The High Queen

The Mists of Avalon #2

by Marion Zimmer Bradley

This imaginative return to the Arthurian legend as told from its pagan priestesses continues with Book Two: The High Queen. Morgaine, finally reconciled to the birth of her son, must relinquish him to her aunt Morgause in exchange for the kept secret regarding his parentage. Arthur marries the timid but dutiful Gwenhwyfar, while ongoing wars with the Saxon invaders continue to rage accross the land. Morgaine, tired of worldly concerns, attempts to return to Avalon, but disappears without a trace somewhere near the end of her journey. In a last bid for peace, Arthur compromises his loyalty to Avalon by carrying the Christian banner into battle. Gwenhwyfars inability to conceive has the kingdom despairing of an heir to the throne, while behind the scenes, her love for Lancelet grows more impassioned and desperate.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Audiobook, Arthurian, Classics

13 pages, Audiobook

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley was an American author of fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series, often with a feminist outlook.

Bradley's first published novel-length work was Falcons of Narabedla, first published in the May 1957 issue of Other Worlds. When she was a child, Bradley stated that she enjoyed reading adventure fantasy authors such as Henry Kuttner, Edmond Hamilton, and Leigh Brackett, especially when they wrote about "the glint of strange suns on worlds that never were and never would be." Her first novel and much of her subsequent work show their influence strongly.

Early in her career, writing as Morgan Ives, Miriam Gardner, John Dexter, and Lee Chapman, Marion Zimmer Bradley produced several works outside the speculative fiction genre, including some gay and lesbian pulp fiction novels. For example, I Am a Lesbian was published in 1962. Though relatively tame by today's standards, they were considered pornographic when published, and for a long time she refused to disclose the titles she wrote under these pseudonyms.

Her 1958 story The Planet Savers introduced the planet of Darkover, which became the setting of a popular series by Bradley and other authors. The Darkover milieu may be considered as either fantasy with science fiction overtones or as science fiction with fantasy overtones, as Darkover is a lost earth colony where psi powers developed to an unusual degree. Bradley wrote many Darkover novels by herself, but in her later years collaborated with other authors for publication; her literary collaborators have continued the series since her death.

Bradley took an active role in science-fiction and fantasy fandom, promoting interaction with professional authors and publishers and making several important contributions to the subculture.

For many years, Bradley actively encouraged Darkover fan fiction and reprinted some of it in commercial Darkover anthologies, continuing to encourage submissions from unpublished authors, but this ended after a dispute with a fan over an unpublished Darkover novel of Bradley's that had similarities to some of the fan's stories. As a result, the novel remained unpublished, and Bradley demanded the cessation of all Darkover fan fiction.

Bradley was also the editor of the long-running Sword and Sorceress anthology series, which encouraged submissions of fantasy stories featuring original and non-traditional heroines from young and upcoming authors. Although she particularly encouraged young female authors, she was not averse to including male authors in her anthologies. Mercedes Lackey was just one of many authors who first appeared in the anthologies. She also maintained a large family of writers at her home in Berkeley. Ms Bradley was editing the final Sword and Sorceress manuscript up until the week of her death in September of 1999.

Probably her most famous single novel is The Mists of Avalon. A retelling of the Camelot legend from the point of view of Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar, it grew into a series of books; like the Darkover series, the later novels are written with or by other authors and have continued to appear after Bradley's death.

Her reputation has been posthumously marred by multiple accusations of child sexual abuse by her daughter Moira Greyland, and for allegedly assisting her second husband, convicted child abuser Walter Breen, in sexually abusing multiple unrelated children.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Matina Lgt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Mrs Zimmer Bradley,

Could you please kill Gwen in the next book?

My best regards,
Matina

P.S. Don't forget to make her suffer, thank you.

[Diana Marques | Papéis e Letras · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear: If it wasn't for Gwenhwyfar, I would have loved this book. We follow the story of Morgaine, Arthur, Gwenhwyfar and Lancelet, the tensions between the ancient religion connected to the powers of the Goddess of the Land, and Christianity, the building up of the kingdom of Camelot and the struggles against the saxons.
Once more what appealed to me in this book was the whole paganism versus Catholicism thing. Through the discussions that the characters have concerning this theme, we get a glimpse of what people thought at the time, what were the main issues debated then. I loved the wise sayings of Merlin and of Morgaine, of course. But Gwenhwyfar... *Munch scream* She's so fanatic, so intolerant, so annoying that I don't like anything about her! I understand and I know that there were people like her at the time, and the character is completely plausible, but geeez... She's always so scared of everything, so insecure, always holding on to religion as her comfort, her saviour, her everything, and she's always thinking of herself as a sinner and asking for forgiveness, and crying and bla bla bla.. She's annoying and tiresome. I seriously thought "I hope Marion Zimmer Bradley changes the story and makes her jump off of a bridge and die or something". Seriously.
But Gwenhwyfar aside, I loved the whole story and Morgaine is still my favourite character. Avalon and the Goddess for the win! \o/

[Carmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gwenhwfar ama Lancelot mas casa com Artur. Não havia escolha para as mulheres.
Lancelot ama Gwenhwfar mas como é o melhor amigo de Artur, vive celibatário e contenta-se em olhar para a rainha e fazer-lhe umas festinhas inocentes sempre que pode.
Artur ama Gwenhwfar, mas tem um filho com a meia-irmã Morgaine.
Morgaine esconde o filho de todos e ama Lancelot que não a amando, não se importa de ir tirando umas lasquinhas.
Gwenhwfar é mimada, ciumenta, beata e irritante.
Lancelot...meh...não sabe o que fazer da vida.
Artur faz de conta que é cegueta e tenta ser um bom Rei, um bom marido e um bom amigo.
Morgaine sendo uma Sacerdotisa de Avalon tem aval da Deusa para contrariar os bons costumes. Sempre foi a minha favorita nas histórias de Avalon, mesmo quando a pintam como má.

Não vamos aprofundar as restantes personagens que com estas já temos o suficiente para uma boa história.

Num ambiente mágico, o maior truque pertence a Marion Z. Bradley, que fez desta lenda uma bonita história com todos os ingredientes necessários para nos seduzir. Literatura de puro e bom entretenimento.

Ah, já me esquecia! No final embebedam-se todos e o que acontece nessa noite fica no segredo da Deusa.

[Coloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enganchadísima. Voy directa a los dos que faltan para terminar esta maravillosa historia ✨

[M. Malmierca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marion Zimmer Bradley es sinónimo de calidad, y en esta tetralogía de Las nieblas de Avalón (Experta en magia, La reina suprema, El rey ciervo, El prisionero del roble) lo demuestra con creces. Casi mil páginas de sociedad medieval y de luchas entre las ideas cristianas contra las paganas. La recreación de los personajes femeninos (hasta los secundarios) es magistral y relega a los masculinos a meros estereotipos (justo lo contrario a lo que viene haciendo la literatura convencional de este género). El personaje de Morgana es brutal, su peregrinaje desde su nacimiento hasta su decadencia esta narrado con absoluta crudeza y nos muestra una humanidad no acostumbrada en las obras de fantasía. Un revisión del mito artúrico imprescindible para los amantes de este género.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Há algo de mágico em Avalon! É lendária pela sua história e muitos estudiosos acreditam que teria sido um lugar oculto, nas montanhas da outrora Aquitânia (Sudoeste de França), mas nunca se constatou, realmente, a veracidade desta informação. O certo é que a ilha de Avalon está intrinsecamente ligada à lenda Arturiana e, é conhecida pelas suas belas maçãs e por ser o local onde Excalibur (a espada do Rei Artur) foi forjada. Este segundo volume, não aborda muito este local (com alguma pena minha), concentrando a atenção em Caerleon e Camelot, onde a teia de uma história muito antiga se adensa perante os nossos olhos.
https://momentosdemagia.wordpress.com...

[Karen’s Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 2nd book in The Mists of Avalon mostly centers around Gwenhwyfar, high queen of Britainnia, wife of King Arthur. Morgaine is gone for much of this book and what we get is the whiny selfish bratty Gwen. Not my favorite of the 4 books.

[Francisca Viegas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kind of worried when I picked this book up I wouldn't remember what happened in the first one of the series. I think I read that one about five years ago. And I seriously had no recollection of what had happened, save for the major events like Morgaine getting pregnant with her brother's baby (WHAAAAT?).
However, as soon as I actually started reading it (and I have to say that the wonderful writing style of Ms. Zimmer Bradley, was a huge help) everything came flooding back.
This book was at the same time glorious and annoying as hell.
I don't think I've ever wished for a character to get punched in the face - repeatedly... with something really heavy - so bad.
Gwen is the most hypocritical character I've ever had the misfortune of reading about. Being stuck inside her head was torture at the very least.
She is supposed to represent the biggest Catholic supporters, and she condemns everyone that doesn't believe the same things she does. However, and this is the ridiculously funny part, she ends up asking Morgaine to use her magic and make her get pregnant. AND she then has a threesome with the king (her husband), and the guy she's been panting after since she got married.
I feel like I'm whining now, but I actually liked the book very much. It was a great sequel, but I honestly can only hope that this was the end of Gwen's narrating, because I'm not sure my nervous system can handle another book narrated by her.

[Marijana☕✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gvenvir je tako užasan lik i samo nas podseća zašto je paganstvo bilo neophodno u vreme kralja Artura kao što nam je uvek neophodan i feminizam. Sreća pa imamo Morganu i Igrenu da se bore protiv takvih bogobojažljivih glupačica.

[Bruna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esqueci que esse é o livro que inventou o trisal. Rindo que eu li isso com uns 13 anos.

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, that ending! I didn't see it coming xD I'm glad I have the next part at hand!
This second part of The Mists of Avalon continues Morgaine's story, and now Gwenhwyfar's voice narrates her own story too. I love how the author manages to give each character their own distinct personality and voice, and their own personal worries and concerns. Each of these women might be connected to Arthur but their world doesn't revolve around him, and it's really their tale we read here, and not Arthur's.
I especially love/hate Gwenhwyfar here, she's a spoiled child and can be annoying at times, but mostly I pity her because I don't feel it's her fault to be so narrow-minded and ignorant. Her self hatred breaks my heart every time, and I keep hoping there's something good stored for her later xD

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh Gwenhwyfar, I am so tired of your complaining that you haven't slept with Lancelet, you have to be married to Arthur and he isn't a Christian, that he believes in keeping his word as he promised the Lady of Avalon and fly the banner of the dragon. The most positive thing I can say about this book on CD is that the reader, Davina Porter, is most excellent. Otherwise, I'm not sure I want to continue.

[Sotiris Karaiskos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Σε αυτό το δεύτερο μέρος φτάνουμε στο κλασικό ερωτικό τρίγωνο της ιστορίας μας. Η συγγραφέας βέβαια μάλλον δεν καταφέρνει να το αποδώσει με ιδιαίτερα συγκλονιστικό τρόπο, τουλάχιστον όμως αποφεύγει να μετατρέψει την ιστορία σε γλυκανάλατο ρομάντσο. Από εκεί και πέρα business as usual, με τις θρησκευτικές διαφορές και τις διαμάχες να κυριαρχούν. Γενικά αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσα η συνέχεια, δεν μπορεί όμως να με κάνει να εκτιμήσω περισσότερο αυτό που διαβάζω.

[Rin · Rating 4 out of 5]

That ending though

[Mateus Odilon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Que início lento e chato! Eu achava que já tinha abandonado esse livro, na verdade, mas resolvi dar uma outra chance. Do meio pro final as coisas ficam mais interessantes, ainda que algumas personagens (Gwenhwyfar cof cof) sejam muito chatos! Até agora, da tetralogia cumpri 2/4 um pouco na força do ódio, mas vou tentar aproveitar o pequeno embalo que ganhei nas últimas páginas desse segundo livro para seguir adiante.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5
Gostei mesmo muito deste volume. Vários sentimentos surgiram como irritação, ódio, alegria, entre outros. Não tenho muito a dizer a não ser: Gwen é bastante irritante neste volume e só dá vontade de a empurrar dum penhasco bem rochoso. Espero que ela não seja tão irritante no próximo livro, mas vejamos com o quê que a Marion Zimmer Bradley nos presenteia. Para além disto estou também a gostar bastante de ler Cristianismo versus Paganismo; está interessante, na minha opinião. Sem dúvidas que estou perante uma boa saga, que assim se mantenha.

[Estevam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gwenhyfar tem um poder oculto: a de irritar por sua infantilidade e falta de atitude!
Depois de sumida por anos, Morgana volta à corte de Artur "como um gato lambendo o leite dos bigodes".
Apesar de Gwen irritar com seu jeito tolo, o final é EXCELENTE!

[Pachy Pedia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buenos bueno, señora Zimmer Bradley, este libro ha sido como una telenovela. No me gusta ese Arturo débil manipulado por Ginebra, esa Morgana que desaparece y pasamos varios capítulos sin saber de ella... Tengo mis esperanzas puestas en la tercera parte.

[Célia | Estante de Livros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foi o meu livro preferido desta série. Gostei muito.

[Berfin Kanat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Magda Pais · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contrariamente ao que eu esperava, quando acabei A Senhora da Magia não comecei logo este. E tudo porque o mais recente livro de Anne Bishop - Visão de Prata - se meteu pelo meio e, como já o disse, Anne Bishop tem primazia sobre todos os livros em espera.

Mais uma vez pegar n'A Rainha Suprema foi um regresso a casa. Mais um bocado de Avalon a que regresso de quando em vez. Apesar disso, apesar de conhecer toda a história e de saber, quase de cor, o que se passa a seguir, a verdade é que continuo a encantar-me com As Brumas de Avalon como se fosse a primeira vez que os leio. Talvez seja esse o encanto destes livros - cada releitura sabe-me a uma primeira vez e mesmo sabendo a sequencia dos acontecimentos, espero sempre que mudem, que Morgaina e Viviane conseguiam que a religião da Deusa se sobreponha à cristã, que Arthur se recorde da sua promessa e que Lancelot e Gwenhwyfar possam viver a sua paixão sem serem criticados.

Ao mesmo tempo que espero mudanças, confesso que me sabe bem perceber que tudo acontece como tem de acontecer e que nem todas as releituras do mundo irão alterar aquilo que está escrito, e que nos leva da alegria à fúria, da tristeza à perplexidade. E pelas personagens - principalmente por Gwenhwyfar - somos obrigados a reflectir sobre as diferenças e similaridades entre o cristianismo e paganismo.

De referir ainda que a autora consegue, de forma magistral, ter duas personagens que reflectem essa mesma dicotomia - Gwenhwyfar que defende, com unhas e dentes, o cristianismo e Morgaine, pagã de alma e coração. É extraordinário como Marion Zimmer Bradley consegue tornar ambas credíveis e ambas marcantes, cada uma à sua maneira (apesar de, confesso, às vezes, me apetecer dar dois pares de estalos em Gwenhwyfar).

Depressa e bem, aqui vou a caminho da leitura (ou, mais exactamente, da releitura) do Rei Veado. Porque Avalon ainda espera por mim.

[Daniela Guimarães · Rating 4 out of 5]

No segundo volume d’As Brumas de Avalon, Morgaine dá à luz ao filho de Arthur e tenta regressar a Avalon. Simultaneamente, Arthur casa com Gwenhwyfar, beata católica apaixonada por Lancelet. Lutando contra a esterilidade, a nova Rainha da Bretanha exerce, um cada vez maior, ascensor sobre o seu marido, levando-o à quebra de votos de honra e de sangue.
•
Se no primeiro volume d’As Brumas de Avalon, acompanhamos o crescimento da Morgaine e o papel do paganismo na consagração régia de Arthur; no segundo, somos confrontados com o início da grande guerra do reinado de Arthur: aquela que será travada entre pagãos e cristãos. A história assume, agora, um tom filosófico e teológico forte confrontando crenças que vêem a mulher sob perspectivas opostas. Os acontecimentos são contados da perspectiva de Morgaine e Gwenhwyfar que representam duas faces de uma mesma moeda ou “uma mesma pessoa” como a primeira acaba por concluir. Afinal, as duas pugnam por uma voz e uma liberdade que lhes teimam em negar. Um livro interessante que me captou a atenção desde a primeira linha ultrapassando, em qualidade e originalidade, o seu antecessor.
Para mais, sigam @portasetenta no instagram ou visitem www.portasetenta.pt 😊

[Inês Lucas (Só Mais Uma Página) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tirem-me a Gwenwyfar ou eu não falo por mim.

Neste livro continuamos a história da Morgaine e do Rei Artur, enquanto nos aproximamos mais de personagens novas na corte do rei, como Gwenwyfar e Lancelet, que à semelhança do que acontece no mito original, se apaixonam um pelo outro. Mas mais personagens estão apaixonadas sem se saber e muito desta saga gira à volta destas quatro personagens e das relações escondidas entre eles e do papel que devem desempenhar na corte. Há também muito acompanhamento da infertilidade de Gwenwyfar, o que mina o casamento dela com Artur, e uma maior divisão entre as duas religiões com Artur sem saber bem a quem deve jurar fidelidade, se ao catolicismo se ao paganismo.
Eu adoro esta saga apesar de não adorar especialmente nenhuma das personagens, porque a intriga da corte está tão bem escrita e intrincada, e a descrição do ambiente místico e da magia de tal forma bem conseguida, que não é necessário adorar nenhuma personagem e mesmo assim ficamos agarrados a querer saber o que acontece. Creio que era mesmo essa a intenção da autora, criar personagens cinzentas que não são inteiramente boas nem inteiramente más, e isso só as torna mais interessantes.
Seguindo já para o terceiro livro!

[Alexia ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished re-reading this book, stayed up until 3AM to finish it and it was a hard task. I love The Mists of Avalon, I love Avalon and the many references to the Old Gods and the Goddess but this book? This book is painful to read. I spent almost all of the book just wanting to scream at the characters. I wanted to scream at Guinevere for being such an hypocritical Christian who thinks she is better than everyone around her. I wanted to scream at Arthur (and Lancelot even if that one had guts to defend Avalon) to for being such at a toy at Guinevere's hands. I wanted to scream at Morgana for being so paranoid and afraid to go back to Avalon, like she wouldn't be welcomed back?! This book for me, as a Pagan, is so frustrating because I'm literally seeing people who want me religion to die being successful. This is the hardest book in the series and I hate Guinevere SO DAMN MUCH.

But oh well... Off to the third book in the series!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing the Mists of Avalon series retelling the legends of King Arthur from the point of view of the women in the stories. Book 2 focuses more on the marriage of Arthur to Gwenhwyfar (the welsh spelling) and the influence that Gwenhwyfar has upon Arthur as she tries to convince him to break his vow to Avalon and declare his kingdom to be Christian. This book, like the previous, also examines the Christian vs the druid religions and generally comes down in favour of the latter. Unfortunately Gwenhwyfar is a very un-likeable character in pretty much every way, which took a star off this book for me since it's irritating just to read her parts.

[Maria Lavrador · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uma história já muito conhecida e explorada, como a de Artur, a espada poderosa e os seus cavaleiros, é contada nesta série de livros numa perspectiva feminina. Gosto dessa ideia apesar de a personagem da "bela rainha Gwenhwyfar" ser irritante, apenas me identifico com ela por não conseguir ter filhos mas mesmo assim não ganhou a minha simpatia. Quando ela aparecia a leitura tonava-se mais lenta e por isso dou apenas 4 estrelas, ao fim e ao cabo a moça não precisava de ser tão nhonhocas... :)

[It's Me - Yvette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one as much as book 1. Too much repetition. Didn't care for Gwenhyfar in this story at all. She's too pious and she is a hypocrite -- yep, I'm NOT a fan of hers at this juncture. I also found myself bored as well (and that is a major statement given that this is narrated by Davina Porter -- one of the best narrators out there in my opinion).

I think I'll pause a bit before starting book 3 (The King's Stag).

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading book one I stand by my assessment that is isn’t some action-packed King Author tale. Its told from the women in court’s pov and even though it’s a bit slow I find it interesting and am enjoying the female perspective in a more masculine world. Much like Hamlet and the lack of women Arthur’s tale had few and her these books fill in the gaps.

[Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

First third of the book: You four $#&* already!

2nd: Guinevere, shut up and get over yourself! You are ruining everything!

3rd: Morgaine, you are my favorite. Sorry you have to deal with Guinevere.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate Guinevere so so much but the story and writing is still great.