Twilight of Avalon (Twilight of Avalon, #1)

Jun 02, 2009 Misfit rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: get-it-from-the-library, one-time-read-only

Not a real review, just stating why I gave up with only 50-60 pages left. I liked the premise a lot, but the execution failed, at least for me. I didn't find any chemistry between the two, and while I understand it wasn't written as a love story I still wanted to see something. I didn't get why Trystan was calling her by her first name on practically the first meeting (worse yet, but a nickname "Isa") when they are strangers and she's the High Queen FGS. I couldn't ascertain whether Trystan was...more

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Feb 24, 2011 Nikki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arthurian, based-on-myth-saga-etc, historical-fiction-alternatehistory, fantasy

Twilight of Avalon was sent to me when I won a giveaway done by a friend, and I've been meaning to read it for quite a while before that. It's a version of the story of Tristan and Isolde, with a mostly historical background -- based on bits from Geoffrey of Monmouth's history, and the few snippets we may know about the "real" Tristan -- and with a few hints at what may or may not be magic. It's very different to most other Arthurian interpretations I've read, starting with the family tree. Isol...more

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Nov 08, 2010 Jayme rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who love Authurian legends

Recommended to Jayme by: The librarian at TCC

Shelves: historical-fiction

At first, I had trouble getting in to this book. After the first chapter though, I had trouble putting it down. Elliot's writing style is beautiful. It reminded me of stories people would tell each other in that time period (which I think is what she was going for so that was awesome). I thought she did a wonderful job developing her characters and you really understood the struggles in the novel.

Isolde is by far one of the best female protagonists I have ever come across. She is so strong but...more

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May 19, 2009 Michele rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arthurian, historical-fiction, fiction, series

For centuries past the Arthurian legend has been passed down from generation to generation. Thankfully, the myriad of variations of the tale have been keeping modern day authors as busy in the retelling as the ancients bards were.

The latest version to hit bookstores is Anna Elliott's Twilight of Avalon, the first of what will eventually be a full trilogy recounting one of the earliest known versions of Arthurian legend, that of Trystan and Isolde.

For those aficionados of the genre, it seems only...more For centuries past the Arthurian legend has been passed down from generation to generation. Thankfully, the myriad of variations of the tale have been keeping modern day authors as busy in the retelling as the ancients bards were.

The latest version to hit bookstores is Anna Elliott's Twilight of Avalon, the first of what will eventually be a full trilogy recounting one of the earliest known versions of Arthurian legend, that of Trystan and Isolde.

For those aficionados of the genre, it seems only fair that we give you a brief sketch of Elliott's take on the Arthurian soap opera:

King Arthur is not the chivalrous ideal of courtly love here. In a fit of passion, he allegedly rapes his sister Morgan, a woman steeped in the old religion in a time when the encroaching Christian priests are quick to brand any non-converting woman a witch. The accusation usually sticks. Morgan gives birth to Arthur's son, Mordred who later, as heir to Arthur's throne, betrays his father, steals Arthur's wife Gwynefar and begets a girl-child with his step-mother. The child is named Isolde. Arthur and Mordred meet in one last epic battle for the High Kingship of Britain and end up killing each other off, leaving Britain in chaos and ripe pickings for the encroaching Saxons, while Isolde is married off to the next High King of Britain, Constantine.

And this is where Elliott's story begins. King Constantine is betrayed and murdered, leaving Isolde alone to battle charges of witchcraft, political intrigue, and a mythical past. To do so and save Britain from destruction from within, Isolde turns to a former Saxon slave, Trystan. The unlikely pair develop a tenuous friendship in a time when trust and loyalty are rare commodities in the world.

I loved every single word!!

Isolde is one of the most real and heroic characters we've encountered in a long time, a woman fighting for what she believes in within the confines of her gender and time. This is not, we repeat, NOT a love story. At this point in time, there is no room for romance or love in Trystan and Isolde's world. This is a world overflowing in violence, plague and survival. Trystan and Isolde's bond is, at this point in the story, a thread of friendship and mutual respect.

And yet this is not a story of despair, it is a story of hope. A rich cast of supporting characters is the icing on the cake here, providing touches of humor just when you least expect it and sharp insights into the psyche of the time period.

Whether you are a fan of the Arthurian lit or looking for a good introduction to the genre, I wholeheartedly recommend Twilight of Avalon!
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Jan 20, 2011 Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Readers who like the Arthurian period

I had a hard time rating this book. It is a 3.5 for me so rounded it up. I love reading about this era, and this is taking up the legends of Arthur along with the legend of Tristan and Isolde but with a different twist - actually several different twists. This is Isolde's story but in this book she is the daughter of Modred and Gwnefar (that is a change!), and this begins seven years after Arthur and Modred killed each other. Some of the Arthur legend remains intact and some is different. Knowin...more I had a hard time rating this book. It is a 3.5 for me so rounded it up. I love reading about this era, and this is taking up the legends of Arthur along with the legend of Tristan and Isolde but with a different twist - actually several different twists. This is Isolde's story but in this book she is the daughter of Modred and Gwnefar (that is a change!), and this begins seven years after Arthur and Modred killed each other. Some of the Arthur legend remains intact and some is different. Knowing that we don't even know if Arthur or any of the players in his story ever even existed, I have only a slight discomfort with this.

Isolde is, or was, the wife of Constantine, Arthur's heir and High King of Britain. The book begins three days after Con has died in battle. Isolde is thrust into the intrigue and dangers of the choosing of a new High King. She is a healer and at one time had "the sight" but lost that ability when her father was killed. She is still perceived as a witch by many and often hated for being the daughter of Modred and Arthur's queen. In her role as healer she goes to the prison to help two Saxon prisoners, one of whom is Trystan, injured and beaten but not as seriously as his companion.

