Welcome to the Historical Fiction Online forums: a friendly place to discuss, review and discover historical fiction.
If this is your first visit, please be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You will have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing posts, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

The Mists of Avalon Series

User avatar
Christina
Reader
Posts: 167
Joined: November 2008
Location: Yorkshire, England
Contact:

Post by Christina » Thu November 6th, 2008, 3:16 pm

I have only read 'The Mists of Avalon' in this series and I loved it. Doesn't the author manage to bring alive the settings and the old rites and all that lies behind them? The whole discussions about early Christianity and the blending of the old ways and new ways is so thought-provoking and leaves you (or at least left me!) wanting to discover so much more about those times and what really happened.
The characters are wonderful, too, and have such depths to them that I found myself swaying between understanding them and being quite confused by them. The current BBC TV series, "Merlin" has made me want to read this book again...and the rest of the series!
Last edited by Christina on Thu November 6th, 2008, 3:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: typing error

User avatar
Divia
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 4435
Joined: August 2008
Location: Always Cloudy, Central New York

Post by Divia » Thu November 6th, 2008, 9:46 pm

I didnt know about merlin...but I do watch Robin Hood :D Sometimes the states are a little late in getting stuff from the UK.

I dunno if you want ot read the other books. I did and you're left with a bitter taste in your mouth because none of them are as good.
News, views, and reviews on books and graphic novels for young adult.
http://yabookmarks.blogspot.com/

User avatar
Christina
Reader
Posts: 167
Joined: November 2008
Location: Yorkshire, England
Contact:

Post by Christina » Fri November 7th, 2008, 3:41 pm

Oh I love Robin Hood - LOL! It's even better than Merlin!!

Thank you for the warning about the other books. I would not want to be disappointed after so enjoying "Mists..."

enelya
Reader
Posts: 84
Joined: January 2009

Post by enelya » Thu February 18th, 2010, 8:56 pm

I think it just depends on why you liked the Mists in the first place. I did like the other books. The storyline might not be as strong as in the Mists but the characters are still lovingley crafted. The only book I did not like was the one about Atlantis...it just did not have the same click for me like the other ones did. I can't really explain it, to me it is just a feeling.
What do you guys think about the movie adoptation?

User avatar
Divia
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 4435
Joined: August 2008
Location: Always Cloudy, Central New York

Post by Divia » Thu February 18th, 2010, 9:09 pm

I liked the movie. I have it on DVD I think.

But it was forever ago since I read the book so I dont know how true it is.
News, views, and reviews on books and graphic novels for young adult.
http://yabookmarks.blogspot.com/

Ash
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 2475
Joined: August 2008
Location: Arizona, USA

Post by Ash » Fri February 19th, 2010, 2:44 am

Oh gawd, the movie was horrid. It took every bit of sensational scene in the book and magnified it, leaving out so much of the plot background. Someone said they changed the ending, but Im not sure, because I bailed about midway through.

The book was really my first read about pre Christian Britain, and early Christian history, plus I loved Arthurian legends, so I enjoyed it, and ended up reading much more on the subject over the years. If I read it again, I'd probably have all sorts of problems with it, but at the time, it was the perfect read.

User avatar
Nefret
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 2994
Joined: February 2009
Favourite HF book: Welsh Princes trilogy
Preferred HF: The Middle Ages (England), New Kingdom Egypt, Medieval France
Location: Temple of Isis

Post by Nefret » Sun January 29th, 2012, 2:31 am

I got Sword of Avalon a few weeks ago. I have only read the first three books of the series. Mists was my favourite version of that story.
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

User avatar
EC2
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 3661
Joined: August 2008
Location: Nottingham UK
Contact:

Post by EC2 » Sun January 29th, 2012, 12:53 pm

I enjoyed Mists of Avalon a lot but I've never read any of the others. From a writerly technique point of view I really admire the tight viewpoint control and the author's way with a description.
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard n’I chasront

'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'

Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal

www.elizabethchadwick.com

User avatar
Nefret
Bibliomaniac
Posts: 2994
Joined: February 2009
Favourite HF book: Welsh Princes trilogy
Preferred HF: The Middle Ages (England), New Kingdom Egypt, Medieval France
Location: Temple of Isis

Post by Nefret » Mon January 30th, 2012, 5:10 pm

Everything else in the series is set before Mists, so you have to read it backwards.
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

User avatar
Wolfshead
Scribbler
Posts: 34
Joined: September 2012
Location: Outskirts of Glasgow

Post by Wolfshead » Wed September 26th, 2012, 4:25 pm

Mists is one of the best books I've read, but I don't think the rest of the series is as good.
Image

Post Reply

Return to “Historical Fantasy”