Customer Reviews: Read 101 more reviews...
 A little underwhelming at points June 16, 2008
This book is in the same vein as the other Avalon books, with some compelling characters and an interesting opera adaption for the plot. On the whole, however, I was disappointed with the quality of the book. While some sections were fine, there were some that are simply the result of bad editing and poor writing. The initial passages of the book in particular seem overly contrived. Thankfully, the book improves the further the story progresses. If you like Marion Zimmer Bradley, you will likely enjoy this, but if you're new to her, start off with a better example of her work.
 Prequel? Really? March 9, 2008
While I knew that Marion Zimmer Bradley also wrote the famous (and yet still unread by this reviewer) "Mists of Avalon", I was pretty sure that this book was a standalone when I read it. And it certainly felt like one! Good to know I picked a "prequel" and not a sequel.
"The Forest House" is a really nicely written fantasy/romance sort of novel. It's got this thick, intriguing plot. The plot is pretty complex as are some of the characters (some remain woefully flat throughout the book). I found that while it's not a literary masterpiece, it's certainly an enjoyable read.
What I liked least of all in "The Forest House" was the ending. While dramatic and impressive, I felt that one of the character's behavior was pretty... inappropriate and weird. On the whole, though, the story is cool. It's this big tale of powerful women, goddesses, rituals, and British/Roman politics. There are some cool bits of historical fiction, some neat fantastical parts, but mostly a romance, ethereal sort of tale. It's well-written and descriptive, full of clear images and really creates a good mood.
In the end, it's an enjoyable read. There are flaws in the book, for example among the characters, but despite that and things like the rambling length, it's a nice read. I can't compare it to "The Mists of Avalon", which I haven't read, but as a standalone it's pretty good.
Recommended to fantasy/romance fans who like thick books to disappear in.
 Not Free SF Reader September 3, 2007
Again, too dull to finish. Perhaps it has something to do with it trying to connect to The Mists of Avalon, but being completely different, and just two characters that have been created to have a romance, a Roman, and one of the priestesses of the local religion. If you like that sort of Tristan and Isolde thing, then this may well be for you.
Second Book in the Avalon Series August 7, 2007
Marion Zimmer was born in Albany, NY, on June 3, 1930, and married Robert Alden Bradley in 1949. Mrs. Bradley received her B.A. in 1964 from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, then did graduate work at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1965-67. Writing for over 4 decades, she is best known for her Darkover science fantasy series and her Arthurian masterpiece, The Mists of Avalon. She also edited anthologies for 14 years and published Marion Zimmer Bradley's FANTASY Magazine.
She died in Berkeley, California on September 25, 1999, four days after suffering a major heart attack.
This is the3 second book in the Avalon series and follows the best selling Mists of Avalon. Inside the wall of the Forest House in a remote part of of Britain, a secret sect of Druidic priestesses guards the ancient rites of learning, healing and magic against the onslaught of the Roman army. Nothing has ever been able to stop the might of Rome's legions, will a few women be any more successful?
 Could have been good... March 12, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It really could have been good. The story was very interesting. Unfortunately:
1. It was poorly written. SO many sentences did not make sense. I would have to go back and read and reread. It seems like she was trying to make it more wordy than it needed to be.
2. The characters were not developed. Except for Caillean. So I ended up with basically no attachment to the main characters. Was it really necessary to spend a few chapters on Gaius' career when we don't know jack about most other things in the book?
3. It seems like chapters are missing. This book should have been longer or had a bunch of half-finished plots left out. Like the ending. It seems like the ending was on fast forward. You might as well read Cliff Notes. I felt the same way about the end of Mists, too, but this was worse.
4. Can't somone just write a book that is "pagan friendly" yet not all about rape and torture and sacrifice? All these books are doing is making me hate the Romans and Christians of the time and leaving me with a sense of despair. I just want one book where they weren't all shown as heathen sacrificers and the Christians show them how to be civilized, "good people".
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