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Avalon (Publication Order) #4
Priestess of Avalon
Long-awaited final volume in the Avalon series by bestselling fantasy author, Marion Zimmer Bradley. As the Merlin of Britannia keeps his vigil atop the Tor of Avalon, Rian, the High Priestess of Avalon, dies giving birth to her fifth child. The girl, named Eilan with her mother's dying breath, takes life. From the stars the Merlin draws forth her prophecy: 'The child that was born at the Turning of Autumn, just as the night gave way to dawn, shall stand at the turning of the Age, the gateway between two worlds.' A prophecy of greatness, but it seems that she is destined to walk a path unlike any trod by a Priestess of Avalon before! Published posthumously, this spellbinding historical romance is the concluding volume in the Avalon series from Marion Zimmer Bradley, the author of the worldwide bestseller, The Mists of Avalon, who died in 1999.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Marion Zimmer Bradley
731 books4,570 followersMarion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley was an American author of fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series, often with a feminist outlook.
Bradley's first published novel-length work was Falcons of Narabedla, first published in the May 1957 issue of Other Worlds. When she was a child, Bradley stated that she enjoyed reading adventure fantasy authors such as Henry Kuttner, Edmond Hamilton, and Leigh Brackett, especially when they wrote about "the glint of strange suns on worlds that never were and never would be." Her first novel and much of her subsequent work show their influence strongly.
Early in her career, writing as Morgan Ives, Miriam Gardner, John Dexter, and Lee Chapman, Marion Zimmer Bradley produced several works outside the speculative fiction genre, including some gay and lesbian pulp fiction novels. For example, I Am a Lesbian was published in 1962. Though relatively tame by today's standards, they were considered pornographic when published, and for a long time she refused to disclose the titles she wrote under these pseudonyms.
Her 1958 story The Planet Savers introduced the planet of Darkover, which became the setting of a popular series by Bradley and other authors. The Darkover milieu may be considered as either fantasy with science fiction overtones or as science fiction with fantasy overtones, as Darkover is a lost earth colony where psi powers developed to an unusual degree. Bradley wrote many Darkover novels by herself, but in her later years collaborated with other authors for publication; her literary collaborators have continued the series since her death.
Bradley took an active role in science-fiction and fantasy fandom, promoting interaction with professional authors and publishers and making several important contributions to the subculture.
For many years, Bradley actively encouraged Darkover fan fiction and reprinted some of it in commercial Darkover anthologies, continuing to encourage submissions from unpublished authors, but this ended after a dispute with a fan over an unpublished Darkover novel of Bradley's that had similarities to some of the fan's stories. As a result, the novel remained unpublished, and Bradley demanded the cessation of all Darkover fan fiction.
Bradley was also the editor of the long-running Sword and Sorceress anthology series, which encouraged submissions of fantasy stories featuring original and non-traditional heroines from young and upcoming authors. Although she particularly encouraged young female authors, she was not averse to including male authors in her anthologies. Mercedes Lackey was just one of many authors who first appeared in the anthologies. She also maintained a large family of writers at her home in Berkeley. Ms Bradley was editing the final Sword and Sorceress manuscript up until the week of her death in September of 1999.
Probably her most famous single novel is The Mists of Avalon. A retelling of the Camelot legend from the point of view of Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar, it grew into a series of books; like the Darkover series, the later novels are written with or by other authors and have continued to appear after Bradley's death.
Her reputation has been posthumously marred by multiple accusations of child sexual abuse by her daughter Moira Greyland, and for allegedly assisting her second husband, convicted child abuser Walter Breen, in sexually abusing multiple unrelated children.
(from Wikipedia)
Bradley's first published novel-length work was Falcons of Narabedla, first published in the May 1957 issue of Other Worlds. When she was a child, Bradley stated that she enjoyed reading adventure fantasy authors such as Henry Kuttner, Edmond Hamilton, and Leigh Brackett, especially when they wrote about "the glint of strange suns on worlds that never were and never would be." Her first novel and much of her subsequent work show their influence strongly.
Early in her career, writing as Morgan Ives, Miriam Gardner, John Dexter, and Lee Chapman, Marion Zimmer Bradley produced several works outside the speculative fiction genre, including some gay and lesbian pulp fiction novels. For example, I Am a Lesbian was published in 1962. Though relatively tame by today's standards, they were considered pornographic when published, and for a long time she refused to disclose the titles she wrote under these pseudonyms.
Her 1958 story The Planet Savers introduced the planet of Darkover, which became the setting of a popular series by Bradley and other authors. The Darkover milieu may be considered as either fantasy with science fiction overtones or as science fiction with fantasy overtones, as Darkover is a lost earth colony where psi powers developed to an unusual degree. Bradley wrote many Darkover novels by herself, but in her later years collaborated with other authors for publication; her literary collaborators have continued the series since her death.
Bradley took an active role in science-fiction and fantasy fandom, promoting interaction with professional authors and publishers and making several important contributions to the subculture.
For many years, Bradley actively encouraged Darkover fan fiction and reprinted some of it in commercial Darkover anthologies, continuing to encourage submissions from unpublished authors, but this ended after a dispute with a fan over an unpublished Darkover novel of Bradley's that had similarities to some of the fan's stories. As a result, the novel remained unpublished, and Bradley demanded the cessation of all Darkover fan fiction.
Bradley was also the editor of the long-running Sword and Sorceress anthology series, which encouraged submissions of fantasy stories featuring original and non-traditional heroines from young and upcoming authors. Although she particularly encouraged young female authors, she was not averse to including male authors in her anthologies. Mercedes Lackey was just one of many authors who first appeared in the anthologies. She also maintained a large family of writers at her home in Berkeley. Ms Bradley was editing the final Sword and Sorceress manuscript up until the week of her death in September of 1999.
Probably her most famous single novel is The Mists of Avalon. A retelling of the Camelot legend from the point of view of Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar, it grew into a series of books; like the Darkover series, the later novels are written with or by other authors and have continued to appear after Bradley's death.
Her reputation has been posthumously marred by multiple accusations of child sexual abuse by her daughter Moira Greyland, and for allegedly assisting her second husband, convicted child abuser Walter Breen, in sexually abusing multiple unrelated children.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
May 24, 2017
Begun by Marion Zimmer Bradley and finished by Diana L. Paxon, "Priestess of Avalon" is the story of Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great.
It is historical fantasy. The book swirls with goddesses, priestesses, druids, and faeries.
Though part of a series, it isn't necessary to have read the others. Each one pretty much stands alone. An understanding of the workings of Romano-Celtic Britain will help, but it's not essential. The ladies were/are excellent researchers and their historical components are bang on.
Someone, I suspect Diana, slid the solution to an archaeological mystery gently into the book. I only caught it because I had seen the object in question in a museum in London last week. This is the level of research I meant.
Highly recommended.
It is historical fantasy. The book swirls with goddesses, priestesses, druids, and faeries.
Though part of a series, it isn't necessary to have read the others. Each one pretty much stands alone. An understanding of the workings of Romano-Celtic Britain will help, but it's not essential. The ladies were/are excellent researchers and their historical components are bang on.
Someone, I suspect Diana, slid the solution to an archaeological mystery gently into the book. I only caught it because I had seen the object in question in a museum in London last week. This is the level of research I meant.
Highly recommended.
October 27, 2008
After having read Mists and then the Lady of Avalon, I went next to the Firebrand which I didn't particularly find myself liking though it did strengthen my beliefs in the Goddess. But when I started Priestess I thought, okay, here we go, will this make me happy or just frustrated. The beginning was everything that I had loved of Bradley's other novels, teachings on Avalon and the study/discovery of the ancient mysteries of the Goddess. As it split when Eilan left Avalon with her husband, I began to worry, like Firebrand, this would be the turning point. I saw how though she had been cast out of Avalon, the fairie land didn't leave her and she ventured further into the path of rising Christianity, mainly through her son, but eventually found her way back to the Old Ways and in the end to Avalon. Many dislike this book because it isn't as great as Mists of Avalon, but in many ways, you get to see, what is meant at the end of that novel, my favorite part, of how the Goddess still found followers through those who believed in the Virgin Mary, buying realizing as Helena does that deep down the Goddess is in everything. For those of us readers who approached these novels simply because we're pagan, though astounding the author is Christian, I continously realize that these novels are trying to return the message that though there is many differences in this world, we are all the same, though we believe different, worship different, and kill for those differences. I'd read this novel again.
January 22, 2015
I'd give this book three and a half stars. I liked it well enough and it was well written but for me, it lacked some of the magic that made The Mists of Avalon such a fantastic book. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this book is bad, it is not. It simply didn't enage and inspire me the same way as Mists did.
Here we follow the live story of Eilan, the daughter of one of the tribe's king's daughter, who is send to Avalon but later will become the mother of Constantine, the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity. The book spans more than 70 years, so some passages are only skimmed over, some people only fleetingly mentioned. Constantine remains a distant figure, which I found a bit sad, as so much of the action resolves around him. You could say, this it only understandable as Eilean - his other - doesn't really know her son, who was sent away to be trained at the Emperor's court when he was still a boy.
Maybe I didn't like this book as much as Mists, because so little of the adventure actually takes place in Avalon. Of course this is not the author's fault but still I was left feeling a little disappointed. Talking about reader's expectations and all that.
I enjoyed the debades between the pagan/heathen people in this book and those of the newly emerin Christian faith, some of it was really food for thoughts. And yes, there is a love story but it is not the main plot line.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and I recommend it to all, who like either Histotical novels or fantasy.
Here we follow the live story of Eilan, the daughter of one of the tribe's king's daughter, who is send to Avalon but later will become the mother of Constantine, the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity. The book spans more than 70 years, so some passages are only skimmed over, some people only fleetingly mentioned. Constantine remains a distant figure, which I found a bit sad, as so much of the action resolves around him. You could say, this it only understandable as Eilean - his other - doesn't really know her son, who was sent away to be trained at the Emperor's court when he was still a boy.
Maybe I didn't like this book as much as Mists, because so little of the adventure actually takes place in Avalon. Of course this is not the author's fault but still I was left feeling a little disappointed. Talking about reader's expectations and all that.
I enjoyed the debades between the pagan/heathen people in this book and those of the newly emerin Christian faith, some of it was really food for thoughts. And yes, there is a love story but it is not the main plot line.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and I recommend it to all, who like either Histotical novels or fantasy.
May 30, 2018
I love all the Avalon books. "Priestess of Avalon" is another great part of this series, although "Mists of Avalon" remains my favorite. If you like the works of Bradley, you'll like this one in the series.
June 30, 2018
As histórias de Marion Bradley tem sempre o poder de fazer-nos mergulhar noutro tempo. Desta vez levou-nos ao tempo de Constâncio e Constantino. Avalon é um lugar real na minha imaginação. Uma terra mágica em que todos os Deuses são permitidos. Helena é uma das últimas sacerdotisas de Avelon, que preserva as tradições pagãs e tanta unir-se aos cristãos.
O seu filho, o imperador Constantino foi o responsável pela lei que permitiu a liberdade religiosa. Os cristãos já não foram perseguidos. Mas foi o início do fim do paganismo. E Constantino deixa-se influenciar pela sua mulher, e mata seu filho Crispo. O verdadeiro herdeiro de Avalon.
Não compreendi se Constâncio amava de facto Helena, ou só a adorava como sacerdotisa. Pois não deixou que ela estivesse ao seu lado quando reinou o império.
Como sempre as personagens femininas destacam-se. Para além de Helena, Lena e Maria são outras personagens importantes para a compreensão do enredo. Cristianismo e paganismo estão unidos. Afinal Deus está em todo o lado. Deus está nas pessoas, dentro de seus corações, na natureza, nos relacionamentos entre seres vivos e humanos.
O seu filho, o imperador Constantino foi o responsável pela lei que permitiu a liberdade religiosa. Os cristãos já não foram perseguidos. Mas foi o início do fim do paganismo. E Constantino deixa-se influenciar pela sua mulher, e mata seu filho Crispo. O verdadeiro herdeiro de Avalon.
Não compreendi se Constâncio amava de facto Helena, ou só a adorava como sacerdotisa. Pois não deixou que ela estivesse ao seu lado quando reinou o império.
Como sempre as personagens femininas destacam-se. Para além de Helena, Lena e Maria são outras personagens importantes para a compreensão do enredo. Cristianismo e paganismo estão unidos. Afinal Deus está em todo o lado. Deus está nas pessoas, dentro de seus corações, na natureza, nos relacionamentos entre seres vivos e humanos.
March 7, 2012
Recently I read "Priestess of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Diane Paxton. I picked it up somewhere months ago in a bargain book stack, and from a purely critical standpoint that's pretty much all it's worth. While "The Mists of Avalon" still stands out as one of my all-time favorites (I've actually read the thing twice, which is rare for me), the sequels and prequels to that book are generally thin on plot and character and just leave a lot to be desired.
But I loved the book anyway. Given the setting and themes, (ancient Britain, priestesses of the goddess, magic love and mayhem), how could I not? But beyond even that, there was something in the narration of this book that really struck a chord.
It is apparently one of (if not the) last of MZB's projects - she died shortly thereafter - and this is evident in the voice of Elena, the heroine of "Priestess" as she looks over her life as lover, mother, and woman. She talks about how we are reflections of Her in all our guises, and how yet there really is no Her, only us, only each other... she talks about the connection we have to our children, through our bodies and our souls, and how yet they are perfect strangers to us with no obligation... there were passages that brought me to tears. I don't know if MZB's philosophy was voiced this strongly in the other books, or if I am only picking up on it because of where I am in my life.
Either way, I re-discovered something else that I love about the "Avalon" books, which is the way they help me reconnect to my pathway. The books are fantasy, of course, but they are written by pagan scholars in such a way that they truly resonate with real spiritual practice and belief. Yet they are not meant to proselytize some neo-wiccan fluff - in fact, the underlying message is that the Divine is beyond religion, that no matter what we call it we are worshiping the same source... though how much comfort it gives us to call out to Mother, and in so doing do honor to ourselves?
I also realized something kind of cool: in each of the books, there are moments where characters meet where one or both seems to recognize the other, or someone has flashes, visions, suggesting that they have known each other in lives past. I always assumed this was done just to enhance the mythos, but, supposedly there is a deliberate connection among the characters throughout the various books... in other words, the sister of the heroine in one book is the reincarnated mother of the heroine in another... going all the way back to a Pre-Avalon book written by MZB in the 80's called "The Fall of Atlantis".
This is the same kind of self-referential schtick that I admired so much in Steven King (i.e references to other books embedded in the stories. In one of the Bachman books, a characters even joked about things seeming like a "Steven King novel". Gotta love that.) All of this has inspired me to re-read the Avalon series more closely, this time in historical order (as opposed to order of publication).
So I special-ordered a copy of "Fall of Atlantis" and I'm about half-way through.
The most striking thing is the difference in the writing. You can tell it was written early in her career, as it is riddled with craft issues. It's so over-written that I almost put it down, but I didn't. And now it's grown on me. The cosmos and culture depicted is vastly different, but it's intriguing to imagine how MZB intended this as a bridge to the world of the Druids. It'll be interesting to see how the story plays out. You know the end (Atlantis sinks), but then what?
(7/08)
But I loved the book anyway. Given the setting and themes, (ancient Britain, priestesses of the goddess, magic love and mayhem), how could I not? But beyond even that, there was something in the narration of this book that really struck a chord.
It is apparently one of (if not the) last of MZB's projects - she died shortly thereafter - and this is evident in the voice of Elena, the heroine of "Priestess" as she looks over her life as lover, mother, and woman. She talks about how we are reflections of Her in all our guises, and how yet there really is no Her, only us, only each other... she talks about the connection we have to our children, through our bodies and our souls, and how yet they are perfect strangers to us with no obligation... there were passages that brought me to tears. I don't know if MZB's philosophy was voiced this strongly in the other books, or if I am only picking up on it because of where I am in my life.
Either way, I re-discovered something else that I love about the "Avalon" books, which is the way they help me reconnect to my pathway. The books are fantasy, of course, but they are written by pagan scholars in such a way that they truly resonate with real spiritual practice and belief. Yet they are not meant to proselytize some neo-wiccan fluff - in fact, the underlying message is that the Divine is beyond religion, that no matter what we call it we are worshiping the same source... though how much comfort it gives us to call out to Mother, and in so doing do honor to ourselves?
I also realized something kind of cool: in each of the books, there are moments where characters meet where one or both seems to recognize the other, or someone has flashes, visions, suggesting that they have known each other in lives past. I always assumed this was done just to enhance the mythos, but, supposedly there is a deliberate connection among the characters throughout the various books... in other words, the sister of the heroine in one book is the reincarnated mother of the heroine in another... going all the way back to a Pre-Avalon book written by MZB in the 80's called "The Fall of Atlantis".
This is the same kind of self-referential schtick that I admired so much in Steven King (i.e references to other books embedded in the stories. In one of the Bachman books, a characters even joked about things seeming like a "Steven King novel". Gotta love that.) All of this has inspired me to re-read the Avalon series more closely, this time in historical order (as opposed to order of publication).
So I special-ordered a copy of "Fall of Atlantis" and I'm about half-way through.
The most striking thing is the difference in the writing. You can tell it was written early in her career, as it is riddled with craft issues. It's so over-written that I almost put it down, but I didn't. And now it's grown on me. The cosmos and culture depicted is vastly different, but it's intriguing to imagine how MZB intended this as a bridge to the world of the Druids. It'll be interesting to see how the story plays out. You know the end (Atlantis sinks), but then what?
(7/08)
September 24, 2014
This was a very moving book. I found myself empathizing with the life of Eilan/Helena, sharing in her joys as well as grieving for her losses. Very well done. One of the best books I have read in long time.
March 29, 2024
E con questo abbiamo finito il primo ciclo delle isole mitologiche!
Con un po' di ritardo alla fine arrivo a fare anche questa recensione. Ma prima voglio fare una premessa. Nel corso della lettura del ciclo io ho criticato più volte il culto della Dea e le sue sacerdotesse, non perché sia sbagliato (per stessa ammissione dell'autrice si tratta di una sua interpretazione in parte piegata alla funzionalità della trama) ma perché viene preso come modello per costruire il mito di un'antichità pagana progressista e tollerante.
Se da una parte può essere vero che la civiltà celtica aveva una minor repulsione per il sesso (lascio la parola agli antropologi e archeologi), dall'altro in questo libro la sessualità delle donne è sempre subordinata agli intrighi di potere e alla volontà della Dea o di chi per lei. Poi c'è il perpetuo antagonismo tra donne giovani e donne mature, le quali spesso instaurano rapporti dai connotati ambigui o addirittura tossici, ma vi rimando alle altre mie recensioni della saga.
E no, non basta mettere due frasi che strizzano l'occhio alle famministe o dei personaggi femminili che non si confanno al loro ruolo di genere (A parte che in questa saga sono quasi tutte mogli e madri, ma vabbé) per dire che questa saga è femminista, soprassedendo su tutto il resto.
Venendo invece al libro in questione, purtroppo è il più noioso della saga e mancano tutte le rappresentazioni delle evocazioni, dei rituali, delle possessioni della Dea che invece ritrovavamo negli altri libri.
Anche i personaggi femminili di spicco sono molto limitati e solo Eilan (Helena) spicca su tutte le altre, ma riprende lo stilema della sacerdotessa che deve far da madre a un bambino, un puer, che sarà fondamentale per il mondo che verrà.
Ho molto apprezzato invece la ripresa del tema del sincretismo religioso: ovvero il fenomeno per il quale le religioni incorporano elementi e tradizioni appartenenti ad altri culti. In questi ambiti soprattutto si vede la ricerca storica fatta da MZB e Diana Paxton, donna a cui dobbiamo anche i libri successivi a questo.
Inoltre, la storia continua a disseminare indizi sulla civiltà atlantidea (da cui discendono le tradizioni e il culto di Avalon) e sulle incarnazioni presenti e future dei personaggi coinvolti. Eilan, per esempio, è una delle vite precedenti di Igraine (futura madre di Re Artù) ed è una delle vite future di Tiriki l'atlantidea. In teoria la sua storia ci verrà raccontata nel prossimo libro che pubblicherà Harper Collins "L'alba di Avalon" e io adoro tantissimo mettermi a ricostruire la catena di eventi e reincarnazioni che hanno portato da Atlantide a Camelot, andando avanti e indietro nel tempo. E' uno dei motivi per cui questo ciclo, nel bene e nel male, è un pilastro della letteratura fantasy.
Purtroppo in questo libro non c'è molto altro a parte queste tre cose, è solo Eilan che viaggia da una parte all'altra dell'Impero senza essere quasi mai parte attiva degli intrighi. E' molto utile per farci vedere come la sua figura sia stata identificata in altre dee come Nehallenia, Elen delle Strade (Una sorta di Ecate celtica) e poi in Sant'Elena madre dell'imperatore Costantino, imperatore molto caro alla tradizione cristiana.
E con questo io concludo la recensione, pronta a partire per la seconda isola fantastica delle leggende britanne: Lyonesse.
Con un po' di ritardo alla fine arrivo a fare anche questa recensione. Ma prima voglio fare una premessa. Nel corso della lettura del ciclo io ho criticato più volte il culto della Dea e le sue sacerdotesse, non perché sia sbagliato (per stessa ammissione dell'autrice si tratta di una sua interpretazione in parte piegata alla funzionalità della trama) ma perché viene preso come modello per costruire il mito di un'antichità pagana progressista e tollerante.
Se da una parte può essere vero che la civiltà celtica aveva una minor repulsione per il sesso (lascio la parola agli antropologi e archeologi), dall'altro in questo libro la sessualità delle donne è sempre subordinata agli intrighi di potere e alla volontà della Dea o di chi per lei. Poi c'è il perpetuo antagonismo tra donne giovani e donne mature, le quali spesso instaurano rapporti dai connotati ambigui o addirittura tossici, ma vi rimando alle altre mie recensioni della saga.
E no, non basta mettere due frasi che strizzano l'occhio alle famministe o dei personaggi femminili che non si confanno al loro ruolo di genere (A parte che in questa saga sono quasi tutte mogli e madri, ma vabbé) per dire che questa saga è femminista, soprassedendo su tutto il resto.
Venendo invece al libro in questione, purtroppo è il più noioso della saga e mancano tutte le rappresentazioni delle evocazioni, dei rituali, delle possessioni della Dea che invece ritrovavamo negli altri libri.
Anche i personaggi femminili di spicco sono molto limitati e solo Eilan (Helena) spicca su tutte le altre, ma riprende lo stilema della sacerdotessa che deve far da madre a un bambino, un puer, che sarà fondamentale per il mondo che verrà.
Ho molto apprezzato invece la ripresa del tema del sincretismo religioso: ovvero il fenomeno per il quale le religioni incorporano elementi e tradizioni appartenenti ad altri culti. In questi ambiti soprattutto si vede la ricerca storica fatta da MZB e Diana Paxton, donna a cui dobbiamo anche i libri successivi a questo.
Inoltre, la storia continua a disseminare indizi sulla civiltà atlantidea (da cui discendono le tradizioni e il culto di Avalon) e sulle incarnazioni presenti e future dei personaggi coinvolti. Eilan, per esempio, è una delle vite precedenti di Igraine (futura madre di Re Artù) ed è una delle vite future di Tiriki l'atlantidea. In teoria la sua storia ci verrà raccontata nel prossimo libro che pubblicherà Harper Collins "L'alba di Avalon" e io adoro tantissimo mettermi a ricostruire la catena di eventi e reincarnazioni che hanno portato da Atlantide a Camelot, andando avanti e indietro nel tempo. E' uno dei motivi per cui questo ciclo, nel bene e nel male, è un pilastro della letteratura fantasy.
Purtroppo in questo libro non c'è molto altro a parte queste tre cose, è solo Eilan che viaggia da una parte all'altra dell'Impero senza essere quasi mai parte attiva degli intrighi. E' molto utile per farci vedere come la sua figura sia stata identificata in altre dee come Nehallenia, Elen delle Strade (Una sorta di Ecate celtica) e poi in Sant'Elena madre dell'imperatore Costantino, imperatore molto caro alla tradizione cristiana.
E con questo io concludo la recensione, pronta a partire per la seconda isola fantastica delle leggende britanne: Lyonesse.
July 12, 2022
Принцесу Еліан з ��ельтського племені відправили на Авалон, але це не допомогло - вона закохалася у римського солдата Констанція. Отак вона і стала Єленою, народила імператора Констянтина, навчилас�� розбиратися в римських інтригах, поїхала до Єрусалима по віру, а врешті повернулася додому.
Гарне історичне фентезі про старих і нових богів на фоні римської імперії (а я це люблю), але якось не в повну силу. Можливо, так воно сприймалося, бо читала одразу після "Туманів Авалону", і на фоні воно якесь аж занадто камерне of sorts. Але все одно цікаво.
Гарне історичне фентезі про старих і нових богів на фоні римської імперії (а я це люблю), але якось не в повну силу. Можливо, так воно сприймалося, бо читала одразу після "Туманів Авалону", і на фоні воно якесь аж занадто камерне of sorts. Але все одно цікаво.
January 12, 2010
Another great read
The story of Helena and Constantius was great and I was so glad that they did not die after their first communion like most of the stories in this series and was glad that MZB carried on their life story and the child of prophecy was indeed born. However, I didn't like it when Helena and Constantius life was separated because of the Roman law requiring Constantius to be married to a woman who had status and could be recognized.
The characters in the story were something else. I liked some of them right away(Dierna - Helena's cousin who eventualy became Lady of Avalon), hated one immediately (Ganeda - Lady of Avalon), and ended up disliking one in the end (Constantine - son of Helena & Constantius) and really hating and dispising Constantines wife (Fausta) and was so glad she got what she deserved in the end. I fell in love with Helena's grandson Crispus (Constantine's illegitimate son by Minervina)and was outraged that Constantine had ordered his death because of Fausta's lies.
I didn't like the interference that Dierna played with the lives of Teleri and Carausius. The thinking behind the reasonings for this match just appauled me. Carausius and Dierna should of been together from the beginning and I thought Dierna was stupid from denying her own heart and feelings because of some prophecy.
Note: Priestess of Avalon and Lady of Avalon need to be read together in sections according to the Historical Chronology of the Avalon Books. The following link explains the chronology time line. http://www.avalonbooks.net/chronology...
The story of Helena and Constantius was great and I was so glad that they did not die after their first communion like most of the stories in this series and was glad that MZB carried on their life story and the child of prophecy was indeed born. However, I didn't like it when Helena and Constantius life was separated because of the Roman law requiring Constantius to be married to a woman who had status and could be recognized.
The characters in the story were something else. I liked some of them right away(Dierna - Helena's cousin who eventualy became Lady of Avalon), hated one immediately (Ganeda - Lady of Avalon), and ended up disliking one in the end (Constantine - son of Helena & Constantius) and really hating and dispising Constantines wife (Fausta) and was so glad she got what she deserved in the end. I fell in love with Helena's grandson Crispus (Constantine's illegitimate son by Minervina)and was outraged that Constantine had ordered his death because of Fausta's lies.
I didn't like the interference that Dierna played with the lives of Teleri and Carausius. The thinking behind the reasonings for this match just appauled me. Carausius and Dierna should of been together from the beginning and I thought Dierna was stupid from denying her own heart and feelings because of some prophecy.
