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The Road to Avalon (Dark Ages of Britain #1)

by Joan Wolf (Goodreads Author), Mary Putney

4.02 of 5 stars 4.02 · rating details · 566 ratings · 65 reviews

The pageantry and passionate intrigues of King Arthur's court are expertly re-created in this historical novel--the only Arthurian novel in which all of the central characters are portrayed as intrinsically good people. This realistic retelling of the legend shows Arthur severing the bonds of bastardy, vanquishing the Saxons, and loving one woman. As the daring teenage war...more

ebook, 368 pages

Published May 28th 2007 by Chicago Review Press (first published 1988)

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Apr 06, 2008 Katrina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-books

I read this book so long ago I can't really recall what year it was. I am guessing somewhere around 1988. It is one of my all time favorites.

This book sucked me in. At the time I really wasn't much of a reader but I got the "itch" to read one day and took the time to hang out in the library long enough to find this one. I literally walked up and down the isles just looking at titles and covers waiting for something to call out to me. When I came across this one I decided it looked interesting e...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Anita O'halloran rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a very nice book. It came to me highly recommended, particularly because of the romance between Arthur and Morgan, however I found it hard to feel passionate about any of the characters or plot lines. The majority of characters are nice people. They start out nice and they finish nice; there is very little character progression at all. All of the expected elements of Arthurian legend are there, they just seem to lack substance.

I found the parts while they were children growing up to be...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Dana B rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm obsessed with Arthurian legend. I can't find an arthurian legend book without wanting to pick it up. Morgana le fay, Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, Nimueh, Lancelot…. any of these character's names shows up and I have to get the book. It's rather unhealthy.

I read this book a long time ago, but just had to read it again. My favorite relationship of the legend is that between Arthur and Morgana, but unfortunately most stories only focus on the hate and loathing, while I see them as the most tragic...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantastic-fantasy, read-in-2011, medieval, historical-fiction

I've never really been a big fan of Arthuriana, the "Matter of Britain." I have always preferred the humble realism and megalomaniacal narcissism of the real kings of medieval Britain and France, like Henry II and his devil's brood.

Joan Wolf brings to life these fantastic characters in a way that feels real. I always hated the way other treatments of this legend emasculated Arthur, supposedly the greatest king ever, and made him a fool for a beautiful flighty inconstant hussy who cheated on him...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of my favorite books for many reasons. I'm a huge Arthurian afficiando. I've read many different forms and versions of the legend. This book a friend bought me for 25cents at a garage sale in 1995. I have read it many times. There is something about Wolf's characters that draw you in and make you want to return time and again. It is also one of the first books I read where the King Arthur legend was given a much more accurate time portrayal, a theme I'm very partial to. At the heart, this bo...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Lucrezia-noin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arthurian-legends

I've read a lot of novels about arthurian legend but this one is very different from all the others. All the characters seem new characters but not in a bad sense.
Maybe the only bad thing about this novel is that it is not written by one point of view and the feeling I had was that it was a bit confusing while passing throught different narrators even in the same page. Still, the book is amazing. Morgause and Morgana are completely rewritten from the 'tradition' of other arthurian novels I've r...more

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Jul 16, 2012 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, romance

Yet another retelling of the Arthurian legend, but this one assumes that the central characters are all basically good. The relationships between Arthur, Qwenhyvar, Lancelot/Bedwyr, Morgan, Merlin, Cai/Kay, and Mordred are all sympathetically described. I'm pretty tired of the Arthurian legend, actually, because it has always seemed so sordid, but this book makes certain. . .talk show elements, shall we say. . .seems less knuckle-dragger. I think it is the assumption that no one was motivated by...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Arthurian devotees

Shelves: arthurian, favorites

An absolutely gorgeous retelling of the Arthurian legends. I was enthralled from start to finish, and could hardly be convinced to put the book down once I'd started.

(view spoiler)...more An absolutely gorgeous retelling of the Arthurian legends. I was enthralled from start to finish, and could hardly be convinced to put the book down once I'd started.

(view spoiler)[There are so many renditions of the legends, most of them focusing on the tragic love of Gwenhwyfar and Bedwyr (Lancelot's older, traditional name), or some of the other characters of the stories. Wolf, however, returns to the center of all the legends, to the man who gave these legends his name -- Arthur. A charismatic, brilliant man who gave early medieval Britain a generation of glory and light that would be sung about and retold down through the ages.

Wolf's treatment of the characters was particularly genius. Practically all but one of the characters are portrayed as essentially good people, flawed but not malicious. Only Agravaine, one of the traditional villains of the legends, retains his malicious and vicious nature. Arthur is a great man and king who yet pines for the woman he loves most in the world and yet can never completely have. Gwenhwyfar is a good woman instead of the flighty fool who truly loves two men and still makes mistakes. Morgan is a healer and physician, independent and dutiful, giving up her own happiness for the sake of the country that she loves. Then there is Mordred, who is perhaps the most tragic of all, a boy whose only fault is being easily manipulated by a brother he loved, a boy who unwillingly brings destruction upon everything he touches.

I particularly enjoyed the romance of Arthur and Morgan, a love that lasted a lifetime and never got a chance to have the light of the world shine upon it. It was Morgan who had to be the stronger of the two, to give up what they both so dearly wanted so that Arthur could fulfill the role he was born for, especially when Arthur was all for giving it up and running away with her. Yet, despite their separation, their love still survives, and they manage to find one another again.

One almost pities Gwenhyfar, desperately wanting the love of her husband and yet taking years to finally understand that Arthur's heart was already taken long before she married him. It was a relief when she at last found peace and happiness with Bedwyr, a man who is much easier for her to understand and connect with and love.

An absolutely amazing story. I couldn't get enough of it. Wolf wove the legends together into a single narrative, bringing several different events and guiding them all to fit together as one story. Utterly genius. (hide spoiler)](less)

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Jan 08, 2012 Karly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book begins with Merlin talking to his son Uther, the high king of Britain, about Arther, Uther's son that was raised in secret. They decide that since Uther does not have any other children, Arthur must be taken to Avalon so Merlin can train him, and one day he can be Uther's heir. Merlin goes to the village that Arthur was raised in and finds that he is scrawny and quiet. Nevertheless, Arthur goes to Avalon, meets Cai and Morgan, the other two children, and begins his training along with C...more The book begins with Merlin talking to his son Uther, the high king of Britain, about Arther, Uther's son that was raised in secret. They decide that since Uther does not have any other children, Arthur must be taken to Avalon so Merlin can train him, and one day he can be Uther's heir. Merlin goes to the village that Arthur was raised in and finds that he is scrawny and quiet. Nevertheless, Arthur goes to Avalon, meets Cai and Morgan, the other two children, and begins his training along with Cai. Over time, Morgan and Arthur become close friends and are inseperable. They fall madly in love with each other, but Merlin does not see that they are more than friends. The time comes for Arthur to meet his father and find out who he is, so Merlin takes Arthur to Venta. On the trip, Arthur wants to ask Merlin, who is Morgan's father, if he can marry Morgan, but before he gets the chance, Merlin tells him that he is the heir to the throne of high king. After meeting his biological parents, Uther and Igraine, Arthur thinks about what he has just found out. He realizes that Morgan is his cousin, so there is a possibility they cannot marry. The next day Arthur is introduced to all of the regional kings of Britain, who are all competing for high king, as Uther's heir. Arthur makes a great impression on everyone except for his uncle, Lot, who is a Celtic king in the north. That night, Athur speaks to Merlin about marrying Morgan, and Merlin says that it would be impossible without destroying the throne of Britain, because all of his enemies would declare their marriage as incest. Arthur is crushed, and he sneaks out and goes to tell Morgan in Avalon. He tries to convince Morgan to marry him anyway, but she sacrifices their relationship for the country and tells him that he must fulfill his duties as king and that Merlin is right. Athur goes back to Venta, after almost drowning himself in the river to end the heartbreak, and begins planning a cavalry unit for the army. Next, Morgan and her sister, Morgause, are at Avalon, and Morgause tells Morgan that she does not think Morgan's only problem is losing Arthur. Morgause can tell that Morgan is pregnant, which is a huge problem, since she and Arthur cannot marry. Morgause tells Merlin and they try to devise a plan to hide that the baby is Arthur's. The two options are for Morgan to marry someone else who would keep the secret or to raise the baby in secret just as Arthur was raised. Morgan knows that if she marries someone else, Arthur will feel betrayed, so they decide that since Lot, Morgause's husband, is going to war, Morgause can raise the baby as her own. That way the baby will be with someone she trusts and no one, not even Arthur, will know who the real parents are. Meanwhile, Arthur, Cai, and Bedwyr are preparing the troops for a battle against Lot and his men, who outnumber them. However, Arthur strategically plans and carries out the battle to perfection and they win. However, at the end of the battle, one of Lot's men who appeared to be dead surprised Arthur and instead of fighting back Arthur almost let the man kill him. His good friend Bedwyr came and saved his life. Arthur realizes that his country really does need him and promises to always be there for his men. He also mentally makes a promise to Morgan that he will try to "be the king he was born to be".
So far, I really like this book. The different telling of the legend as more of a romance is amazing and very interesting to me. I cannot wait to find out if Morgan and Arthur ever see each other again, and if Arthur finds out about his son. (less)

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Mar 05, 2012 Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: could-not-put-it-down-books, favorites

First, I love the Arthur legend and have read a lot of books about it. Every author does a little different take on the characters and story. I can live with that although I have my favorites. This is a new one! The book starts a little slow as often happens when we begin with the childhood of the main character. But we need that background as the book develops into a "can not put it down" story. One of the most beautiful things about it is the way the author has developed the characters, partic...more First, I love the Arthur legend and have read a lot of books about it. Every author does a little different take on the characters and story. I can live with that although I have my favorites. This is a new one! The book starts a little slow as often happens when we begin with the childhood of the main character. But we need that background as the book develops into a "can not put it down" story. One of the most beautiful things about it is the way the author has developed the characters, particularly Arthur. She allows the reader to see into their hearts and to understand what makes them what they are - Arthur the great leader of men and a beloved king. But also Arthur at sixteen, suddenly learning of his birthright and thrust into being a leader of warriors. It illustrates the sacrifices such a leader makes in their personal lives and some of the things that keep them going. We saw the weaknesses of the man and the anguish he felt, in this story, through his love for Morgan (often called Morgana in other books). In this book, Morgan is not a witch nor is she evil. She is the childhood friend of Arthur and is his strength through times even though they can not marry. It also portrays Guenevere is a very human girl/woman with her love and respect for Arthur, her jealousy, and her turning to, in this book, Bedwyr the king's favorite. The brotherhood between Arthur and Bedwyr and between Arthur and his childhood friend, Cai are threads throughout the story.

Mordred is portrayed so differently in various books and movies, and this one is different than any other I have read. It all made sense and fit together beautifully. As I read of the Arthur legend, when it gets close to the end I know exactly where it is heading and don't want it to go there. Of course it has to end in Arthur's death. There was beauty to the way it was handled in this version, but it made me cry and I don't often cry in books. I also laid awake the other night still with it on my mind. This is a love story but also a look into the hearts and minds of patriots who give everything for others - for an ideal and a vision. It is a story that illustrates that the great people who have such a vision must have the support of a close group who share it. I will re-read this one and glad I bought the beautiful hardback version. I just put it on top of the special stack that includes The Crystal Cave, Mists of Avalon, and Queen of Camelot.(less)

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Apr 11, 2011 Nat rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult

Any fan of fantasy or of historical drama has read or watched at least two versions of the Arthurian legend. While all take on a slightly different telling, this one by far is the most unique I've read and also the best I've read.

And no, that's not because it support my Arthur/Morgan love.

Focused on a Britain left to its own devices after the Roman Empire pulls out in the early dark ages, Merlin, a former Roman General learns from his daughter, Igraine, that her husband Uther is dying. The frust...more

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Apr 14, 2011 Elise rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Be the king you were born to be,” she said at last.

Okay so Kayla was the one who recommended this book to me so I knew it would be good. As far as Arthurian Legend goes it feels a bit inaccurate but none-the-less it's still a brilliant adaption and I loved the Arthur/Morgan focus of it.

However! I will admit I found parts of it boring and far too lengthy. So many things had long winded descriptions that really didn't need it whereas other parts that perhaps needed a bit more description were sh...more

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Sep 07, 2009 Barb rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009, series-trilogy

This is the first book I've read about King Arthur. So, I didn't have any strong feelings about how or what should happen. I'm not a student of European History so I have no idea about the history at all.

This is the second novel I've read by Joan Wolf. The first was 'No Dark Place' which I did not enjoy at all. 'The Road to Avalon' however I enjoyed very much.

I enjoyed the story, the characters and their relationships. The story is somewhat simple but very emotional with complicated relationship...more

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Dec 05, 2009 Thalia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arthurian

Here is a PG13 version of the classic Arthurian legend. Not to say that's bad, but perhaps a little annoying. Everyone is beautiful and so talented and so very one dimensional. It wasn't an unpleasant read but juvenial. I thought perhaps this was aimed at younger readers but it doesn't appear to be. Shame, I think that demographic would actually embrace this simplistic, utopian version. For the more experianced Arthurian reader, however, it will fail to impress. I'm sounding like a snob, I know,...more

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Jul 09, 2011 Sophie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, own, 2011-books, reviewed, arthurian-legend

I loved this book so much. In fact, I might say it's one of my favorites. This year I've been reading a lot of books having to do with Arthurian Legend. What makes this book stand out to me is how every single character is made out to be sympathetic, good, but with flaws that eventually lead to their downfalls. There is no one purely evil character. Gwenhwfer, Mordred, Morgan, they're all likable. Arthur/Morgan have this beautiful relationship too, one of the best portrayed. Another thing that m...more

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Nov 11, 2010 Gaile rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dark-ages, emery-s-2011-challenge

I thought this book would be another fantasy/legend about the days of King Arthur which is probably why I passed it up when it was first published. I should not have assumed as this novel is very different from anything else I have read about Arthurian times. He comes across as a believable character in this novel, a magnetic personality, a leader of men, a believer that all of the island must become British in thought, word and deed. Bringing together so many groups at odds with each other thou...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hist-fiction

The Road to Avalon while written years ago still holds up to the test of time. I find it amazing that this book still remains one of the most original tales of Arthurian legend as it is written with a more historical outlook, making it not “just another tale about Arthur.” If historical fiction is something that you like to read don’t let this book pass it bay as it surely is an oldie but a goodie.

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Jun 22, 2010 Kristine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, historical-fiction

The story of King Arthur is an intriguing one, and I enjoyed this rendition of the events that surrounded him and his mysterious life. There were times when the story was slow, but other times when I couldn't seem to turn the pages fast enough.

The story between Arthur and Morgan was heartbreaking, but I couldn't bring myself to shed tears for them. I wanted to cry, but was never pushed over the emotional edge. In that aspect, it fell a little flat for me.

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Dec 29, 2010 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book is an interesting interpretation of the Arthurian legend by an author who is clearly a romance writer of some sort. Despite the fact that Morgana is Arthur's half-aunt, I couldn't help but be swept into their tragic love story. That, I suppose, is a testament to Wolf's narrative. I'd comment on her portrayal of Arthur as an almost perfect man as unreal but then again, isn't that the allure of King Arthur?

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Jun 05, 2012 Elizabeth is currently reading it · review of another edition

my friends all time favorite book (she was very reluctant to loan it out). I thought another king arthur book....blah there are sooo many out there...how can this be good.
it is beyond good....only 50 pages into it but wowie wow wow.
reminds me of pillars of the earth (ken fillet?) and other great epic novels....
hope the rest of the series is as good.

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Jul 09, 2009 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is one of my guiltiest pleasures, my favourite re-telling of the Arthurian legend. I hunted down her other books when I realised she'd written more, but haven't liked any of them half so well as this one. I first came across it as a teenager, and I've read it every few years since then. I'm about due a re-read, I think...

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Jul 24, 2011 Vivisection rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: guilty-pleasures, historical-romance, golden-age-of-bodice-rippers

This is not the smutty historical I usually prefer. This is no where near the most historically accurate representation of Arthur. Well written? Hardly. But I have read it it at least 4 times, including last week. That last scene with Arthur and Morgan and the lavender in her hair STILL gets me. Every. Damn. Time.

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Nov 21, 2011 Tamra rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had high hopes for this book because I love the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot story; the setting, the adventure, the romance. But less than halfway through this book, I found myself just wanting to be done with it. To me it dragged interminably in places. The new angle with which the author came at this book was intriguing but, in the end, I thought it unremarkable.

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Jun 28, 2012 Helen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-novel

I read this when it first came out and I have read it several times since. Joan Wolf is not an especially good author but she has some charm. I liked the very different twist to the Arthur/Morgan relationship. Also Mordred. Also the political intrigue.

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Sep 14, 2011 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very interesting interpretation of Arthurian legend, specifically the relationship between Arthur and Morgan. I think it's a great story, but I'm not positive that I like the problem of reconciling it the Arthurian canon that I know and love.

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Jun 02, 2012 Kevin K rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a wonderful version of the King Arthor story. The character development, descriptions, and dialog are excellent. I did not want to put it down. Also, it's has a great mix of masculine themes (such as battles) and romance.

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Mar 27, 2011 Miranda Conley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This is one of my favorite books. I've read it more than once. It is a King Arthur story different than any other I've read. It's also written by a romance author who likes to write steamy romance. She depicts Arthur in such a sexy way and he doesn't even fall in love with Gwenevere. He does fall in love though..very deeply in love and the romance has such a powerful effect that certain abilities appear which I really shouldn't give away : ) You have to buy this book used because it's out of pri...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Omnya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-non-fiction

I hardly remember anything about this book now, yet the reason I give it 5 stars is because the only thing i seem to recall is how in love I was with the book and how engrossing it was (for a 12 year old)

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Aug 07, 2011 Gwenhwyfar McIntyre rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

I'm not a huge fan of the Arthur/Morgan relationship but I did enjoy this book more than I originally thought I would. It treats a lot of the characters very kindly and sticks rather true to their characters.

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Jul 15, 2012 Deb rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

I was initially weary about reading this book, not because I didn't think it would be good, but because most versions of the Arthurian Legend usually ends tragically. I'm so glad that I gave it a chance now because that was one of the most beautifully written work about King Arthur I've ever read. So fantastically tragic at every turn. Such raw emotions when it came to Morgan and Arthur that I would mourn with two people that were destined for each other and destined to be apart. The last paragr...more

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About Joan Wolf

Joan Wolf is a USA TODAY bestselling American writer, whose acclaimed Regency romances have earned her national recognition as a master of the genre. Her many historical and contemporary romances, some of which have been chosen as Literary Guild selections, have been highly praised by reviewers and authors alike.

Joan was born in 1951 and she grew up in the Bronx, New York. A former English teacher...more

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Books by Joan Wolf

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The Reindeer Hunters (Reindeer Hunters, #3)

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