I am not going to do spoilers here, but this is a story of intrigue and extreme danger for Isolde, her forced marriage to the evil King Marche and subsequent escape to try to find evidence of his treachery and her belief that Con was murdered. During her flight she again meets up with Trystan and three of his friends. This is not a romance although through the book the reader keeps thinking one will develop between Trystan and Isolde (after all that is a legend of romantic tragedy). There is some kind of bond between them, but it is vague.

There are some things in the writing of this book that kept it from being a great story for me. Isolde became very real and a good heroine for me. Many of the other characters seemed kind of hazy and I really didn't get a good feel for them. I think Trystan would have fit into this category if I had not automatically pictured him as James Franco in one of my favorite and many times viewed movies, Tristan and Isolde. I didn't mention above, but Isolde has no memory of her life at all prior to seven years ago. There are hints of things along the way but somehow they just don't fit in smoothly for me. Several times Trystan who is a stranger, calls her Ise and if I picked up on it, why didn't she? I kept expecting her to question him on it. There are just some inconsistencies to the story that kept it from being a captivating read. That said, if you like the Arthur legend and stores of that time, it's worth reading. At the end, I finished it far past my bed time without putting it down, so it's not a book that doesn't draw you in.(less)

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Mar 23, 2010 SarahC rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arthurian

Twilight of Avalon was one of the best books I have read in months. It is a very readable, lightly-paced story in the tradition of 20th century Arthurian literature. If you like Mary Stewart, Nancy McKenzie or Rosemary Sutcliff, you may like Anna Elliott.

This book has a mystical feel without having a heavy fantasy storyline. In this volume so far, we see Merlin, Morgan and Isolde with the power to "see," but is that magic or simply a gift? Isolde questions this herself as she also struggles with...more Twilight of Avalon was one of the best books I have read in months. It is a very readable, lightly-paced story in the tradition of 20th century Arthurian literature. If you like Mary Stewart, Nancy McKenzie or Rosemary Sutcliff, you may like Anna Elliott.

This book has a mystical feel without having a heavy fantasy storyline. In this volume so far, we see Merlin, Morgan and Isolde with the power to "see," but is that magic or simply a gift? Isolde questions this herself as she also struggles with an unclear past. She has blocked away the view into her own history. She is a complicated woman born of a complicated plot -- Arthur's granddaughter, but born to his unfaithful wife Gwynefar. Her father was Arthur's son and enemy Modred. As you can see, Elliott put no stops on the possibility that life among these Dark Age legends was more complicated than we thought. Isolde knows the sorrow of events past, but she also has fleeting memories of happiness around her father.

Elliott's Isolde story varies from tradition, but her departure is unique and the plot doesn't seem forced. We find out some important things about Trystan, but not much so far. There is a connection between him and Isolde from the past and we see a brief glimpse that their stories will be woven together. I like the location and circumstance of their first meeting here in volume one.

This story also gives a feel of Isolde's isolation. She is 20 years old, orphaned, a political bride, and she learns that the untrustworthy are all around. Men turn their loyalties to overtake a country and women from above and below stairs greedily seek power from these men. She also struggles to understand her magic and the faith of the Christian world, and has lived with the label of witch.

This is a great first installment in the series. It carries enough substance and doesn't feel like a wasted prelude as some parts of a series can do. The story holds your attention as mysteries are still to be solved and Isolde will still in some way battle the evil Marche in the story to come. (less)

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Dec 12, 2009 Erika rated it 4 of 5 stars

The wonderful thing about Arthurian legends is they’re all so different. Some versions want to approach characters, that are by now well familiar to many of us, from a historical perspective, as if they really existed. The creative license to execute such a fiction is left to assembling their dialogue, their mannerisms and behaviors--the idea that Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, and Morgan le Fay need only the imaginative coaxing of an Author’s talent to be released once again into a world they inhab...more The wonderful thing about Arthurian legends is they’re all so different. Some versions want to approach characters, that are by now well familiar to many of us, from a historical perspective, as if they really existed. The creative license to execute such a fiction is left to assembling their dialogue, their mannerisms and behaviors--the idea that Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, and Morgan le Fay need only the imaginative coaxing of an Author’s talent to be released once again into a world they inhabited long ago. Other versions take great advantage of the legend as a fairy tale, something that at one point may have been based in reality, but has now risen above the mundane and into the powerfully magical and fantastical.

I enjoy reading both types of Arthurian legends. Each side has something to offer, something new to share, some other perspective to explore, or some new twist to alter the way we may have thought about the turn of events or the roles we’ve come to expect of the characters. Anna Elliott’s Twilight of Avalon, the first in a new Twilight of Avalon Trilogy, is a book that takes its cue from the historical, and one might say cynical, perspective. Like every other author, Elliott shows us a new way to spell everyone’s names (although Arthur’s is woefully always the same): Mordred is Modred; Guinevere is Gwenyfar; Merlin, like most versions, is a title, the real name being Myrddin. This, though, is a novel about Trystan and Isolde. As we are reminded several times in the narrative, “Camlann was over. Arthur and Modred, Myrddin and Morgan and Gwynefar lingering now only as voices in the wind. One age is ended...And another, perhaps, begun.” (p. 425)

Camlann, mind you, isn’t referring to Camelot (albeit here is Camelerd). It’s the rumored historical site of the battle between Arthur and Mordred--Arthur’s final resting place. When the narrative begins, it’s been seven years since Arthur and Camelerd’s demise. Isolde, daughter of Gwynefar and Modred--Arthur’s son with his half sister Morgan--is mourning the sudden death of her husband, and Arthur’s heir after Modred, Constantine. Britain is without a leader and in danger of being overrun by Saxons eager to take over the countryside. Stuck in the middle is Isolde and Camelerd, all that she has left of her family. War is ongoing and now, thrown into the bid for power is Isolde and her land. As the smaller kings fight amongst themselves to win the High Kingship, Isolde is fearful of the man who may win the battle. Even worse than Marche’s temperment and penchant for torture, is the easy way he has with his soldiers. Marche’s ability to persuade and to lead are dangerous when combined with his ambition: Camelerd is not safe, nor does he have its best interests at heart.

