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    The King Stag: The Mists of Avalon
    The King Stag: The Mists of Avalon
    The King Stag: The Mists of Avalon
    Audiobook11 hours

    The King Stag: The Mists of Avalon

    Written by Marion Zimmer Bradley

    Narrated by Davina Porter

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    This imaginative retelling of the Arthurian legend centers around the pagan priestesses of Avalon, who compete for the soul of Great Britain against the rising tide of Christianity. Book Three takes the listener deeper into the political/religious rivalry in the years following Arthur's coronation. Gwenhwyfar, in possession of a terrible secret, manipulates her husband to secure his loyalty to the Christian church, while Vivian's decision to confront Arthur over his betrayal of Avalon results in tragedy. Behind the scenes, Morgaine arranges the marriage of Lancelet, who has become desperate over the hopeless triangle at Camelot. When Gwenhwyfar hears of his marriage, she vows revenge. Through her own marriage to Uriens of North Wales, Morgaine works to strengthen the cause of Avalon. She returns briefly to the Isle of Mists, only to discover that the time is not yet ripe for her to reign. Book Three concludes with the arrival of young Gwydion (Mordred) on the scene.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateMar 6, 2009
    ISBN9781436198493
    The King Stag: The Mists of Avalon
    Author

    Marion Zimmer Bradley

    Marion Zimmer Bradley is the creator of the popular Darkover universe, as well as the critically acclaimed author of the bestselling ‘The Mists of Avalon’ and its sequel, ‘The Forest House’. She lives in Berkeley, California.

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    Reviews for The King Stag

