The Mists of Avalon

The Mists of Avalon is a historical fantasy novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley, first published in 1983. It retells the Arthurian legends through the women around them rather than through Arthur and his knights. At the center is Morgaine, a priestess trying to protect her Celtic religion and way of life in a land where Christianity is gaining power. The novel also follows Gwenhwyfar, Viviane, Morgause, Igraine, and other women whose roles in Arthurian stories are usually secondary, giving the book a broad, intimate view of the legend.

It suits readers who like fantasy with a historical feel, and who are open to a slower, character-led retelling built around faith, gender, and cultural change. If you want Arthurian material told from a different angle, this is a strong fit. The book sits close to historical fantasy and secret-history style storytelling, with the focus on how old myths look when the women at the edge of the legend are brought to the front.