Twilight of Avalon is a dark, brooding novel. The magic that’s come to be understood as an integral part of Arthurian legend is instead the stuff of stories. As Coel relates to Isolde, “There are plenty of tales about Arthur these days. But I doubt any of us who knew the man himself would find much to recognize in the stories you hear told and retold.” (p. 138) Magic and witchcraft and very feared things and the people of Britain are nothing if not terribly superstitious here. There are frequent references from the characters themselves to the tall tales already being told of people they once knew, of what they would delight in having said of them when they are gone.

The land has changed and so has Isolde. She has lost her Sight, her ability to see into the past and future at will--oddly enough, this is the only magic that’s even remotely referred to as real. Instead her visions come to her sporadically and function narratively to fill in the gaps of a willed amnesia that has blocked out a good portion of Isolde’s painful past. Elliott’s writing is enchanting and lyrical, the kind that slows a reader down to absorb the pages in at length and gorge on the richness and beauty of the narrative. Nothing particularly happens, except one or two things, over and over again: Isolde runs free and is captured, twice; Isolde is held on trial for witchcraft, twice; Trystan is beaten, many times.

I felt pretty bad for Trystan. He was never without bruises, lash wounds, or blood. Isolde was constantly referred to as the “Witch Queen” and made to suffer under the obstinate ignorance of the men around her who used her as a scapegoat for many deaths, and accusations of witchcraft over what they could not do or did not understand. Like always, Isolde’s “witchcraft” is presented as a very feminine thing woven tightly together with healing. For all intents and purposes to the men of Constantine’s remaining army, the two are inseparable; Isolde’s bedside ministrations are a highly suspicious thing to behold under the utmost scrutiny and wariness. These characters clearly had their assigned roles and little would be done to tear them free, until the end of the novel that is. In less than the course of a week, so much despair and frustration made Isolde’s mission appear hopeless. Combined with her inability to cope with the tumult of misfortune she’s experienced in a short period of time, save for pushing it all to the back of her mind, there’s something depressingly urgent fueling the momentum of the story. We want to see Isolde succeed, if only to allow her time to breathe, time to mourn.

While she isn’t a terribly dynamic character, I have to remind myself this is the first in a trilogy. Isolde has to go through her trials here in order to--hopefully--grow in the next book. She heals others and tells stories now to push back the time when she has to remember to heal from her own stories. She’s a wounded animal. I think with the novel being as dark and despairing as it is, there’s still a beauty found in Isolde and the other character’s efforts to continue fighting for a cause greater than themselves as everything dies off around them. In their perseverance is found something of the grandness of Arthur’s court. There is hope.

I do want to say one last thing, before anyone walks away wanting to pick this up. The jacket copy refers to this book in passing as something of a romance novel. Let me clear this up for you: it’s nowhere near a romance novel. If there is romance, it waits on the other side, in the pages of the second or third book, but not here.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this novel. Plus, the cover is a gorgeous John William Waterhouse painting (Boreas; he also did the infamous Lady of Shalott painting). Who doesn’t love John William Waterhouse? His artwork is so hauntingly beautiful and this one in particular fits the novel well. But of the book, I think Anna Elliot has a talent suited well for this type of historical-mythological novel and I can’t wait for The Dark Moon of Avalon and Sunrise of Avalon to be released. Arthur, Mordred, Morgan, and Merlin are all larger than life figures that loom out of their place in history to affect even the characters they once walked alongside, lingering like ghosts. While Elliott did approach Twilight of Avalon from a historical perspective, she also pays tribute to the fairy tale. For that, I think, she did a wonderful job! My thanks go out to Ally Glynn at Simon & Schuster UK for generously providing me with this review copy.(less)

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Oct 03, 2010 Christina (Confessions of a Book Addict) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Isolde's husband, King Constantine, died by the hand of Lord Marche who now assumes Constantine's former role as High King. The kingdom is in chaos as there is no official High King, but Isolde knows the truth surrounding Constantine's death and is determined to make sure everyone else knows too. However, throughout the kingdom her reputation isn't always the best. Everyone knows Isolde is a powerful healer, but many feel she is a witch and now with Constantine dead, she must watch her every mov...more Isolde's husband, King Constantine, died by the hand of Lord Marche who now assumes Constantine's former role as High King. The kingdom is in chaos as there is no official High King, but Isolde knows the truth surrounding Constantine's death and is determined to make sure everyone else knows too. However, throughout the kingdom her reputation isn't always the best. Everyone knows Isolde is a powerful healer, but many feel she is a witch and now with Constantine dead, she must watch her every move. When she was healing prisoners, she met and connected with Trystan, who is surprisingly neither Saxon or Briton. They decide to work together and escape from the kingdom all while plotting to overthrow the evil Lord Marche. Twilight of Avalon by Anna Elliott is a tale filled with legend, fantasy, plotting, friendship, and the possibility of love. Fans of historical fiction will love this new take on an old legend.

First, I must confess how much I loved the character of Isolde in this novel. Unlike other portrayals of Isolde, Elliott's version is determined, strong and heroic. I really admired that and was rooting for her the entire time. She also possesses the power of "Sight" which proved to be very interesting as the story progressed. Trystan won't disappoint either as he harbors his own secrets which also make for a fascinating plot. I expected more romance in this novel, because after all, it's Trystan and Isolde, but their relationship is just at the beginning stages so it was more about friendship and trust. I surprisingly preferred that, because I think it will make what comes later in their relationship that much more believable and less rushed.

