Moongather

Duel of Sorcery #1

by Jo Clayton

Serroi had been an outcast. She was a misborn of the windrunners, of small stature with pale olive skin and certain strangely heightened sensitivies. But now she was a meie - a woman warrior trained by an exclusive order. She had been with her shieldmate at the Plaz when she overheard the assassination plot against the Domnor. A murder was to take place at Moongather - that time of increased access to the demon world.

But while trying to escape with the information, Serroi broke her shieldmate oath, a breach of honor which made life unbearable for her, and forced her back - to search for her betrayed shieldmate and warn the Domnor, although the land itself seemed to be hunting her!

(Source: back cover)

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, High Fantasy

240 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1982

About the author

Jo Clayton, whose parents named her after Jo in Little Women, was born and raised in Modesto, California. She and her three sisters shared a room and took turns telling each other bedtime stories. One of her sisters noted that Jo's stories were the best, and often contained science fiction and fantasy elements.

Clayton graduated from the University of California in 1963, Summa Cum Laude, and started teaching near Los Angeles.

In 1969, after a religious experience, she moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, joining the teaching order Sisters of Mount Carmel as a novice. She left three years later, before taking final orders.

During her time in New Orleans, Clayton sold sketches and paintings in Pioneer Square to supplement her income.

After being robbed several times, Clayton moved to Portland, Oregon in 1983. She remained there for the rest of her life.

Clayton was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1996. Jo continued to write during her year and a half in the hospital. She finished Drum Calls, the second book of the Drums of Chaos series, and was halfway through the third and final book when she lost her struggle with multiple myeloma in February, 1998.

Literary executor Katherine Kerr made arrangements with established author Kevin Andrew Murphy to finish the third book of the Drums of Chaos series. It is now completed.

Reviews

[Wealhtheow]

Described as "she's a bisexual swordswoman with a magical nature, her lover's an asskicking fatty out to reclaim his throne. They fight misogynists! (No really.)" Intriguing!

[William Leight · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Duel of Sorcery" is split in half, with part of the book taking place in the present day, as Serroi, a female warrior from a religious order, races to interrupt a planned assassination, pursued by her order's enemies and a re-awakened trauma from her childhood. The other half of the book deals with that childhood, in which Serroi, a "misborn" -- the term is never explained, but presumably has to do with her green skin -- is purchased by a sorcerer, a Noris, who wants to use her magical connection to animals for his own nefarious purposes. This part is pretty good, albeit, since it is essentially a depiction of the emotional abuse of a child -- the Noris can only seen Serroi as a tool for his researches, one to be treated kindly if obedient and poorly if not -- kind of depressing. However, the other half is less interesting, with a mostly typical lineup of bad guys and a not-particularly-interesting world. This includes Serroi's all-female earth mother religious order -- which, to be fair, may well have been more novel in 1982 than it is now -- which renders the adult Serroi rather less interesting than the child version. The Domnor, who was to be assassinated, adds a spark of interest when we meet him at the end, but I'm not sure if it's enough to get me to keep reading the series.

[Suzanne Thackston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite fantasy books. It's just so skilfully, deftly written. The time-jump thing is risky for any writer, but Clayton nails it. It's a beautiful, magical, heart-tugging, heart-pounding, suspenseful read. And did I mention beautiful? I love books that are saturated in beauty.
I was sad that the next two in the trilogy didn't match up. And I recently bought one that carries on the story, which I put down after a chapter, to my shock. It's unusual for one author to produce one of my favorites AND one that I can put down unfinished.
If you only read one Jo Clayton book, this should be the one.
3/10/22 This book has help up consistently over the decades. One of my all-time reliable fantasy favorites.

[Loren C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted this to be good because it had such a promising cover, but it just wasn't. It starts off with a barrage of unexplained made up terms, hops wildly back and forth up and down the timeline, and the dialogue is meh. I put it down probably sixty pages in, there are better things to spend time on.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find that Jo Clayton has created realistic, flawed characters, even though she writes using the fantasy genre. Her characters inhabit a well-developed worlds that have people from diverse and believable cultures. Clayton knows how to put together dynamic, action-packed conflicts that keep me interested and eager to turn the next page. The main characters are multi-faceted, strong, vulnerable and have values that motivate them to go beyond personal pain and psychological trauma to do the "right thing", not matter what the cost. The fact that the protagonists tend to fight for the underdog also helps.

I have read one of Clayton's Diadem series and all of her The Duel of Sorcery trilogy. They are part of an old series, C1980s, but they stand the test of time.

[Anne Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am rather surprised that I didn’t find this series in the 1980s, but, reading it now, in 2019, I think that it stands up very well. I love the strong female characters and the beautiful world-building writing. The adventure is great and the alternate chapters from differing timelines work very well. The only thing that grates on me is the use of so many new terms for animals, plants etc. This can get very confusing as you read through the trilogy.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* Jo Clayton has to be one of the most overlooked fantasy writers out there. Her prose is really beautiful and all her characters and world building is very well developed. I love her books and this trilogy is off to a great start. The main character, Serroi's, story is laid out alternating back and forth between segments of her childhood and adult life. It is very effective and sets up the foundation of what is to come in the next book.

[Kris Rafferty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jo Clayton is an amazing writer. When I first read this book in 82 the story floored me. Now, her skill as a writer does.

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: sexual assault of a minor

[James]

The first of a great fantasy trilogy

[Althea Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first in the "Duel of Sorcery" series, but works as a stand-alone.
Jo Clayton pretty much pioneered the woman-centered "Sword-and-Sorceress" subgenre of fantasy, and although not much like this is getting published today, I think her writing holds up quite well.
It's not deep or metaphorical - it's pure fantasy-action-adventure, but her characters and settings are interesting and individual.
"Moongather" tells the story of Serroi, alternating between chapters that show her as a young girl and as a woman.
As a child, we learn, she was rejected by her tribe for being 'mis-born' - but the same traits that caused her people to reject her attracts the attention of a Noris, or sorcerer, who adopts her. But his motives in doing so may be suspect...
As a woman, we see Serroi as an independent meie, or swordswoman. Unfortunately, she's in a bad situation right now. Inadvertently, she has gained knowledge of a nefarious political plot, and she's being pursued by those who would rather see her dead than tell what she knows...

[Elizabeth Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my very favorite series of all times. I love the female characters. I love how Jo Clayton writes. Her characters are strong, flawed, beautiful in their own way, adventurous, and everything I wanted to be when I was a little girl. I can still feel this story stirring in my soul. I can see bits and pieces of it like a dream that I literally had. It does take some brain power to read, Joe Clayton practically invents a new language in order to really illustrate her new world for you. Give it time, immerse yourself and enjoy.

[Roxann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one of three. The female main character, Serroi, is a very strong lead character -so if you like that this is a good book for you. This has lots of magic in it. Serroi has green skin and almost like a third eye in the middle of her forehead. The book goes back and forth from when she was a child given away to a Nor and then when she is 27 years old. Author did a good job writing. The book is a fast read.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little vague on the details. It's as if the author deliberately obfuscated the world building. And the ending just seemed ... off, tonally, thematically and logically.

But it was frequently well written, psychologically interesting and a promising start to a trilogy.

[Erik Graff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This fantasy novel left no impression on me. I suspect, since it's so unlike my usual reading, that some friend recommended it because of its having strong female characters.

[Mir]

I think I may have read or tried to read this when I was a kid...

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book when I was younger, one of my favorites.

[Tessa in Mid-Michigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This got better as it went along. Then the end just kinda stops, not really a conclusion...

[Dustin]

It has come to my attention that (and I really shouldn't be surprised, given the sexist bias, present still in 2018, but I'm in a bit of a shock and frankly, I'm appalled,) women writers have essentially been systematically erased; forgotten.

Tor.com presents https://www.tor.com/2018/01/22/fighti...

In an attempt to bring awareness to this very important--and saddening-- issue, I thought I'd present them here. Maybe we can learn from the mistakes of the past and build a better future. That is my hope.

While I am fond of her Diadem novels, the Clayton I’d recommend as a starting point is Moongather, first in the Duel of Sorcery series. Moongather begins with a shocking act of betrayal, as seasoned warrior Serroi abandons her shield-mate Tayyan to a wizard. Told in two intertwined narratives, the novel eventually explains why green-skinned Serroi is so terrified of mages and what is at stake if she cannot overcome her fear.