The Mists of Avalon

When you have been reading a really LONG book for a LONG time there is a sense of accomplishment that goes beyond words, especially when the book is not one in which you really enjoy.  Fast forward to The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimnmer Bradley.  When I say long, I mean it…. at this moment in time, there are 1-2 books I have started that fall in the category of LONG.  When I finished Alexander Hamilton, which I really enjoyed, it took me 6 months, starting and stopping.  This one is longer.  I have never been a fan of the whole King Arthur fetish.   This book differs from almost all of the other books I have read from the “Arthurian” tales in that this particular book is heavy on the female perspective, which is a nice twist of describing blood, gore, sexual intrigues, religious uprisings, and the fight for power and the throne.   Aren’t all of these stories the same? 


The tale spans a few generations, first with Morgaine, the story’s protagonist, when she is just a little girl and taken to Avalon by her aunt to become a priestess and experiences the tensions of the religious/non-religious coalitions. While there she goes through a ritual on birthing and meets her half-brother, Arthur, whom she didn’t know.  She later has a child, Gwydion, or Mordred (which she is later called).  Confusing? 


Later after Arthur’s father dies, he ascends to the throne.  He gets the magic sword, love those magic swords! Guess what it is called… Excaliber.  Arthur, with sword in hand, fights off the invasion of the Saxons.  Unfortunately Arthur is not as lucky in bed, meaning his wife and he can’t conceive a child.  This leads to Gwenhwyfar, the wife, to have strained relationships with the circle of Morgaine, Camelot, and all.  The knights of the Round Table of Camelot leave to search for the Holy Grail but Mordred, the bastard son of Arthur and Morgaine, takes the throne.  The major battle is fought in the end where Arthur and Mordred’s men fight each other and Morgaine is left in the end alone to share the story of what happens to Camelot.  Lot of drama, with intrigue, but again, not a fan of the Arthur years….  A number of books top this one.  Glad to have finally hit page 875!