Diana's help and input.'. In the Author's Note, Marion Zimmer Bradley says that the hymns in chapters 5, 22, and 30 are adapted from the libretto of Vincenzo Bellini's opera Norma. The hymns in chapters 17 and 24 are from the Carmina Gadelica collected by Rev. Alexander Carmichael in the late 19th century. Reception The novel received a mixed reception, with reviewers comparing it unfavorably to The Mists of Avalon. Entertainment Weekly praised the novel for being "meticulously researched" and noted that it "maintains a dark edge, staying true to the turbulent times. Bradley avoids the all-too-frequent fate of the historical-novel genre: collapsing into a soggy mess." It was less successful than The Mists of Avalon, though it sold modestly well. References Works cited 1994 American novels 1994 fantasy novels Avalon Series American fantasy novels Modern Arthurian fiction Works based on operas Novels by Marion Zimmer Bradley Novels set in Roman Britain Novels about rape Prequel novels Viking Press books Novels based on music