Lady of Avalon

Infobox Book |
name = Lady of Avalon
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Marion Zimmer Bradley and Diana L. Paxson
cover_artist = John Jude Palencar
country = United States
language = English
series = Avalon Series
genre = Fantasy novel, Historical novel
publisher = Viking Press
release_date = November 6, 1997
media_type = Print (Hardcover and Paperback) and audio-CD
pages = 464 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-670-85783-1
preceded_by = The Forest House
followed_by = Priestess of Avalon

"Lady of Avalon" is a 1997 book by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Diana L. Paxson.

Plot introduction

Lady of Avalon is the sequel to The Forest House and the prequel to The Mists of Avalon. It is divided into 3 parts.

Plot summary

Part 1

The first part shows us Caillean and Gawen (Eilan's son), who we know from the prequel. Caillean assumes the role of High Priestess of Avalon and somewhat a foster mother to Gawen. Gawen is raised as a druid, but from time to time, the Fairy Queen takes him with her to teach him. She also has a daughter, Sianna. The Fairy Queen and Caillean agree that Sianna will be given the teachings of the priestesses of Avalon. Spending their childhood together, Sianna and Gawen have a special bond. By the end of this first part of the book, Gawen and Sianna have become more than just friends. Sianna will bear Gawen's child, though Gawen himself will not live to see his daughter, as he is killed when he tries to protect Avalon from the Christians and a Roman patrol. After these unfortunate events, Caillean calls upon the mists so that Avalon will be inaccessible to anyone who cannot handle the magic to lift the mist.When Caillean grows too old, Sianna assumes the position of High Priestess and her daughter after her, thus starting a lineage of High Priestesses.

Part 2

The second part tells us about High Priestess Dierna. She takes in a new novice of royal blood, named Teleri. When she gets a vision about the new Protector of Britannia, a Roman admiral named Carausius, she arranges for Teleri to be wed to the man, so that she can help him with her priestess knowledge. This is not to Teleri's liking however. She doesn't love Carausius. Some years later, Carausius gets more and more opposition from all sides. Teleri will flee from her husband and give support to one of his former trustees to become the new High King. Eventually, Dierna and Carausius will find each other and become lovers. The High King hunts down Carausius who tries to reach the safety of Avalon and Dierna, but fails to reach it, dying of his wounds at the edge of the lake of Avalon. Some time later, Teleri realised the mistakes she made and finds her way back to Avalon, where she is reunited with Dierna and becomes her successor.

Part 3

The third part focuses on Avalon High Priestess Ana and her third daughter, Viviane. Viviane was fostered on a farm, but when she is 14 her mother sends Taliesin the Druid bard to escort her to Avalon. There she completes her training as a priestess, but Ana won't let her go through her initiation, so Viviane continues to remain a novice. This allows her to be the first maiden in centuries to be able to handle the Holy Grail, which is kept by Taliesin's order of Druids. Viviane's temperament takes after Ana's, so their characters often clash. Finally, Viviane is initiated when she becomes Vortimer's lover but returns to Avalon when he dies, where she bears his daughter. Sadly, her child dies a few months later. Ana is also pregnant, but birth proves to be difficult at her age. At last Ana and Viviane find forgiveness for each other, but Ana does not survive the birth of her last daughter, Morgause. Luckily, Viviane can nurse Ana's daughter, since her body is still accustomed to breastfeeding her own child. This last part leads us to the storyline of The Mists of Avalon.

Release details

* 1997, USA, Penguin Putnam Inc. ISBN 0-451-45652-1, Pub date June 1998, Paperback