Found a copy at last fall's library booksale. A great find!

Bookray order:

jdp (US only)
RCLoriH (US only)
Goddess-Of-Fire (US prefer)
Maurean (US prefer)

RELEASE NOTES:

The bookray has begun!

I've had the book a couple days (I think it came Wed?). Was perfect timing as I'd just finished another ring that weekend. I'm finding this book very...? I can't think of the word. Sort of soothing. And I'm sure its not. lol. Its full of anguish and plot and emotion. Something about the writing is very enjoyable. I look forward to reading it and have nothing else but it to read so even though it is a very long book it shouldn't be long before I can pass it on.

Thank you for sharing Psyche!

RELEASE NOTES:

Excellent read! So sorry for the delay. Its moving as of this a.m.

Just got home from vacation and found this book waiting in the mailbox. Thanks!

Update on 7/26/07 - I'm about 3/4 of the way through the book and have sent a PM to the next person on the list so I can send it out as soon as I finish reading.

I finally finished the book today and have a mixed reaction. On one hand the story and concept was interesting, but on the other hand the author's writing style was making me crazy. The book could have been half the length had the characters not had to have the same discussions over and over. I wonder if the author was afraid we readers would fail to get the point if she didn't repeat herself a few dozen times. It wasn't a bad read, but for me, got long at the end.

I have the address of the next reader and will be sending it on it's way soon. Thanks for sharing!

Sending book to Goddess-Of-Fire in Springfield, MO.

Recieved in the mail yesterday. I have a couple books in front of it but I will try to get to it as soon as possible.
Thanks!

I FINALLY finished this book! Sorry that it took so long.

I agree with RCLoriH that this book would have been a lot shorter if the characters would have just had a discussion once instead of over and over again.
I was also a little disappointed with the characters too, I wanted to tell Arthur to stop being a wimp and I just really wanted to strangle Gwen. Even Morgaine got on my nerves at times.
I didn't think it was great, but it certainly wasn't terrible. Thanks for the chance to read it.

I am going to mail this tonight!(10-15) Sorry that it took me so long to get it moving again!

This arrived safely here in Florida...wow! I didn't realize this was such a chunkster; I'm happy to see that I am last on this ray, as I am currently in the middle of another large tome ("The Historian"), so it may take me a bit longer than normal to get through this one...

But, get through it, I will!, and, I will journal here again, as soon as I have. Thanks so much for sharing it, Psyche, as I have wanted to read this for quite some time!

I have heard for years nothing but glowing recommendations for this story, yet I am still amazed by the intensity with which this story touched me. Marion Zimmer Bradley is an incredible storyteller with impressive knowledge of the ancient Goddess based spirituality. The history and mysticism are clearly well-researched, and the writing is lyrical, palpable, and quite beautiful.

In this “retelling” of the Arthurian legend- which parallels, too, the Celtic mythology of Finn MacCool & the Fenians, and the Red Branch Heroes of Ulster - from the perspective of the women in the story, it details magically the struggles of Christianity vs. Paganism, where the lines between good and evil are much blurred;
All the characters are well-drawn in depths both good and bad, flawed and noble, completely and ultimately human.
My favorite passage:


“That faith [Christianity] seems too simple to me – the idea that we have only to believe that Christ died for our sins, once and for all. But I know too much of the truth…of the way life works, with life after life in which we, ourselves, and only we, can work out the causes we have set in motion and make amends for the harm we have done. It stands not in the realm of reason that one man, however holy and blessed, could atone for all of the sins of all men, done in all lifetimes.” (pg. 611)

This is a story of how the old pagan ways of Avalon are engulfed by the rise of Christianity after the fall of Rome. Portrayed through the story of Camelot, told in the voice of Morgaine, Morgan La Fey, niece of Viviane, Lady of the Lake; queen of Cornwall, sister to the High King, and consort to the King Stag, this is a refreshing perspective to a well-known tale.

Thanks you SOOO much, -Psyche-, for sharing this tome; it has made my list of "Five Favorite Fiction" reads ever.