What do you think?
Rate this book
Glenraven #1
Glenraven
Sophie had lost a child. She was looking for peace and rest. She didn't know what it was, but Glenraven promised her that. JayJay had bad luck with husbands -- a three-time loser now, all she wanted was to be a million miles away from her small North Carolina town.Glenraven seemed to be an Alpine principality somewhere in the neighborhood of northern Italy -- according to the unique guidebook advertising Glenraven's charms, obscure, almost non-traversable Alpine passages constituted the only way in. But in reality it was a magic kingdom detached in some strange dimensional way from our world. What the people of Glenraven wanted was a couple of heroes who would free them from a ruler who was quite literally a monster in human guise. What the people of Glenraven got were JayJay and Sophie.They could have done worse.
390 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
4 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Marion Zimmer Bradley
811 books4,919 followersMarion 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)
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)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 18, 2010
This is not exactly rocket science, it's a light romance with the touch of the supernatural and vampirism. But if you believe in magic, or even if you don't, if you feel like snuggling down for the night with a cup of hot chocolate and letting the world go by, this is a great read!
January 10, 2013
Originally published on my blog here in December 2001.
One of the perennial difficulties for the fantasy novelist who wants to involve earthly characters is how to take them to the scene of the action. (Once there, they pay the author back by requiring explanations of what is around them, making exposition easier and seemingly more natural.) I don't recall the precise device used in Glenraven occurring anywhere else, however, and it is always nice to see something new.
When Jayjay's marriage breaks up, she finds a travel guide to the tiny European country of Glenraven in a bookstore. She has never heard of it, but it sounds enchanting; she and a friend go there together. In fact, Glenraven is a magical kingdom, and Jayjay and Sophie have been summoned as the heroes to save it from an evil ruler who is destroying it. That means that the two of them are not going to have quite the holiday they expected...
In recent fantasy, the most similar scenario to that of Glenraven is that of Terry Brooks' Magic Kingdom For Sale/Sold. Glenraven is not as lightweight as that novel, and doesn't exploit its subject for humorous purposes. (It does make a dig at much of the fantasy genre for minimising the squalor and misery inherent in the medieval setting.) The novels draws on the strengths of both writers, as a collaboration should, Bradley softening the brutality sometimes present in Lisle's work while gaining more of an edge. Glenraven also has a feminist agenda; it is in the still unusual position of having female heroes (and the cover picture interestingly suggests that this is not the case). This is an enjoyable novel which deserves to be better known.
One of the perennial difficulties for the fantasy novelist who wants to involve earthly characters is how to take them to the scene of the action. (Once there, they pay the author back by requiring explanations of what is around them, making exposition easier and seemingly more natural.) I don't recall the precise device used in Glenraven occurring anywhere else, however, and it is always nice to see something new.
When Jayjay's marriage breaks up, she finds a travel guide to the tiny European country of Glenraven in a bookstore. She has never heard of it, but it sounds enchanting; she and a friend go there together. In fact, Glenraven is a magical kingdom, and Jayjay and Sophie have been summoned as the heroes to save it from an evil ruler who is destroying it. That means that the two of them are not going to have quite the holiday they expected...
In recent fantasy, the most similar scenario to that of Glenraven is that of Terry Brooks' Magic Kingdom For Sale/Sold. Glenraven is not as lightweight as that novel, and doesn't exploit its subject for humorous purposes. (It does make a dig at much of the fantasy genre for minimising the squalor and misery inherent in the medieval setting.) The novels draws on the strengths of both writers, as a collaboration should, Bradley softening the brutality sometimes present in Lisle's work while gaining more of an edge. Glenraven also has a feminist agenda; it is in the still unusual position of having female heroes (and the cover picture interestingly suggests that this is not the case). This is an enjoyable novel which deserves to be better known.
March 29, 2016
A book about two women who travel to another dimension, called Glenraven. They then fight to free it from its evil ruler.
March 20, 2022
It was a fun read, even if it didn't suck me in and fully absorb me. Everything was acceptable....characters, plot, setting. It had some elements of surprises: some dark moments, some romantic, some heroic. But it mostly just skated over everything and never really dived deep into anything meaty. It had more potential for sure. I'm left liking the characters and setting, but no real urges to revisit.
April 18, 2022
Kinda makes you check the travel-book shelf a bit more closely... I mean if there were one with a cover by Clyde Caldwell, I'd have to start saving some dinero...
March 20, 2025
J'ai pas finis, il reste 50 pages, mais c'est bon j'ai ai marre il se passe rien. Le début est super intéressant et Sophie et Jay-Jay sont hyper attachante, mais on nous hyper toute une histoire de prophétie et de guerre et d'héroïnes et de je ne sais pas quoi pour qu'au final a la moitié du bouquin il ne de passe toujours RIEN elles ne servent à RIEN et on perd du temps avec la romance de Jay-jay et d'un vampire sortit de nul part qui, certes est super parce qu'il se passe ENFIN QUELQUE CHOSE, mais qui n'a toujours RIEN à voir avec le conflit principal et il NE RESTE QUE 50 PAGES.
June 11, 2022
Eine sehr vielfältige Welt mit reichlich unsympathischen Gestalten. Soviel Blutdürstigkeit hätte ich nicht erwartet. Diese Geschichte ist nichts für zarte Seelen.
September 8, 2019
What if two thirty somethings follow a travel log to what they think is a small country but is a new land. Corrupt guardian needs to be taken down and replaced by one of the choices. Magic vampire like being is the love interest because plot. Women needs to go to a fantasy world and die and be brought back to life to get over dead child. The introduction to the characters is more women's fiction than the start of fantasy until they lose their guide and find they have to ride horses and change clothes. The call to action is not started until the last third which doesn't give much time for tension for finding out who are the allies and how to defeat the big bad. It was fine for the time period but wasn't a fully fleshed out world and there is a book two. Good if you want a R-rated portal fantasy with a magic travel log that isn't that helpful as a travel log but they become heroes anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2021
So. There is this disastrous relationship that has just ended for one of the female leads. The other one (her bestie) has a marriage teetering on the brink as she and her husband are still haunted by a tragedy of their own. Contemporary. The solution for heartbreak, as we all know, is to go to a good bookstore. (Okay, she was actually looking for a tourist' guide for a getaway.) The book she finds is a Guide to Glenraven -- that turns out to be magic. So, she and her bestie make some reservations and find a tour guide. It's when they go through a tunnel on the way to their vacation, the weird stuff starts. A lot of disasters and running away. And, in the meantime, there is a dastardly villian. They aren't sure who to trust. They aren't sure if they are being rescued or led into more danger. The guide book is changing to give them instructions. Or advice that makes no sense. Odd creatures, strange lights, magical wards, weird rituals. Pretty heady stuff.
January 12, 2022
This collaboration intrigued me, I love fantasy, and it ticks all the boxes for feminist, fantasy, romance, and adventure. However, it still left me wanting.
The antagonist is appropriately evil and diabolical, and you root for her demise. Check. The women are smart and fierce, and there is character growth and genuine conversation. Check. The well-planned plot meanders most of the time and leaps in others, and the romance is easy to spot from a mile away and left me a little deflated.
I would recommend this novel for anyone who is fan of these authors, wants a gentle and well-paced modern-turned-medieval adventure, and a new perspective on grief and friendship.
The antagonist is appropriately evil and diabolical, and you root for her demise. Check. The women are smart and fierce, and there is character growth and genuine conversation. Check. The well-planned plot meanders most of the time and leaps in others, and the romance is easy to spot from a mile away and left me a little deflated.
I would recommend this novel for anyone who is fan of these authors, wants a gentle and well-paced modern-turned-medieval adventure, and a new perspective on grief and friendship.
January 9, 2026
More like a 2.5.
What if you… wanted to read an adult take on portal fantasy…. But God (Marion Zimmer Bradley and Holly Lisle) said…. You will learn nothing except this vampire is going to mate with this woman?
Also we never learn if Sophie has her lesbian affair or not come on guys you’re killing me
What if you… wanted to read an adult take on portal fantasy…. But God (Marion Zimmer Bradley and Holly Lisle) said…. You will learn nothing except this vampire is going to mate with this woman?
Also we never learn if Sophie has her lesbian affair or not come on guys you’re killing me
Read
April 4, 2021Mon avis ici : https://leslecturesdecec.blogspot.com...
August 10, 2021
Loved it, ordered 2nd book already
March 8, 2022
Fun, fast read about a hidden country with magic, but some interesting twists. I'm definitely interested in the sequal.
May 12, 2025
This is such a comforting book.
February 2, 2012
Glenraven ist ein sehr interessantes Land, das von Marion Zimmer Bradley und Holly Lisle erschaffen wurde. Die Landschaftsbeschreibungen und die Darstellung der Lebensweise sind sehr gelungen. Es wirkt wie ein Paradies, in dem die Zeit stehen geblieben ist, denn es herrschen die Hygienebedingungen des Mittelalters.
Leider sind die Ortsnamen sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig, deshalb war es sehr schwer, den Überblick zu behalten. Eine Karte des Landes wäre hilfreich gewesen.
Auch die Rassenstruktur des Volkes ist zu Anfang sehr schwer zu begreifen, später ist es allerdings verständlicher erklärt.
Die Geschichte an sich ist sehr gut erzählt. Die Titelheldinnen sind mit ihrem bisherigen Leben nicht zufrieden. Man kann die Verzweiflung und die Hoffnungslosigkeit der Frauen sehr gut nachempfinden. Beide haben in den letzten Jahren sehr viele Schmerzen erdulden müssen. Während Jayjay eigentlich nur den engstirnigen Menschen des Ortes, die sie nur noch als Flittchen betrachten, entfliehen will, hängt Sophie gar nicht mehr am Leben. Sie ist sich sicher, dass sie in Glenraven sterben wird.
Neben den gut gezeichneten Hauptcharakteren, gibt es auch interessante Nebenakteure, von denen man gerne mehr erfahren würde. Der Machnan-Magier Yemus tut einem sehr leid.
Für sein Volk schafft er das Buch, welches sich als Reiseführer tarnt und ihn befiehlt, nach Amerika zu reisen. Viele Jahre wartet er dort, dass sich die Heldinnen zeigen, während in Glenraven seine halbe Familie ausgelöscht wird. Und als er zurückkommt, wird er auch noch von seinem eigenen Volk eingesperrt, da diese annehmen, dass die Helden mit Aidris unter einer Decke stecken.
Die verschiedenen Zauberwesen Glenravens sind sehr gut beschrieben, auch die Geschichte des Landes ist spannend. Die einzelnen Rassen haben wohlklingende Namen und auch ihr Aussehen wird anschaulich beschrieben, so dass man sie sich sehr gut vorstellen kann.
Insgesamt kommen die Wesen des verzauberten Landes allerdings zu kurz, während die beiden Hauptfiguren etwas zu stark in den Vordergrund rücken. Auch zum Schluss ist die Welt noch ein kleines Rätsel, da man nur einen sehr geringen Einblick in sie bekommen hat. Vielleicht ist auch dies die Absicht der Autorinnen gewesen, da sie die meisten Kapitel aus der Sicht von Jayjay und Sophie erzählen, die ohne wirkliches Wissen von einem Abenteuer ins nächste stürzen. Hoffentlich erfährt man im nächsten Teil noch mehr über Glenraven und seine Bewohner.
Der Schreibstil des Buches ist sehr gut. Lebendig und mit Liebe zum Detail werden Landschaften, Räume und Wesen beschrieben.
Auch die Gefühlswelt der Charaktere wird gut dargestellt.
Insgesamt ist Glenraven ein fantasievolles Buch voller interessanter Ideen und einer tollen Geschichte.
Leider sind die Ortsnamen sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig, deshalb war es sehr schwer, den Überblick zu behalten. Eine Karte des Landes wäre hilfreich gewesen.
Auch die Rassenstruktur des Volkes ist zu Anfang sehr schwer zu begreifen, später ist es allerdings verständlicher erklärt.
Die Geschichte an sich ist sehr gut erzählt. Die Titelheldinnen sind mit ihrem bisherigen Leben nicht zufrieden. Man kann die Verzweiflung und die Hoffnungslosigkeit der Frauen sehr gut nachempfinden. Beide haben in den letzten Jahren sehr viele Schmerzen erdulden müssen. Während Jayjay eigentlich nur den engstirnigen Menschen des Ortes, die sie nur noch als Flittchen betrachten, entfliehen will, hängt Sophie gar nicht mehr am Leben. Sie ist sich sicher, dass sie in Glenraven sterben wird.
Neben den gut gezeichneten Hauptcharakteren, gibt es auch interessante Nebenakteure, von denen man gerne mehr erfahren würde. Der Machnan-Magier Yemus tut einem sehr leid.
Für sein Volk schafft er das Buch, welches sich als Reiseführer tarnt und ihn befiehlt, nach Amerika zu reisen. Viele Jahre wartet er dort, dass sich die Heldinnen zeigen, während in Glenraven seine halbe Familie ausgelöscht wird. Und als er zurückkommt, wird er auch noch von seinem eigenen Volk eingesperrt, da diese annehmen, dass die Helden mit Aidris unter einer Decke stecken.
Die verschiedenen Zauberwesen Glenravens sind sehr gut beschrieben, auch die Geschichte des Landes ist spannend. Die einzelnen Rassen haben wohlklingende Namen und auch ihr Aussehen wird anschaulich beschrieben, so dass man sie sich sehr gut vorstellen kann.
Insgesamt kommen die Wesen des verzauberten Landes allerdings zu kurz, während die beiden Hauptfiguren etwas zu stark in den Vordergrund rücken. Auch zum Schluss ist die Welt noch ein kleines Rätsel, da man nur einen sehr geringen Einblick in sie bekommen hat. Vielleicht ist auch dies die Absicht der Autorinnen gewesen, da sie die meisten Kapitel aus der Sicht von Jayjay und Sophie erzählen, die ohne wirkliches Wissen von einem Abenteuer ins nächste stürzen. Hoffentlich erfährt man im nächsten Teil noch mehr über Glenraven und seine Bewohner.
Der Schreibstil des Buches ist sehr gut. Lebendig und mit Liebe zum Detail werden Landschaften, Räume und Wesen beschrieben.
Auch die Gefühlswelt der Charaktere wird gut dargestellt.
Insgesamt ist Glenraven ein fantasievolles Buch voller interessanter Ideen und einer tollen Geschichte.
November 25, 2023
I loved it. It was one of my first readings as teenager and it was so much adventure and magic plus a little love and drama, all i needed at the time
June 17, 2009
Well, sort of historical fantasy. It takes place in modern times, but in a place that is medieval and fantastical in nature.
Both authors have turned in better work, but this one had a lot of good moments. For me, the weakest aspect was that so much of the action was outside the control of any single character, even the villain. The whole thing felt like a runaway train at times, especially during the climactic battle scene, and it was moderately unclear what some of the prophecies and omens really meant, even by the end of the story.
I'm not big on stories where fate is such a major character, and in this case an entire country is a character, sort of, which makes things even stranger.
Still, worth reading, and I'll probably read the sequel.
Both authors have turned in better work, but this one had a lot of good moments. For me, the weakest aspect was that so much of the action was outside the control of any single character, even the villain. The whole thing felt like a runaway train at times, especially during the climactic battle scene, and it was moderately unclear what some of the prophecies and omens really meant, even by the end of the story.
I'm not big on stories where fate is such a major character, and in this case an entire country is a character, sort of, which makes things even stranger.
Still, worth reading, and I'll probably read the sequel.
June 15, 2012
In the genre of middleaged (if you think middleaged means thirty something which I don't) women end up in improbable alternate fantasy world by riding mountain bikes from Tuscany and then save said world and make everything better and, oh yeah, find true love, or at least one of them does, this book is quite possibly king. Or queen. Or something. It's a more or less entertaining read, anyway, and you can skip the dreary parts by counting the vast number of fantasy tropes that get worked into every page.
July 30, 2016
I read this so long ago. I do remember thinking it was quite a lovely fantasy because of the world - Glenraven. It reminds me of two other stories I really enjoyed. One is Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword mixed with a bit of Oz. I liked the complexity of the world and the two heroines. When two people who are average and still make such an impact, it is a message I like. Basically, if people work together and put their mind to it, amazing feats can be accomplished.
March 30, 2014
Esse é o tipo de livro que considero ideal para apresentar o universo de fantasia para adolescentes. Co-escrito pela autora de As Brumas de Avalon, Glenraven é um romance legal de ler, onde duas mulheres do nosso mundo são jogadas em outro e tem que lidar com as adversidade para sobreviver e entender tudo o que está acontecendo a sua volta.
É uma história para crianças e adolescentes bem simples, mas encantadora. Ideal para passar o tempo.
É uma história para crianças e adolescentes bem simples, mas encantadora. Ideal para passar o tempo.
January 23, 2009
This book was co-written by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Holly Lisle, and there's a second book in the series which I'm also going to get my hands on so I can find out what happened to JayJay and Mathiall.
April 13, 2015
Time honored concept of getting into something unexpected & finding the lost way from our world. Done well & the adventure is one to remember. I think of the Thomas Covenant books and I don't have any inclination to repeat that exasperating experience but this was much more satisfying.
September 7, 2008
C'est une classique histoire de fantasy sans grand intérêt en soi, remplie de clichés mais ce n'est pas désagréable à lire et finalement, je me suis laissée prendre au jeu.
Read
July 13, 2009okay
August 11, 2015
Need an escape? This is it. Needed some more backstory, and now I want another. But other than that I liked it.
October 27, 2013
enjoyed it
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews