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    The Mists of Avalon: The High Queen
    The Mists of Avalon: The High Queen
    The Mists of Avalon: The High Queen
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Mists of Avalon: The High Queen

    Written by Marion Zimmer Bradley

    Narrated by Davina Porter

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    This imaginative return to the Arthurian legend as told from its pagan priestesses continues with Book Two: The High Queen. Morgaine, finally reconciled to the birth of her son, must relinquish him to her aunt Morgause in exchange for the kept secret regarding his parentage. Arthur marries the timid but dutiful Gwenhwyfar, while ongoing wars with the Saxon invaders continue to rage accross the land. Morgaine, tired of worldly concerns, attempts to return to Avalon, but disappears without a trace somewhere near the end of her journey. In a last bid for peace, Arthur compromises his loyalty to Avalon by carrying the Christian banner into battle. Gwenhwyfar's inability to conceive has the kingdom despairing of an heir to the throne, while behind the scenes, her love for Lancelet grows more impassioned and desperate.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateMar 6, 2009
    ISBN9781436198486
    The Mists of Avalon: The High Queen
    Author

    Marion Zimmer Bradley

    Marion Zimmer Bradley is the creator of the popular Darkover universe, as well as the critically acclaimed author of the bestselling ‘The Mists of Avalon’ and its sequel, ‘The Forest House’. She lives in Berkeley, California.

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    Reviews for The Mists of Avalon

    4/5

    175 ratings91 reviews

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    • 4/5
      (I'm interested to see my eldest son gave it 5 stars, way to go). I'm entranced, like many, by just about any version of the Arthurian saga, and this new take on it all from the perspective of the main women is fascinating. It was such a good read that my family was fully ignored from the time I picked it up until I finished it. (obviously eldest son retains no rancour about having to endure a weekend without mom).

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      An incredible piece of work. Shows the well-known legend in a very different light.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Probably THE women's version of the King Arthur tale. It hardly gets better than this. Some portions are grisly, but you have to say they are memorable. A classic.
    • 5/5
      This was, is, and always will be my favourite book. Being inside it is like returning home. It stirs amazing things deep inside me. It makes me happy, it makes full. It makes me not want to return to the real life.
    • 4/5
      My tome read for the summer, Bradley’s 876 page Arthurian drama is told mainly from the point of view of Morgaine, Arthur’s sister. There is a lot of good stuff here, but more than anything, the extremely detailed, well drawn characters make this novel.
    • 5/5
      This is a classic re-telling of the Arthurian legends given from a feminine viewpoint. The author looks at the stories from the perspective of the main female characters. The author explores not only the female viewpoint, but the transition from the Druid/pagan beliefs to Christianity in Britain. Though the book is told more from the pagan perspective than the Christian, author does the nice trick of honoring both Christianity and Druid/pagan beliefs. Some other innovations in this book are: postulating more than one Merlin (Merlin is considered a job title rather than a proper name - some archeological evidence supports this choice.) and multiple Morgan la feys ( this allows the author to explor different aspects of Druid beliefs from different perspectives. )This is an entertaining, mind-broadening book, with more depth than the average fantasy fiction. At teh time that she wrote it, Marion Zimmer-Bradley considered this book to be her magnum opus. I don't know if she still considers it in those terms. (she has written several substancial books since) but it would make a fine magnum opus for anyone!I thoroughly recommend it.
    • 5/5
      Thank you, Grandma, for recommending me this. Read it years ago and loved it deeply.
    • 3/5
      Long and overly preachy at points, but overall a pretty interesting take on the story of King Arthur.
    • 4/5
      I LOVED this book as a kid! I am sucker for alternative histories/perspectives on stories, especially when told from a feminist perspective; also, I really enjoy authors that do a good job of incorporating magic into daily activities, which Zimmer-Bradley does very well.
    • 5/5
      Only one word is needed - Magnificent
    • 5/5
      Amazing book, it was a phenomenal read. It it brings you right into it and it makes you feel that you are part of the story
    • 4/5
      The King Arthur legend from (the much-maligned) Morgan le Fay's point of view. If for no other reason, read it to find out a possible alternative truth about St Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland.
    • 5/5
      One of the best books I have ever read. Very deep on multiple levels, and has gained a special place in my heart. Like most books of its nature, it lacks a little in plot, but more then makes up for it in description. There have only been two amazing books that I've ever read, and this is one of them.
    • 4/5
      I'm a sucker for Arthuriana, and this was a good one. I liked the solution for the conflicting portraits of Merlin (the name becomes a title owned by two characters in the novel.) After this read Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles for another, even more historically realistic portrait of the Matter of Britain. The characterizations are wonderful. But Mists of Avalon is, I think, the better book, a little more mysterious, lyrical and magical.
    • 5/5
      This very pagan influenced revisionist history-fantasy is brilliant. I loved reading the Arthur myths again as told from the perspectives of the women involved. It was especially enjoyable from a pagan perspective as MZB took what she knew of modern paganism and put a modern interpretation on a fantasy/mythology classic without having to modernise the text or the setting. I loved it. Despite the fact that the writing isn't terrific in places (Did she have to say "such a one as this" or "such a one..." so many times?!) the story in this book and the feeilng and atmosphere it gives off is magical. A beautiful fantasy novel. Read it and decide for yourself.
    • 5/5
      I was riveted by this book from page one. The blending of the strength of women with the beauty of Paganism, as well as the ability to show not only the positive sides of each character, but also their negatives made it a story that built excellent characters and strength of plot.
    • 3/5
      good concept and interesting....but way too long winded!
    • 4/5
      The Mists of Avalon is a retelling of the story of King Arthur, only King Arthur isn't really a major character. It's all from the point of view of the women in his life - King Arthur's sister, mother, grandmother and wife, among others. The battle isn't over the throne or with warring neighbors, but rather the differing religions. Patriarchal Christianity is locked conflict with Matriarchal Druid magic. It's an interesting twist of politics and feminist rule. But, Bradley also explores other conflicts in society like fate versus free will, and magical powers versus realism.
    • 4/5
      This is the story of King Arthur told from a feminist perspective rather than that of the Christian male. Most of the book focuses on Morgaine, Arthur's sister, and her role in shaping the reign and the fate of Arthur. The book is just as much about the land of Avalon, the religion of the goddess, and how with time it is overshadowed and pushed into irrelevancy and the mists by Christianity. (CW)
    • 5/5
      I loved this book both times I read it. When I first read it. I loved that Morgan Le Faye is not the villain as is the case with so many of the Arthurian novels. The second time round, I truly began to grasp Bradley's clever use of history and various legends. I book I gladly recommend to any avid reader.
    • 5/5
      I started to read this after reading the Lawhead series, and the paganism put me off. Over the years I searched for Arthurian books that could keep my interest, but most seemed pretty sophmoric, and I rarely finished them. Years later, with a little more spiritual maturity under my belt, I picked Mists, up again, and could not put it down. Morgaine became a real person for me, and although I am mostly Christian/Buddhist, and a male, I found myself learning much from her. Her struggles were, in many ways, my struggles (although I never inadvertantly slept with a sibling!) My heart broke as I watched her world fall apart, her traditions slowly fade and die, and I mourned for her, and the world she lost.
    • 4/5
      I put off reading this book simply because of it's length. I wanted to be sure that I could read it straight through. I had some time off work and chose to use it reading this book. I love the retelling of the Arthurian legend from the womens point of view. More interesting to me was that most of the book was about the conflict between Christianity and the Old Religion. Religion fascinates me so I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
    • 4/5
      I liked this book a lot, but it became slow when the new queen was to be joining the king. I was so infuriated with her and she just wouldnt shut up. I stopped reading the book for a year before reading all of it in 3 days, :D I think the queen ruined the whole kingdom with her impudence and short- mindedness. But however it ended, it was definitly a good read. I gave it 3.5 stars because it was slow, and ive read 800 page books without stopping.
    • 5/5
      Probably my favourite book of all time. This is a masterful retelling of the Arthurian legend, primarily seen though the eyes of the women of Camelot. The story is lush, and when reading it, I find myself totally enveloped in it - to the point where occasionally, if something pulls me out of the book, it takes me a second to get reoriented.