Note: Priestess of Avalon and Lady of Avalon need to be read together in sections according to the Historical Chronology of the Avalon Books. The following link explains the chronology time line. http://www.avalonbooks.net/chronology...
April 22, 2009
The second prequel of The Mists Of Avalon I've read in the serie so far. Though it can be clearly seen on the writing style that this book was finished by Diana L. Paxson - her writing style is surely poorer and more simple than Marion's - I still enjoyed Helena's story very much and it was very touching too. It's more of a historical fiction novel that introduces the reader to the life in ancient Rome, and we can also learn more about the Mysteries. I think that all Avalon-lovers should read this one, giving a chance to Diana L. Paxson even if her writing style cannot be compared to the great style of Marion Zimmer Bradley.
April 25, 2015
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Avalon series ranks among one of my all time favorites, and "Priestess of Avalon" stands out as my favorite. Drawing on the real life historical figure of Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, Bradley intricately weaves Helena's origin story into that of Britain and the Isle of Avalon. Helena is a character you will root for from the very beginning, as she makes her way from the Isle of Avalon to Britain to Rome to Jerusalem. Helena here is a woman for the ages. Even if you do not read another of the Avalon series, I would highly encourage people interested in the history of women to read this book. You will not be disappointed.
October 23, 2018
I liked the book when there was dialog and things happened emotionally. Sometimes big parts was just "then we moved there" and "then he died there" I took history at university, but not even I am THAT interested in when what happened. Since they both can write, and are very good storytellers, I think it as waste of talent. I understand the need of beeing correct, but it is possible to leave things out. Every person in history is not aware of everything that is happening around them politically all the time. Things considered today to be historical events passed many ppl by. So I think it is ok to leave things out. Other then that, it is great.
May 12, 2009
Truly interesting exploration of the Roman world at the time of Constantine. The main character, a priestess of Avalon, moves into the world of men to be the wife to one emperor and mother of another.
At times the text felt somewhat unwieldy; the pace slowed in the second half of the book and at times I wondered what the point of it all was. However, it was a great look through one person's eyes at the world at that time, and piqued my interest in the Late Roman Empire.
At times the text felt somewhat unwieldy; the pace slowed in the second half of the book and at times I wondered what the point of it all was. However, it was a great look through one person's eyes at the world at that time, and piqued my interest in the Late Roman Empire.
June 29, 2017
I liked Mists of Avalon when I read it back in the day, but couldn't get even halfway through this. It's like someone's half-assed diary when they are living through momentous things but are too tired to describe them in any manner of compelling detail. It's just so bland and depthless that I can't care about any of it.
November 5, 2019
I really loved Mists of Avalon and the Lake House, but this one was a real disappointment. It felt like more of the same. I enjoyed the first section before Helena left Avalon, then the very end, but didn't care about the middle.
March 23, 2019
Marion Zimmer Bradley hat mit der Reihe um Avalon ein gewaltiges Epos geschaffen, das sich nicht nur durch die zart zwischen den Zeilen erwähnten Wiedergeburten der Hauptcharaktere verbinden lässt, sondern auch ihren unvergleichlichen Stil. "Die Priesterin von Avalon" ist indes zwar teils ihr Werk, aber nach ihrem Tod von Diana L. Paxson fertig gestellt, ähnlich wie auch die Ahnen von Avalon. Das merkt man. Es fehlt dem Buch etwas. Ich habe eine Weile gegrübelt und bin schließlich darauf gekommen, dass es die Beziehung zwischen Frauen ist, die in so vielen anderen von MZBs Büchern so tragend sind, die hier fast gänzlich fehlen. Eilan mag zwar auf Avalon noch enge Bindungen gehabt haben, aber sie rücken nie in den Vordergrund, und diese Zeit ist nur durch ihren Konflikt mit der Hohepriesterin geprägt. Dann kehrt sie den Rücken und wird vollends zu Helena, einer Frau, die meist durch ihre Beziehung zu Männern charakterisiert und definiert wird und deren weibliche Begleiterinnen in den Hintergrund treten. Egal, welchen Namen ehemalige Sklavinnen oder Dienerinnen tragen, egal, wie sehr sie Helena ans Herz wachsen, für Paxson treten sie doch alle in den Hintergrund, während sie versucht, MZBs Vision von Helena und ihrer Geschichte als einstige Priesterin Avalons, die stattdessen in die Welt geht und ihre Rolle als spätere Heilige und Mutter von Kaiser Konstantin erfüllt, umzusetzen. Und das ist das Problem mit diesem Buch. Es geht so viel um die historischen Fakten, die Paxson nach eigenen Angaben alle selbst recherchiert hat, dass Avalon und die Mystik der Priesterinnen und der Großen Mutter völlig in den Hintergrund geraten. Hier ist der Versuch, einer historischen Lebensgeschichte einen Hauch Mystik und Avalonflair einzuhauchen, aber sie wird dem nicht gerecht. Die Konflikte Helenas, was die Prophezeiung oder ihren Sohn betrifft, werden nie lebendig, ihre Beziehung zu Konstantius schon gar nicht. Sie scheint entrückt, selbst schon ein wenig die Heilige zu sein, die andere gern in ihr sehen, und aus ihrem Tonfall kommt nichts heraus. Im späteren Verlauf des Buches wird es schlimmer, der Anfang, der noch in Großbritannien spielt, hat mehr Potential.
Natürlich ist es eine gewaltige Aufgabe und die historischen Persönlichkeiten, die man hier ausgewählt hat, sind groß, vielleicht sogar größer als die Artus-Sage, die trotz allem halt eine Sage ist. Dennoch wäre es mir lieber gewesen, man hätte nicht ein gesamtes Leben mit fast 80 Jahren erzählt, sondern den Schwerpunkt etwas mehr nach Avalon und Britannien gelegt. So finde ich es sehr schade und hoffe, dass mir andere Bände wieder mehr Freude bereiten.
Natürlich ist es eine gewaltige Aufgabe und die historischen Persönlichkeiten, die man hier ausgewählt hat, sind groß, vielleicht sogar größer als die Artus-Sage, die trotz allem halt eine Sage ist. Dennoch wäre es mir lieber gewesen, man hätte nicht ein gesamtes Leben mit fast 80 Jahren erzählt, sondern den Schwerpunkt etwas mehr nach Avalon und Britannien gelegt. So finde ich es sehr schade und hoffe, dass mir andere Bände wieder mehr Freude bereiten.
April 11, 2024
Libro scritto a quattro mani, ma ben raccontato. Lettura facile e scorrevole, ma troppo lineare, anche se verte su un periodo "caldo" della storia dell'impero romano. Qui il mondo di Avalon rimane in molti passaggi sullo sfondo, mentre l'aspetto mistico sfuma sul passaggio al cristianesimo dell'impero romano. Come sempre, le figure centrali sono femminili, varie e ben caratterizzate, con i protagonisti maschili - anche importanti - che ruotano intorno senza mai dominare. Non aiuta la lunghezza temporale del racconto (poco più di 70 anni) che inevitabilmente diluisce molti passaggi storici.
July 6, 2023
Of the 4 books in the series I have read, This was my least faborite. Why? The beginning started out well, but I got lost in the middle. Too many Roman names, some almost identical, with characters that did not last long. I found it hard to keep track of who was who. The end became more simplified, and ended happily, so that added a star to my rating.
December 9, 2016
La Sacerdotessa di Avalon è la rivisitazione avaloniana della leggenda/storia di Santa Elena, moglie di Costanzo Cloro e madre di Costantino.
Mi è piaciuto, ho apprezzato l’amore tra Costanzo ed Elena, mi è spiaciuto sinceramente quando ella ha lasciato l’isola sacra, io sarei rimasto. Il finale mi è piaciuto particolarmente. Uno dei fulcri centrali del libro risiede nell'identità di Elena, solo verso la fine del romanzo potrà veramente essere se stessa, quando ormai capisce che a dispetto di tutti i cambiamenti avvenuti nel suo animo e nel mondo, lei rimarrà sempre una Sacerdotessa di Avalon. Le profezie che ogni tanto rivela sono riuscito a capirle solo dopo che avvenivano. Per ironia della sorte il Sabba più rilevante per il corso del libro, Beltane, è passato da poco, mi sono entusiasmato e rattristato allo stesso tempo nel leggere le differenze tra come percepiva Eilan l’enorme Potere e come ne percepisca io così poco. Sconvolgente vedere come diventa Costantino, sebbene non si riesca ad odiarlo piuttosto lo si compatisce; al contrario di Fausta, donna ambiziosa che mostrerà la sua vera natura solo dopo un abominio.
Insieme ad Elena vedremo luoghi bellissimi, naturali e non ma descritti con una precisione da farli comparire davanti a nostri occhi.
Eilan è una donna forte, rimane umile ed aiuta i bisognosi anche
Vedere come il cristianesimo prenda il sopravvento nel mondo è stato orribile, la Dea solo ad Avalon vive e viene venerata, il mondo pian piano la dimentica.
Saltiamo la leggere irritazione dovuta alla totale assenza del consorte della Dea, solo io penso che Dea e Dio siano sullo stesso livello?? Speriamo di no.
È un romanzo entusiasmante da leggere, Eilan è davvero degna della prima Eilan (da Querce di Albion) la cui storia ho particolarmente amato.
Mi è piaciuto, ho apprezzato l’amore tra Costanzo ed Elena, mi è spiaciuto sinceramente quando ella ha lasciato l’isola sacra, io sarei rimasto. Il finale mi è piaciuto particolarmente. Uno dei fulcri centrali del libro risiede nell'identità di Elena, solo verso la fine del romanzo potrà veramente essere se stessa, quando ormai capisce che a dispetto di tutti i cambiamenti avvenuti nel suo animo e nel mondo, lei rimarrà sempre una Sacerdotessa di Avalon. Le profezie che ogni tanto rivela sono riuscito a capirle solo dopo che avvenivano. Per ironia della sorte il Sabba più rilevante per il corso del libro, Beltane, è passato da poco, mi sono entusiasmato e rattristato allo stesso tempo nel leggere le differenze tra come percepiva Eilan l’enorme Potere e come ne percepisca io così poco. Sconvolgente vedere come diventa Costantino, sebbene non si riesca ad odiarlo piuttosto lo si compatisce; al contrario di Fausta, donna ambiziosa che mostrerà la sua vera natura solo dopo un abominio.
Insieme ad Elena vedremo luoghi bellissimi, naturali e non ma descritti con una precisione da farli comparire davanti a nostri occhi.
Eilan è una donna forte, rimane umile ed aiuta i bisognosi anche
Vedere come il cristianesimo prenda il sopravvento nel mondo è stato orribile, la Dea solo ad Avalon vive e viene venerata, il mondo pian piano la dimentica.
Saltiamo la leggere irritazione dovuta alla totale assenza del consorte della Dea, solo io penso che Dea e Dio siano sullo stesso livello?? Speriamo di no.
È un romanzo entusiasmante da leggere, Eilan è davvero degna della prima Eilan (da Querce di Albion) la cui storia ho particolarmente amato.
September 22, 2017
Could it be that while we think we are acting of our own free will, we are actually working to fulfil some greater destiny? Is the world shaped by the whims of individuals or are there greater powers directing us? This is the question “Priestess of Avalon” raises.
Although probably not historically correct — the real Saint Helena was from what is now Turkey — it’s a very interesting idea that one headstrong priestess can accidentally help diminish the tradition of goddess worship. The book is a worthy part in the larger series on the disappearance of the Great Mother.
Marion Bradley Zimmer is admittedly not the greatest stylist and uses many repetitive phrases. Another problem is the scope; every few chapters the book skips anywhere from two years to a decade. (We follow Helena from ten-year-old girl in Avalon all the way to her journey to Palestine when she’s at least eighty.) This makes it hard to connect with the characters emotionally.
What keeps the book compelling are the (at times painfully) realistic characters and the intellectually stimulating subject of the transition from paganism to Christianity in Europe.
Definitely not the best book in the series, but if you liked the other ones, it's still recommended.
Although probably not historically correct — the real Saint Helena was from what is now Turkey — it’s a very interesting idea that one headstrong priestess can accidentally help diminish the tradition of goddess worship. The book is a worthy part in the larger series on the disappearance of the Great Mother.
Marion Bradley Zimmer is admittedly not the greatest stylist and uses many repetitive phrases. Another problem is the scope; every few chapters the book skips anywhere from two years to a decade. (We follow Helena from ten-year-old girl in Avalon all the way to her journey to Palestine when she’s at least eighty.) This makes it hard to connect with the characters emotionally.
What keeps the book compelling are the (at times painfully) realistic characters and the intellectually stimulating subject of the transition from paganism to Christianity in Europe.
Definitely not the best book in the series, but if you liked the other ones, it's still recommended.
January 13, 2008
Not as good as "The Mists"
April 1, 2009
Fluff read that kept my interest throughout. Interesting religious undertones...honor to the Goddess combined with the roots of Christianity.
February 9, 2020
This book meant a lot to me. My mother was raised Catholic and converted before I was born to Paganism. My father was Jewish. For lack of affordable private school options, I went to a Catholic school. What I discovered for myself and learned from various stories from my mother, from religion classes and my own reading of bible stories, and from mythologies of ancient Greek and Roman deities, impacted my decision as a mother myself to allow my daughter, who is half Irish and expected by that half to attend regular Catholic services, to be raised in a religion I myself had many misgivings about, until finally reaching the same wisdom in this book: it's all the same. Down to individual stories of bible characters who once went by another name to the ancient Romans, and yet another name given by the people before that. Some of the Bible was written as instructions for a civil society to operate on, and some stories reflect this, others resemble familiar deities and the moral lessons remain true no matter what name they wear, and I recall reflecting back with some of my classmates from Catholic school who had since gone in all directions forward, most of us having finished high school at various public schools, we realized that no matter how poorly behaved we were in school or since, we all had a basic goodness, some moral fiber instilled in us even though a good handful of us was quite resistant to organized religion, especially christianity. Despite widely different paths taken- some were in med school, I became addicted to drugs and alcohol in high school- We had some kind of bond, we were still in touch with each other, we could see the character qualities we had among us, and a stronger moral fiber than most of our public school counterparts. Rather than fight for what religion my daughter be raised in, I am happy that she is being raised in one, period, whether she prays to the sun god or the son God. This book tells a story , based on what is known, of an important woman in history who helped bring Christianity and Paganism peaceably together in the greatest empire of all time
September 10, 2021
🏵"HÁ PESSOAS QUE NÃO GOSTAM DE VOCÊ, NÃO IMPORTA O QUE FAÇA, E, QUANDO ISSO ACONTECE, VOCÊ PODE APENAS TENTAR SERVIR A VERDADE COMO A VÊ."
Mais um retorno ao universo de Avalon com o livro "A sacerdotisa de Avalon". Esse é o quarto volume do ciclo que se inicia em "As Brumas de Avalon". Se você já leu algum título da série e ficou com gostinho de quero mais, vai conseguir revisitar a ilha de Avalon, respirar as brumas e continuar explorando a substituição dos sagrados cultos pagãos pelo cristianismo.
Porém, caso você não tenha lido nenhum outro volume do ciclo e gostaria de começar por esse, não terá problema nenhum. A história se passa muitos e muitos anos depois de "As Brumas de Avalon" com outras personagens totalmente diferentes.
Eilan (ou Helena) é a narradora e protagonista de "A Sacerdotisa de Avalon", essa personagem foi Inspirada na figura histórica de Helena de Constantinopla, também conhecida como a Santa Helena, mãe do imperador Constantino, O Grande.
🏵"ALGUNS SONHOS SÃO MAIS REAIS DO QUE A REALIDADE DOS HOMENS."
Nascida na antiga Britânia, Helena recebeu sua iniciação como sacerdotisa quando ainda era adolescente. Sua presciência foi despertada de forma espontânea e natural e suas primeiras visões determinaram escolhas importantes que acabaram sendo decisivas para sua vida e para as tradições de Avalon. Munida de toda sua rebeldia e dotada de uma poderosa profecia, Helena deixa a ilha sagrada e aos poucos vai descobrindo como o seu destino e dos povos antigos podem mudar drasticamente.
🏵"VISLUMBRAR O FUTURO NÃO NECESSARIAMENTE SIGNIFICA QUE SE POSSA ENTENDER, E MUITO MENOS ALTERAR, O QUE SE VÊ."
O trabalho histórico da autora Diana Paxson na criação dessa obra é impecável e tem o poder de nos levar além do entretenimento. Todos os lugares e personalidades históricos enriquecem a trajetória da protagonista e trasporta o leitor entre a magia e a realidade da época. É possível passear pelo Império Romano, por templos em Jerusalém, e até se deslumbrar por cenários belíssimos da Britânia, de Avalon e do País das Fadas.
Helena foi uma mulher notável, e sua história choca tanto na vida real quanto nas páginas desse livro.
"A sacerdotisa de Avalon" é um livro marcante, além da riqueza histórica sobre a Dinastia constantiniana e a ascensão do cristianismo, ele leva o leitor a refletir sobre a figura feminina e como o poder político, as religiões e as tradições podem abalar a liberdade.
🏵"EU JAMAIS ME ZANGARA COM AS PRECES DE QUALQUER UM QUE ME DESEJASSE BEM, NÃO IMPORTAVA A QUAL DEUS REZASSE."
Mais um retorno ao universo de Avalon com o livro "A sacerdotisa de Avalon". Esse é o quarto volume do ciclo que se inicia em "As Brumas de Avalon". Se você já leu algum título da série e ficou com gostinho de quero mais, vai conseguir revisitar a ilha de Avalon, respirar as brumas e continuar explorando a substituição dos sagrados cultos pagãos pelo cristianismo.
Porém, caso você não tenha lido nenhum outro volume do ciclo e gostaria de começar por esse, não terá problema nenhum. A história se passa muitos e muitos anos depois de "As Brumas de Avalon" com outras personagens totalmente diferentes.
Eilan (ou Helena) é a narradora e protagonista de "A Sacerdotisa de Avalon", essa personagem foi Inspirada na figura histórica de Helena de Constantinopla, também conhecida como a Santa Helena, mãe do imperador Constantino, O Grande.
🏵"ALGUNS SONHOS SÃO MAIS REAIS DO QUE A REALIDADE DOS HOMENS."
Nascida na antiga Britânia, Helena recebeu sua iniciação como sacerdotisa quando ainda era adolescente. Sua presciência foi despertada de forma espontânea e natural e suas primeiras visões determinaram escolhas importantes que acabaram sendo decisivas para sua vida e para as tradições de Avalon. Munida de toda sua rebeldia e dotada de uma poderosa profecia, Helena deixa a ilha sagrada e aos poucos vai descobrindo como o seu destino e dos povos antigos podem mudar drasticamente.
🏵"VISLUMBRAR O FUTURO NÃO NECESSARIAMENTE SIGNIFICA QUE SE POSSA ENTENDER, E MUITO MENOS ALTERAR, O QUE SE VÊ."
O trabalho histórico da autora Diana Paxson na criação dessa obra é impecável e tem o poder de nos levar além do entretenimento. Todos os lugares e personalidades históricos enriquecem a trajetória da protagonista e trasporta o leitor entre a magia e a realidade da época. É possível passear pelo Império Romano, por templos em Jerusalém, e até se deslumbrar por cenários belíssimos da Britânia, de Avalon e do País das Fadas.
Helena foi uma mulher notável, e sua história choca tanto na vida real quanto nas páginas desse livro.
"A sacerdotisa de Avalon" é um livro marcante, além da riqueza histórica sobre a Dinastia constantiniana e a ascensão do cristianismo, ele leva o leitor a refletir sobre a figura feminina e como o poder político, as religiões e as tradições podem abalar a liberdade.
🏵"EU JAMAIS ME ZANGARA COM AS PRECES DE QUALQUER UM QUE ME DESEJASSE BEM, NÃO IMPORTAVA A QUAL DEUS REZASSE."
April 29, 2021
Not sure where the 416 came from even if I added the prologue in roman numerals I still can't get to that number. Mines the trade with 394 pages. The last page is next to the cover.
The Forest House and this one are someone similar. But find this one closer a bit to Mists of Avalon than Lady of Avalon which was 3 different stories. I think those 3 could be expanded. While the orderofbooks site has this one coming after Lady of Avalon I find because the Lady of Avalon is the middle Lady in that book, that should be taking place both just before and thru most of the middle of that book. Not after. But on that site it's hard to show how they would overlap. I appreciated the dogs in this book. As I love dogs, but just before I started reading Avalon again after 20 yrs (Forest House was 2000, Lady was 2020 and a year later literally is this one. I had finished last year book 3 of Daughters of Bast. And thus the Goddess in Egypt is told her as Bast. Hence all the cats that came upon Helena at one time in the book. Took a bit of a liking in that connection.. If one wishes to explore a bit of fantasy Bast, I'd suggest that trilogy. Although it will skew more to pagan vs Christian rather than God who has no gender could be called anything and only man would assume God. But to a woman God who has no gender could be called a Goddess to her. I'm Lutheran. I know full well God has no Gender. He has no race. Outside of that I don't wish to discuss here but this was an interesting setup that becomes Mists of Avalon.
