Avalon books in order

Avalon is an 11-book historical fantasy series begun by Marion Zimmer Bradley and continued by Diana L. Paxson, tracing the priestesses of Avalon from prehistory through the Arthurian era and beyond. The series began with The Mists of Avalon in 1979.
Series · Historical Fantasy · Arthurian Fiction · Celtic Fantasy · Mythology

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Proxy 2013 Diana L. Paxson N/A
2 The Mists of Avalon 1979 Diana L. Paxson Buy
3 Avalon 2014 Diana L. Paxson N/A
4 The Forest House / The Forests of Avalon 1993 Diana L. Paxson Buy
5 Polaris 2015 Diana L. Paxson N/A
6 Lady of Avalon 1997 Diana L. Paxson Buy
7 Sword of Avalon 2009 Diana L. Paxson Buy
8 A Sacerdotisa de Avalon 2000 Diana L. Paxson N/A
9 Priestess of Avalon 2001 Diana L. Paxson Buy
10 Ravens of Avalon 2007 Diana L. Paxson Buy
11 Ancestors of Avalon 2004 Diana L. Paxson Buy

The Mists of Avalon retold the Arthurian legend from the perspective of Morgan le Fay and the women of Avalon, presenting the conflict between Celtic paganism and Christianity as a central drama. The novel became a landmark of feminist fantasy when it was published and remains widely read.

Diana L. Paxson first co-wrote The Forest House with Bradley, which is set centuries before Mists and follows a Roman-era priestess. After Bradley’s death, Paxson continued the series with books reaching further back in time (Ancestors of Avalon, set in the sinking of Atlantis) and forward into later British history. The series as a whole covers an enormous sweep of British and Celtic spiritual history, bound together by the through-line of Avalon’s priestess traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Avalon series?

There are eleven books in the Avalon series, published between 1979 and 2015.

What is the first book in the Avalon series?

The first book in the Avalon series is Proxy, published in 2013.

Which books in the Avalon series were written by Marion Zimmer Bradley and which by Diana L. Paxson?

The Mists of Avalon (1979) is Bradley’s original novel and the foundation of the series. The Forest House (1993) was co-written. Lady of Avalon (1997) and Priestess of Avalon (2000) were also written or co-written with Bradley’s involvement. After Bradley’s death in 1999, Paxson wrote Ancestors of Avalon (2004), Ravens of Avalon (2007), and Sword of Avalon (2009) as sole author.

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