      Zimmer Bradley touches on a wide range of topics: the nature of male-female relationships, what it might have been like to live through the transition of Pagan Britain into Christendom, the link between religion, politics and power, the struggle between duty and desire, how much influence we have over our destiny mysticism vs. dogma, and more. All of these themes are deftly woven into the tale, and she manages to carry it all off without resorting to simplistic character cliches. While the reader is clearly meant to sympathize the most with Morgaine, though who's eyes the story is told, I found myself at one point or another sympathizing with and rooting for each of the main characters.

      I would recommend this book pretty much for anyone who doesn't hate fantasy, historical fiction or the Arthurian legends. I know I've lost count of how many times I've read it over the year, but it really is *that* good.
    • 5/5
      This book was a bit weird for me. I know the general legend of Arthur and I know that it doesn't end well. So going into a book, knowing that the ending isn't happily ever after made the book hard to read. I would read 20-30 pages (then I'd be busy at work again), and I'd set it down. And every time I picked it up, I would be slightly reluctant to start reading again because, again, I know the ending. But every time I start reading it, I get completely immersed in the story to a point where I wouldn't want to put it down. The book was a big tug-o-war for me but I can truly say that this book is one of a kind. Bradley shows such REAL feelings in her characters. You find greed, lust, ambition, love...This truly is such a well rounded story that I think it would appeal to any type of reader. Bradley creates a beautiful layout of the land and of Avalon, so much so that you can see it in your mind and believe that you are there. This was definitely a story of EPIC proportions. I hope they make an epic movie out of this like Lord of the Rings ;)
    • 4/5
      I loved this story, you get very drawn into it. It helped me uncover me inner priestess! A hefty book to tote about but ever worth it.
    • 5/5
      I just finished reading this last night.It's the second time I've read this book, the first time since I began to explore my pagan beliefs. About life. About the earth. About living.. and love..about learning..About the moon.. the first time I read this book it had a profound effect on me with regard to the moon, and ever since I've been aware of her path through our sky. Waxing and waning. Tried to feel it in my blood.I don't think I do, but I'm most definitely aware of it...A full moon is a most joyous thing to me.The book. I find it odd, that a lot of the characters names are used differently than in common tradition. For example Lancelot is called Lancelet, and Guinevere is called Gwenhwyfar.. and so on.But other than that, I love Arthurian tales. And this is one arthurian tale, very well told.And told from a womans point of view. A godess point of view.Great book.
    • 2/5
      It was the loving depiction of incest, the religious permission given for it, and the weak-ass moral platitude -- and incredibly stupid reason for this platitude -- on the precise whens and wherefores the incest was and was not wrong that did me over. I'll grant that the incest is of traditional importance to the King Arthur legend and is necessary in this retelling... but how Zimmer Bradley has opted to embellish it? Ick.I know this is an award-wining work of literary significance and I read it avidly enough as a teen. But I can't say I enjoyed the read even then, and honestly, reading it now as an adult? Just... no.
    • 1/5
      I read this forever ago, don't think I even finished it. It was just "girl power" gone horribly wrong.
    • 3/5
      This is a very well written retelling of the King Arthur legends, focusing on the women of Camelot, specifically Morgan le Fay. That said, I was a bit put off by the pagan, or rather anti-Christian, tone of the book. If Ms. Bradley's portrayal of the Christianity of the time is accurate, all I can say is that I'm sure glad Martin Luther came along and made it fun again. I also often felt like I was reading a Mary Sue story. Morgan le Fay, or Morgaine, as she's called in the book, learns the druidic lore of Avalon, lends her magic to the power of Excalibur, and attracts the affections of Arthur and Lancelot. (though not to the extent of that simpering ninny Guinevere.) Then again, who's to say that every retelling isn't a bit of a Mary Sue tale? The old, lasting stories are often retold and infused with the passions and beliefs of the raconteur, claiming the tale for another generation. All in all, like I said, the book is well written. I enjoyed the drama and the truly three-dimensional characters. I'll probably hang on to the book, keeping it close to my beloved copies of White's and Malory's Sir Mary Sue tales.--J.