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34th out of 95 books
—
90 voters
The Crystal Gryphon (Witch World Series 2: High Hallack Cycle #5)
by
Andre Norton
The story of Kerovan, whose cloven hooves set him apart from the human folk of the Dales, as he seeks his rights as heir to the throne of Ulm at a time when strange sea invaders are shattering the old kingdoms, and equally enigmatic manifestations of the Old Ones coming to interfere with humanity.
Mass Market Paperback, 250 pages
Published
July 15th 1985
by Tor Books
(first published October 1st 1972)
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I must say, having read Gryphon's Eyrie first, I went into this book with a knowledge of one who has read a series and now has the prequel.
Though, as one of the main characters, Kerovan's manner is stiff and rather formal. When one places it against the foil of his upbringing - the emotional abandonment of his father; the hatred from his mother; and the eventual loss of those he'd come to know as friends - such detachment is rather human. This inner turmoil is constant in all of narrative, yet i...more
Though, as one of the main characters, Kerovan's manner is stiff and rather formal. When one places it against the foil of his upbringing - the emotional abandonment of his father; the hatred from his mother; and the eventual loss of those he'd come to know as friends - such detachment is rather human. This inner turmoil is constant in all of narrative, yet i...more
I remember the day I first discovered science fiction grand dame Andre Norton. I walked into our favorite used bookstore in San Antonio, Texas. The same used bookstore where I first ran across so many other gems. This particular trip I was looking for something unusual and different and my eye caught on the cover on the left above. I liked how angular the art was and the look of the two companions traveling through what appeared to be an extremely bleak, almost sinister landscape. So I picked up...more
Andre Norton was the fantasy and sci fi pen name of Alice Mary Norton. She was my favorite sci fi author when I was eleven and twelve years old. When I found this novel among the effects of my recently deceased friend Andre Levi, I assumed that after nearly forty years I'd find it puerile or poorly written.
Not so. It's hard to pull off a novel from two points of view, but Norton does this successfully with close third-person narration alternating between her two protagonists. In this fantasy, th...more
Not so. It's hard to pull off a novel from two points of view, but Norton does this successfully with close third-person narration alternating between her two protagonists. In this fantasy, th...more
The biggest problem that I found with this book was that it turned out that it was written in the middle of a massive series of books, namely the Witch World series, of which I had no real knowledge. I have noted that quite a lot of people really enjoyed this book, and I was attracted to it by the cover where you had an army of early modern soldiers slaughtering an army of medieval soldiers. However, as I mentioned, this book sits in the middle of a larger series of books, and in a way I found...more
Jul 13, 2009
Valerie
added it
Norton was experimenting in this book with stories told from two or more different viewpoints. Generally a successful effort, in this case--both the main characters are well-developed, though it's somewhat difficult to fathom the motives of minor characters.
Unfortunately, as is common with Norton's books, this one is appallingly edited. There's a typo on the first page. Some of this is Norton's own problem--when she went back to characters over a lapse of years, she often forgot how she'd spelt...more
Unfortunately, as is common with Norton's books, this one is appallingly edited. There's a typo on the first page. Some of this is Norton's own problem--when she went back to characters over a lapse of years, she often forgot how she'd spelt...more
(Original review from Sep 2005)
One of Norton’s finest fantasy novels, from her Witch World/High Hallack series. Having read this when it was new and I was young, I may have “impressed” on it like a baby chick, but this tale of the war- and magic-crossed protagonists, one a noble maiden who seeks her independence, the other the magically mutated scion of another duchy, still resonates with me. How they face prejudice, betrayal, war, and other Shakespearean-class plot complications continues to ap...more
One of Norton’s finest fantasy novels, from her Witch World/High Hallack series. Having read this when it was new and I was young, I may have “impressed” on it like a baby chick, but this tale of the war- and magic-crossed protagonists, one a noble maiden who seeks her independence, the other the magically mutated scion of another duchy, still resonates with me. How they face prejudice, betrayal, war, and other Shakespearean-class plot complications continues to ap...more
I like this book a lot.
The story alternates between two narrators, Kerovan and Joisan. I find Kerovan particularly easy to sympathize and even identify with. He feels like an outcast because he has yellow eyes and hooves for feet. Joisan, the girl he weds long-distance when they're both children, is also sympathetic. They are separate at first, as the story shows how they each try to do their best in difficult circumstances.
