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Witch World Series 4: Secrets of the Witch World #3
The Warding of Witch World
Simon Tregarth returns, leading a planet's heroes in the final war against the Dark, as the classic fantasy series rises to its monumental, breathtakingly grand climax ... The Warding of Witch World.
The witches summon the mighty to Es: Lord Tregarth and his wife, Jaelithe; War Marshal Koris and Lady Loyse of Gorm; the famed adept Hilarion and sorceress Kaththea Tregarth; Dahaun of Green Valley; and many others of power.
Allies and former enemies face a crisis greater than the Turning, a threat worse than the Kolder, an apocalypse beyond the Great Disaster. The Magestone, the Key to the pandimensional gates, has been lost to Otherspace... Now all the gates are open. And an infinite flood of evils is about to wash across the world. The known gates can be warded and watched. But heroes of the Light, chosen by their talents, must dare unknown dangers beyond all charted lands, seeking to close gates in a desperate race against the Dark.
Traveling south of Estcarp and Escore, Keris Tregarth, Destree the Voice of Gunnora, the part-Navajo Lady Eleeri, and their companions join an alien giant to traverse deadly jungles, searching for the lost city of the First Adept... With Garth Howell fallen to the sway of the Dark, Ibycus the Protector, Firdun of Gryphon Eyrie, the werepard Kethan and their small band must go west of Arvon and the Waste to battle the gate-born Power of the Black Mage. Questing north beyond Alizon and End of the World, as icebergs magically force innocents to the demon isle of Dargh, travel Lord Simond and Lady Trusla of Tor Marsh, guided by the witch Frost and a Latt shaman, to challenge a possessing, all-powerful being who has waited since the dawn of time for her freedom - and her revenge... Power and peril lurk at every step, Death will be their companion, and if anyone fails, the Witch World is doomed.
The witches summon the mighty to Es: Lord Tregarth and his wife, Jaelithe; War Marshal Koris and Lady Loyse of Gorm; the famed adept Hilarion and sorceress Kaththea Tregarth; Dahaun of Green Valley; and many others of power.
Allies and former enemies face a crisis greater than the Turning, a threat worse than the Kolder, an apocalypse beyond the Great Disaster. The Magestone, the Key to the pandimensional gates, has been lost to Otherspace... Now all the gates are open. And an infinite flood of evils is about to wash across the world. The known gates can be warded and watched. But heroes of the Light, chosen by their talents, must dare unknown dangers beyond all charted lands, seeking to close gates in a desperate race against the Dark.
Traveling south of Estcarp and Escore, Keris Tregarth, Destree the Voice of Gunnora, the part-Navajo Lady Eleeri, and their companions join an alien giant to traverse deadly jungles, searching for the lost city of the First Adept... With Garth Howell fallen to the sway of the Dark, Ibycus the Protector, Firdun of Gryphon Eyrie, the werepard Kethan and their small band must go west of Arvon and the Waste to battle the gate-born Power of the Black Mage. Questing north beyond Alizon and End of the World, as icebergs magically force innocents to the demon isle of Dargh, travel Lord Simond and Lady Trusla of Tor Marsh, guided by the witch Frost and a Latt shaman, to challenge a possessing, all-powerful being who has waited since the dawn of time for her freedom - and her revenge... Power and peril lurk at every step, Death will be their companion, and if anyone fails, the Witch World is doomed.
590 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
19 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
690 books1,391 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 17, 2017
Finally finished this re-read. It only took me two tries. I started it after the new year, got partway through, set it down and didn't pick it up until I went back and re-read books 1 and 2 (not 3) of the Turning Books (2 novellas per book).
Funnily enough, I barely remembered what I had read earlier in the year, so started from the beginning again.
Given that the author was well into her 80s when this was written, I suppose some slack must be cut, but it is so different from her other witch world books that it is hard to believe that she wrote it and not one of her accompanists. Third person, multiple POVs from paragraph to paragraph, meandering to the point of boredom.
Having skipped re-reading the Key of the Keplian (wherein the keplian are found to actually be good horses, not bad) and the Magestone (wherein there is hope to redeem the Alizondern), several of the characters were less familiar but that was really no loss to the stories - travelling, travelling and everyone's role seemed rather minor overall. And no serious sense of urgency in spite of the need for the travelling.
The book is essentially 3 journeys: to the south, past Var with a motley crew; to the west into the Waste with a another motley crew both being a bit of an old home week reunion, of the 2nd or 3rd generations. These were the longest of the 3 sections detailing 2 of the journeys to find and close the gates. The 3rd section was shorter, with fewer familiar names except for Trusla and Simond. It also meandered and tied up a loose end that hadn't seemed that loose, a gate in the north where the Sulcars had come through.
