as a druid priestess, Boudica decides to help her clan by marrying a Briton King. At his death, the Romans refuse to acknowledge her as Queen, beat her and rape her daughters. To say this doesn't sit well with her would be an understatement. She raises an army imbued with the power of the druids and attempts to oust the Romans.

While the premise sounds wonderfully exciting, the actual writing left me flat. I thought the book rather boring. There was no life to it. The majority of the book concerns eighteen years of Boudica's and Lhiannon's lives. The writing technique was good and the editing excellent. But the pacing was slow, almost to the point of stoppage. Although there was more excitement in the end, getting there was like wading upstream against a torrent. This is an unfortunate problem with many prequels that are written well after the series. It's as though the author is attempting to get in as much background information as possible. It's why editors cut out back story in many novels. It's just not as interesting as the main story.

Fans of the Avalon series will want to read this so they have more information on the world, but if you've never read any of the Avalon series, I wouldn't start here. Yes, it does add good background for the rest of the Raven books, but wading your way through the pages is not my idea of a great read.

Reviewed by Vicky Burkholder
08/14/2007

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Read it to Say that You've Read it, August 12, 2007

By	D. S. Ryelle "Paperback Writer" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book thinking it was the same caliber as the others, but I was disappointed to discover that the only match for "Ravens" is "Priestess". I read it, but I cannot guarantee that I will keep it.

I'm not entirely sure that Diana re-read "Forest House" (or any of the other books of the series) because there are a few discrepancies. I don't mind the fact that the priestesses regularly go to Avalon for initiation rituals, despite the fact that Caillean is the first of the priesthood to _ever_ discover Avalon (as seen in "Forest House"). What *really* bugs me though, is the free use of magic at the beginning of the book. Not only are the neophytes allowed to use magic randomly (despite the fact that in Marion's books, neophytes are the "chop wood, carry water" sort, like in real life), but the Druids use magic like they're Sith Lords! (Am I the _only_ one who had flashes of Darth Vader when Helve and Lugovalos froze throats?!)

I was going to give 3.5 stars, but after writing this, I've changed my mind. Half a star off for using Avalon too early and another whole star for the unrestrained and uncalled for use of magic. Three stars...and beware of the Dark Side!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Slow going..., September 24, 2007

By	oregano55 (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews

I agree with the reviewer who says the writing is flat...I simply don't find any characters to care about. The interior monologues are perfunctory, and we don't have a sense of anyone's deep spiritual life or galvanizing, life-changing moments. There are no goose-bump passages -- when any person, place or thing flickers alive for a brief moment, it's due to transference and memories from the earlier books. (Even the sex scenes are pale and lifeless.) Passionate as I am about this series, I couldn't not buy the book -- how I wanted to (once again) care about the land and its energies and the keepers of the ancient traditions. The previous books, which I typically stayed up all night to read, were grounded in the land itself as well as the bodies, minds and spirits of the brave women who defended it...Bradley created a seamless fictional world that stands right up there with Narnia and Middle Earth. All the seams show on this book...reading it felt like paddling the boat in circles seeking admission to Avalon, but finding nothing but echoes, mist and shadows. I had to make myself finish this.