save the world fantasy from 1970's or 80's

[Ann aka Iftcan]

I read this book some time in the mid-to-late 70s or 1980's.

The book was a fairly typical "save the world" fantasy quest. What I remember about it is fairly limited, but here goes.

Every 2k years or so, the "bad guy" (who is a god) gets a chance to end the world. A group of humans must defeat him and get his promise to not use whatever the method he'd come up with this time ever again. I think that this is the bad guy's last shot at ending the world (it's one of those "god's made a bet" or something like that.) One of the previous groups/heroes who'd stopped him was an actor who bet the god that he could act a role so convincingly that no one would ever be able to top him. The role called for the actor to die--so he did, thus saving the world that time. This time, the group of heroes is headed by an old woman (I believe a priestess, but she could just be a witch) and a kitten. The old woman had been hoarding her last little bit of magic so that it would last just as long as she lived. This is something that is mentioned several times in the book. I don't remember what the kitten's "problem" is, but he/she also has some kind of problem, as do the rest of the group that assembles on their trek to stop the bad guy. (view spoiler)[ They do stop him, but the old lady uses the last of her magic and is dieing in order to stop him. Her patron goddess appears and tells the entire group that the way that they were able to defeat the bad guy was because they didn't believe that the could do it, so it kept him from believing that they could do it too, at least until it was too late for him to do anything to stop them. (hide spoiler)]

I don't remember who wrote it--not even if it was a man or woman. I just remember enjoying the book and it popped into my head tonight for some reason.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

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[Serendi]

Ann, can you think of other books that have the same kind of "feel"?

[Ann aka Iftcan]

It was just a basic save the world type fantasy book.

[Michele]

Ooh I hope someone solves this, it sounds great!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

From what I remember, it was a good one. I liked the characters, and enjoyed that they were NOT perfect. Which is why, when I remembered it, I decided to post it and see if anyone else knew what it was.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

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[Artwench]

Sounds very familiar... Like I read it within the last few years. Dang!

[Artwench]

Was it on Kindle?

[Ann aka Iftcan]

artwench--Not in the 70's. Although they are starting to put a lot of the "oldies but goodies" onto Kindle and Nook, so it could be now.

[Barbara]

Did the kitten talk? Was it a normal kitten, or some sort of bespelled person or other creature? Was it the witch's familiar?

[Ann aka Iftcan]

It was a "normal" kitten, but because the old woman was of a magical persuasion she was able to understand it. This was definitely a "high fantasy" world, and I don't remember if anyone else could understand the kitten or not...or even if all animals could be understood. Mostly what I remember is that all of the members of the Quest Team were insecure and thought that they were useless

[Michele]

Maybe something by Mary Brown? The Unlikely Ones has a group of unlikely heroes including a young woman and a kitten who all feel "broken" or incapable in some way, and the woman is the only one who can talk to the animals. Although that book has nothing to do with the world ending, Brown's other books look like they might have similar groups of protagonists.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

I checked out Mary Brown and her The Unlikely Ones. While very similar, that's not quite it. I tried using the "You might like" suggestions on the book's thread--no luck that way either. I also checked out her other books, and none of them were it either.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

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[Ann aka Iftcan]

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[Ann aka Iftcan]

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[Michele]

Man I so wish someone would solve this because I REALLY want to read it...

[Waldo]

I see you have been searching for this book a very long time. I hope my own search will not be as long.

The one title that comes to my mind is a series of 5 books that form The Belgariad Boxed Set: Pawn of Prophecy / Queen of Sorcery / Magician's Gambit / Castle of Wizardry / Enchanters' End Game narrative, featuring Polgara The Sorceress. While I do not recall a kitten, I last read the books in the mid-80s, the rest of your synopsis sounds bang on. If you had referred to a wolf, I would be certain. If this is not the story and not one you have already read, then I can recommend it.

It might help the time pass while you wait for the right answer. Good luck!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Waldo, while a good suggestion, that's not the book. I remember reading the belgariad series (and more than that, making a Ce'nedra costume for my daughter one year for a competition) so I know that it's not that set.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

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[Ann aka Iftcan]

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[Ann aka Iftcan]

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[Ann aka Iftcan]

Time to bump up the threads again

[Michele]

Bump

[Waldo]

Needs more bumping....

Once or twice a year is not Bumpicacy!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

I know it needs more bumping Walding, but I'm a mod and bumping my own threads sometimes takes a backseat to everything else. Still, wish this one would get found.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Bump

[Sarah]

Free bump ;)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Please note you can bump your own threads, but we ask you not to bump others' because the group is so large.

[Waldo]

Sarah wrote: "Free bump ;)"

Lobstergirl wrote: "Please note you can bump your own threads, but we ask you not to bump others' because the group is so large."

Merry Christmas Lobstergirl & Sarah.
What if you're looking for the same book, or interested in the answer to the Original poster's query? I am following this topic since pre-CoVid, The original poster is a mod, who has stated the search here takes a backseat to her mod duties. I would be apt to give a bump myself in appreciation to such a person making her contribution here over the years.

I mean, rather than starting the same thread and cluttering up the forum with redundant queries.....

SIDE NOTE: The Original Poster (Ann aka Iftcan, 66 y.o.) has not been on Goodreads for over 1 year. Given the mounting post-vaccination deaths, and I just learnt of two more over the telephone 30 minutes ago, I am prompted to ask is she okay?