    4/5

    149 ratings65 reviews

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    • 1/5
      Normally, I really enjoy Arthurian lore, but this book was painful, I couldn't get through it.
    • 4/5
      My tome read for the summer, Bradley’s 876 page Arthurian drama is told mainly from the point of view of Morgaine, Arthur’s sister. There is a lot of good stuff here, but more than anything, the extremely detailed, well drawn characters make this novel.
    • 5/5
      Only one word is needed - Magnificent
    • 5/5
      One of my favorite books of all time--have read it three times. Although written for adults, easily crosses over to young adults. Definitely would appeal to teen girls who are interested in the Arthurian legend, written from a female perspective.
    • 5/5
      The retelling of Authur and his sister Morgaine from a feminist point of view, incorporating the meeting of Christianity and the Maternal Goddess is wonderful. Some of the passages are poetic and comforting guideposts for us today. (ex: 868 "you did not fail..." or pg 876 "Mother forgive me. I thought I must do what I now see you can do for yourself") The concepts are originally told.
    • 5/5
      A must read for anyone who enjoys the King Arthur legend. Told from a female perspective, this is still my favorite historical rendering of this classic story, and one that I have, and will, revisit over and over again.
    • 5/5
      This is probably the best Arthurian novel I have ever read. Bradley's writing is beautiful, and all the characters have something to offer. An excellent novel with truly beautiful writing and a great plot.
    • 4/5
      I wrote my bachelor's thesis on Le Morte'd'Arthur. I studied Arthurian romance in college and grad school. I consider myself an amateur Arthurian scholar (cause I'm that cool). Needless to say, I'm incredibly finnicky about Arthurian re-tellings. This is one of the only 20th century attempts to retell the legends that I actually like. It holds true to a lot of the more important aspects of the medieval stories while putting a great, not too modern, spin on things, and it pays homage to the origins of so many of the familiar tales (such as Lancelot being French). It also stays true to the idea of Arthurian legend as a collection of patriotic myths, with it's focus on anti-invasion and British autonomy.
    • 5/5
      I first read this when it came out....in 2 days flat. (okay, so I really didn't get anything done, hey, I was on college break). The rhythym of the book just flowed and was difficult to put down. A different perspective...and probably closer to actual historical/religios truths.
    • 2/5
      this sort of proved to me that i wasn't going to be a fantasy head. i like the cloaks and the swords and the clothes, but that's really as far as i take it. i'm certainly not a medieval-revisionist-activist thing.
    • 5/5
      A beautiful, sensual, feminist and spiritual re-telling of the Arthurian legend, where the traditional bad guys get their voice. It is pretty hard on Guinevere, but she gets to be perfect in most tellings.
    • 5/5
      "By what men think, we create the world around us, daily new."--What a fabulous quote! I love this retelling of the Arthurian myth/story. I see connections between this and some aspects of The DaVinci Code. This is one of those books you'll return to many times to re-read, it is such a joy. Just fun to read.
    • 1/5
      I know, I must be missing something! I trudged through this book completely bored to tears hoping it would click at some point and it never did for me :-(
    • 4/5
      This sweeping epic fantasy based on Arthurian legend is a must read for fantasy lovers and devotees to Arthurian tales. I would only recommend it to older teens or serious fantasy die hards. Things that could make some squeamish: incest, orgies, rape, murder, meandering theological debates, etc.Read-a-likes: The Once and Future King, Le Morte d'Arthur, Queen of Camelot by Nancy McKenzie
    • 4/5
      This book tries to address what may or may not have been the political motivations at the time of potentially fictional people. With all those intangibles, I feel Bradley did a good job, but the story does falter at times. Hardly difficult to believe, seeing the length.
    • 5/5
      One of my all time favorite novels, the one that led me to studying the Old Religion and The Craft. First read in 1993. This book is inspiring -- a revelation in alternative storytelling, and rings so true for me in spirit if not in fact. I'm not particular about the factual backgrounds of my novels anyway.All the characters in this novel are flawed, complex, so human, you end up with at least a modicum of sympathy for them all. I swear, I've read Mists a dozen times over the years, and every time, it tells me something new... about myself, about the Craft, about the nature of humanity.Good book, man.
    • 5/5
      Easily the best work of modern Arthurian literature. Mists of Avalon captures the epic qualities of the stories; the only comparison for the scope of this story is Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur -- but this is far more accessible for the average modern reader, and delightfully tells the tales from the viewpoints of the women key to the story. My only criticism is that MZB edges too far into ascribing New-Age aspects to ancient paganism at times. Overall, though, a truly wonderful book -- philosophical, sensual, and exciting.
    • 5/5
      The legend of King Arthur has been retold many times and in many ways (I have even heard of it being on a space ship), but this version rings the truest for me. Though I love my Malory, this is a retelling that doesn't put in five hundred battles, but takes things on a smaller, more personal scale. If you believe in magic, then this version is also believable. I love how this retelling focuses on women, and makes us reexamine who is good, bad, right, or wrong within the tale. This is a must-read.
    • 3/5
      Long and overly preachy at points, but overall a pretty interesting take on the story of King Arthur.
    • 5/5
      Thank you, Grandma, for recommending me this. Read it years ago and loved it deeply.
    • 4/5
      I LOVED this book as a kid! I am sucker for alternative histories/perspectives on stories, especially when told from a feminist perspective; also, I really enjoy authors that do a good job of incorporating magic into daily activities, which Zimmer-Bradley does very well.
    • 5/5
      This very pagan influenced revisionist history-fantasy is brilliant. I loved reading the Arthur myths again as told from the perspectives of the women involved. It was especially enjoyable from a pagan perspective as MZB took what she knew of modern paganism and put a modern interpretation on a fantasy/mythology classic without having to modernise the text or the setting. I loved it. Despite the fact that the writing isn't terrific in places (Did she have to say "such a one as this" or "such a one..." so many times?!) the story in this book and the feeilng and atmosphere it gives off is magical. A beautiful fantasy novel. Read it and decide for yourself.
    • 4/5
      I'm a sucker for Arthuriana, and this was a good one. I liked the solution for the conflicting portraits of Merlin (the name becomes a title owned by two characters in the novel.) After this read Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles for another, even more historically realistic portrait of the Matter of Britain. The characterizations are wonderful. But Mists of Avalon is, I think, the better book, a little more mysterious, lyrical and magical.
    • 5/5
      One of the best books I have ever read. Very deep on multiple levels, and has gained a special place in my heart. Like most books of its nature, it lacks a little in plot, but more then makes up for it in description. There have only been two amazing books that I've ever read, and this is one of them.
    • 4/5
      The King Arthur legend from (the much-maligned) Morgan le Fay's point of view. If for no other reason, read it to find out a possible alternative truth about St Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland.
    • 4/5
      The Mists of Avalon is a retelling of the story of King Arthur, only King Arthur isn't really a major character. It's all from the point of view of the women in his life - King Arthur's sister, mother, grandmother and wife, among others. The battle isn't over the throne or with warring neighbors, but rather the differing religions. Patriarchal Christianity is locked conflict with Matriarchal Druid magic. It's an interesting twist of politics and feminist rule. But, Bradley also explores other conflicts in society like fate versus free will, and magical powers versus realism.
    • 5/5
      I was riveted by this book from page one. The blending of the strength of women with the beauty of Paganism, as well as the ability to show not only the positive sides of each character, but also their negatives made it a story that built excellent characters and strength of plot.
    • 3/5
      good concept and interesting....but way too long winded!
    • 5/5
      I started to read this after reading the Lawhead series, and the paganism put me off. Over the years I searched for Arthurian books that could keep my interest, but most seemed pretty sophmoric, and I rarely finished them. Years later, with a little more spiritual maturity under my belt, I picked Mists, up again, and could not put it down. Morgaine became a real person for me, and although I am mostly Christian/Buddhist, and a male, I found myself learning much from her. Her struggles were, in many ways, my struggles (although I never inadvertantly slept with a sibling!) My heart broke as I watched her world fall apart, her traditions slowly fade and die, and I mourned for her, and the world she lost.
    • 4/5
      This is the story of King Arthur told from a feminist perspective rather than that of the Christian male. Most of the book focuses on Morgaine, Arthur's sister, and her role in shaping the reign and the fate of Arthur. The book is just as much about the land of Avalon, the religion of the goddess, and how with time it is overshadowed and pushed into irrelevancy and the mists by Christianity. (CW)