Elliott makes the time period come to life. I really enjoyed all the parts of history and legend that she captured and incorporated in her story. The references to Arthur, Modred, Morgan, and Camelot were especially captivating. I am familiar with the legend, but the interactive family tree (link is below) really helped me keep things straight as I was reading the novel. Overall, I really enjoyed Elliott's take on the legend.

Thankfully, Twilight of Avalon is part of a trilogy. The next book in the series, Dark Moon of Avalon, just came out a few weeks ago and I can't wait to see what happens next and how Trystan and Isolde's love develops. I'm sure it will be swoon worthy!
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Oct 08, 2011 Meagan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arthurian, medieval, historical-fiction, read-in-2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 23, 2009 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

I totally ate this book up. I love the myth and the legend behind it, and the unique twist that Anna puts on it. You've heard of the legend of King Arthur. Picture grey skies, howling winds and cold seas; the cover is perfect for this tale. Quite a legendary story it is with Arthur and his son Modred, who are both killed at Camlaan fighting each other. Though Lancelot is not present in the legend that the author pulls from, Anna Elliott's story begins with Modred's daughter Isolde as she learns...more I totally ate this book up. I love the myth and the legend behind it, and the unique twist that Anna puts on it. You've heard of the legend of King Arthur. Picture grey skies, howling winds and cold seas; the cover is perfect for this tale. Quite a legendary story it is with Arthur and his son Modred, who are both killed at Camlaan fighting each other. Though Lancelot is not present in the legend that the author pulls from, Anna Elliott's story begins with Modred's daughter Isolde as she learns that her husband of seven years, the High King Constantine, is killed fighting the Saxons. 6th century Britain as they know it is shifting, with its many kings with their own lands all vying for power. Isolde cannot trust anyone as she tries to make sense of what flashes she sees in her mind, and what is truth.

Elliott meanders slowly through Isolde's path of Dark Age Britain so that we are treated to descriptive characterizations and settings which are well illustrated as she struggles with her thoughts of the past and the present. Isolde used to have the power for visions (The Sight) but as we meet her, we learn she had been stripped of those powers somewhere about the time that she had married Constantine. Yet, somehow, she sees the event of Constantine's death, and learns that his death is not due to battle wounds but someone, although his face covered, supposedly on her side has murdered him. This knowledge she wisely keeps to herself as she treads lightly among the council members. She and the murderer know the truth, as she is quite alone in the world struggling for survival amongst power hungry warlords who believe Isolde to be a sorceress or a witch and would love to see her burnt at the stake.

Isolde is lucky to have crossed paths with Trystan, and she embarks on an adventure to save both her life and the Britain that her late husband had struggled to maintain. There is death, magic and survival all intertwined beautifully in the story that is legend for a reason. Anna Elliott uses the myth and lore to recreate the consequences of the Battle of Camlann in an enchanting tale that captures the reader from the start as we follow Isolde on her bitter journey.

I found each page to be a thrill and I completely relished the story itself. I loved the easy writing style of Anna Elliott, the picturesque narrative was complete and fulfilling. The author had to explain to the reader certain events of the past in order to make the present story work, requiring a lot of flashbacks with Isolde's grandmother Morgan appearing in quick visions or as a voice. Sometimes it fit well, other times it was a tad out of place as if it were forced in to help prove a point. But most of the time the cohesiveness gelled with the flow of the story so this is a minor issue. Using the strong-willed Isolde as a central character in this story the reader immediately bonds to her and empathizes with her as she endures issues that a modern day woman can relate to. I am not going to go further into the events of the story because I know you are going to want to read this book on your own and follow Isolde's journey yourself. If you are familiar with the love story of Tristan and Iseult, this is not the same story. Perhaps the characters are the same but there is not a strong resemblance, at least in this first book. There is no romance here, and nothing alludes to it either. This is merely the story of how Isolde tries to honor her promise to her dead husband in saving Britain from the traitorous Lord Marche.

The only warning about Anna Elliott's book I would give is that her Trystan has a mouth on him and likes to invoke the Lord's name in vain. I believe the author is trying to prove a small point here in which the world of Isolde had once been one tolerant of witches yet is now the new Britain who recently became Christian.

Do you remember the days in high school when you would adorn your bedroom walls with posters and pictures you loved? A blow up of this book cover would be one of them, complete with its title and wording, so that the feeling of the magical story can be remembered each day. Anna Elliott's interpretation of the aftermath of Arthur's Britain is a wonderful addition to the myriad of Arthurian books, as I am anxiously awaiting Book 2, Dark Moon of Avalon due out in May 2010. The prologue to Dark Moon is up on Anna Elliott's website; the working title of Book Three is Sunrise of Avalon. I can't wait to see those covers as well! The Bridgeman Art Library has had the best book covers I've seen this year. Thank you so much to Anna Elliott for weaving this fine tale, now hurry up and get the rest of series published!!

If you watched Tristan & Isolde, the movie with the gorgeous James Franco, there is also no resemblance from this particular book to the movie, and I also loved the movie. I have not read Rosalind Miles' trilogy or the classic by Bedier, but I will. Recommended to me was Mists of Avalon, twice over, so I will add that to my shelf also. I have a growing Arthurian Book Collection.

See the full review at The Burton Review that has great links to visit regarding King Arthur and the legend.
Also see this post at The Burton Review for a wonderful Guest Post by Anna Elliott.(less)

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Feb 22, 2012 Patrícia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, historical-romance, foreign-literature, fantasy, leituras-2012

Existem lendas que perduram para alem das vidas e do tempo, que se alteram pelos valores e ideias que a época presente lhe adiciona. Mas há coisas como os ideais que não mudam para assim puderem continuar a ensinar e encantar todas as gerações vindouras. A lenda de Artur, com tudo o que ela representa, é assim. Alterável mas intemporal. E por mais adaptações que lhe sejam feitas, perdurará no imaginário de muitos por vários séculos.
A adaptação de Anna Elliott passa-se após a queda de Artur em Ca...more Existem lendas que perduram para alem das vidas e do tempo, que se alteram pelos valores e ideias que a época presente lhe adiciona. Mas há coisas como os ideais que não mudam para assim puderem continuar a ensinar e encantar todas as gerações vindouras. A lenda de Artur, com tudo o que ela representa, é assim. Alterável mas intemporal. E por mais adaptações que lhe sejam feitas, perdurará no imaginário de muitos por vários séculos.
A adaptação de Anna Elliott passa-se após a queda de Artur em Camlaan, numa época em que a Bretanha está dividida. Os seus protagonistas têm uma lenda só deles, que inspirou autores por todo o Mundo a escrever sobre o amor nascido do ódio. Tristão e Isolda. A autora une as duas lendas e torna Isolda a descendente de Morgana e Artur, e assim, conta-nos uma nova história repleta de espadas e magia.
Primeiro tenho de fazer o reparo que este livro é originalmente o primeiro de uma trilogia, sendo que os restantes volumes ainda não foram publicados em Portugal e, por isso, vou tratá-lo assim e não como um standalone, o que iria afectar a minha opinião deste livro.
A união das duas histórias foi uma das razões porque queria ler este livro mas acabou por me confundir um bocado talvez porque não conseguia enquadrar estas personagens no imaginário arturiano ou não conseguia associar as ligações pessoais umas às outras e talvez porque me fez muita confusão ser o Modred o pai de Isolda e não o Lancelot. Mas no fundo a ideia é boa e acaba por sair dos cânones habituais, trazendo-nos uma novidade num tema já tão debatido.
Uma das coisas que eu gostei é a autora situar na época histórica e no tema da cavalaria, dando-nos um livro que representa aquilo em que acabou por se tornar a história da Bretanha aos nossos olhos e em que houve um certo respeito pela pouca parte histórica que sabemos ser possivelmente real na altura de Camelot. Por falar na parte histórica, a escritora comete um erro na parte final em que refere que se sabe quem era o Rei Artur. Para aqueles que leram o livro, essa é uma das hipóteses e o livro referido é uma das obras de referência para o estudo do Ciclo Arturiano mas é datado de vários séculos depois e foi escrito com uma intenção especial por isso, tenham em conta que não se sabe quem era Artur e que existem dezenas de hipóteses ainda por comprovar.
Como volume inicial este é o livro onde tudo começa mas o seu desenvolvimento não tem um ritmo certo, ora sendo muito apressado, ora sendo muito lento, e se estão a contar com uma história de amor esqueçam porque neste volume não se passa nada quanto a isso. Sinceramente acabei por me sentir confusa porque a situação da protagonista é deveras estranha e eu não estava a conseguir conciliar as coisas. Acho que a escritora devia ter sido mais detalhada e explicativa porque acaba por se passar muita coisa que não se chega a perceber.
Quanto às personagens estão bem construídas, representativas da época em que vivem mas houve algumas surpresas que pareceram um bocado irreais que foi o caso do Merlin e da Hedda. Já as restantes foram plausíveis e gostava e ter visto um pouco mais de todas elas.
Estava a espera de outra coisa deste livro e sinto que se o resto da trilogia não for editado que li este livro para nada mas pode ser que para aí apareçam. Se vão ler o resto em inglês ou gostam muito de ambas as lendas, leiam que não perdem nada e acabam por conhecer outra vertente das duas histórias.

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Feb 21, 2010 David Pimenta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, planeta-editora

O Crepúsculo de Avalon é um romance histórico, tendo como raiz a lenda do rei Artur. A história começa sete anos depois da sua morte quando Isolda chora a morte do seu rei e marido Constantino. Toda a acção tem como protagonista Isolda, filha da traição de Mordred e Ginevra (esposa de Artur).
Depois desta morte é necessária a escolha de um Rei Supremo e aos poucos são apresentadas personagens ambiciosas por este lugar, especialmente Marche. Toda a história se desenrolará, recheada de acção e tamb...more

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Aug 17, 2010 Carla Nayland added it

Seven years after the death of King Arthur and his son and nephew Mordred at the battle of Camlann, Mordred's illegitimate daughter Isolde finds herself in danger of her life when her husband Constantine, the High King, is murdered. Evil King Marche of Cornwall forces Isolde into marriage as part of a traitorous plot to seize the throne for himself. Escaping from his clutches, Isolde forms a reluctant alliance with a mysterious prisoner called Trystan. She must not only outwit Marche, but find t...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Beth rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have always been drawn to stories of King Arthur and the legend surrounding that time period. This is a new take on the story of Trystan and Isolde. Some elements of the legend are familiar and some were a bit different. This one focuses more on Isolde and her efforts to get away from a traitor in the council after her husband King Constantine is murdered. The conflict is mostly centered around who should be the next king, and unmasking the man who would betray them to the Saxon army. The roma...more

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Jun 13, 2009 Mary M rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of "Mists of Avalon" or "Outlander"

I just read Marion Zimmer Bradley's "The Mists of Avalon" for the first time about six months ago, and "Twilight of Avalon" was the perfect complement. It came just at the right time, just as I was missing "Mists." It picks up after Morgan's death and imagines the next generation struggling with the fallout of Arthur's death and the continuing Saxon invasions.

