Helpful Score: 9
This book was a disappointment. After enjoying _The Mists of Avalon_ when it was first published, I looked forward to getting into the series. MZB died in 1999, and this book was published in 1997 I believe, so perhaps she was relying more on her sister to do the writing by then. Diana Paxson is not credited in any way in the edition of the book I have, though she's listed as co-author on several websites. If this is an indication of the rest of the series, I'll have to say "thanks but no thanks." The last 20 pages or so were good, and would've made a great short story, but the rest of the book was dull and poorly written.
Helpful Score: 4
I enjoy the author's style of writing, I always have a great mental painting of the characters and story. I enjoyed this book.
Helpful Score: 3
A very good and intriguing story, the prequel to "The Mists of Avalon". It is always refreshing to see powerful female characters in a novel.
Helpful Score: 3
not as good as Mists of Avalon but still a good read. a little slow to get started but then, about a quarter the way through, i was grabbed by it.
Helpful Score: 3
Prequel to The Mists of Avalon. I didn't like it as well. Most prequels are. Eilan has chosen a forbidden path to love. She must hide her secret when she is anointed as the new High Priestess.
Helpful Score: 3
The Forest House - the prequel to Marion Zimmer Bradley's much beloved and enduring classis, The Mists of Avalon - is a mesmerizing epic of one woman's pivotal role at a turning point in history, brough to magnificent, unforgettable life.
She was Eilan, the daughter of a Druidic warleader and gifted with visions. In a land struggling to survive both Roman conquerors and her pwn people's enemies, surely fate had marked her to become a priestess of the Forest House.
But first Eilan had chosen a different, forbidden path - to love Gaius, a soldier of mixed blood among the legions sent to subdue her country. And so, she must hide a terrible secret when she is anointed as the new High Priestess. With mightly enemies poised to usurp the wealth of magic the Forest House sheltered, Eilan could only trust in the power of the great Goddess to find her destiny admidst the treacherous labyrinth in which fate had placed her...
She was Eilan, the daughter of a Druidic warleader and gifted with visions. In a land struggling to survive both Roman conquerors and her pwn people's enemies, surely fate had marked her to become a priestess of the Forest House.
But first Eilan had chosen a different, forbidden path - to love Gaius, a soldier of mixed blood among the legions sent to subdue her country. And so, she must hide a terrible secret when she is anointed as the new High Priestess. With mightly enemies poised to usurp the wealth of magic the Forest House sheltered, Eilan could only trust in the power of the great Goddess to find her destiny admidst the treacherous labyrinth in which fate had placed her...
Helpful Score: 2
Storyline got choppy at times. Little hard to follow because it jumped over years at a time, but still a very good book
Helpful Score: 2
Marion Zimmer Bradley is one of the best and "The Forest House" does not disappoint. Rich in well researched history, legend, and myth, the book takes us on a fascinating journey through the Roman and Celtic world of the 1st century CE. I read this book and it's companions, "Lady of Avalon," and "Mists of Avalon" years ago. Enjoyed them so much that they called to me to read them again. I am so glad I did! If you enjoy this genre, do yourself a favor and read this series. Although Bradley wrote the "Mists of Avalon" first, I would recommend reading the prequels in order, first: "Forest House" then "Lady of Avalon."
Helpful Score: 2
This book was a good mix of historical fiction and fantasy. I liked learning about the effects of Roman occupation in the British Isles and how local leaders either fought or tried to maintain some tentative peace. Gaius and Eilan's forbidden romance made a good backdrop to the Roman/Briton tensions at the time. I look forward to reading the first book in the series, The Mists of Avalon.
Helpful Score: 2
Prequel to the Mists of Avalon, a wonderful read, true to Marion Zimmer Bradley's continual style and elegance.
Helpful Score: 1
Mists was FABULOUS. Forest House good. It flowed right along, there were characters to care about but, at some points I wanted them to be making different choices. I did feel the end felt abrupt and too many threads hanging. I look forward to reading others in the series.
Helpful Score: 1
The story was a little slow to get going for my tastes but eventually picked up. The portrayal of struggle between the sexes in this books really captures that how "civilization" & Christianity progressed, women had less and less rights as the pagan ways were pushed out. It was a very interesting read and I plan to find more books by this author.
This is a prequel to an earlier story and brings
the Druidic past to life.
the Druidic past to life.
Absolutely spellbinding
If you liked the Mysts of Avalon you will like this book as well.
Interesting, but not as good as The Mists of Avalon!
marion zimmer bradley weaves a tale of long agodruids and romans very good read
Bradley has a long, established reputation in the Fantasy field; the Avalon series are representative of her high quality of writing. This book was second written but is described as a prequel to the first written. If you have read and enjoyed any of the series, you will want them all.
Avalon Series
The Mists of Avalon (1979)
The Forest House (1993) (with Diana L. Paxson) (also now known as The Forests of Avalon)
Lady of Avalon (1997) (with Diana L. Paxson)
Priestess of Avalon (2000) (with Diana L. Paxson)
Ancestors of Avalon (2004) (written by Diana L. Paxson)
Ravens of Avalon (2007) (written by Diana L. Paxson)
Sword of Avalon (2009) (written by Diana L. Paxson)
I do not know Diana Paxson as a writer; the author's dedication in "The Forest House" however is to her, as sister and friend, who "anchored this book firmly in time and space and added Tacitus to the cast of characters".
Avalon Series
The Mists of Avalon (1979)
The Forest House (1993) (with Diana L. Paxson) (also now known as The Forests of Avalon)
Lady of Avalon (1997) (with Diana L. Paxson)
Priestess of Avalon (2000) (with Diana L. Paxson)
Ancestors of Avalon (2004) (written by Diana L. Paxson)
Ravens of Avalon (2007) (written by Diana L. Paxson)
Sword of Avalon (2009) (written by Diana L. Paxson)
I do not know Diana Paxson as a writer; the author's dedication in "The Forest House" however is to her, as sister and friend, who "anchored this book firmly in time and space and added Tacitus to the cast of characters".
Prequel to "Mists of Avalon"
This is an extra copy I have of this book. I love the book and have read the entire series that it is in.
This is a trade size paperback
