Priestess of Avalon (Avalon #4) by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Diana L. Paxson: A Book Review

Priestess of Avalon (Avalon #4)

Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley and Diana L. Paxson

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Publisher: Ace

Release Date: 2008

Pages: 418

Source: Personal Collection

Synopsis: In the long-awaited return to Avalon by the beloved author of The Mists of Avalon and her collaborator, bestselling author Diana L. Paxson, Marion Zimmer Bradley fuses myth, magic and romance in a spectacular unfolding of one woman's role in the making of history and spirit...

My Review: Priestess of Avalon is the prequel to The Mists of Avalon. It follows the life of Helena Augusta, the mother of Emperor Constantine. In Priestess of Avalon, Helena is a British princess called Eilan. She trains to be a priestess of Avalon. Eilan eventually learns that she is destined to give birth to a child who will change the world. Therefore, Eilan walks a journey that no priestess of Avalon has ever walked before.

Eilan is a wonderful character. I love how she grew over the course of the novel! She is very strong-willed and outspoken. She makes her own choices and creates her own path in life. She always strives to do the will of the Goddess. Throughout the novel, she searches for happiness and belonging. Eilan was very relatable, and I was mesmerized by her story.

Priestess of Avalon mainly focused on Eilan’s relationship with her son, Constantine. I thought their relationship was the most fascinating aspect of the novel. When Constantine becomes emperor, he makes his mother the Empress. While she assists Constantine and gains more power, she slowly loses her own identity and her freedom. Therefore, Eilan embarks on a journey of self-discovery.

Overall, this novel is about family, choices, and sacrifice. The lesson of the novel is that power does not make a person happy. All of the characters were very compelling. They were all flawed and made many mistakes. I did think the romance was undeveloped and instantaneous. However, it was only a minor detail in the story. I also thought the Priestess of Avalon was beautifully written and evocative! I love how the authors made the setting of the Roman Empire come alive! Therefore, Priestess of Avalon was a very engrossing novel, and I could not put it down! I can’t wait to read Mists of Avalon next! I recommend this novel for fans of The Twilight Empress, I Am Livia, and Mistress of Rome!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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