Closure to the series, I suppose, but a rather disappointing read even with slack having been cut.
Funnily enough, I barely remembered what I had read earlier in the year, so started from the beginning again.
Given that the author was well into her 80s when this was written, I suppose some slack must be cut, but it is so different from her other witch world books that it is hard to believe that she wrote it and not one of her accompanists. Third person, multiple POVs from paragraph to paragraph, meandering to the point of boredom.
Having skipped re-reading the Key of the Keplian (wherein the keplian are found to actually be good horses, not bad) and the Magestone (wherein there is hope to redeem the Alizondern), several of the characters were less familiar but that was really no loss to the stories - travelling, travelling and everyone's role seemed rather minor overall. And no serious sense of urgency in spite of the need for the travelling.
The book is essentially 3 journeys: to the south, past Var with a motley crew; to the west into the Waste with a another motley crew both being a bit of an old home week reunion, of the 2nd or 3rd generations. These were the longest of the 3 sections detailing 2 of the journeys to find and close the gates. The 3rd section was shorter, with fewer familiar names except for Trusla and Simond. It also meandered and tied up a loose end that hadn't seemed that loose, a gate in the north where the Sulcars had come through.
Closure to the series, I suppose, but a rather disappointing read even with slack having been cut.
January 12, 2020
There are three good tales in this book. Norton was the first science fiction writer I read. Frankly, the attempt was too large. There are too many characters and I had a difficult time keeping them straight. Each, by themselves, could have been a full book if they were better developed and would have kept me happy for a long time. Norton is still a brilliant author and this is not a bad book. My complaint is that it could have been more.
June 4, 2020
I have ordinarily liked Andre Norton's stuff a lot, but this was three disjointed stories attempted to be mashed into one. I hadn't ever read any of her Witchworld stories before, and I think that would have helped let me know the locales (a very inadequate map is provided) and some of the characters. She does well some of what she usually does well (communicating with animals and a less advanced civilization living among what's left of a previous unknown one.)
February 9, 2021
This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier.
Synopsis:
Things have gone all kinds of sideways in the Witch World. The Magestone, the key to the infamous gates, has been lost, opening all the gates to whatever awaits on the other side. With the potential for the forces of the Dark coming through, the people of The Witch Word must come together to close the gates permanently. Simon Tregarth returns to guide the various parties. Many heroes from all over The Witch World, from Escarp, to the Dales, even from Alizon, must answer the call to find and close the gates before it’s too late.
Review:
This is the final book of the Secrets of the Witch World trilogy.
With the loss of the Magestone, the gates have gone rogue. Already, some poor creatures have stumbled through in advertently. The Dark is summoning servants from other worlds to gain ultimate victory. The need to close these gates requires the people of the Witch World to band together. Many favorites from Escarp, Escore, and High Hallack must begin sending out parties to close the gates as the sages of Lormt search for information. Time is not on their side.
This book ties all the loose ends of the Witch Word together (though not the last Witch World story). It allows the reader to see what the protagonists from Witch World have been up to. The book follows three different parties in a search for dangerous gates, some of which the Dark is actively pursuing.
Synopsis:
Things have gone all kinds of sideways in the Witch World. The Magestone, the key to the infamous gates, has been lost, opening all the gates to whatever awaits on the other side. With the potential for the forces of the Dark coming through, the people of The Witch Word must come together to close the gates permanently. Simon Tregarth returns to guide the various parties. Many heroes from all over The Witch World, from Escarp, to the Dales, even from Alizon, must answer the call to find and close the gates before it’s too late.
Review:
This is the final book of the Secrets of the Witch World trilogy.
With the loss of the Magestone, the gates have gone rogue. Already, some poor creatures have stumbled through in advertently. The Dark is summoning servants from other worlds to gain ultimate victory. The need to close these gates requires the people of the Witch World to band together. Many favorites from Escarp, Escore, and High Hallack must begin sending out parties to close the gates as the sages of Lormt search for information. Time is not on their side.
This book ties all the loose ends of the Witch Word together (though not the last Witch World story). It allows the reader to see what the protagonists from Witch World have been up to. The book follows three different parties in a search for dangerous gates, some of which the Dark is actively pursuing.
April 18, 2021
I usually enjoy Norton's books, but this one just dragged. It was jumbled and poorly paced, with far too many characters, almost no descriptions of people, settings, or anything else, and such a meandering plot that the story was very hard to get drawn into. I've read a lot of the other books set in the same world, so I at least had some idea who and what some of the characters were, but this was not a very satisfying read. Oh well.
December 24, 2020
An interesting wrap-up to the series, although I didn't care for part 3 as much as parts 1 & 2. Some inconsistencies in spellings of names from prior books. Possible timeline inconsistencies. But with a series this large, there's a lot to keep track of. Overall good story.
August 31, 2020
It was good to see old favorite characters with children and grandchildren moving into witch world to face the dark side and win.
May 22, 2014
Wow, Andre hauled out all the old stories and characters from Estcarp, Escore, the Dales, High Hallack, and Arvon for this book. It's really like three individual shorter stories with a framework to hold them all together.
Am also going to have to go back and read the first two books of the Secrets of the WW. I know I real the one with the Alizonder, but it appears to me I may have missed The Key of the Keplian. Maybe. I'm not sure. Frankly, there are like thirty books in the series, including dozens of short stories, I am somewhat confused.
This one was all Andre Norton, without the other authors she often wrote with in her later years. It had the typical feeling of her WW books, lots of fights between the forces of Light and Dark with the tiniest soupcon of romance. I enjoyed it, but don't think it is my favorite of the series. That would probably be The Crystal Gryphon or the Horn Crown. I don't know, it depends on the day.
All I know is that I fell in love with this series when I was an 11 year old girl who was SUPER EXCITED to find books worth spending her babysitting money on. Books where strong, smart, powerful women and men had kick-ass adventures in defense of truth, goodness, and innocence. Fighting the Dark was a hard job, but luckily Simon, Jaelithe, Gillan, Herrel, Kyllan, Kemoc, Kaththea, and all the rest were up to the job.
Although more than 30-mumble years separate me from that 11 year old, I still LOVE Andre Norton's books, even the not-her-best ones. And that is a legacy worth leaving. Rest in peace, dear Ms. Norton, and thanks for all the books.
Am also going to have to go back and read the first two books of the Secrets of the WW. I know I real the one with the Alizonder, but it appears to me I may have missed The Key of the Keplian. Maybe. I'm not sure. Frankly, there are like thirty books in the series, including dozens of short stories, I am somewhat confused.
This one was all Andre Norton, without the other authors she often wrote with in her later years. It had the typical feeling of her WW books, lots of fights between the forces of Light and Dark with the tiniest soupcon of romance. I enjoyed it, but don't think it is my favorite of the series. That would probably be The Crystal Gryphon or the Horn Crown. I don't know, it depends on the day.
All I know is that I fell in love with this series when I was an 11 year old girl who was SUPER EXCITED to find books worth spending her babysitting money on. Books where strong, smart, powerful women and men had kick-ass adventures in defense of truth, goodness, and innocence. Fighting the Dark was a hard job, but luckily Simon, Jaelithe, Gillan, Herrel, Kyllan, Kemoc, Kaththea, and all the rest were up to the job.
Although more than 30-mumble years separate me from that 11 year old, I still LOVE Andre Norton's books, even the not-her-best ones. And that is a legacy worth leaving. Rest in peace, dear Ms. Norton, and thanks for all the books.
Read
December 3, 2015As with many epitome books, this book (which was intended to be the final book in the series, but people just went back to earlier eras, instead) has many threads, joining together people from many earlier stories. These people join together in a frankly dubious quest--to close all Gates throughout the Witch World. Why? Granted, a lot of unwelcome people who have wrought harm have come through the Gates, but so have the majority of ordinary citizens. Further, much of the harm was wrought by native Adepts. A temporary embargo, to consider which Gates are dangerous, ok. But many of the inhabitants of the Witch World were fleeing terrible situations--is it wise to cut off escape to refugees? Especially since most of those refugees have provided benefits to the cultural riches and prosperity of the Witch World.
Seems to me that it might be a matter of closing Pandora's Box before Hope can be released.
Note on a persistent lacuna: if there is a book describing how Alon became apprenticed to Hilarion, I don't know what it is. Maybe it's in one of the fan fiction collections?
This is a tryptich book, and in earlier days might have been published as a trilogy. The stories are largely independent, and can be read seperately with next to no loss of continuity. As often happens when characters from earlier books are imported, spelling of names is erratic.
Seems to me that it might be a matter of closing Pandora's Box before Hope can be released.
Note on a persistent lacuna: if there is a book describing how Alon became apprenticed to Hilarion, I don't know what it is. Maybe it's in one of the fan fiction collections?
This is a tryptich book, and in earlier days might have been published as a trilogy. The stories are largely independent, and can be read seperately with next to no loss of continuity. As often happens when characters from earlier books are imported, spelling of names is erratic.
May 3, 2020
Find gates. Close gates. Find some more.
I once found this to be a truly great read, but am having trouble remembering why. Perhaps just because it was Witch World?
I once found this to be a truly great read, but am having trouble remembering why. Perhaps just because it was Witch World?
June 1, 2009
I love that this one took all my favorite parts and made one book of them. Andre Norton is my all time favorite SciFi autohors.
April 12, 2014
Mumbling of Witch World.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews