Ciara's Song: A Chronicle of Witch World

Witch World Series 1: The Estcarp Cycle #9

by Andre Norton, Lyn McConchie

In Karsten, Ciara of Elmsgarth is only a small girl when the edict is carried out to kill all with Witch blood, and take all they own. As a mob murderers her family, Ciara is rescued and protected by the powerful Lord Tarnoor and his son, Trovagh. As the years pass, Ciara and Trovagh grow to love each other and marry, raising children of their own. Then an evil sorcerer rises to power, and his vendetta against Ciara threatens all she loves.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Magic, Cats, Witches, Young Adult

244 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Andre 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.

Reviews

[Sabin Harshberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

Great plot, great Characters, but that is what I've come to expect from Andre Norton. Good to read about a country in the Witch World Series that isn't written about much.

[Virginia Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of the history of the Witch World

Every story, every author, adds life and detail to this enchanting, war torn world. The character of the individuals brings beauty and value to each story.

[Janetta Bitting · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Excellent Tale

This is an excellent plot or the growth of both good and evil. The prejudice against major reaps a bitter harvest. The young woman of mixed blood must forge ahead alone.

[Wilson E. Stevens Sr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well done witch world novel about Ciara, her families death, her being saved, raised, marriage, children and grandchildren in a medieval world of magic and war.

[Randall Hunt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Written solely by Lyn McConchie, this book has neither the style, nor the tone of Witch World books written by Andre Norton. Prepare to be disappointed.

[penny shima glanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading the Witch World books out of any known order. As I find them, as long as they don't very obviously build upon another volume, I read them. At the moment I seem to be finding and reading about "The Turning" with Ciara's Song another title in this section.

The Turning books deal with questions regarding who can handle magic power and if it is for good or evil. Ciara is "part of the old blood" and is largely untrained due to an earlier purge that left her grandmother without her mother and teacher. As with other stories in this series gender and traditional roles are questioned as is the other standard fare: good and evil.

I found this story stronger than the other three Turning books I've read (The Key of the Keplian, The Magestone, and the Warding of Wtichworld) in demonstrating family and sibling bonds of love and trust. Each book has its strength and minor weaknesses. I really enjoyed this one.

[Valerie]

Either I just put this on the shelf without reading it, or I forgot it immediately. Not quite as sanguinary as other Witch World books--at least the Lord involved mostly stays out of blood-feuds. There're still murders in the story, but not as many.

This was from Norton's later years, when she rarely wrote a book alone, and a lot of the differences in tone are probably from the co-author.

Also curiously inconclusive. A great deal of effort is put into developing the history and personalities of one clan, only to be resolved in the end by the deus ex machina of emigration of only one member. A lot of loose ends are left, and it seems likely there was meant to be a sequel.

In terms of dating, this is hard to place, because it's generational. I've put it where I have (right after The Crystal Gryphon), because it begins at the time of the Thrice Horning in Karsten.

[Rdschaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! The first 2/3 of this book could easily fall in to the Western genre. It makes me yearn for a simpler life on a horse farm

[Sandra Munger · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Kars called blood feud on witches, what happened to those that survived. This is a story from a survivor on the hunt and her life and her family's life after.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to have to read more Andre Norton. I don't mind that this is a series.