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The Saga of the Trillium #4
La Dama del Giglio
Da oltre duecento anni la principessa Haramis regna come Arcimaga su Ruwenda, ma ormai sente che il suo tempo è prossimo e individua nella giovanissima principessa Mikayla la donna che la sostituirà. Eppure Mikayla, innamorata da sempre del gentile Fiolon e disposta a tutto pur di sposarlo, non vuole accettare il destino segnato dall'Arcimaga e s'impegna in una lotta tanto orgogliosa quanto disperata per poter scegliere la propria vita.
333 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
16 people are currently reading
855 people want to read
About the author
Marion Zimmer Bradley
800 books4,880 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)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
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October 6, 2023I thought the love story was a bit weird and unsettling. I could also see how the main character would get upset during the proper circumstances, however, some of the things she whined and cried about was very immature.
I also couldn't exactly understand how any of these characters had any feelings. When someone would die, or proclaim that they were going to die, or if they got very sick, it was just like they were walking through the park or something. They had acted like it wasn't bad... The main character would just stretch and yawn and say, "I'm going to bed," SORRY, WHAT?
The only one with the believable feelings was Uzun. He is probably the true hero here.
Also, Haramis, which you will see at the end.
However, overall, I did NOT like this book. I don't even know how I got through it, honestly.
Edit 10.6.2023
Maybe this calls for a re-read.
I also couldn't exactly understand how any of these characters had any feelings. When someone would die, or proclaim that they were going to die, or if they got very sick, it was just like they were walking through the park or something. They had acted like it wasn't bad... The main character would just stretch and yawn and say, "I'm going to bed," SORRY, WHAT?
The only one with the believable feelings was Uzun. He is probably the true hero here.
Also, Haramis, which you will see at the end.
However, overall, I did NOT like this book. I don't even know how I got through it, honestly.
Edit 10.6.2023
Maybe this calls for a re-read.
March 24, 2017
The one who got me hook in reading. It will forever be one of my favorites
August 23, 2022
So, here we go again. The same series, a different author and a brand new interpretation of the Trillium world! To be fair, at least Bradley sets her novel 200 odd years into the future, so the inconsistencies seem less incongruous (except how the Shritek give birth - I don't think they could have evolved from womb gestation to egg laying in such a short time!).
Still, I did quite like the story. The 'discovery' of the magic mirror's power source was good, as I've been wanting to find out more about the Ancient devices since the first book, and I kind of liked the way that Mika fought her destiny. However, I felt a bit disappointed that more wasn't made of the Temple dwellers - they could have been great 'baddies' if their crimes had been discovered slowly and then they'd been faced down in a more epic way - instead, they're almost an after thought - another place for Mika to go occasionally until right at the end when suddenly, they're the bad guys, and are rather easily defeated.
Still, an enjoyable read, if not particularly earth-shattering.
Still, I did quite like the story. The 'discovery' of the magic mirror's power source was good, as I've been wanting to find out more about the Ancient devices since the first book, and I kind of liked the way that Mika fought her destiny. However, I felt a bit disappointed that more wasn't made of the Temple dwellers - they could have been great 'baddies' if their crimes had been discovered slowly and then they'd been faced down in a more epic way - instead, they're almost an after thought - another place for Mika to go occasionally until right at the end when suddenly, they're the bad guys, and are rather easily defeated.
Still, an enjoyable read, if not particularly earth-shattering.
November 1, 2009
Read this after reading Black Trillium as Bradley is my favorite of the three authors.
April 14, 2021
This was one of the first books I bought myself. I was about seven and a neighbour was having a yard sale. The world of the Black Trillium has held a special place in my heart since then, and I am never sick of rereading this novel.
Technically, it's the last in a series of five, but since three of the other sequels were written by two other authors and not in sync with one another, I mainly see this as a standalone novel in it's own right.
The magic system, the characters and their complexity, the emotions and conflict. Everything about this book reminds me why I love reading, and why I love writing, and I will always choose books like this over popular ones that sell millions of copies bit are written poorly.
I love Marion Zimmer Bradley's work!
Technically, it's the last in a series of five, but since three of the other sequels were written by two other authors and not in sync with one another, I mainly see this as a standalone novel in it's own right.
The magic system, the characters and their complexity, the emotions and conflict. Everything about this book reminds me why I love reading, and why I love writing, and I will always choose books like this over popular ones that sell millions of copies bit are written poorly.
I love Marion Zimmer Bradley's work!
February 21, 2024
This was a really well written story! I was disappointed in Haramis' characterization, but within that framework it was an excellent story.
I was right in my earlier supposition that the different authors wrote their tales completely independent of each other. This book is one possible timeline of what happened after the first book, Black Trillium.
Andre Norton's Golden Trillium is another, possibly an alternate universe to what happened after the first book.
Julian May's Blood Trillium is another again, though she follows her's up with Sky Trillium which happens only a few years after Blood Trillium.
I was right in my earlier supposition that the different authors wrote their tales completely independent of each other. This book is one possible timeline of what happened after the first book, Black Trillium.
Andre Norton's Golden Trillium is another, possibly an alternate universe to what happened after the first book.
Julian May's Blood Trillium is another again, though she follows her's up with Sky Trillium which happens only a few years after Blood Trillium.
February 21, 2025
Well, this was my final read from the entire Trillium Saga. While I enjoyed Mikayla and Fiolon's friendship and discoveries, the plot itself was repetitive. Ultimately, I found the older Haramis created by Bradley to not be as I pictured her and it felt out of place with Haramis' depiction in Black Trillium. I feel like Julian May did a better continuation of Haramis' story than Bradley did, even though she was originally responsible for the character. The book itself is somewhat like the film The Last Jedi, especially in regards to Luke finding a successor in Rey.
August 14, 2020
I hadn’t read the previous books in this series, but the story worked successfully as a stand-alone. The plot was well crafted generally, but I felt that the pace dragged a little on occasions. Overall I enjoyed the escapism into a fantasy world and the plot had a very satisfying finale.
January 20, 2023
Un seguito avvincente che vede due bambini,due promessi costruire nel tempo un legame indissolubile....
Haramis lotta contro il tempo per istruire la nuova erede
Molta azione in un testo sorprendentemente dinamico
Io apprezzo notevolmente la scrittrice e sto cercando di reperire ogni suo scritto
Haramis lotta contro il tempo per istruire la nuova erede
Molta azione in un testo sorprendentemente dinamico
Io apprezzo notevolmente la scrittrice e sto cercando di reperire ogni suo scritto
November 8, 2024
Vivid and heartfelt.
A very different story. One of love and passion. Still set in the land of the trillium, but centuries after the three princesses. Love for the land and paaion for it and all its peoples. Balance which was lost is found again.
A very different story. One of love and passion. Still set in the land of the trillium, but centuries after the three princesses. Love for the land and paaion for it and all its peoples. Balance which was lost is found again.
July 19, 2017
Inconsistencies with previous books in the series abound.
August 4, 2020
Delightful characters both human, Arian, and harp. I'm guessing this is an earlier writing.
April 23, 2021
Excellent addition to the series.
February 15, 2024
I enjoyed this one much more than the third, and aside from ignoring some of the character development of book two, it almost fits into the set.
December 1, 2025
Cool so my favourite character was old and senile throughout the book. Absolutely no relevance to the rest of the series other than it is in the same universe.
June 21, 2022
This book was just an extension to an already finished series. The plot dragged on. It was really just a excuse for the author to make more money pointless story. But, I succeeded. Really, this series was completed before this one. It has nothing to do with the actual series, but if you think you'll like it, go ahead. Just bear in mind that it has nothing at all to do with the real series.
November 3, 2013
Another worthy follow up in the multi author partwork Trillium series, this one has some surprising twists and turns with some new characters cropping up but they are written in so well along with tying the ends up of older characters in preceding novels you just totally accept and absorb the new ones into this story.
This installment follows the story of the Archimage Lady Haramis, she is very old and sick and is fearing for the security of her land after her death.
This leads her to "snatch" a distant kinswoman of hers when the opportunity allows to be trained as her successor.
Fiolon and Mikayla are exploring their lands one day when Haramais swoops in and abducts them to her tower with precious little explanation, Mikayla is the intended target to follow in her footsteps so Fiolon to her grief is unceremoniously sent away.
The friction between Haramis and Mikayla is palpable and Mikayla proves to be an unwilling and stubborn pupil much to the lady's chagrin who fears time is running out for her and her protege to learn the skills she needs to aptly rule in her footsteps.
But when a blight is attacking the land Haramis is weakened further and is left gravely ill leaving the half taught Mikayla to try and save the kingdom with the help of Fiolon and a host of worthy helpers but can two young teenagers succeed where Haramis is so obviously failing to regenerate and heal their home?
So leads to a quest and a race against time to save Ruwenda and its environs but is it already too late?
Fast paced and lacks none of the excitement of the earlier novels in the series.
Definitely worth reading but this is one of those partwork, multi layered novels that is useless to read without a background knowledge of the others in the set.
This installment follows the story of the Archimage Lady Haramis, she is very old and sick and is fearing for the security of her land after her death.
This leads her to "snatch" a distant kinswoman of hers when the opportunity allows to be trained as her successor.
Fiolon and Mikayla are exploring their lands one day when Haramais swoops in and abducts them to her tower with precious little explanation, Mikayla is the intended target to follow in her footsteps so Fiolon to her grief is unceremoniously sent away.
The friction between Haramis and Mikayla is palpable and Mikayla proves to be an unwilling and stubborn pupil much to the lady's chagrin who fears time is running out for her and her protege to learn the skills she needs to aptly rule in her footsteps.
But when a blight is attacking the land Haramis is weakened further and is left gravely ill leaving the half taught Mikayla to try and save the kingdom with the help of Fiolon and a host of worthy helpers but can two young teenagers succeed where Haramis is so obviously failing to regenerate and heal their home?
So leads to a quest and a race against time to save Ruwenda and its environs but is it already too late?
Fast paced and lacks none of the excitement of the earlier novels in the series.
Definitely worth reading but this is one of those partwork, multi layered novels that is useless to read without a background knowledge of the others in the set.
July 2, 2015
I don’t know why I read Lady of the Trillium after my disappointments with the other books in this series. I guess I just wanted to see how things wound up. Or I’m a glutton for punishment, which is possible. I wasn’t too disappointed however – MZB’s style, I’ve always found, is easy to read, and she keeps a story moving, compared to her co-creators on the series.
The book picks up many decades after the last one and only Haramis, the Archmage of Ruwenda, is left alive of the sisters. She is still dedicated to its protection, but also more crotchety, senile, contrary, and illogical... so unlikable, I wondered what the author had been thinking. The story starts with her realizing she needs an heir to succeed her and she selects – kidnaps without explanation, really – a young princess of the royal house to train. But teenage Mikayla is having none of it; she already knows some magic, has a boyfriend, and realizes Haramis has become too senile to train her effectively. This is the plot, Haramis dryly lecturing and coming down heavy-handedly, Princess Mikayla rebelling and seeking her own way. Not great but it kept me going, just to see how things resolved – and they did, on a downer note.
The book picks up many decades after the last one and only Haramis, the Archmage of Ruwenda, is left alive of the sisters. She is still dedicated to its protection, but also more crotchety, senile, contrary, and illogical... so unlikable, I wondered what the author had been thinking. The story starts with her realizing she needs an heir to succeed her and she selects – kidnaps without explanation, really – a young princess of the royal house to train. But teenage Mikayla is having none of it; she already knows some magic, has a boyfriend, and realizes Haramis has become too senile to train her effectively. This is the plot, Haramis dryly lecturing and coming down heavy-handedly, Princess Mikayla rebelling and seeking her own way. Not great but it kept me going, just to see how things resolved – and they did, on a downer note.
August 3, 2016
While I generally enjoyed the book, I have issues.
If one is attempting the read these books (The Saga of the Trillium) in order, or, really, in any order, it becomes quite frustrating. The first two books in the series clearly follow one another. Not true for the final three. In fact, the final three totally disregard events in each others' books. Couldn't these women (May, Norton, Bradley) have taken an afternoon to read/skim/whatever the already published books before they went on to write the next one?
My suggestion is to read Black Trillium, Blood Trillium, and then Sky Trillium. Skip this one and skip Golden Trillium. Not because they are bad books, because on their own they are not. But because they muddle the world you are being asked to enter.
Another option would be to read Black, Blood, Golden, and then Lady, but skip Sky Trillium. I only suggest the first option because I so thoroughly enjoyed Sky Trillium.
If one is attempting the read these books (The Saga of the Trillium) in order, or, really, in any order, it becomes quite frustrating. The first two books in the series clearly follow one another. Not true for the final three. In fact, the final three totally disregard events in each others' books. Couldn't these women (May, Norton, Bradley) have taken an afternoon to read/skim/whatever the already published books before they went on to write the next one?
My suggestion is to read Black Trillium, Blood Trillium, and then Sky Trillium. Skip this one and skip Golden Trillium. Not because they are bad books, because on their own they are not. But because they muddle the world you are being asked to enter.
Another option would be to read Black, Blood, Golden, and then Lady, but skip Sky Trillium. I only suggest the first option because I so thoroughly enjoyed Sky Trillium.
June 4, 2016
The last of the Trillium books, I kept putting off reading this one because after this there is no more. I have enjoyed every book in this series. It’s set in such an interesting fantasy world, with touches of science fiction, and there is obviously a fascinating back story to the world yet it’s only hinted at never told.
This story is about the last surviving sister from the other Trillium books. Haramis is the Arch-mage and her magic has prolonged her life long after her other sisters are gone. But her powers are failing and when she has strokes the land suffers changes. She takes her niece Mikayla to train as the new arch-mage. Mikayla is reluctant especially when Haramis tries to separate her from her childhood friend and intended.
This story is about the last surviving sister from the other Trillium books. Haramis is the Arch-mage and her magic has prolonged her life long after her other sisters are gone. But her powers are failing and when she has strokes the land suffers changes. She takes her niece Mikayla to train as the new arch-mage. Mikayla is reluctant especially when Haramis tries to separate her from her childhood friend and intended.
July 19, 2009
Book 4 in the Saga of the Trillium (a collaboration between Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andre Norton, and Julian May). This one is by Marion Zimmer Bradley. In publishing order, this one is book 4, but in terms of the story is more like book five.
Not as connected to the rest of the series, this installment leaves two of the three princesses behind and focuses on the aging Archmage, Haramis and her relationship with her successor, Princess Mikayla.
Focused more on misunderstandings between the old and the young than on the battle between good and evil, this part of the story is much more character-driven than previous entries.
Not as connected to the rest of the series, this installment leaves two of the three princesses behind and focuses on the aging Archmage, Haramis and her relationship with her successor, Princess Mikayla.
Focused more on misunderstandings between the old and the young than on the battle between good and evil, this part of the story is much more character-driven than previous entries.
February 1, 2015
This is the fourth in the Trillium series. It follows the last living remaining triplet princess Haramis, as she chooses and trains her successor as Archmage, while dealing with devistating illness. Great characters, and good story. Mix between fantasy and sci fi, and Ms. Bradley created a real great characters with Makayla and Filion. Ending is a little graphic, so might not be for the faint of heart or very young. A beautiful well rounded story all around.
Want to read
June 23, 2010I started reading this book a few years back. I'm not sure why I didn't finish though, as Marion Zimmer Bradley is one of my favourite writers. I made a commitment to myself to restart reading it later this year.
January 8, 2011
Noioso e lentissimo, Haramis - nel Giglio Nero - era stata la protagonista che avevo preferito, ma questo seguito che s'incentra sull'apprendistato della giovane allieva di un'ormai ultracentenaria principessa è stata una gran delusione.
March 4, 2009
Extra 1/2 star.
July 17, 2008
Anther good read from Marion Zimmer Bradley.
May 29, 2014
molto, molto meglio del giglio nero!!!
April 21, 2011
Out of print now. Found this in an upstate library randomly. Not bad at all.
June 25, 2025
Lady of the Trillium (Mass Market Paperback)
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
this book is an addition of the story of the black trillium that centers on one of the three sisters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews