The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley

The Firebrand

by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Paperback

(October 1991)
Pocket Books
ISBN: 0671744062

Bookshelf Categories

Women's Spirituality

* ORDER THIS BOOK *

Reviews:

Good, but not one of her best.

9/12/2000

Reviewer: C E Jones

Loved the Mists of Avalon and devoured the Darkover series. This had little of the depth of the others, but still a very enjoyable read.

Great book.. enough said.

5/13/2000

Reviewer: The Firebrand

I just read this book and i got so into it that i could not put it down, i read the whole book in only 2 sittings. It is definitly a page turner with the stories of the Fall of Troy and all the trials and tribulations Kassandra encounters. I never wanted it to end. This book got me interested in mythology and other things i had previously been uninterested in. It was a really good book, a great read.

What a story for anyone interested in Troy

4/30/2000

Reviewer: SEK

This book was wonderful. I didn't want it to end. Any free time I had was spent reading this book. Throughout the book, I was lost in Troy right with Kassandra. My imagination ran wild. Especially at the points with the Amazons and with her "daughter" Honey. The only complaint I had about it is the epilogue but you'll have to read it to see whether you agree with me. The epilogue irritated me because of it's bluntness. I would have written a different ending for it. Anyway, the book was wonderful! My advise is to read it and try it for yourself. Then read her other books as well. They only get better!

one of her best

4/29/2000

Reviewer: tk

I read this book when I was about thirteen, when I didn't know much about Homer, and I have to say after reading various versions of The Illiad and The Odyssey, I was sort of disappointed at Homer's lack of interest in Cassandra. To this day, of all the different Cassandras I have read about MZBs "Kassandra" has been my favorite. I was also a bit surprised that many people felt it didn't measure up to THE MISTS OF AVALON's standard, although I did read if after THE FIREBRAND. I think both books are evoutionary in its' own way, even though, in my opinion, no matter how advanced and complicated Kassandra is, she will never be as complex and versatile as Morgana's disturbed character, nevertheless, I thought the plot was just as good, and just as impossible to forget.

Great book need i say more

11/26/1999

Reviewer: A Reader

12/8/1997

Reviewer: SE Thompson

One of the better books I have read because it is taken from the view of one of the lesser important women of the legend- Cassandra of Troy. It tells the story of her feelings and interpretations of the events that occured. It is not all about the heroics of the men involved in the story such as Achilles and Odesseus. This book has the feeling and the credible storyline of Mists of Avalon. MZB's historical novels are well worth reading and are one of the more outstanding examples of the genre.

Wow! That's all I have to say!

12/2/1997

Reviewer: A Reader from USA

This book is a very good read and although I did read Mists first(10 all the way) I still really enjoyed this one.Kassandra,the main character faces problems that confront women today.I'm not saying that we hear supreme voices or are plagued by awful visions but women are still reveared as the weaker sex.Kassandra shows us how people can overcome their hardships and come out on top.My acvice read Mists after this one.The two books are not related but you won't be expecting such a big hit like Mists.Happy reading!

Worth reading

9/7/1997

Reviewer: A reader from Toronto, Ont.

The ancient city of Troy and it's inevitable destruction are played out in living colour in The Firebrand, another novel by MZ Bradley that approaches an epic myth through the eyes of the women. We see the events of the story from Kassandara's point of view, the crazy prophetess that no one believes in the more traditional tellings of the tale. Well, she sees the future, and no one listens, but in The Firebrand Kassandara is the only sane character around. "Look, I'm telling you guys, this place is about to blow!" " Yeah, whatever, get back to the kitchen, or the temple you old bag." Not exactly, but pretty close. Anyway, this book makes for a fine read; it has sex with humans AND gods, lots of violence with nasty wounds and infections, palace politics, temple politics, urban decay, free-wheeling Amazons, and drug induced religious experiences. Bradley has an amazing gift for description, and the plot hurdles along nicely. Like Mists of Avalon, what we have here is a historical romance. Original, but a romance just the same. The one little thing that sort of bugs me is the reduction of literary myths to literal novel. The women's perspective of life at that time is fascinating and probably some what accurate; however, the story of Troy and it's characters, like that of Camelot, is really symbolic in nature and is not meant to be taken as literal truth. By stripping Kassandara of her maddness, by making Akhilles a whiney little brat, etc., etc., they are no longer archetypal figures. I realize this is part of the appeal of this novel, and of Mists. It appeals to me too, up to a point. I just find the characterization of the people a little boring after a while; men are awful brutes or good, sensitive males. Women are weak, useless and sensitive, or strong, war loving, and intelligent. That's what I don't get; certain behaviours in men are wrong, but in women the same behaviours are admirable. On the other side, softness in men is desirable, but in women it's a sign of foolishness. It all just gets too predictable. That being said, it is a good read.