Now I want to see how they fare in the sequel, Gryphon in Glory. {Smile...more
The story alternates between two narrators, Kerovan and Joisan. I find Kerovan particularly easy to sympathize and even identify with. He feels like an outcast because he has yellow eyes and hooves for feet. Joisan, the girl he weds long-distance when they're both children, is also sympathetic. They are separate at first, as the story shows how they each try to do their best in difficult circumstances.
Now I want to see how they fare in the sequel, Gryphon in Glory. {Smile...more
There's always been a fundamental difference between the magic of the Eastern portion of Witch World - in Estcarp/Escore - and the Western portion - High Hallack/Arvon.
...more
In Escore, there's an ongoing battle between ancient forces of Good and Evil. In High Hallack, evil is something brought by people, and occasionally strengthened by the use of ancient - but essentially stationary - powers. In Arvon, we get the impression that Evil was long ago banished (though it may be stirring again).
So it's som
it's kind of sad I didn't discover Andre Norton while I was still in my teens! I sadly don't remember much about this book, but I just found out she wrote a sequel many years later. I had pretty much discovered fantasy only a couple of years before this. One of the things that I loved about fantasy then is that you could pick up a book and it wasn't part one of the Gazilliad.
Exasperating reliance on prophecy to advance the plot.
Doubly exasperating romance-novel subplot -- specifically this is the "one party to the romance decides they're not worthy and does something stupid intended to end it, which of course the author then foils because this is the lead pairing" trope.
In fairness this seems to be the Nth book in a series.
Doubly exasperating romance-novel subplot -- specifically this is the "one party to the romance decides they're not worthy and does something stupid intended to end it, which of course the author then foils because this is the lead pairing" trope.
In fairness this seems to be the Nth book in a series.
I read everything she ever wrote before leaving home at 17, so I know I'm not impartial. But it was nice to come back to it after all these years and still enjoy it, it may be a bit too stand-by-your-mannish and roll on destiny, but if your man has hooves it's a little more palatable.
Once you get over the faux-Olde Timey writing style (and the funny names I'm not sure how to pronounce, even mentally), the characters are engaging and the story is good. Going to have to get me to the library so that I can pick up the rest of Kerovan and Joisan's adventures.
This is a 5 star book. Andree Norton has done it again. She creates a whole world with humans and animals that can talk to each other and does it in such a way as to draw you into the story in and you hate to see it come to an end.
Jun 08, 2008
Annalisa
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
sci-fi/fantasy fans, especially girls ages 10+
Recommended to Annalisa by:
I think I found it at the library
Shelves:
scifi-fantasy
This was the first book of the Gryphon trilogy I read, and it really took me to another world. Norton has the ability to create very alien, magical landscapes and compelling charcters, both of which I found engrossing as a young girl. Especially because the main character was also a young girl on a quest. I don't remember all the specifics, (there was a guy she became involved with, and an underground maze, and desert, and some special jewels, and secrets about a long lost civilization... I shou...more
I really enjoyed this story of Kerovan and Joisin, & of the Light Power defeating the Dark Power yet again. I loved the crystal gryphon inside its crystal ball. I wish I had the other 2 books in the Gryphon Saga so I could continue the story right now.
back cover:
The story of Kerovan, half-human, half-something-else, who sought his rightful heritage to the throne of Ulm at a time when strange sea invaders were shattering the old kingdoms and equally enigmatic manifestations of the Old Ones we...more
back cover:
The story of Kerovan, half-human, half-something-else, who sought his rightful heritage to the throne of Ulm at a time when strange sea invaders were shattering the old kingdoms and equally enigmatic manifestations of the Old Ones we...more
I really liked this book.
I love this story. One of my first Andre Norton reads lo these many years ago. What could be better than a hero who was mistreated and maligned all his life who has butter yellow eyes and cloven hooves for feet? I loved both Kerovan and Joisan. High adventure, romance and Norton's brand of mystic magic. Great story.
Andre Norton is one of the greatest science fiction writer of all time. She wrote books with young female protagonists and I learned that nothing can limit me as a little girl.
I have a hardback of this from Atheneum. It's not bad, but not as good as some of the other Witch World stories.
Girls fancy monsters
read 08.14.85
May 14, 2013
Rozark69
marked it as to-read
May 09, 2013
Laura
added it
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Born February 17, 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio, Alice Mary Norton has always had an affinity to the humanities. She started writing in her teens, inspired by a charismatic high school teacher. First contacts with the publishing world led her, as many other contemporary female writers targeting a male-dominated market, to choose a literary pseudonym. In 1934 she legally changed her name to Andre Alice....more
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