The Mists of Avalon Audiobook By Marion Zimmer Bradley cover art

The Mists of Avalon

Preview

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

The Mists of Avalon

By: Marion Zimmer Bradley
Narrated by: Davina Porter
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $6.99

Buy for $6.99

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

A posthumous recipient of the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement, Marion Zimmer Bradley reinvented - and rejuvenated - the King Arthur mythos with her extraordinary Mists of Avalon series. In this epic work, Bradley follows the arc of the timeless tale from the perspective of its previously marginalized female characters: Celtic priestess Morgaine, Gwenhwyfar, and High Priestess Viviane.

©1982 Marion Zimmer Bradley (P)1993 Recorded Books
Epic Epic Fantasy Fairy Tales Fantasy Fiction Historical Arthurian Feel-Good Funny

Critic reviews

“[A] monumental reimagining of the Arthurian legends...” ( The New York Times Book Review)

What listeners say about The Mists of Avalon

Highly rated for:

Rich World-building Nuanced Female Characters Feminist Retelling Immersive Storytelling Multi-generational Saga
Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,898
  • 4 Stars
    1,427
  • 3 Stars
    617
  • 2 Stars
    218
  • 1 Stars
    165
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,193
  • 4 Stars
    947
  • 3 Stars
    267
  • 2 Stars
    77
  • 1 Stars
    78
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,385
  • 4 Stars
    1,253
  • 3 Stars
    559
  • 2 Stars
    200
  • 1 Stars
    170

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Narration by Davina Porter!

What did you love best about The Mists of Avalon?

What I loved the best was the whole atmosphere that continues throughout the book. It's calm and serene, even in the most tumultuous parts. You can feel from the very beginning, the mysticism of the place and people. Davina Porter's voice is perfect for that calmness. Her character voices are superb, and you can sometimes forget that you're listening to just one person!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, of course, my favorite character was Morgaine because she is the one that you are right there with throughout the book. We hear her innermost thoughts, and so we cannot help but be on her side! She is mystical and powerful, even in the times she thinks she is not. Now, on the other side of things, the character I loved to hate was Guinevere! She was so bratty, selfish, and shallow! Everytime we heard things from her point of view, I really wished someone would just push her off a cliff.

Which scene was your favorite?

The parts of the book that really stuck with me for some reason were the very first two paragraphs, when Morgaine says,

"In my time I have been called many things: sister, lover, wise-woman, queen."

All the way through to,

"And now, when the world has changed and Arthur - my brother, my lover, king who was, and king who shall be - lies dead (the common folk say sleeping) in the Holy Isle of Avalon, the tale should be told as it was before the priests of the White Christ came to cover it all with their saints and legends."

I think it completely sets the tone for the entire book, and Davina Porter's voice really brings it to life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I didn't have any extreme reactions to this book, mostly because even the sad parts were cloaked in mystery and sereneness. You sort of glide through from beginning to end in an enchanted haze. It was different!

Any additional comments?

Before listening to this book, I had already listened to the entire Outlander series, which Davina Porter also narrated. Each audiobook is very long, so in total, I'd listened to about 326 hours of Davina telling the Outlander tale. I was craving more of Outlander after that, so I looked at what else she had narrated. The Mists of Avalon caught my eye, and even though I was hoping the narration would remind me of Outlander, it didn't! Her voice wasn't that different, but I found that I never thought about Outlander while listening to this book! That, to me, was an impressive thing! I was sucked in by the story, and not just the voice.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

43 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

magical awakening

I loved loved this book. I couldn't wait to get in my car and listen to it. very captivating and the narrator did a great job as well.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love listening to the narration by Davina Porter

The story was enjoyable and easy to follow along. Davina Porter's narration makes the story even more enjoyable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome book, inspirational

Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I am truly inspired. Thank you for sharing this with the world. And Devina Porter was the perfect and melodic voice for this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

An almost Shakespearean tragedy

Firstly, in regards to the narration, I cannot imagine a better choice. Porter's voice, cadence, and pronunciation do great justice to Bradley's intent, tone, and prose. It's a joy to listen to.

As to the story, it feels more like a period piece than fantasy. Like the "original" legend of King Arthur and his court, if ever one can point to the original, it is an aristocratic series of unfortunate events. It's an opera! The book is not depressing, but utterly melancholy, with little to no lasting joy experienced by any of the characters, and the narrative driven by deceit, betrayal, and misunderstanding. If I had to pick themes, the first that come to mind are aging, spirituality, tolerance, ambition, and loyalty.

This is an epic masterpiece in the genre.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my favorite books.

This is one of my favorite books. the movie did not come close to the greatness of the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An all time favorite

I consider this one of my all time favorite books. I read it 3 times prior to this (all before I turned 25). This book shaped me as a reader, and gave me a life long love affair with King Arthur and his knights.

This is a really good take on the tale. It didn't totally stand the test of time for me, but it did pretty well. I'd forgotten how much I dislike this version of Guinevere. Regardless, it was good to visit my old friends, and the audio was well-narrated.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars

Lived this story

I have read this book several times but still enjoyed the audio version so much. The rrader has an amazing range of voices and inflection. She is brilliant. Thank-you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love, Love, Love

What did you love best about The Mists of Avalon?

I love Aurthurian tales.

What did you like best about this story?

The female point of view on the Legend of Arthur.

Have you listened to any of Davina Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I think this is the first. Her performance was very enjoyable,

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love the whole series!

I’ve listened to this book religiously and it’s really thought provoking as all as inspiring when it comes to my own life Path and spirituality

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful