The Forest House by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Paperback, 480 pages
2007, Roc
ISBN: 0451461533
Series: Book 3 of Avalon
Synopsis
The forbidden love of a druid priestess and a Roman soldier mirrors the clash of cultures in Roman Britain in the latest novel by the author of The Mists of Avalon (Ballantine, 1985). The novel evokes an age when three major religions maintained an uneasy coexistence on the island of Britain. Eilan, a daughter of goddess-worshiping druids, and Gaius Marcellius, a half-British Roman, live for the coming of a legendary future king to unite the warring islanders. Bradley envisions the "old religion" as a refreshing blend of classic and revisionist concepts, adding a distinct flavor to her seamless weave of history and myth.
Review
The Mists of Avalon is my favorite book and I had been wanting to read this prequel for years. While nothing could surpass the original, The Forest House is a very good book in its own right. I enjoyed the story of the priestesses but found the focus on both Gaius and Cynric during battles and military maneuvering less interesting. Even though it is a prequel, I could see readers enjoying it without having to have read The Mists of Avalon. A highly entertaining read with less depth than the original.
Rating
Great Review! Sounds good.
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The Mists of Avalon is one of my most favorite books too! I have The Forest House and also all of the other 'continuing story' books although some were written by a different author after Bradley died, but I haven't read any of them yet. This is the first review I have read of this or any of the others and I'm glad to hear that it's a good read. I'm looking forward to reading it! I think these books would fit well with the Women Unbound challenge because I think Bradley's Avalon books have an underlying theme of empowering women.
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It sounds pretty interesting! :) great review
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