Continuing the saga of the inhabitants of Avalon, a young boy raised in secret after his parents are killed by traitors returns home to prove his worth and lead his followers to victory while wielding the newly forged sword Excalibur.

Epic in its sweep and peopled by the remarkable women who have always inhabited Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon expands the legendary saga that has enchanted millions of readers over the years and is sure to please Bradley's loyal readership and anyone who loves wonderfully told stories of history, myth, and fantasy. A boy raised in secret after traitors kill his parents will return to Avalon--and when he does, he'll be faced with a formidable task: to prove his worth as a son of the kings and priestesses of his land and lead his followers to victory, wielding the newly forged sword Excalibur.

Epic in its sweep and peopled by the remarkable women who have always inhabited Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon expands the legendary saga that has enchanted countless readers over the years and is sure to please Bradley's loyal readership and anyone who loves wonderfully told stories of history, myth, and fantasy.

Unabridged. A boy raised in secret after traitors kill his parents will return to Avalon, and when he does, he'll be faced with a formidable task: to prove his worth as a son of the kings and priestesses of his land and lead his followers to victory, wielding the newly forged sword Excalibur.

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Starred review from October 12, 2009
Paxson, Marion Zimmer Bradley's long time coauthor, delivers a gripping Bronze Age tale in this seventh installment of the Avalon series. Long before the events of Bradley's epic Mists of Avalon
, young Mikantor, destined to be a king, is kidnapped from Avalon and sold into slavery. Mikantor learns much of leadership after being bought by a blacksmith prince. Evil sorcerer Galid is determined to dominate the land in the rightful ruler's absence, but Anderle, the Lady of Avalon, holds him at bay. Anderle's daughter, Tirilan, loves Mikantor, but believing him lost, she accepts the power—and celibacy—of priestesshood. Paxson's eloquent, strongly visual writing enhances a familiar but compelling story line; fascinating historical detail enhances the tale throughout. Fans of the series will be well pleased with this volume.

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Epic in its sweep and peopled by the remarkable women who have always inhabited Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon expands the legendary saga that has enchanted millions of readers over the years and is sure to please Bradley's loyal readership and anyone who loves wonderfully told stories of history, myth, and fantasy.

A boy raised in secret after traitors kill his parents will return to Avalon---and when he does, he'll be faced with a formidable task: to prove his worth as a son of the kings and priestesses of his land and lead his followers to victory, wielding the newly forged sword Excalibur.

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The Lady of Avalon flees the village of Azan, pregnant with her child, and leaves the young Mikantor, her cousin's son, to be raised in secret; Anderle attempts to keep the heir safe long enough for him to fulfill a vision in which he wields the sword Excalibur, becomes king, and saves the land.

As traitors burns the village of Azan to th e ground, the Lady of Avalon, heavy with child,flees with her cousin's young son, heir tothe sacred kings descended from Atlantis. Fearing for Mikantor's safety, Anderle leaves the babe to be raised in secret, then gives birth to her own daughter and returns to Avalon. Suspecting that the lost heir is still alive, the traitors who killed his parents seek to eliminate the threat of the boy's power. Anderle strives to keep him safe, encourged by visions of Mikantor clutching the yet-unforged magical sword of Avalon--visions that promise that he will one day become king and save the land. The years pass and Anderle loses track of the boy, but her visions continue and convince her that he will return. And when he does, he will be faced with a formidable task--to prove his worth as a son of the kings and priestesses of Avalon and lead his followers to victory wielding the legendary sword Excalibur.

Lew Alton was returning to Darkover--returning at the command of men who had once been all too glad to see him leave. For Lew, a Darkovan on his father's side and a Terran on his mother's side, had always walked between two worlds, accused by each of belonging to the other, and trusted by neither.