hey all sorry if this has been asked before. is mists of avalon by marrion zimmer bradley read alone? Or would I have to read the next book because it ends on a cliffhanger? I watched the movie and wasn't too fond of it. Also, is there a specific reading order I should read them in? thanks all.

I only read the first one and it's just fine to read it as a stand-alone novel.  In fact, Mists was the first to be published, but it's the last chronologically.

They were written out of order, so I assume they can be read out of order if you want to.   But like I said, I haven't read them, so I don't know for sure.

Here's the wiki section on series order.

I only ever read that one -- it stands alone just fine.

thanks Phoenix and Melanit! I bought the book, came home to post it on my profile here that I was reading it and saw that it was book 1 and got scared =) Did either of you watch the movie too?

yes, it stands alone---and I think it was the best of the bunch!

No, never watched the film version.  I'm not a big movie/TV person.  

Yes, absolutely. I need to re-read that one... one of these days.

And I have watched the miniseries and it was good. I think you would enjoy it.

I actually didn't like the series, it was boring. I also thought the actors weren't that great.

it is definately the best of the bunch - and can (and should) be read alone - some of the others - especially the ones by Diana Paxton are just reboots with different names but the saem story

Yes, read it by itself.  As others have said it is the best of the series.  But definately read it!  It's a wonderful fantasy novel.

Mists was written as a stand-alone book so it's perfectly fine to read it as such. You won't feel as if you're missing anything.  It's sensational popularity made it into a series. 

I tried (and failed) to re-read it after loving it as a young teen but found it to be long-winded, stilted, and depressing as an adult.  I'm glad I read it when I did. :)