Customer Reviews

Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ravens of Avalon

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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

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!

In this book, we read about Boudica,sent to be trained as a priestess but who choses to go back to her people, marry & become Queen of the Iceni. This British Queen has a monument built to her but little is known of her. And while she was Queen of only one tribe, she almost united all of Britain in a rebellion against Rome. In a time in which men lead armies, a woman, Boudica was forced by brutal Roman rule to take up arms & try to drive this invader from her homeland. She was publically whipped and her daughters raped by Romans in such a animalistic way to cause her to take on leadership of an army to protect her people from Roman brutality. I found this book a fascinating read. There are all the magic and mystical elements you would expect from this series but the battle scenes are vivid and written with a realism that makes you feel as is you are there. Let the story of Boudica be told,woman, Queen and warrior !

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.

I was a bit apprehensive to read this new Avalon novel, as I felt Ancestors of Avalon was a promising premise that turned out to be a big disappointment. But I am enjoying the story and the writing of this novel much more than Ancestors, and I enjoy seeing the books and stories tie together in a cohesive way.

I have been meaning to read the Mists of Avalon series for a long time and just never got around to it. When I found out this book had Boudica as one of the main characters I just had to read it! I have always been fascinated by Boudica's role in history. It is amazing that in an era when women had few rights, she raised an army, and took on the Roman empire.

After I finished ''Ravens'' I immediately went out and bought the rest of the books in the series, and I am now thoroughly addicted. I suggest reading ``The Forest House'' after '' Ravens'' since it continues Lhiannon and Caillean's stories.

I think Parson is doing a great job continuing the series, and I look forward to seeing more books added to the series.

Some reviewers thought there were inconsistencies between Paxson and Bradley's works. The only thing I caught was that in the Forest House Caillean says she met the man who was Arch Druid before Ardanos, but in Raven Ardanos is already Arch Druid before Caillean ever comes to Britannia. That is rather minor, and other than that, I see no inconsistencies. And as for the other reviewer who said ''Caillean is the first of the priesthood to _ever_ discover Avalon '', maybe you should go back and reread the series. There were Druids living on Avalon before Caillean went there. Caillean did not discover Avalon, she established a community of priestesses there, and eventually helped draw it between the worlds.

While I have enjoyed many of the transitional books written by Diana Paxson since Marion Zimmer Bradley's death (and before) in the Avalon series I take a small exception to this one. Let me explain why:

Boudica is an actual historical figure who did something incredible and remarkable as a queen on behalf of her daughters, herself and her people against overwhelming odds. She did NOT employ any sort of 'magic' to do it - only courage, rage and her absolute belief in the rightness of what she was doing and why she was doing it.

Normally, I like the incorporation of historical figures into fiction - it lends the feel of authenticity and opens up the possibilities of "what if". This is the reason I am a big fan of the sci-fi and fantasy genres. But there is a danger in this particular depiction.

Today's generation of young women have grown up in a time where feminist goals and ideals have been incorporated - for better or worse - into much of everyday society. They are either unaware or uncaring of how hard fought those battles were every single day in every place by ordinary women to gain ground for the equal treatment of women. To "magicalize" the already great accomplishments of historical women like Boudica is to actually MARGINALIZE and somewhat trivialize depictions of the well documented accomplishments of just how magnificent we as women can be - EVERY woman.

Of course, the motivated reader has a great deal of information at their fingertips to research the well documented facts of people like Boudica. The problem I foresee is that very many people are no longer motivated to do such research - especially (and sadly) the youngest of us who could use such real life role models today.

I'm hopeful that the author keeps this in mind in future books where she might employ other such great female historical figures.

OK, so after the abysmal "Ancestors of Avalon" I have to say, this one is not half bad. Especially the second half. I find myself sitting here with a pretty profound "fulfilled" feeling and am anxious to do more reading on Boudica.

I'm actually struck by how very sad this whole saga is. All the women we meet through the 400 years (if you don't count the Atlantis crap, which I don't) of this saga experience such pain. Through sacrifice, force, whathaveyou, it's just very, well, as I said, sad.

Anyway..I'm the first to review this thing. So, if you're a fan of the series, this is a nice return to the tradition. And if you hated Ancestors, then this one will do a good job of getting Ms. Paxon back in your good graces.

In 60 A.D. the Romans have arrived in full force. After some brutal fighting, a ceasefire is agreed upon, but neither side expects the hostilities to end. Meanwhile Druid priestess Lhiannon has a second reason of concern as her student's Celtic princess Boudica marries Iceni High King Prasutagos. He sues for peace while his wife and her mentor demand war to drive the invaders from their shore.

When Prasutagos dies, the Roman legion rejects Queen Boudica as the island ruler. Instead they torture her and rape her daughters. Outraged by the vicious affront, Boudica vows to avenge the Roman atrocities. With the help of Lhiannon and other Druids bringing the power of the battle goddess to her side, Boudica forges a powerful army to assault the Roman legions.

The late great Marian Zimmer Bradley would be proud of this prequel to THE FOREST HOUSE, the first time she and Diana L. Paxson teamed up. The story line smoothly combines ancient history with fantasy elements to please fans of both authors. Readers of the delightful Avalon series will appreciate learning what occurred that led to the formation of the Society of the Ravens.

Harriet Klausner

A worthy addition to the Avalon series written in Bradley's style. I didn't notice a change in authors.

This particular title takes us back to the time when Druids where still on Mona and through most of Boudicca's life. It visualizes the events leading up to the Mona masacre, as well as Boudicca rebellion. Particularly dear to me is a story behind Lhiannon. Lhiannon, a young priestess, is very different from Lhiannon, the High Priestess in later novels. The novel gave me a very welcome glimpse into why and how of Lhiannon's later dettachment, while High Priestess.