Mother, Crone, Maiden

Books of Oreyn

by Cat Hellisen, Goni Montes (Illustrator)

Knowing the future is not about knowing the future. It's about knowing which path to take.

Ilven comes from a family of Saints—future-tellers—but she knows her father didn't waste more than a few grains of the precious drug scriv to see her fate. Now she's facing an arranged marriage to a man she's never met. So, inhaling stolen scriv, she reads three possible futures for herself, searching for the path that will lead to her heart's desire.

"Mother, Crone, Maiden" is a short-story prequel to Cat Hellisen's stunning young-adult fantasy debut, When the Sea Is Rising Red.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Young Adult, Magic, Young Adult Fantasy, Ebooks

32 pages, ebook

First published February 22, 2012

About the author

Presumably a person, occasionally a table.

I write stories.

Reviews

[Wendy Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Available to read on Tor's website.

Loved this short story prequel to When the Sea is Rising Red! Unlike many freebies which are merely marketing devices, this one--like many of the Tor/Macmillan ones, I've noticed--is really wonderful, and enhances the main story in a way that wouldn't be possible in the actual book. (At least, not without changing it structurally.)

I actually read it a few chapters into the actual book, however, which I think I prefer. I reached a pivotal point in the book after which this short story became particularly haunting. But for those who choose to read this first, it certainly gives you a great sampling of the author's beautiful writing style.

Thanks to Annika for pointing me in the direction of this short!

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)* · Rating 2 out of 5]

h, is for Hellisen

2 Stars

"Seeing into the future is not a straight line. You are given the choice of a hundred paths through a treacherous swamp. Some will lead you safely onwards, others drown you, and sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which,"

This is a beautifully worded short story. I have a dozen highlighted sections in these short ten pages, so it pains me a bit to give this a two. However, as a character driven short story I just felt I didn’t have sufficient time to become invested in the main character. While I could relate to her being upset that her father glimpsed one future for her and found it sufficient and wasted no further Scriv (the drug of visions) on her, I simply couldn’t feel connected to her. I wanted to… but there wasn’t time.

While I am curious how Hellisen would handle a full length novel, or even a novella – I believe her writing style may be more effectual in these longer forms – I have to admit that I was disappointed here. That cover image, though, is in a word: lovely. Her word choice, as I said, is gorgeous. However, the overall execution of this short story felt lacking.

He was high on scriv and I could taste his futures on his tongue.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this is probably one of those cases where I have to be invested in the author's world for the short story to work for me. This fantasy story, available to read online here, is a prequel to the 2012 YA novel When the Sea Is Rising Red. This short story has some lovely, evocative writing and some interesting thoughts about the choices we make and the different paths our choices lead us to. But ultimately the tone is bleak and the ending, for me, unsatisfying (the main character, a teenage girl, commits suicide and her spirit ends up as a boggert. She decided that was the best of the three choices she could foresee for her life).

Apparently the events of this story set up a significant subplot in the full-length novel. But as a stand-alone it simply didn't work for me, mostly because I found the main character's final choice--and the events and society that led her to that choice--so distasteful. It didn't leave me with a huge desire to read the novel. So mission failure as far as I'm concerned.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Cat, you slay my heart so. I can actually envision a story set under water with Ilven and Owen.

Also, I really do love this book world. And your writing. And your characters. Also, I missed Dash (although Jannik still has my heart).

This is probably as coherent it's going to get for now. Will elaborate at some point.

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting short story, introducing us to When the Sea Is Rising Red's world. I can't say much about this one, except you end with a lot of questions that I guess the novel will answer. Anyway, it succeeded in making me want to read the novel xD because I picked it up after I finished the short story.

[Isa (Pages Full of Stars) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If only we could do that with our hearts, deform them to our whims and pleasure, secure in the knowledge that they will always return to a perfect state, as if they had never been hurt at all."

Read it for free on Tor.com

Beautifully written and haunting. Even though this short story is a part of the bigger universe, being a prequel to the book When the Sea is Rising Red, it can function and leave an impression as a stand alone. The world introduced here can seem complicated at first, but soon I found myself completely drawn in, as I read on and discovered the meaning behind the title. The writing is simply beautiful, lyrical and made me want to read more by this author (and I definitely will!). Overall, a wonderful short story.

[Janie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We will always choose the path which gives us the most power."

A startling look at how an oppressive society can lead a person to make drastic decisions. Ilvin is a woman in a world that treats women as property, the paths she wants to take in life are not for her to choose, so she is left with very few options.

I look forward to reading Hellisen's When The Sea is Rising Red, for which this short story is a prequel.

[Nerine Dorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly evocative prequel to events that transpire in Hellisen's YA fantasy novel, When the Sea is Rising Red. There are some lovely clues hidden here for those who are yet to read the actual novel. I was totally swept away by her lyrical, poetic prose and solid world-building. Read this for a taste of what's to come. And it's FREE.

[Frieda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explains the other side of choices made. Interesting.

[Asaria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The heroine desperately tries to see the future in which she is with the boy of her choice. Nice short from a South African writer.

[Daniella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short story advent utilising tordotcom free fiction 10/25.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize, but this is a prequel to When the Sea Is Rising Red. I feel like it's an interesting world that I am eager to explore, but I disliked this main character, so, when taken as a standalone short story, I enjoyed it less.

[Cecilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never know what to make of short stories, especially when they are prequels to a book, or even a series, but I will try. Mother, Crone, Maiden gives us a little insight on Ilven, When the Sea is Rising Red’s protagonist Felicita Pelim’s late best friend, and the circumstances that led to her death. Its title, in my opinion, is a very fitting one, and one charged with symbolism.

According to certain pagan beliefs, there are three stages to a woman’s life: the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone. The story, right off the bat, starts us with an explanation of these three concepts applied to a more magical element. Truth be told, sixteen-year-old Ilven wasn’t exactly focused on her mother’s lesson, but she did pay attention when three pieces of glass in particular were involved. Red glass, emotion; blue glass, political decisions; green glass, personal power. The Maiden is driven by her emotions, her desires, her enthusiasm, her purity of heart. She can even be blinded by these. Ilven is. I am going to stretch out the term used for the Mother slightly: she wants the best for her children, and so she will consider those favourable options to make the best decision for them. Political decisions are ones made for the benefit of a nation, which we could say are her ‘children’. I hope that makes sense. Lastly, we have the Crone. In the text, personal power is the power to choose, to choose among a series of futures to arrive at the most advantageous one. That is aided by the wisdom of the Crone.

Our main character is set to marry a man she has never met, we find out soon after. She refuses to accept this fate, for her heart has already been taken, so she steals from her father’s stores a portion of scriv, the drug used by her family, as well as many others in the trade, to see the future. She succeeds in having three visions— lucky number.

In the first, she has married the man her father had arranged for her. She is on a visit to Felicita, her brother Owen —who Ilven had liked ever since he stole a kiss from her in the middle of a scriv trance— and their respective families, three healthy and wholesome children in tow. She had taken the route of the Mother. It didn’t please her. Please note that I'm not talking as figuratively as before.

The second one wasn’t very appealing, either. Ilven followed the route of the Crone this time. She hadn’t married her fiancé; she chose to run away from the marriage instead. The blonde lived off the child her mother had been expecting during the events of the short story. Owen was old; his spouse had long ago died; it was Longest Night, when everyone, no matter their birth, social status or wealth, was equal. Ilven wasn’t about to lose this opportunity. Apparently, though, fate didn’t agree with her.

The last vision was the most interesting, and the one that was chosen at last. I’ll let you figure out what it was about.

Mother, Crone, Maiden weaves a fascinating world of sexism and what we could consider antiquated decorum, of the usage of a drug as a means to predict future’s paths, in surprisingly few pages. However, what stands out more than anything is, perhaps, that we choose our own fates. As Ilven sensibly tells us: “Knowing the future is not about knowing the future. It’s about which choice to make.”

[Karyn Kar Mun (Thy Evil Queen) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A marketing ploy, perhaps, but quite a nicely written one. It raises questions, you see, that I would like answers to, and for that I'll have to read When the Sea Is Rising Red

About Ilken: At 16, she is very young and not very wise - besotted and therefore delusional, lost in dreams of a boy who kissed her once, right before his (arranged) marriage to someone else. It is unknown if the boy reciprocates her feelings or if it was one-sided, but I'm voting for the latter, because I'm old (one week from now is my 24th birthday!) and sceptical. These people can see their futures (or possibilities, at least) and he's made his choice - he didn't choose her. Ilken has 3 choices - to be a mother, crone or maiden. In the first, she marries someone her father chose for her and then walked the well-trodden path; in the second, she runs away from marriage and became a spinster outcast; and in the third, she dies. Not very appealing choices, in my opinion, unless if she's the sort of character to choose the first option, and if she had been then we'd not have this story. It is, however, not death as final as most deaths are in our world, and Ilken returns - in a form of a "boggert" (the name of which reminds me strongly of boggarts from Harry Potter series, and that is not a good thing). A boggert seems to suck life forces out of people in order to survive, which sounds a bit like a combination of vampire and succubus, but without the blood and sex, which sounds boring, but to know more I'll have to read When the Sea Is Rising Red , which I've now shelved in my to-read list. Muahahahahaha.

[Scarlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember hearing about Cat Hellisen's book When the Sea is Rising Red but didn't know about this novella until I saw it by happenstance from Wendy Darling's review. Added bonus, it's still free from Tor here!

I was intrigued by When the Sea is Rising Red, but now, I'm really excited! This novella was the perfect way for me to be introduced to Ms. Hellisen's very atmospheric and lyrical writing. Favorite line so far would have to be

Knowing the future is not about knowing the future. It’s about knowing which path to take.

How in tune is that statement? I have never thought about seeing the future that way but it makes perfect sense!
This was a simple, short introduction to the world that Cat Hellisen has created, but I am now interested hook, line and sinker!
The cover for this, and the main novel as well, are intense!
My only fault with this would be, from what I can determine from the novel's descriptions, that after getting to know Ilven, I won't really be able to follow her anymore. Bummers.

[༺Kiki༻ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:

✱ When the Sea Is Rising Red (same universe and characters)
✱ Midwinterblood
✱ Sea Hearts (UK, Aussie) / The Brides of Rollrock Island (US)
✱ Monstrous Beauty and Men Who Wish to Drown
✱ Bone Season series

[Maggie Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I'm not a fan of the short stories that are meant to draw you into a new series. I find that they usually don't stand on their own, and I'm not all that interesting. Mother, Crone, Maiden, however, has sold me on Hellisen's writing. When the Sea is Rising Red is now on my TBR list as I am curious about this fantasy world. Powders that can help certain people tell the future, and a young girl who trades something immense to get what she wants? It's an interesting set-up, and the writing was compelling.

[rubywednesday · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short prequel to When the Sea is Rising Red that allows us insight into Ilven's mind as she uses scriv and magic to see her possible futures and leads to her to decided to commit suicide.

The prose sis just as lovely and evocative as the book and it's really nice look into the world and the characters. An excellent companion to WtSiRR and a pretty cool short story in it's own right

[{erika} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going to give this 4 stars because of the interesting potential for world-building. It was mysterious and I liked it. Enough to read When the Sea is Rising Red? Perhaps. I will do some investigating and decide.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Prequel which explains some back story from "When the Sea is Rising Red". I happened to read this after I finished the book, and it explained a scene in the story that added more depth to the overall book. I might recommending reading it after the main book even though it is technically a prequel.

[Tigress · Rating 2 out of 5]

An odd, confusing tale. I probably should've read When the Sea is Rising Red first. The writing is lovely, though.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this at tor.com and liked it enough to look for more things by this author. I'm excited for the book

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Rayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting. Gorgeous prose and a very original and thought-provoking story. I'm very curious about the novel now, so I will get started on it right away.

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this when it was first posted on Tor, thought it was good enough to go read the full book. Love the style on this. (In this case, I shelved it as kindle, but read it on their website).

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.