Wonderful book!

8/25/1997

Reviewer: A Reader from Sacramento, California

This was a romantic, exciting and compelling book. I recomend it big time.

The Trojan War, with a twist.

7/12/1997

Reviewer: L

Don't let Zimmer Bradley's use of the non-standard spelling "Kassandra" scare you away from reading this book. It merely serves as a clue that this will be a spirited retelling of a classic tale.
This utterly absorbing story refocuses theTrojan War through the eyes of the young princess of Troy as she grows up in a female-empowered land recently mastered by men. Her mother's generation of ruling Queens relinquishes power to their consorts and self-styled "Kings" as the book begins. This exchange of power mirrors the more violent one that will be effected when the famous war is over. This Kassandra is much more than a prophetess forever cursed to "speak the truth but never be believed" - she is a girl-woman learning that miracles take work, that education, power, and strength go hand-in-hand to make a leader, and that gender roles are complicated indeed.
If you'd prefer to ignore the philosophies that Zimmer Bradley is projecting, then read "The Firebrand" for the journey of a young girl in a world full of vengeful goddesses and gods, and the life of the fascinating heroine she becomes, one who rarely fails to take her fate into her own hands.

True MZB genius!

3/13/1997

Reviewer: L.O.

This is a very good historical fantasy, one of Bradley's best, though not quite as good as The Mists of Avalon (I don't think she could EVER top that one!), still an amazing and engaging read. This was the first thing I read by Bradley, so I didn't have any preconceptions, and she just blew me away. Her talent for creating believable characters is prevailent here (a la Mists of Avalon). I found myself empathising with the heroine Kassandra, cheering for her and, at times, hating her and bashing the book against my leg hollering about what an idiot she was. (Getting this sort of reaction from me is the mark of whether or not I care about the characters, and thus, whether or not the author can write.) The minor characters, as well, did not have the feel of cliches and stock characters as so often happens with a character who only has three lines; no, Bradley actually had me wishing to learn more about them. And the plot was fascinating--I'm one of those people who love reading specualtions on "lost cultures", such as Troy. Not your ususal historical fiction, but carefully researched and done with a different spin than the ususal interpretation. I believe that anyone who enjoys good culturebuilding and characterization will fall for this book the way I did--and if Mists of Avalon was one of your favorites, be sure to pick up The Firebrand.

Weaker than Mists of Avalon, but still a good read

2/21/1997

Reviewer: R

I was honestly surprised that this book was written *after* "The Mists of Avalon," regarded by many as Bradley's best work. While "The Firebrand" has many things in common with the earlier book, there are also certain elements that lack.
In general, it was much more difficult to get caught up in the story; I had a sense of having read this story before, and in fact the plotline and characters are so similar to "Mists" that it felt almost like a rehash. While Bradley has a point to make, and makes it well, I could not get as interested in Kassandra's tale as in Morgaine's. The odd thing is that if I had read "Firebrand" first, I probably would not have this opinion.
Still, this is not by any means a bad book. Bradley plunges us into a world where divine interference with human existence, and prophecy spoken at the dinner table, are part of everyday life; where war holds the same entertainment value as television does for us today.
This is not quite a timeless story; in comparing this book and Sheri S. Tepper's most recent work, "Gibbon's Decline and Fall," we can see how the genre of fantasy as written by women has changed over the last 10-20 years. Still, I had trouble putting this book down, a quality of Bradley's work that I have enjoyed for years.

WOW, If only the women had been in control.

5/30/1996

Reviewer: A Reader

Marion Zimmer Bradley does it again. This "historical" novel tells the story of the Trojan war and the inevitable fall of Troy. As in the Mists of Avalon, Zimmer Bradley tells the story from a women's perspective. Kassandra, who prophetized the fall of Troy is the principal in this wonderful story and you'll wish that she had been ruling Troy. You'll be sorry when you finish this book. But rejoice, because Marion Zimmer Bradley is a prolific author.

11/2/1995

Reviewer: J.P.K.

While not quite as good as The Mists of Avavlon, this story of the Trojan War still keeps you turning the pages. I particularly enjoyed getting the woman's perspective of the Greek myth, especially the use of popular characters such as Helen of Troy, Aneas, Agamemnon, and Paris.

[Bookshelf Home] [Magazine Home] [New Vision Home] [New Books]

[Review a Book] [Suggest a Book]

Good, but not one of her best.	9/12/2000
Reviewer: C E Jones
Loved the Mists of Avalon and devoured the Darkover series. This had little of the depth of the others, but still a very enjoyable read.

Great book.. enough said.	5/13/2000
Reviewer: The Firebrand
I just read this book and i got so into it that i could not put it down, i read the whole book in only 2 sittings. It is definitly a page turner with the stories of the Fall of Troy and all the trials and tribulations Kassandra encounters. I never wanted it to end. This book got me interested in mythology and other things i had previously been uninterested in. It was a really good book, a great read.

What a story for anyone interested in Troy	4/30/2000
Reviewer: SEK
This book was wonderful. I didn't want it to end. Any free time I had was spent reading this book. Throughout the book, I was lost in Troy right with Kassandra. My imagination ran wild. Especially at the points with the Amazons and with her "daughter" Honey. The only complaint I had about it is the epilogue but you'll have to read it to see whether you agree with me. The epilogue irritated me because of it's bluntness. I would have written a different ending for it. Anyway, the book was wonderful! My advise is to read it and try it for yourself. Then read her other books as well. They only get better!

one of her best	4/29/2000
Reviewer: tk
I read this book when I was about thirteen, when I didn't know much about Homer, and I have to say after reading various versions of The Illiad and The Odyssey, I was sort of disappointed at Homer's lack of interest in Cassandra. To this day, of all the different Cassandras I have read about MZBs "Kassandra" has been my favorite. I was also a bit surprised that many people felt it didn't measure up to THE MISTS OF AVALON's standard, although I did read if after THE FIREBRAND. I think both books are evoutionary in its' own way, even though, in my opinion, no matter how advanced and complicated Kassandra is, she will never be as complex and versatile as Morgana's disturbed character, nevertheless, I thought the plot was just as good, and just as impossible to forget.

Great book need i say more	11/26/1999
Reviewer: A Reader

	12/8/1997
Reviewer: SE Thompson
One of the better books I have read because it is taken from the view of one of the lesser important women of the legend- Cassandra of Troy. It tells the story of her feelings and interpretations of the events that occured. It is not all about the heroics of the men involved in the story such as Achilles and Odesseus. This book has the feeling and the credible storyline of Mists of Avalon. MZB's historical novels are well worth reading and are one of the more outstanding examples of the genre.

Wow! That's all I have to say!	12/2/1997
Reviewer: A Reader from USA
This book is a very good read and although I did read Mists first(10 all the way) I still really enjoyed this one.Kassandra,the main character faces problems that confront women today.I'm not saying that we hear supreme voices or are plagued by awful visions but women are still reveared as the weaker sex.Kassandra shows us how people can overcome their hardships and come out on top.My acvice read Mists after this one.The two books are not related but you won't be expecting such a big hit like Mists.Happy reading!

Worth reading	9/7/1997
Reviewer: A reader from Toronto, Ont.
The ancient city of Troy and it's inevitable destruction are played out in living colour in The Firebrand, another novel by MZ Bradley that approaches an epic myth through the eyes of the women. We see the events of the story from Kassandara's point of view, the crazy prophetess that no one believes in the more traditional tellings of the tale. Well, she sees the future, and no one listens, but in The Firebrand Kassandara is the only sane character around. "Look, I'm telling you guys, this place is about to blow!" " Yeah, whatever, get back to the kitchen, or the temple you old bag." Not exactly, but pretty close. Anyway, this book makes for a fine read; it has sex with humans AND gods, lots of violence with nasty wounds and infections, palace politics, temple politics, urban decay, free-wheeling Amazons, and drug induced religious experiences. Bradley has an amazing gift for description, and the plot hurdles along nicely. Like Mists of Avalon, what we have here is a historical romance. Original, but a romance just the same. The one little thing that sort of bugs me is the reduction of literary myths to literal novel. The women's perspective of life at that time is fascinating and probably some what accurate; however, the story of Troy and it's characters, like that of Camelot, is really symbolic in nature and is not meant to be taken as literal truth. By stripping Kassandara of her maddness, by making Akhilles a whiney little brat, etc., etc., they are no longer archetypal figures. I realize this is part of the appeal of this novel, and of Mists. It appeals to me too, up to a point. I just find the characterization of the people a little boring after a while; men are awful brutes or good, sensitive males. Women are weak, useless and sensitive, or strong, war loving, and intelligent. That's what I don't get; certain behaviours in men are wrong, but in women the same behaviours are admirable. On the other side, softness in men is desirable, but in women it's a sign of foolishness. It all just gets too predictable. That being said, it is a good read.

Wonderful book!	8/25/1997
Reviewer: A Reader from Sacramento, California
This was a romantic, exciting and compelling book. I recomend it big time.

True MZB genius!	3/13/1997
Reviewer: L.O.
This is a very good historical fantasy, one of Bradley's best, though not quite as good as The Mists of Avalon (I don't think she could EVER top that one!), still an amazing and engaging read. This was the first thing I read by Bradley, so I didn't have any preconceptions, and she just blew me away. Her talent for creating believable characters is prevailent here (a la Mists of Avalon). I found myself empathising with the heroine Kassandra, cheering for her and, at times, hating her and bashing the book against my leg hollering about what an idiot she was. (Getting this sort of reaction from me is the mark of whether or not I care about the characters, and thus, whether or not the author can write.) The minor characters, as well, did not have the feel of cliches and stock characters as so often happens with a character who only has three lines; no, Bradley actually had me wishing to learn more about them. And the plot was fascinating--I'm one of those people who love reading specualtions on "lost cultures", such as Troy. Not your ususal historical fiction, but carefully researched and done with a different spin than the ususal interpretation. I believe that anyone who enjoys good culturebuilding and characterization will fall for this book the way I did--and if Mists of Avalon was one of your favorites, be sure to pick up The Firebrand.

WOW, If only the women had been in control.	5/30/1996
Reviewer: A Reader
Marion Zimmer Bradley does it again. This "historical" novel tells the story of the Trojan war and the inevitable fall of Troy. As in the Mists of Avalon, Zimmer Bradley tells the story from a women's perspective. Kassandra, who prophetized the fall of Troy is the principal in this wonderful story and you'll wish that she had been ruling Troy. You'll be sorry when you finish this book. But rejoice, because Marion Zimmer Bradley is a prolific author.

	11/2/1995
Reviewer: J.P.K.
While not quite as good as The Mists of Avavlon, this story of the Trojan War still keeps you turning the pages. I particularly enjoyed getting the woman's perspective of the Greek myth, especially the use of popular characters such as Helen of Troy, Aneas, Agamemnon, and Paris.