This book is a sequel to Web of Light, centered on Domaris. This one focuses on her sister Deoris. These days the two books are usually combined and sold as The Fall of Atlantis. Reviews for that book claim this forms the backstory for Bradley's Avalon series. Not really. When this book came out in 1983, there was no mention or tie to Mists of Avalon within it, I only heard about such a tie when I saw reviews for The Fall of Atlantis. For that matter, the book that ties this in with her Avalon series wasn't even credited to MZB, but Diana Paxson. (And by the way this isn't set in Atlantis, but a supposedly earlier civilization.)

So this book should stand on its own terms. And on its own terms, while I find it entertaining, I don't think it can light a candle next to MZB's Darkover books. Still, it does say something that I can still remember a book I first read in my teens decades later. I was particularly taken by the relationship between the sisters. I found Deoris, the "dark" one of the pair, by far the most interesting. ( )

A great novel, a must read for anyone who is interested in Zimmer Bradley's Avalon series. For those of you reading the Avalon collection you will find this to be the basis of Avalon and it's people itself, although it wasn't initially meant to be. I love all of her works so I have no complaints. ( )