But this book is not merely another add-on to "Mists" - Elliott creates her own story and her own characters here. They're all interestin...more

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Jul 31, 2009 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

"All about them, the dusk was drawing in. Twilight, the time of
changing, when the selkies swam in from the ocean and shed their sealskins to become the fairest of men." pg. 240

Take most of what you know about King Arthur and Camelot and forget about it. This is a grim and gritty story about the struggle for power during one of Britain's most turbulent times. Change is a constant theme in this story. It takes place in 6th centuray Britain, a time of great change. There is the continual threat of...more "All about them, the dusk was drawing in. Twilight, the time of
changing, when the selkies swam in from the ocean and shed their sealskins to become the fairest of men." pg. 240

Take most of what you know about King Arthur and Camelot and forget about it. This is a grim and gritty story about the struggle for power during one of Britain's most turbulent times. Change is a constant theme in this story. It takes place in 6th centuray Britain, a time of great change. There is the continual threat of Saxon invasion, accompanied by the usual burning and pillaging of villages. The ruling class is in upheavel, due in no small part to what happens between Arthur, Gwynefar, and Modred. Isolde, the last of this ruling family, is not looked upon very kindly, even though she is married to the current High King, Constantine.

Isolde must learn to deal with her family's legacy to Britain. In doing so, Isolde eventually becomes as strong and independent as she can be. It's the 6th century, women can only do so much because they don't have any rights. Bear in mind that strong women tend to be labeled as witches also, whether there is truth to it or not. Isolde fights back against persecution and injustice, not only for herself but for Britain as well. Isolde becomes a leader, reminding the other feudal kings of their responsibility to the land and their people. In doing so, Isolde gradually wins some people to her cause.

With respect to the tragic love story between Isolde and Trystan, there are hints of it towards the end of the story. Maybe by book two or three this may be explored. Trystan also has some issues of his own to sort through, and this will probably be further delineated in the future as well. Right now there is too much upheavel occurring for a romance to develop, although there may have been some feelings between these in the past. It's at lease hinted at.

Elliott's writing brings all of her characters to life, both the principal and supporting cast. You despise the ones you should, and empathize with the ones who need the most love and understanding. There are a few scenes which were emotional for me, but remember these were brutal times. Elliott never forgets that and describes it as such.

Overall this was a very enjoyable book. This is book one of a planned trilogy, therefore most of this story is laying the groundwork for Books two and three. Regardless, the story moved quickly and was quite interesting. This is not a romance story, at least not yet. This is an epic and tragic retelling of turbulent times in Britain's long history, with an extremely strong and accomplished young woman at it's center. According to Elliott this story is a blend of legend and truth, and she is quite right. Isolde is certainly legendary in her own right.

"The stars will shine tomorrow, whatever happens to me here." pg. 15

My Rating: 95/100 I throughly enjoyed this darker re-telling of these legendary characters.
(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Viviana Vardasca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-library, leituras-2012

Artur & Morgana, Tristão & Isolda: duas lendas transformadas numa só.
A primeira já conhecia das inúmeras adaptações já feitas (quer literárias, quer para o grande ecrã). Da segunda pouco ou nada sabia.
Há que destacar que esta adaptação traz algo de novo ao fazer de Isolda neta de Morgana e de Artur, o resultado de uma traição que conduziu o próprio Artur à morte e a Bretanha à guerra civil.
Compadeci-me do sofrimento de Isolda, apaixonei-me pelo corajoso Tristão,revoltei-me contra o ambic...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Leonor (Ner) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, 2012-reading-challenge, historical, king-arthur, magic, read-a-thon, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Also published in "A Cup of Coffee and a Book"

I'm a bit upset with this book despite the 4 cups/stars I gave it; the story continues. Since this book is a novel of Trystan and Isolde, I guess I was expecting a little bit more of romance than the obvious attraction between the two characters. However, I am sure the is going to appear loads of it the upcoming books. At least, I'm hoping it will.

I will be honest, I was a bit reticent at the beginning. As a person who has read several books concerni...more Also published in "A Cup of Coffee and a Book"

I'm a bit upset with this book despite the 4 cups/stars I gave it; the story continues. Since this book is a novel of Trystan and Isolde, I guess I was expecting a little bit more of romance than the obvious attraction between the two characters. However, I am sure the is going to appear loads of it the upcoming books. At least, I'm hoping it will.

I will be honest, I was a bit reticent at the beginning. As a person who has read several books concerning the Arthurian legend, having Modrer and Guinivere (in this case Gwynyfar) having a daughter together was simply strange. And having the love story of Trystan and Isolde in the middle was also something that made me raise my eyebrow in concern. I was scared of what would come after that. But this book managed to surprise me and it's not in King's Arthur court but a generation afterwards. Arthur died and Constantine is in the throne. He's married to Isolde, who is Arthur and Morgan's granddaughter. A bit weird for me but still a nice touch. I do believe Anna Elliott managed to put both legends together, mix them up and create a very believable story.

The books starts with Constantine's death after a battle against the Saxons. There's a council in which they need to determine whether to find themselves a new High King or to scatter around, depending completely on themselves for survival.

The politics is one main pillar in this book. And I found myself reading more and more to know what they would decide 'cause Isolde's future lied at their hands. And I'm not into politics for that matter. I was overwhelmed with the amount of injustice the Medieval times went through but couldn't help praying for Isolde to take a step forward and try to open the eyes of the council.

And, as if the Saxons weren't enough trouble, Isolde is later accused of witchcraft. Being Morgana le Fey's granddaughter, the men looked at her as if she were something malign. The council didn't care whether she was the late High King widow or not... if something strange and unexplainable happened, the fault was Isolde's.

And then you have this prisoner who turns out to be Trystan. And he's connected to Isolde in a way you only find out with Isolde herself. Let's just say that her memory was "erased" by herself after the battle that killed her father and grandfather - she was just a child back then and she was forced to married Constantine. Trystan unlocks those memories and the romance I was highly anticipating, was just an obvious attraction and friendship.

The book is mainly told by Isolde's perspective. She's a fighter, a strong and independent woman who would do everything she could to stop the throne falling into the wrong hands. She kind of reminded me of Morgaine's from The Mists of Avalon which was something rather, let's say, sweet since she's Morgana's granddaughter. Elliott did a nice job in creating a credible character with whom we can relate to. She's a very human character which contrast with what people think of her.

Overall, I really liked this book though the romance was missing. I want to continue this series - even though the price of Dark Moon of Avalon isn't that inviting.

If you like medieval romances, battles with a bit of witchcraft, I recommend you to pick this book.(less)

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Feb 21, 2011 Vicky N. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I've never read historical fiction before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But I got to admit I'm a fan of the genre now. I had never heard of the legend of Trystan & Isolde, but as a fan of the Arthurian Legends wanted to know more about it immediately.

Anna Elliot's writing captured me from the start making Isolde's narrative seemed effortless and easy to follow. And the story itself was unique and charming. The only holes in the plot that I could not fathom how Anna Elliot had thrown int...more

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Jan 29, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Sarah by: Laura

Anna Elliott's historical fantasy novel, Twilight of Avalon, is based upon the Arthurian legend of Trystan and Isolde.

The story begins with the death of the High King of Britain, Constantine. As High Queen, Isolde suddenly finds herself a widow in a world of uncertainty, danger and deceit, where everyone is out to better their own with little regard as to who they hurt along the way. Forced into marriage to King Marche, at whose hands she suffers greatly, Isolde makes the difficult decision to f...more

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Jan 16, 2010 Célia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, 2010, 4-stars, editora-planeta, gift

O facto de um livro ter na capa uma pintura de John William Waterhouse é meio caminho andado para me chamar a atenção. Apesar de a edição original de “O Crepúsculo de Avalon” ter na capa a genial Boreas, também ficámos muito bem servidos com a Ophelia escolhida para a capa portuguesa. Aproveito para deixar o convite a visitarem a galeria de obras deste pintor, através dos links que deixei.

“O Crepúsculo de Avalon” é a obra de estreia da americana Anna Elliott, uma amante de ficção histórica e dos...more O facto de um livro ter na capa uma pintura de John William Waterhouse é meio caminho andado para me chamar a atenção. Apesar de a edição original de “O Crepúsculo de Avalon” ter na capa a genial Boreas, também ficámos muito bem servidos com a Ophelia escolhida para a capa portuguesa. Aproveito para deixar o convite a visitarem a galeria de obras deste pintor, através dos links que deixei.

“O Crepúsculo de Avalon” é a obra de estreia da americana Anna Elliott, uma amante de ficção histórica e dos mitos arturianos. Como devem saber, estes mitos já foram tema de inúmeros livros, com as mais diversas variações e perspectivas na história. Duas das principais referências (para mim, pelo menos) são “As Brumas de Avalon” e “As Crónicas do Senhor da Guerra”, de Marion Zimmer Bradley e Bernard Cornwell, respectivamente. Mas ao contrário destes dois, “O Crepúsculo de Avalon” não se centra na famosa personagem de Artur, mas antes em Isolda, que é aqui apresentada como descendente de Artur e Morgana. Normalmente, Isolda é associada a Tristão, e esses nomes conhecia, mas não conhecia a sua história (ou pelo menos a que é comummente contada) e este livro foi um ponto de partida para a investigar. A verdade é que o livro apresenta uma perspectiva algo diferente da lenda conhecida, o que, tendo em conta a fiabilidade e disparidade de informação histórica disponível, não choca e permite aos autores a liberdade criativa para darem à história o rumo que melhor se adequa ao livro que pretendem escrever.

Este livro tem início sete anos após a morte do lendário Rei Artur e vai encontrar Isolda a chorar a morte do Rei Supremo que lhe sucedeu, e seu marido, Constantino. Com os saxões a ameaçarem constantemente a Bretanha, o próximo Rei Supremo terá de ser rapidamente encontrado sob pena de as forças bretãs ficarem sem liderança e, por isso, mais frágeis. Mas a escolha do próximo líder não é fácil, por causa da ambição pessoal de várias personagens, especialmente de Marche, que não olha a meios para atingir fins. Isolda parece ser a única que o vê claramente, mas terá dificuldades para fazer com que acreditem nela, pois é considerada bruxa por muitos.

Gostei bastante deste livro. Acho que a autora conseguiu imprimir o seu cunho pessoal à história, através de uma escrita muito agradável, e contá-la de uma forma que prende o leitor, sem nunca o cansar. Nota-se a preocupação em não catalogar as personagens como “boas” ou “más”, mas, por outro lado, pintá-las de vários tons. O enredo apresenta algumas surpresas inesperadas, especialmente no final, o que aumenta ainda mais o interesse da história. É daqueles livros para se ir saboreando, porque também ele se vai revelando lentamente, a cada folhear de página. De facto, pegar numa história contada e recontada tantas vezes e, ainda assim, conseguir cativar o leitor não é tarefa fácil, mas considero que Anna Elliot o fez muitíssimo bem.

Resta-me dizer que o final está em aberto porque este é o primeiro volume de uma prevista trilogia. Os segundo e terceiro volumes, Dark Moon of Avalon e Sunrise of Avalon, têm datas de publicação prevista no original para Maio de 2010 e Maio de 2011, respectivamente. Aguardo ansiosamente a sua publicação e tradução para português, para continuar a seguir esta história maravilhosa.(less)

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May 29, 2009 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, mythology, arthurian

This is not your traditional tale of Trystan and Isolde; be forewarned there is no romance or epic love story in this book. Instead Elliott makes Isolde the daughter of Modred and Guinevere from Arthurian legend. Isolde is raised by Mogan la Faye, who teaches he the Old Ways and herb craft. These blood ties lead to Isolde bearing the labels of witch and a traitor's bastard. As the novel begins Isolde is faced with the murder of her husband, the high king. This novel is very much a story of a gir...more

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Sep 05, 2010 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, read-in-2009, read-in-2010

Sculptured from one of the earliest tellings of the legend of King Arthur, Geoffrey Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain, author Anna Elliott weaves an enchanting and spell-binding tale of Trystan and Isolde in her debut novel Twilight of Avalon.

Isolde’s family tree is quite bewildering. She is the daughter of Gwnefar, who betrayed Arthur with Modred, Arthur’s son with his step-sister Morgan. After Isolde’s birth, Gwen flees to a convent where she dies. Her father Modred is often away figh...more Sculptured from one of the earliest tellings of the legend of King Arthur, Geoffrey Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain, author Anna Elliott weaves an enchanting and spell-binding tale of Trystan and Isolde in her debut novel Twilight of Avalon.

Isolde’s family tree is quite bewildering. She is the daughter of Gwnefar, who betrayed Arthur with Modred, Arthur’s son with his step-sister Morgan. After Isolde’s birth, Gwen flees to a convent where she dies. Her father Modred is often away fighting his father Arthur for the throne, so she is left in the care of her grandmother Morgan. Morgan is a known healer and seer, though some call her a witch and she passes on her knowledge to Isolde, though the gift of sight has all but left Isolde as the novel opens.

Isolde’s husband and the High King of Britain, King Constantine, has been murdered and rather than give way to grieving she is plotting a way to save her country and herself from the clutches of the new High King, Lord Marche, whom she believes brought about Con’s death. She meets Trystan after they are both able to escape from Marche and combine forces if you will to warn others of Marche’s plans on deceiving Britain to the Saxons. Along their journey they naturally become close and as flashes of Isolde’s memories that she has hidden for so long start to resurface, she begins to remember her past.

This is actually my second time reading Twilight of Avalon and I didn’t think it possible, but I liked it even more this time around! I think the first time I was so eager to keep those pages turning and know what was happening next and this time I was able to slow down and savor it more. Anna Elliott is a remarkable storyteller and has created a world that I could get lost in on a daily basis! Not only are Isolde and Trystan fantastic characters, but I also adored Trystan’s loyal friends Kian and Hereric. With great writing, a strong woman protagonist, a hunky, but broken hero and one really nasty villain you’ve got the perfect formula for one fabulous book!!!(less)

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Oct 02, 2009 Karen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I went 85 pages. Here is what I learned. Something happened SEVEN years ago. They only tell us that about once a page. The only interesting part was the porlogue, featuring Morgan. The whole family tree is whacked, but hey, if someone wants to tie Isolde to Pendragon and Constantine, it seems to be very creative. The worst part was that people DON'T TALK LIKE THAT. She's got these illiterate peasants speaking volumes in prose. I think I encountered an unnamed Tristan around page 90, but I couldn...more

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May 22, 2013 Claire rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am kind of mad at this book. I know the story of Tristan and Isolde. I know of their love and loss. This is not that book. Now, I know it is a trilogy, but I can honestly say there is nothing in this book that is going to make me even want to pick up the next one. No cliffhanger, no teaser of a love to come, just a bit of a recollection that they knew each other in their youth. That kind of thing does not suck me in.

With that being said, I will touch on what I did like. I liked the strong char...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Danielle rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: arthurian

I was not a fan of this book, at all. I love Arthurian stories, I'm even currently working to become an academic with a focus on Arthurian Literature. I plan to make it a large part of my life.

This book should not be labeled as Arthurian literature in any sense. I don't mean to offend the author, but what came across to me was this: She had the idea for a story, for the two main characters. So, give them names from the Arthurian tale, stick them somewhat in the world, and then sell more books....more

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Feb 19, 2013 Carina rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was very excited to read this book because I've enjoyed stories with similar themes by Juliet Marillier and Marion Zimmer Bradley. Oh, and I also love the tale of Tristan and Isolde!

In theory this book had all the elements that would make me love it... but the execution ultimately failed.

The book dragged on too much. I could have cut out one third of its pages by removing all the boring unnecessary stuff. It took a long time for me to find an emotional thread to the story and that's something...more

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Jul 01, 2011 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Probably more like a 2.5 stars. I finished it, but felt unsatisfied at the end. Apparently it's a trilogy, so it might get better as the books go along. I like the writer's style and the story was interesting enough, but I didn't find there to be any chemistry between Tristan and Isolde. I'm not sure this retelling of the Arthurian legends and Tristan and Isolde was an improvement.

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Dec 29, 2009 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-historical

Quote from WORD for Teens:

Going into this book without much knowledge of the Arthurian legends may or may not have been a good thing. I know the story of Arthur, or Merlin, of Modred - not of Isolde and Trystan. Yay or nay? I'll never know.

To read the full review, click here.

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Feb 25, 2012 Jeff rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'd read the prequel Dawn of Avalon last year and finally got around to reading the actual number one. It was a wonderful page turner I couldn't put down. Intrigue, tons of betrayals, some mystery and alot of exposition I was able to skip through because I was lazy. Thankfully it's not really a love story--but a sword and swashbuckler adventure to be sure.

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