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Witch World Series 2: High Hallack Cycle #3
The Jargoon Pard
The heir to the House of Car Do Prawn who possesses a belt with strange powers, is thrown into a conflict between the forces of good and evil
194 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1974
66 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
696 books1,389 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 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 16, 2011
Not much to say here about The Jargoon Pard except on a personal note. The story is a solid, by-the-numbers fantasy quest as Kethan is forced to discover his true heritage. It's set in Norton's Witch World but isn't, IMO, one of the more memorable entries, and would only recommend it to a Norton completist. The characters are not very complex (though Ursilla could have been a really nasty villain if given more room to develop), and the ending stumbles into the deus ex machina snare.
On the personal note: I first read The Jargoon Pard when I was in high school, and vaguely remember being inextricably entranced by it. I also learned two new words from the title alone:
JARGOON - Noun. A colorless to smoky gem variety of zircon.
PARD - Noun. A leopard or panther.
The second thing is that I picked up a used copy from my local brick-and-mortar used-book store (God knows how they're surviving but I'm not complaining), and that edition has to have one of the ugliest covers I've ever seen:
So I'm sticking with the cover of the library book I checked out as a callow youth.
On the personal note: I first read The Jargoon Pard when I was in high school, and vaguely remember being inextricably entranced by it. I also learned two new words from the title alone:
JARGOON - Noun. A colorless to smoky gem variety of zircon.
PARD - Noun. A leopard or panther.
The second thing is that I picked up a used copy from my local brick-and-mortar used-book store (God knows how they're surviving but I'm not complaining), and that edition has to have one of the ugliest covers I've ever seen:
So I'm sticking with the cover of the library book I checked out as a callow youth.
June 13, 2025
The book is a sequel to Year of the Unicorn and as such pulls in many references going back to the Witch World titles. However, some references trend even further back: the use of gates from Star Gate to transfer people into parallel worlds; also from Star Gate is a long-lived ruling elite holding power over the ordinary Arvonites, in Star Gate it all happened on Gorth; and moving back beyond Norton's science fiction career, traces of Huon of the Horn. Overall there are so many elements from the tales of the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, whether changelings, shape-shifters, wicked witches, magical towers in a forest, and so on it becomes a pleasure to pick them out when reading.
The whole story is the tale of Kethan's young life in a mock-medieval society of knights, witchery, magic spells, were-creatures, cunning step-mothers, and ancient powers. And it is incredibly enjoyable. I have to admit that, in general, I have found the Witch World books difficult to appreciate but here, perhaps it's because Norton allows the plot to revel in its fairy-tale origins, a great deal of the rambling rivalries of Estcarp and its neighbours is removed.
The plot is undemanding with a square-jawed, all action hero – that's when he's not prowling on all furs and twitching his tail, baddies so unpleasant they can be hissed off stage, and a love interest that blossoms through all the adversities thrown against it. Sit down and enjoy it with a long cold spritzer – it will fill an afternoon very pleasantly.
The whole story is the tale of Kethan's young life in a mock-medieval society of knights, witchery, magic spells, were-creatures, cunning step-mothers, and ancient powers. And it is incredibly enjoyable. I have to admit that, in general, I have found the Witch World books difficult to appreciate but here, perhaps it's because Norton allows the plot to revel in its fairy-tale origins, a great deal of the rambling rivalries of Estcarp and its neighbours is removed.
The plot is undemanding with a square-jawed, all action hero – that's when he's not prowling on all furs and twitching his tail, baddies so unpleasant they can be hissed off stage, and a love interest that blossoms through all the adversities thrown against it. Sit down and enjoy it with a long cold spritzer – it will fill an afternoon very pleasantly.
February 5, 2019
Just did another reread Feb 2019. Still love this book.
Another of my all time favorites. I love shifter stories to this day maybe because of this book. High Hallack stories are my favorites of the Witch World series. Lots of Norton's hallucinaginic type magic. A mistreated hero. A bit of a love story. Love it.
Another of my all time favorites. I love shifter stories to this day maybe because of this book. High Hallack stories are my favorites of the Witch World series. Lots of Norton's hallucinaginic type magic. A mistreated hero. A bit of a love story. Love it.
June 8, 2017
I loved this book as a preteen and it stood up pretty well to the reread. I did get annoyed with the sort of formal, tangly language at times - obviously preteen me was a more forgiving reader. :)
November 7, 2019
This story follows on from 'The Year of the Unicorn' as I realised when I began reading - although the characters were not named, I could tell that the woman having her baby in the shrine of Gunnora, at the same time as the mother of the narrator of this novel, is Gillan, the woman with powers in that novel, and her husband is Herrel, the Were, or shape shifter who can transform into a snow leopard. They come back into the novel much later.
I also realise on doing this review that I've missed out a couple of volumes in this second Witch World series, book 0 and book 1 - however, I don't think it prevented me from understanding or enjoying this one. Briefly, Heroise, the protagonist's mother, goes to the shrine to have her baby believing it will be a son and through him she will be able to rule, as their land follows the custom of the sister's son of the ruler inheriting. The baby is a girl - but a ready solution presents itself as Gillan is in the room next door having her baby which they realise is a son. The mother's nasty wise woman sidekick Ursilla puts Gillan and her midwife into an entranced sleep and makes them forget so that when they wake up they think the baby girl is her own child.
However, things don't work out as Heroise hoped, as the son, whom she names Kethan, is not the malleable tool she and Ursilla hoped. He is too independent and he also faces enmity within the keep because Heroise's sister-in-law hates him and wants her own son Maughus to succeed the father, against custom. Kethan grows up in an atmosphere of tension and hatred, although this is character building in the long run. His time of trial comes when he is betrothed to Maughus' sister, and her mother gives him a gift to commemorate it - a belt he had already been drawn to when a mysterious trader visited the keep. The belt has the effect of turning him into a pard - a big cat - probably because it brings out his innate gift from his real father, Herrel. Everyone, including him, assumes it is a curse laid on him by the belt. The intention is either to kill him as an animal, or else to denounce him as a thing of the Dark. So he has to go on the run, unable to turn back into his human form, and pursued by multiple enemies.
It is quite a short book in comparison to some of the other Witch World novels and a quick read. It isn't outstanding, but I enjoyed it nevertheless, with the suspense as to whether Kethan would prevail, whether he would learn who his real parents are, and whether he would come into his true heritage. So I would award this a page turning 3 stars.
I also realise on doing this review that I've missed out a couple of volumes in this second Witch World series, book 0 and book 1 - however, I don't think it prevented me from understanding or enjoying this one. Briefly, Heroise, the protagonist's mother, goes to the shrine to have her baby believing it will be a son and through him she will be able to rule, as their land follows the custom of the sister's son of the ruler inheriting. The baby is a girl - but a ready solution presents itself as Gillan is in the room next door having her baby which they realise is a son. The mother's nasty wise woman sidekick Ursilla puts Gillan and her midwife into an entranced sleep and makes them forget so that when they wake up they think the baby girl is her own child.
However, things don't work out as Heroise hoped, as the son, whom she names Kethan, is not the malleable tool she and Ursilla hoped. He is too independent and he also faces enmity within the keep because Heroise's sister-in-law hates him and wants her own son Maughus to succeed the father, against custom. Kethan grows up in an atmosphere of tension and hatred, although this is character building in the long run. His time of trial comes when he is betrothed to Maughus' sister, and her mother gives him a gift to commemorate it - a belt he had already been drawn to when a mysterious trader visited the keep. The belt has the effect of turning him into a pard - a big cat - probably because it brings out his innate gift from his real father, Herrel. Everyone, including him, assumes it is a curse laid on him by the belt. The intention is either to kill him as an animal, or else to denounce him as a thing of the Dark. So he has to go on the run, unable to turn back into his human form, and pursued by multiple enemies.
It is quite a short book in comparison to some of the other Witch World novels and a quick read. It isn't outstanding, but I enjoyed it nevertheless, with the suspense as to whether Kethan would prevail, whether he would learn who his real parents are, and whether he would come into his true heritage. So I would award this a page turning 3 stars.
May 30, 2021
This is the story of a young man named Kethan who comes into possession of a belt with a Jargoon buckle in the shape of a pard.
He finds himself at night transformed into a pard(a large cat, seems like a panther). He is found out and driven from his city where the belt is ripped from his waist. Finding himself now stuck in the form of a pard, he must learn to survive in a form not his own.
This is part of the Witch World series from Ms Norton.
He finds himself at night transformed into a pard(a large cat, seems like a panther). He is found out and driven from his city where the belt is ripped from his waist. Finding himself now stuck in the form of a pard, he must learn to survive in a form not his own.
This is part of the Witch World series from Ms Norton.
March 19, 2015
What possessed the woman to name it the house of Prawn? I came up short every time the Car Do Prawn appeared in the text which ruined the momentum - Prawn!? I kept picturing a house with a big prawn sitting on top - most off-putting, I assure you. Apart from the prawns I enjoyed the story of the were-shifters. Another entertaining episode of Witch World phenomena.
back cover:
He was called Kethan and the secret of his birth had been hidden until now. He had been chosen to lead the great house of Car Do Prawn in the ancient land of Arvon. But his cousin Maughus was jealous and hated him, and Ursilla, his mother's evil Wise Woman, had already begun to tamper with his destiny. Then Kethan was given a gift - a belt of incredible beauty and possessing great powers. From this moment on Kethan's future was in other hands - and his body in a strange new shape...
back cover:
He was called Kethan and the secret of his birth had been hidden until now. He had been chosen to lead the great house of Car Do Prawn in the ancient land of Arvon. But his cousin Maughus was jealous and hated him, and Ursilla, his mother's evil Wise Woman, had already begun to tamper with his destiny. Then Kethan was given a gift - a belt of incredible beauty and possessing great powers. From this moment on Kethan's future was in other hands - and his body in a strange new shape...
November 28, 2012
I've read most of Andre Norton's books back in the 1960's and 70s when I was a kid. Mrs Norton is a Master Weaver of Stories. The Jargoon Pard Which World Series 2: High Hallack Cycle, #3 tells a tale of the hero Kethan, heir to the throne of Car do Prawn whose birthing started with a lie and his adventures from the untangling of that knot. I can't remember the ending, I am rereading right now. I figure this tale will lead the reader on a journey of knowing the self, as Kethan has found he can become a great cat but does not know how to control this ability except with a magical belt which was given to him by his cousin who hates him. I know the story will take the reader into the dual nature of man, the animal and beast, the two will unite and heal Kethan as most hero adventures end this way. Great read for young and old alike!
July 21, 2010
I didn't realize this was a Witch World novel or I'd've gotten around to it much sooner! VERY good so far.
Update: Not only is it a wonderful story and a Witch World book (they are all more or less wonderful) but it turns out to be the sequel to one of my favorites of her books - Year of the Unicorn!!! I was so excited when I realized. It is also one of my favorite kinds of sequels, the kind that tells the story of the following generation's youthful challenges and triumphs, just as Year of the Unicorn tells the story of the parents' adventures and meeting.
Update: Not only is it a wonderful story and a Witch World book (they are all more or less wonderful) but it turns out to be the sequel to one of my favorites of her books - Year of the Unicorn!!! I was so excited when I realized. It is also one of my favorite kinds of sequels, the kind that tells the story of the following generation's youthful challenges and triumphs, just as Year of the Unicorn tells the story of the parents' adventures and meeting.
January 19, 2010
It's been over 30 years since I read this. Hard to remember anything except this: I found it fascinating and it was one of my early ventures into the world of fantasy. I know I kept it for years. Wish I could remember whatever happened to it.
An old book, yes. But, one I would still recommend.
An old book, yes. But, one I would still recommend.
April 2, 2017
A nice, simple fantasy.
November 30, 2019
I didn't grow up reading Andre Norton, and I am not sure it is important to read the Witch World series sequentually. The Jargoon Pard was fine as a standalone.. Her Witchworld classics have been turning up for me, every five years or so, and I am amazed at what I missed! This is what I would call a cake of custom novel, where the current world has many layers under it , archeology from former settlers of the world, catastrophes and occult traditions. Just as the desert coughs up a new gospel or egyptian lineage every twenty years a new disclosure of an old manuscript or augery appears in Keanan's world. Her descriptions are sparce and rely upon the reader to fill in teir own sense of what is happening, part of Norton's genius. I actually feel lucky to read them the first time late in adulthood.
This is a world without primogeniture, the heir comes from the nephew of the wldest leader by his eldest sister. Norton anticipates your reworking of the familiar, and the sister Heroise longs to gain power through the birth of a son, displacing her own nephew. She arranges to claim a good mating through her mentor , Ursalina. However she carries a child of the wrong gender, so the babies are switched at birth. This is a secret Keanan senses throughout his childhood, but it is only affirmed after he is able to wrest his identity from a shapeshifting belt. Good associates always help form character. as does confronting people who would shape you according to their own desires. His mother, Heroise is restless in a wolrd that accords powwer only to men, so she dreams of shaping a son to fulfill her own desires. But is actually Ursalina who pulls the strings. The model of nephew rule is pulled by the human desire to control, yet Keanan's cousings, male female siblings seem to model a more normal rendition of this type of heredity. Unfortunately they are benton hilling him, partiuclarly since he seems to turn into a leopard, or pard at certain moon phases. Shapeshifting has a bad history in this family, but then everything about this family seems tainted.Great book, lovely formation novel. recommended to cat lovers, tarot afficiandos, and people who like subterranean circles of ancestor statures with luminous faces. Good and creepy.
This is a world without primogeniture, the heir comes from the nephew of the wldest leader by his eldest sister. Norton anticipates your reworking of the familiar, and the sister Heroise longs to gain power through the birth of a son, displacing her own nephew. She arranges to claim a good mating through her mentor , Ursalina. However she carries a child of the wrong gender, so the babies are switched at birth. This is a secret Keanan senses throughout his childhood, but it is only affirmed after he is able to wrest his identity from a shapeshifting belt. Good associates always help form character. as does confronting people who would shape you according to their own desires. His mother, Heroise is restless in a wolrd that accords powwer only to men, so she dreams of shaping a son to fulfill her own desires. But is actually Ursalina who pulls the strings. The model of nephew rule is pulled by the human desire to control, yet Keanan's cousings, male female siblings seem to model a more normal rendition of this type of heredity. Unfortunately they are benton hilling him, partiuclarly since he seems to turn into a leopard, or pard at certain moon phases. Shapeshifting has a bad history in this family, but then everything about this family seems tainted.Great book, lovely formation novel. recommended to cat lovers, tarot afficiandos, and people who like subterranean circles of ancestor statures with luminous faces. Good and creepy.
May 18, 2021
I recalled loving works by this author when in my teens. Now in my 60s, with options to read what I choose, I saw this collection by Norton and just dove in. It took me a while to realize the first book in this set is actually the third book in this series, which is itself the second cycle of Witch World books by Norton, the High Halleck Cycle.
Kind of complicated. I felt quite at ease and comfortable in the fantasy world described as it stayed in familiar parameters. It is a coming of age story of a young heir to a throne who has an evil manipulative mother. But he has a secret power emerging, and is pulled by no choosing of his own into a power struggle. A mysterious traveling salesman leaves him a gift, a belt with a strange green gem, that aids in his magical awakening. The odd title refers to the wereleopards, shape shifters, that are of concern here.
You could figure out what was going to happen in plot development quite early on. Reading this kind of novel, you don't have to figure too much out, let the formula do the driving of the plot. Just enjoy the tone along the way.
t and this is
Kind of complicated. I felt quite at ease and comfortable in the fantasy world described as it stayed in familiar parameters. It is a coming of age story of a young heir to a throne who has an evil manipulative mother. But he has a secret power emerging, and is pulled by no choosing of his own into a power struggle. A mysterious traveling salesman leaves him a gift, a belt with a strange green gem, that aids in his magical awakening. The odd title refers to the wereleopards, shape shifters, that are of concern here.
You could figure out what was going to happen in plot development quite early on. Reading this kind of novel, you don't have to figure too much out, let the formula do the driving of the plot. Just enjoy the tone along the way.
t and this is
March 3, 2020
I started out thinking Norton was recycling too many Witch World tropes. It's set in Arvon, an Escore-like land closed-off from the world after too many dark powers were unleashed; the hero is part of his mother's magic-based scheme to create a child she can rule through, a la Crystal Gryphon. Instead, it goes it's own way.
Kethan grows up unaware that his mother, desperate for a son (her scheme gave her a daughter instead), swapped her kid for him. Mom and the scheming sorceress Ursilla plot to rule through Kethan when he takes the local lordship. However a rival faction taps Kethan's latent shapeshifting ability and turns him into a big cat called a pard. How can he turn back? And if he does, how will he break free from Ursilla's domination?
Some twists are obvious (like who his parents turn out to be), but overall this worked very well.
Kethan grows up unaware that his mother, desperate for a son (her scheme gave her a daughter instead), swapped her kid for him. Mom and the scheming sorceress Ursilla plot to rule through Kethan when he takes the local lordship. However a rival faction taps Kethan's latent shapeshifting ability and turns him into a big cat called a pard. How can he turn back? And if he does, how will he break free from Ursilla's domination?
Some twists are obvious (like who his parents turn out to be), but overall this worked very well.
August 12, 2024
It has been a while since reading any stories in the Witch World series and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed them. This story about Kethan was truly a tale of growing both physically and mentally. There was always that bit of mystery and palace intrigue throughout the story. From his birth to when he had to have the belt with a jargoon carved like a predatory cat, you were kept engaged.
The intrigue comes from those in the palace, his mother, Lady Heroise and her Wise Woman, Ursilla who want to control him. To counter that, his cousin, Maughus who feels he should be the one ruling Car Do Prawn and his mother. It adds a lot to the story.
The ending comes and you thought you knew how it was going to turn out. But that is only partially true, because there was so much more that surprises you. This story is well worth reading.
The intrigue comes from those in the palace, his mother, Lady Heroise and her Wise Woman, Ursilla who want to control him. To counter that, his cousin, Maughus who feels he should be the one ruling Car Do Prawn and his mother. It adds a lot to the story.
The ending comes and you thought you knew how it was going to turn out. But that is only partially true, because there was so much more that surprises you. This story is well worth reading.
Read
October 23, 2025In Arvon, the Ancient Powers answer those who know how to call, and the blood of the wereriders flows in the veins of those who are both Man and Cat. Kethan was heir to the great house of Car Do Prawn because his mother's evil Wise Woman had tampered with another's birthright. But one day Kethan was given a belt of incredible beauty and great power. From that moment, his future was again in other hands -- and his body in a strange new form ...
December 2, 2021
I have a vague memory of being enthralled with the Witch World series in middle school, but don't think I progressed to the later books. This one came in a bargain 5-book pack, so I snapped it up. Now I remember why I loved Norton's writing: past-paced, interesting characters, excellent fantasy world-building. Her writing stands the test of time.
March 1, 2022
“The Jargoon Pard” is a sequel to “The Year,of the Unicorn”. It is not quite as good as it’s predecessor but still has many interesting features. The characters are not as well drawn and this is especially true of the central figure. The plot is exciting and if the ending does seem rather tacked on there is lots of fun before we get there.
May 16, 2022
I loved the writing style in this, but I felt like I was missing some vital information the entire time. Does it rely on the reader knowing the world from previous Witch World books? Is it actually a direct sequel, as suggested by Goodreads? (This is sold as the first book of a collection on Apple Books, so I assumed it would readable as the first one.) It does provide world building information and the characters' backstories were always explained, it just felt...incomplete?
Don't get me wrong, I had a fun time reading this, but I can neither recommend it nor would I ever reread it.
Don't get me wrong, I had a fun time reading this, but I can neither recommend it nor would I ever reread it.
January 24, 2018
I read this so long ago, in the 70's. I still have the paperback, but it's falling apart.
I remember reading and re-reading this book, identifying with the protagonist, and of course fantasizing about that world.
I remember reading and re-reading this book, identifying with the protagonist, and of course fantasizing about that world.
December 26, 2017
I read this book as a teen and wanted to see if it held up. Andre Norton continues to be one of my favorite authors.
February 20, 2020
More strange flights of fancy. These will get me through the recovery period.
April 12, 2021
Good story of people who are lost and find each other, then find other people, who are fighting and have forgotten why they are fighting. Magic abounds but the relationships stay superficial.
February 24, 2023
I first read this as a teenager and found it when I was straightening some bookshelves recently. It’s held up fairly well over time.
July 8, 2024
Loved the book
I grew up reading Andre Norton's book and am so glad that they are in ebook form. Great story, well told.
I grew up reading Andre Norton's book and am so glad that they are in ebook form. Great story, well told.
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August 20, 2015I'm writing reviews to the precise editions I have, because exact content varies between editions: not always the front cover picture, but also supplemental material, maps, etc.
The 1974 edition is presumably the 1st paperback edition, and the reverse of the title page follows the title with (in all caps, as transcribed): THIS BOOK CONTAINS THE COMPLETE TEXT OF THE ORIGINAL HARDCOVER EDITION. I can locate no credit for the cover picture, which shows a(n essentially symbolic) depiction of a pard (note that a pard is commonly confused with a leopard--a leopard is a 'lion pard'--a special case of the more general category of pards. The pard in the book is not a spotted cat, but more similar in color and size to a puma (Felis concolor)); backed by a depiction of Kethan; with the titular Jargoon Pard (belt buckle) as the backdrop.
I first picked up this book because I was intrigued by the title. I've just looked up pictures of jargoon, and I was a little surprised: I had been picturing jargoon as resembling amber, but it's darker and less smooth than most amber, it turns out. Once again, Norton's knowledge of gemology outstrips that of many of her readers, including me.
On reflection, I conclude that it's not exactly a spoiler to identify Kethan's parentage, but it does give the readers more information than Kethan has for most of the book.
This is a very well-written narrative. Kethan's description of his training to be ruler of Car Do Prawn gives a better idea of ordinary life in Arvon in the lands of the Lords of the Four Mantles than other books set in the same area.
One factor which is a bit nontraditional in the rest of the Witch World is that in Arvon, the heir to a keep is not the son of the previous lord, but of his sister.
Right after the Table of Contents, there is a formal acknowledgement of the people Norton consulted for technical information, which is more detailed in this book than in other Witch World books. After the acknowledgement page is a diagram of the tarot reading which the Lady Heroise interprets in Chapter 13
CONTENTS:
Chapter 1: Of Gunnora's Shrine And What Chanced There in The Year of The Red Boar
Chapter 2: Of The Heirship of Kethan And Life in Car Do Prawn
Chapter 3: Of The Trader Ibycus And The Jargoon Belt He Brought
Chapter 4: Of The Gift of The Lady Eldris And The Coming of The First Full Moon Thereafter
Chapter 5: Of The Warning from Ursilla And The Cloud over Arvon
Chapter 6: Of Maughus' Plot And The Opening of My Own Eyes
Chapter 7: Of The Wild Hunt And My Flight Therefrom
Chapter 8: Of The Maid in The Forest And The Star Tower
Chapter 9: Of How I Dreamed And of What Ill Followed
Chapter 10: Of The Snow Cat And What Chanced in The Haunted Ruin
Chapter 11: Of Those in The Tower And How I Chose Danger
Chapter 12: Of The Discovery I Made And How I Planned to Put It to Use
Chapter 13: Of How I Was Imprisoned by Ursilla And My Mother Foretold My Future
Chapter 14: Of How The Three from The Star Tower Took An Interest in My Fate
Chapter 15: Of How I Chose Not The Beast's Way And Of The Secret Of Ursilla
Chapter 16: Of How Ursilla Read The Smoke Runes And Sent Me to Do Her Bidding
Chapter 17: Of How The Lady Heroise Told The Truth And I Confronted Ursilla
Chapter 18: Of Sorcery Wrought And Unwrought And How We Learn Our Destiny
Geneaeological Note: In later books, Kethan describes Aylinn as his 'foster sister', which she is. But leaving aside the question of her paternity (which is never revealed as far as I know), Aylinn and Kethan share a grandmother--which makes them first cousins, by my reckoning.
The 1974 edition is presumably the 1st paperback edition, and the reverse of the title page follows the title with (in all caps, as transcribed): THIS BOOK CONTAINS THE COMPLETE TEXT OF THE ORIGINAL HARDCOVER EDITION. I can locate no credit for the cover picture, which shows a(n essentially symbolic) depiction of a pard (note that a pard is commonly confused with a leopard--a leopard is a 'lion pard'--a special case of the more general category of pards. The pard in the book is not a spotted cat, but more similar in color and size to a puma (Felis concolor)); backed by a depiction of Kethan; with the titular Jargoon Pard (belt buckle) as the backdrop.
I first picked up this book because I was intrigued by the title. I've just looked up pictures of jargoon, and I was a little surprised: I had been picturing jargoon as resembling amber, but it's darker and less smooth than most amber, it turns out. Once again, Norton's knowledge of gemology outstrips that of many of her readers, including me.
On reflection, I conclude that it's not exactly a spoiler to identify Kethan's parentage, but it does give the readers more information than Kethan has for most of the book.
This is a very well-written narrative. Kethan's description of his training to be ruler of Car Do Prawn gives a better idea of ordinary life in Arvon in the lands of the Lords of the Four Mantles than other books set in the same area.
One factor which is a bit nontraditional in the rest of the Witch World is that in Arvon, the heir to a keep is not the son of the previous lord, but of his sister.
Right after the Table of Contents, there is a formal acknowledgement of the people Norton consulted for technical information, which is more detailed in this book than in other Witch World books. After the acknowledgement page is a diagram of the tarot reading which the Lady Heroise interprets in Chapter 13
CONTENTS:
Chapter 1: Of Gunnora's Shrine And What Chanced There in The Year of The Red Boar
Chapter 2: Of The Heirship of Kethan And Life in Car Do Prawn
Chapter 3: Of The Trader Ibycus And The Jargoon Belt He Brought
Chapter 4: Of The Gift of The Lady Eldris And The Coming of The First Full Moon Thereafter
Chapter 5: Of The Warning from Ursilla And The Cloud over Arvon
Chapter 6: Of Maughus' Plot And The Opening of My Own Eyes
Chapter 7: Of The Wild Hunt And My Flight Therefrom
Chapter 8: Of The Maid in The Forest And The Star Tower
Chapter 9: Of How I Dreamed And of What Ill Followed
Chapter 10: Of The Snow Cat And What Chanced in The Haunted Ruin
Chapter 11: Of Those in The Tower And How I Chose Danger
Chapter 12: Of The Discovery I Made And How I Planned to Put It to Use
Chapter 13: Of How I Was Imprisoned by Ursilla And My Mother Foretold My Future
Chapter 14: Of How The Three from The Star Tower Took An Interest in My Fate
Chapter 15: Of How I Chose Not The Beast's Way And Of The Secret Of Ursilla
Chapter 16: Of How Ursilla Read The Smoke Runes And Sent Me to Do Her Bidding
Chapter 17: Of How The Lady Heroise Told The Truth And I Confronted Ursilla
Chapter 18: Of Sorcery Wrought And Unwrought And How We Learn Our Destiny
Geneaeological Note: In later books, Kethan describes Aylinn as his 'foster sister', which she is. But leaving aside the question of her paternity (which is never revealed as far as I know), Aylinn and Kethan share a grandmother--which makes them first cousins, by my reckoning.
April 21, 2016
In a bid for power, the Lady Heroise schemed to bear a son, for her son would be heir to the House of the Car Do Prawn. But a twist of fate brings her a daughter---so she steals a stranger's child, names him Kethan, and claims him as her own. Then begins the long plot of raising him to be amiable to her bidding. Then the gift of a belt with a jargoon pard changes everything . . .
This was a decent read, although not one I'm likely to ever read again. Kethan tells the story of his life, from the events surrounding his birth to the present day, where he as a young man is being set up as heir, much to the wishes of his mother and against the wishes of his aunt. Most of the story is Kethan recognizing that the people around him are trying to manipulate him, but not being able to wiggle out of their traps.
He gets some relief when he gains a belt that triggers him to change shape to a pard, and his mother's careful scheming starts to fall apart. Shapechangers are not welcome, and his aunt and cousin would like nothing more than to disinherit him. I wish more of the story had been spent with him in cat form, as it would've been nice to see him come into his own outside the presence of those who would rule him (or simply those who refuse him aid).
There is a good amount of history in the beginning, likely to help orient readers where this takes place in the history of the world. It gives the story a layer of depth, but ultimately I found the tale nice but forgettable. I rate this book Neutral.
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This was a decent read, although not one I'm likely to ever read again. Kethan tells the story of his life, from the events surrounding his birth to the present day, where he as a young man is being set up as heir, much to the wishes of his mother and against the wishes of his aunt. Most of the story is Kethan recognizing that the people around him are trying to manipulate him, but not being able to wiggle out of their traps.
He gets some relief when he gains a belt that triggers him to change shape to a pard, and his mother's careful scheming starts to fall apart. Shapechangers are not welcome, and his aunt and cousin would like nothing more than to disinherit him. I wish more of the story had been spent with him in cat form, as it would've been nice to see him come into his own outside the presence of those who would rule him (or simply those who refuse him aid).
There is a good amount of history in the beginning, likely to help orient readers where this takes place in the history of the world. It gives the story a layer of depth, but ultimately I found the tale nice but forgettable. I rate this book Neutral.
See my reviews and more at https://offtheshelfreviews.wordpress....
July 11, 2016
The Jargoon Pard was one of my favorite books from years ago and I recently picked it up to reread. I'm a big Andre Norton fan, so you can probably take this review with a grain of salt.
This is one of Norton's stronger books, which is pretty strong considering that every book of her's that I've read has had a strong plot and good characters. This is the third book in the series, but it really does stand on its own. You don't need to read any other books in the series to follow this one.
Kethan is the main character, and I liked him from the very beginning. He's a good person who wants to do the right thing, and who wants to be a part of the life of Car Do Prawn, the land that he will inherit, but he has always been under the thumb of his mother and her Wise Woman, Ursilla.
He is surrounded by intrigue, and he's hated because he's the heir. Kethan is trapped by these intrigues when he accepts a gift that changes the course of his life.
The magic in this book is interesting and well described. I found Kethan's discoveries and escapes very gripping, and I was rooting for him all the way. There are hints of a greater mystery that connects this book to the rest of the series, but there's no cliffhanger. The ending was a tiny bit abrupt, but still satisfying.
I'm pretty sure I'll be reading more Andre Norton.
This is one of Norton's stronger books, which is pretty strong considering that every book of her's that I've read has had a strong plot and good characters. This is the third book in the series, but it really does stand on its own. You don't need to read any other books in the series to follow this one.
Kethan is the main character, and I liked him from the very beginning. He's a good person who wants to do the right thing, and who wants to be a part of the life of Car Do Prawn, the land that he will inherit, but he has always been under the thumb of his mother and her Wise Woman, Ursilla.
He is surrounded by intrigue, and he's hated because he's the heir. Kethan is trapped by these intrigues when he accepts a gift that changes the course of his life.
The magic in this book is interesting and well described. I found Kethan's discoveries and escapes very gripping, and I was rooting for him all the way. There are hints of a greater mystery that connects this book to the rest of the series, but there's no cliffhanger. The ending was a tiny bit abrupt, but still satisfying.
I'm pretty sure I'll be reading more Andre Norton.
Read
May 29, 2012I read this for the first time when I was a kid, and I decided to come back as an adult and see how it held up. Not bad at all. There are the usual features of fantasy novels that either draw you in or repel you: the made-up words, the artificially archaic syntax, the unexplained magical world - if these instantly turn you off to a book, then don't bother with this one. But if you can see past it, this is actually a well-crafted little novel.
I realized, while reading it this time, that this book was my first glimpse into the hardened political ways one person can use another. Kethan is not a person in the eyes of his mother and Ursilla; he is an object to be manipulated. The Jargoon Pard is about Kethan's struggle for himself, a coming-of-age story in the best sense of the word.
I realized, while reading it this time, that this book was my first glimpse into the hardened political ways one person can use another. Kethan is not a person in the eyes of his mother and Ursilla; he is an object to be manipulated. The Jargoon Pard is about Kethan's struggle for himself, a coming-of-age story in the best sense of the word.
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