Everyone (or most everyone) should remember the legend of Camelot and King Arthur with his sword Excalibur, and if not, this is the most detailed reading of the legend that I’ve seen and was interested in actually reading. Let me tell you now that I have not watched the made-for-tv movie. I want to, though, if I can find it streaming somewhere (which I haven’t).
I had planned on taking my time reading this book, it’s thick, around 900 pages, and because of the size, it starts to hurt your wrists from holding it too long. I ended up with a pillow on my lap so that I could continually read for hours, because I just had to find out what was going to happen next.
Mists of Avalon is from the women’s perspective of what “really happened” regarding the time before and during King Arthur’s reign. It’s a tale fit for any woman who is intrigued by romance, seduction, magic and the change of history from Pagan to Christian religion.
The story follows at first Morgaine’s mother Igraine, from the island of Avalon, come to marry a Roman for the good of peace. She bears a daughter, Morgaine (aka: Morgaine of the Fairies, or better known as Morgan le Fay) and lives her life as honestly to her husband in the Roman way as she can. Things go straight to ruination though when she meets a young blond-haired man named Uther and instantly falls in love with him. Then she’s told that she is to be the mother of the High King and that Uther will be his father. While she’s still married and has turned herself into a good Christian wife this is an unexceptable predictament to her.
I don’t wish to give away too much of the story to those who haven’t read it. I truly enjoyed not only the way it was written, but the different perspectives of the women involved. You get to see how Gwenhwyfar turns Arthur into a good Christian King (or tries to), how Morgaine is not only her friend but also her enemy. How many people truly love Lancelet and what they’ll do in order to attract his attentions. With all the plotting and planning, the lies and truths, the tears and smiles, this book will truly take you away to a time long ago and a place far away.
The ending is beautiful, though. It was not what I had expected and that made me enjoy the book even more so. I hope you’ll take the time to find this book either at your local library or buy a copy online.
“With breathtaking detail and masterful storytelling, The Mists of Avalon is that rare, spellbinding novel in which myth comes to life and magic flows out to all of us.”
