The great popularity of Celtic themes makes Bradley's work a good choice for bookclubs with eclectic tastes. Readers of The Mists of Avalon and The Forest House will enjoy discussing this middle link in the trilogy, as will fans of Arthurian legend in general.

1. How does Bradley use the two traditional images of the Druid—the bloodthirsty pagan and the mystical poet? How does she adapt the image of the Druid priestess to fit modern tastes? How does contemporary interest in the Great Mother and Goddess lore fit this pattern?

2. How do the priestesses of Avalon fit the Maiden, Mother, and Crone archetypes?

3. How does Bradley depict the mother-daughter relationship through the reign of the three Ladies? How does the conflict between duty and feeling complicate this relationship?

4. What is the image of men presented in the Warrior Hero and the Prophetic Bard? How do...