The Forest House and this one are someone similar. But find this one closer a bit to Mists of Avalon than Lady of Avalon which was 3 different stories. I think those 3 could be expanded. While the orderofbooks site has this one coming after Lady of Avalon I find because the Lady of Avalon is the middle Lady in that book, that should be taking place both just before and thru most of the middle of that book. Not after. But on that site it's hard to show how they would overlap. I appreciated the dogs in this book. As I love dogs, but just before I started reading Avalon again after 20 yrs (Forest House was 2000, Lady was 2020 and a year later literally is this one. I had finished last year book 3 of Daughters of Bast. And thus the Goddess in Egypt is told her as Bast. Hence all the cats that came upon Helena at one time in the book. Took a bit of a liking in that connection.. If one wishes to explore a bit of fantasy Bast, I'd suggest that trilogy. Although it will skew more to pagan vs Christian rather than God who has no gender could be called anything and only man would assume God. But to a woman God who has no gender could be called a Goddess to her. I'm Lutheran. I know full well God has no Gender. He has no race. Outside of that I don't wish to discuss here but this was an interesting setup that becomes Mists of Avalon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2018
The Mists of Avalon has been one of the most influential books of my reading life. Its influenced the way I see myself as a woman, and how I see the world. However, the recent scandals which have come to light aboutMarion Zimmer Bradley a use have changed how I see this series as a whole.
This book, particularly, is one of the poorer sequels - it follows Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, who grew up on the isle of Avalon, but was later banished when she switched places with a fellow priestess during the Beltain rights. Which was an action that changed a previous prophecy stating that a child would be born to save the old ways for another thousand years.
Thanks a lot, Helena.
I never connected with Helena as a character, and it both confused and angered me as to why she and her Roman never actually married. Consequently, when the Emperor forced him to marry another woman, I never felt the turmoil because a basic wedding ceremony could have/should have happened at any time. I also didn't connect with Constantine as a character. He read as both nefarious and hermaphroditical, he never felt like a true organic character.
This book, particularly, is one of the poorer sequels - it follows Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, who grew up on the isle of Avalon, but was later banished when she switched places with a fellow priestess during the Beltain rights. Which was an action that changed a previous prophecy stating that a child would be born to save the old ways for another thousand years.
Thanks a lot, Helena.
I never connected with Helena as a character, and it both confused and angered me as to why she and her Roman never actually married. Consequently, when the Emperor forced him to marry another woman, I never felt the turmoil because a basic wedding ceremony could have/should have happened at any time. I also didn't connect with Constantine as a character. He read as both nefarious and hermaphroditical, he never felt like a true organic character.
October 29, 2023
Decisamente, la Paxson non è la Bradley, e il divario "qualitativo" fra questo libro e i precedenti della serie è enorme. La scrittura non ha la stessa poetica potente a cui ero abituata dai romanzi precedenti, i personaggi risultano scialbi e stereotipati, la trama non coinvolge. L'unica cosa interessante è stato il parallelismo tra la protagonista di questo romanzo e la protagonista de "Le querce di Albion ", in qualche modo è come se l'autrice avesse voluto far vedere i due possibili esiti della scelta che le due Eilan sono state costrette a compiere: entrambe Sacerdotesse della Dea, entrambe si innamorano di un romano, hanno però compiuto scelte diametralmente opposte. La Eilan de "Le querce di Albion" sceglie la Dea e rinuncia all'amore, diventando Somma Sacerdotessa al prezzo della sua relazione con Gaius. La Eilan di questo romanzo invece sceglie l'amore e rinuncia ad Avalon. Entrambe hanno avuto le loro soddisfazioni ma nessuna delle due è stata priva di ripensamenti e rimorsi.
Ma a parte questo nesso fra i due romanzi, questa lettura è stata decisamente noiosa.
Ma a parte questo nesso fra i due romanzi, questa lettura è stata decisamente noiosa.
October 26, 2018
This is book 4 on the series. Beginning with the Mists of Avalon, this book let us see the real struggles of a Priestess of Avalon in historical time.
This Priestess comes from her Mother's giving her life in child birth. As she goes, like her Mother, she has a hard life ahead of her. We are given some insight into the spiritual life & training a woman would receive to become a Priestess.
Sadly, the High Priestess of Avalon holds a grudge against the lead character. For it was her sister who died giving birth to her. This High Priestess knows she is special, and could be the next High Priestess in line.
Our Priestess has a vison of a man glowing with the Sun. When she meets him, her life takes a different turn. She sees their union as lovers producing a "golden child" who will change the world. Will she forsake her Priestess' path & choose love, or follow her path that lies before Her?
A wonderful read.
This Priestess comes from her Mother's giving her life in child birth. As she goes, like her Mother, she has a hard life ahead of her. We are given some insight into the spiritual life & training a woman would receive to become a Priestess.
Sadly, the High Priestess of Avalon holds a grudge against the lead character. For it was her sister who died giving birth to her. This High Priestess knows she is special, and could be the next High Priestess in line.
Our Priestess has a vison of a man glowing with the Sun. When she meets him, her life takes a different turn. She sees their union as lovers producing a "golden child" who will change the world. Will she forsake her Priestess' path & choose love, or follow her path that lies before Her?
A wonderful read.
February 20, 2019
I'm giving this 4 stars even though I am completely DONE with this Avalon series. Hello, was Zimmer Bradley milking this one or what? That being said, "Priestess" was one of the more interesting of the seven (seven!) or so in this series.
Zimmer Bradley and co writer Paxson provide an intimate peek into domestic life in Britain and Italy during the fall of the Roman Empire. I also appreciate that she includes canine characters in this book. "Priestess" is yet another tale of the displacement of the female "Goddess" religion with male dominated Christianity, specifically the ascension of Emperor Constantine. The main character "Elian" or "Helena" rebels against a hostile "Lady of Avalon" by running away with a Roman nobleman. From that point the story moves to the Roman empire with a few references to Avalon until the end.
Nonetheless it's interesting and worthwhile, but skip some of the others in this series.
Zimmer Bradley and co writer Paxson provide an intimate peek into domestic life in Britain and Italy during the fall of the Roman Empire. I also appreciate that she includes canine characters in this book. "Priestess" is yet another tale of the displacement of the female "Goddess" religion with male dominated Christianity, specifically the ascension of Emperor Constantine. The main character "Elian" or "Helena" rebels against a hostile "Lady of Avalon" by running away with a Roman nobleman. From that point the story moves to the Roman empire with a few references to Avalon until the end.
Nonetheless it's interesting and worthwhile, but skip some of the others in this series.
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