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The Opal-Eyed Fan
FURIES UNLEASHED
Was it a random storm or destiny's mischief that shipwrecked lovely Persis Rooke on Lost Lady Key? Persis couldn't be sure. Rescued by the handsome Captain Crewe Leverett and marooned on the darkly mysterious island with his strange sister and her beau, she was aware only of the oppressive superstitions of the natives who feared a strange curse--the curse of the opal-eyed fan.
Somehow she knew she had to learn the unspoken secret of the island and the truth about the fabulous Spanish lady who, years before, had left the infamous Satin-shirt Jack dead and then disappeared forever. But Persis was not aware of the evil that awaited her, nor of the romance that would endanger her until it was too late. . . .
Was it a random storm or destiny's mischief that shipwrecked lovely Persis Rooke on Lost Lady Key? Persis couldn't be sure. Rescued by the handsome Captain Crewe Leverett and marooned on the darkly mysterious island with his strange sister and her beau, she was aware only of the oppressive superstitions of the natives who feared a strange curse--the curse of the opal-eyed fan.
Somehow she knew she had to learn the unspoken secret of the island and the truth about the fabulous Spanish lady who, years before, had left the infamous Satin-shirt Jack dead and then disappeared forever. But Persis was not aware of the evil that awaited her, nor of the romance that would endanger her until it was too late. . . .
252 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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93 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
531 books1,390 followersAndre Norton, born Alice Mary Norton, was a pioneering American author of science fiction and fantasy, widely regarded as the Grande Dame of those genres. She also wrote historical and contemporary fiction, publishing under the pen names Andre Alice Norton, Andrew North, and Allen Weston. She launched her career in 1934 with The Prince Commands, adopting the name “Andre” to appeal to a male readership. After working for the Cleveland Library System and the Library of Congress, she began publishing science fiction under “Andrew North” and fantasy under her own name. She became a full-time writer in 1958 and was known for her prolific output, including Star Man’s Son, 2250 A.D. and Witch World, the latter spawning a long-running series and shared universe. Norton was a founding member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America and authored Quag Keep, the first novel based on the Dungeons & Dragons game. She influenced generations of writers, including Lois McMaster Bujold and Mercedes Lackey. Among her many honors were being the first woman named Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy and SFWA Grand Master. In her later years, she established the High Hallack Library to support research in genre fiction. Her legacy continues with the Andre Norton Award for young adult science fiction and fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 26, 2018
Andre Norton, that is all I should need to say.
Classic stories that never grow old. An author that is a must read. Great for all ages. I read these when I was growing up and still re-read them after sixty years.
Classic stories that never grow old. An author that is a must read. Great for all ages. I read these when I was growing up and still re-read them after sixty years.
December 1, 2019
Even though this book is labeled SciFi, I truly think it can be considered more of a romance novel. Andre Norton did write both but is more famous for the SciFi. I don't care what she wrote I love all of them.
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May 8, 2010In a half-page introduction, this book gives an almost certainly inaccurate accounting of the nature and doom of the precolumbian civilization in South Florida.
Norton was (as I've noted before) obsessed with interpersonal violence, so it's not surprising that she'd believe in an uneasy
'Spanish-Seminole' alliance which brought down a thriving civilization. But the evidence indicates that long before the first official landings by Spanish conquistadores, the Floridian civilization was already moribund, at least partly due to diseases brought to the area by marooned sailors. refugees from the Caribbean, etc.
As for 'Seminoles' doing anything, the evidence indicates that there was no such 'tribe' until well after the Spaniards arrived. The Seminole were a coalition of exiles, escaped slaves, etc. Their language was based on a Creek dialect, and they didn't form a coherent tribe until quite late. By that time, the south Floridian civilization was probably already quite defunct.
Norton's fear of reptiles is so pronounced in this book that she suggests that sea turtles might attack people. Think back: have you EVER heard of a sea turtle attacking anyone?
Norton was (as I've noted before) obsessed with interpersonal violence, so it's not surprising that she'd believe in an uneasy
'Spanish-Seminole' alliance which brought down a thriving civilization. But the evidence indicates that long before the first official landings by Spanish conquistadores, the Floridian civilization was already moribund, at least partly due to diseases brought to the area by marooned sailors. refugees from the Caribbean, etc.
As for 'Seminoles' doing anything, the evidence indicates that there was no such 'tribe' until well after the Spaniards arrived. The Seminole were a coalition of exiles, escaped slaves, etc. Their language was based on a Creek dialect, and they didn't form a coherent tribe until quite late. By that time, the south Floridian civilization was probably already quite defunct.
Norton's fear of reptiles is so pronounced in this book that she suggests that sea turtles might attack people. Think back: have you EVER heard of a sea turtle attacking anyone?
April 15, 2011
I have been reading Andre Norton books for many years, and had thought I had read all her different "voices". This book seems a diversion from what I am used to reading in her sci-fi and fantasy genre, but as always it is a good solid read with well written characters and settings.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable light read and would recommend it for everyone to read.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable light read and would recommend it for everyone to read.
July 16, 2016
One of her non science fiction books but slightly in the witchcraft side. Girl and uncle take a trip to the keys to claim an inheritance. Their ship crashes and after rescue, the uncle dies. She must make decisions to save their rescuer and in the end her inheritance.
December 19, 2024
This was a great airport read because I think even if I'd been in a normal state of mind, I wouldn't have known what was going on. It starts out totally normal. Young woman and her uncle and their servants (with no discernible goals besides servitude) get shipwrecked with a Hot Captain and his sister. She finds a haunted fan. Then we get way too much time spent in the house as her personal and societal situation gets worse and worse. But the last fifty or so pages, where everything is wrapped up through lengthy monologues and off screen totally killed the book for me. If this book were a pie chart, there'd be way too much time spent on her worrying about her future and not enough time of her doing anything about it.
That being said, I did enjoy it. I thought Norton did a great job exploring the significance of each loss for Persis, from her uncle to her normal life. Her relationship with Molly was sweet, especially as Molly attacked her uncle's sheltering of her. While there absolutely could have been more scenes between Persis and Crewe, I thought they were sort of almost Beauty and the Beast-esque, and that gave me a lot of convincing on the chemistry.
This book would have been fully saved by a dual POV between Persis and Crewe. It would've avoided that awkward "everything wrapped up while Persis slept" thing at the end, we could've gotten more about how he's pining after her, etc. But as it stands, it was an entertaining read and I don't regret the 99 cents I spent on it.
That being said, I did enjoy it. I thought Norton did a great job exploring the significance of each loss for Persis, from her uncle to her normal life. Her relationship with Molly was sweet, especially as Molly attacked her uncle's sheltering of her. While there absolutely could have been more scenes between Persis and Crewe, I thought they were sort of almost Beauty and the Beast-esque, and that gave me a lot of convincing on the chemistry.
This book would have been fully saved by a dual POV between Persis and Crewe. It would've avoided that awkward "everything wrapped up while Persis slept" thing at the end, we could've gotten more about how he's pining after her, etc. But as it stands, it was an entertaining read and I don't regret the 99 cents I spent on it.
August 19, 2024
Slow to start, I eventually was drawn into the mystery faced by Persia Rooke. As things begin to go wrong, she doesn’t know who to trust, or who to turn to. But when a new danger appears, Persis draws on strength she didn’t know she had in order to rescue her new ally.
Though I prefer Norton’s science fiction novels, she doesn’t disappoint with her historical stories, though this one has a bit of the supernatural thrown in. And while ostensibly a romance novel, the romance is barely touched on and left to the reader to decide where it will go. That’s classic Norton, as most of her novels don’t go there.
A lovely story well worth reading.
Though I prefer Norton’s science fiction novels, she doesn’t disappoint with her historical stories, though this one has a bit of the supernatural thrown in. And while ostensibly a romance novel, the romance is barely touched on and left to the reader to decide where it will go. That’s classic Norton, as most of her novels don’t go there.
A lovely story well worth reading.
February 15, 2021
The opal-eyed fan.
Beautiful story, filled with danger and intrigue. Well written and hard to put down. Loved it. Great story. A keeper.
Beautiful story, filled with danger and intrigue. Well written and hard to put down. Loved it. Great story. A keeper.
March 5, 2015
1978 grade C-
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews