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Witch World Series 2: High Hallack Cycle #6
Gryphon in Glory
Unrest fills the Dales as Joisan sets out from her refuge to seek out her husband, Kerovan, journeying on a secret mission in the Waste where the evil powers of the Dark threaten on every hand. Companion to the earlier book, The Crystal Gryphon.
213 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1981
69 people are currently reading
566 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
695 books1,384 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 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 2, 2025
I remember book 1 being terribly boring and now I don't know if I didn't enjoy volume 2 because I didn't remember anything from book 1 or because it was an aimless story that led nowhere. I suspect the latter answer is correct. It had some good ideas, but the plot was too much Fury Road (yes, I'm not a fan of that movie) - 'let's go in one direction, wait, let's go back' and I didn't particularly care about anything that was happening. I remember though that book 1 was painful to finish and this wasn't, so yay for improvement!
December 2, 2021
Gryphon in Glory, the sequel to my Norton favorite, The Crystal Gryphon, was published in 1981 and, like the others in this series, I read it the year it was published. At the time I remember feeling let down by it and on my recent re-read, again I was let down (but not as much).
However, I give it 3 stars because this is going to be one you MUST read, especially as it brings so many of the High Hallack historical points into focus and fans will delight in the crossovers. Without this one, you won't understand the next book Gryphon's Eyrie.
The adventures of Kerovan and Joisan continue in their alternating POV chapters, and unfortunately, so does all their misunderstandings which drags down this book in the middle of the series. Maybe it just has that mid-series doom on it?
If I had written this story, I would have brought Joisan along with Kerovan right from the beginning. It would have been really interesting to see how others would react to this confident young girl in armor accompanied by her cloven-hooved lord.
The bad:
Instead of being together, we have Joisan chasing after Kerovan and once again our two main characters are separated through most of the book.
Joisan's role here becomes rather passive. She does have adventures but it is more about meeting other people, such as Jervon and Elys (characters from a short story in Spell of the Witch World). While I liked both of these characters in their standalone, Elys comes across rather bossy and a know-it-all in this one.
Kerovan is back to doubting himself, being "possessed" (another Norton theme she likes to use). The autonomy he was promised by Neevor at the end of book one is swept away for this plot line. This is something I intensely disliked.
However, there are a few standouts for Kerovan - his scene with Imgry where he basically tells the commander how the cow ate the cabbage shows Kerovan is in no way weak. He also stands down two Wereriders. Yeah, this guy ain't weak no matter how much he might doubt himself or how Norton writes him in the last quarter of the book.
We start to lose that medieval feeling that was so strong in book one to more of a cookie-cutter type background. Even the original cover, which goes with some Aladdin-garb is ridiculous. That's why I would have preferred Joisan going with Kerovan to war.
The good:
Joisan and Kerovan finally commit to their marriage (though it takes them long enough and Kerovan is still doubting!).
We learn more about Kerovan's heritage, especially as it pertains to the Old Ones.
The Gryphon finally makes an appearance in the flesh (so to speak)!
There are some call backs to the two important men in Kerovan's young life: Riwal, who explored the Waste; and Jago, who essentially raised him. The book would have been stronger if both Joisan and Kerovan's past Dale associations had been fleshed out more as something they repudiate in this book.
The important historical points that are part of the High Hallack world are all brought into focus here. Jervon and Elys provide an important anchor to when these events are taking place on the HH storyline. They also show Kerovan and Joisan that there is a way to come through as a couple.
Another point we learn here is that Kerovan is sent by Imgry to begin negotiations with the Wereriders, who are in the Waste exiled from Arvon. Specifically, Hyron and Herrel make an appearance; characters that are important in The Year of the Unicorn. In that book, the war has ended, and the Wereriders take their Dale brides as price for their involvement in defending the Dales against the invaders. And in The Jargoon Pride, the story about Kethan, son of Gillan and Herrel, in Arvon.
The crossovers will delight those who love High Hallack, even though the story seems to have become disconnected from our two main characters.
Like all Norton stories, these are not "romances" - she wrote true YA stories which were about self-identity. Set aside the romance expectations and you will enjoy the book better.
When it comes to the timeline facts, Norton plays a little fast and lose here. I don't think she ever had plans on writing a sequel to Crystal Gryphon but as she started writing a bunch of short stories about High Hallack and the Witch World about this time (late 1980s-90s), I think she decided to write this one more as an anchor to the other tales she was writing.
However, I give it 3 stars because this is going to be one you MUST read, especially as it brings so many of the High Hallack historical points into focus and fans will delight in the crossovers. Without this one, you won't understand the next book Gryphon's Eyrie.
The adventures of Kerovan and Joisan continue in their alternating POV chapters, and unfortunately, so does all their misunderstandings which drags down this book in the middle of the series. Maybe it just has that mid-series doom on it?
If I had written this story, I would have brought Joisan along with Kerovan right from the beginning. It would have been really interesting to see how others would react to this confident young girl in armor accompanied by her cloven-hooved lord.
The bad:
Instead of being together, we have Joisan chasing after Kerovan and once again our two main characters are separated through most of the book.
Joisan's role here becomes rather passive. She does have adventures but it is more about meeting other people, such as Jervon and Elys (characters from a short story in Spell of the Witch World). While I liked both of these characters in their standalone, Elys comes across rather bossy and a know-it-all in this one.
Kerovan is back to doubting himself, being "possessed" (another Norton theme she likes to use). The autonomy he was promised by Neevor at the end of book one is swept away for this plot line. This is something I intensely disliked.
However, there are a few standouts for Kerovan - his scene with Imgry where he basically tells the commander how the cow ate the cabbage shows Kerovan is in no way weak. He also stands down two Wereriders. Yeah, this guy ain't weak no matter how much he might doubt himself or how Norton writes him in the last quarter of the book.
We start to lose that medieval feeling that was so strong in book one to more of a cookie-cutter type background. Even the original cover, which goes with some Aladdin-garb is ridiculous. That's why I would have preferred Joisan going with Kerovan to war.
The good:
Joisan and Kerovan finally commit to their marriage (though it takes them long enough and Kerovan is still doubting!).
We learn more about Kerovan's heritage, especially as it pertains to the Old Ones.
The Gryphon finally makes an appearance in the flesh (so to speak)!
There are some call backs to the two important men in Kerovan's young life: Riwal, who explored the Waste; and Jago, who essentially raised him. The book would have been stronger if both Joisan and Kerovan's past Dale associations had been fleshed out more as something they repudiate in this book.
The important historical points that are part of the High Hallack world are all brought into focus here. Jervon and Elys provide an important anchor to when these events are taking place on the HH storyline. They also show Kerovan and Joisan that there is a way to come through as a couple.
Another point we learn here is that Kerovan is sent by Imgry to begin negotiations with the Wereriders, who are in the Waste exiled from Arvon. Specifically, Hyron and Herrel make an appearance; characters that are important in The Year of the Unicorn. In that book, the war has ended, and the Wereriders take their Dale brides as price for their involvement in defending the Dales against the invaders. And in The Jargoon Pride, the story about Kethan, son of Gillan and Herrel, in Arvon.
The crossovers will delight those who love High Hallack, even though the story seems to have become disconnected from our two main characters.
Like all Norton stories, these are not "romances" - she wrote true YA stories which were about self-identity. Set aside the romance expectations and you will enjoy the book better.
When it comes to the timeline facts, Norton plays a little fast and lose here. I don't think she ever had plans on writing a sequel to Crystal Gryphon but as she started writing a bunch of short stories about High Hallack and the Witch World about this time (late 1980s-90s), I think she decided to write this one more as an anchor to the other tales she was writing.
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July 30, 2015It's hard to read these books in chronological order, particularly when they weren't written in chronological order. This is the part when the Were-Riders were recruited to help the Dales against the Alizonders, but it includes Elys and Jervon, and so is after one of the stories in Spell of The Witch World. (I figure that, by the end, Norton must've had a huge chart to remind her of what was when, and who were contemporaries.)
This volume begins to move quite a few characters from the Dales to Arvon. Further in to the story, there are more and more linkages formed, so that what began as separate stories becomes part of a more comprehensive narrative.
This volume begins to move quite a few characters from the Dales to Arvon. Further in to the story, there are more and more linkages formed, so that what began as separate stories becomes part of a more comprehensive narrative.
March 24, 2022
The sequel to “The Crystal Griffin” is excellent but does not quite equal its predecesso. Joisan is, again very well realised and her chapters are superb.
On the other hand I found myself frequently irritated by Kerovan’s unending self pity and Angst. The actual story line was well organised and interesting.
I am reading the sequence of High Hallack novels in the ebook by Open Road. I was dismayed by the frequent textual errors. Words and phrases were put in italics for no apparent reason and there were many annoying typos. I would not advise getting this edition.
On the other hand I found myself frequently irritated by Kerovan’s unending self pity and Angst. The actual story line was well organised and interesting.
I am reading the sequence of High Hallack novels in the ebook by Open Road. I was dismayed by the frequent textual errors. Words and phrases were put in italics for no apparent reason and there were many annoying typos. I would not advise getting this edition.
April 26, 2020
This sequel actually improves on Crystal Gryphon — while magic still jerks Joisan and Kerovan around a lot, they have more independence, particularly in the final battle. It's also a crossover book of sorts — we get Elys and Jervon (from Spell of the Witch World) and the Were-Riders (from Year of the Unicorn, set in the past).
Following the happy ending of the previous book, Kerovan has an attack of guilt about binding Joisan to a FREAK such as himself (this came off very disability-stereotype to me) and so heads out into the Waste to find allies for the Dales against the invaders (definitely Kolder and seeking a power source in the Waste themselves). Joisan stubbornly follows, meets Elys and Jervon and realizes that yes, two outcasts can bond together.
This feels very much like it's set back in Estcarp and Estcore — the Kolder, the Thals and a general sense that the waste is populated by Old Powers that shouldn't be disturbed — but it worked for me.
Following the happy ending of the previous book, Kerovan has an attack of guilt about binding Joisan to a FREAK such as himself (this came off very disability-stereotype to me) and so heads out into the Waste to find allies for the Dales against the invaders (definitely Kolder and seeking a power source in the Waste themselves). Joisan stubbornly follows, meets Elys and Jervon and realizes that yes, two outcasts can bond together.
This feels very much like it's set back in Estcarp and Estcore — the Kolder, the Thals and a general sense that the waste is populated by Old Powers that shouldn't be disturbed — but it worked for me.
June 2, 2021
Very disappointed. Joisan and Kerovan are both so filled with self doubt and respond to it from opposite directions.
Joisan was a capable young woman, but this entire book she whines to herself how she is incomplete without her lord. Kerovan has convinced himself that he is unworthy of her and dissolves their marriage freeing her to follow her own life.
Storywise Kerovan left Joisan so he could fight against the invaders in his own way. Which takes him to the waste in search of whatever the enemy is seeking. Of course she feels the need to search for him after giving him considerable time to get some distance away.
At least in the last quarter of the book we see some progress toward his relationship with the old ones.
Joisan was a capable young woman, but this entire book she whines to herself how she is incomplete without her lord. Kerovan has convinced himself that he is unworthy of her and dissolves their marriage freeing her to follow her own life.
Storywise Kerovan left Joisan so he could fight against the invaders in his own way. Which takes him to the waste in search of whatever the enemy is seeking. Of course she feels the need to search for him after giving him considerable time to get some distance away.
At least in the last quarter of the book we see some progress toward his relationship with the old ones.
June 6, 2021
This installment irritated me. I felt the author cheated. A breakthrough in relationships that was a crowning achievement in the last volume is now regarded as nonexistent and the same old struggles are rerun again which makes the plot advancement slow and lugubrious. I expected better of this author. In this mood, I am less willing to forgive too many typos in this ebook edition, too.
I did continue through but will take a bit of a break before continuing this cycle of books. The ending was exciting, if predictable.
I did continue through but will take a bit of a break before continuing this cycle of books. The ending was exciting, if predictable.
January 20, 2022
This was a fun series: sword & sorcery meets beauty & the beast. :)
April 15, 2023
Just an old favorite that makes me warm and squishy inside when I read it.
July 10, 2024
Better than I remember but absolutely has that middle book feeling.
December 22, 2020
Sometimes reading these books can be confusing, as they were not written in a chronological order. This book continues the tale of the Wereriders and their separation from their world and from the Witch World, and what that has cost them. Perhaps it might be more accurate to say, it introduces us to the Wereriders, through the need of a lord to entice them to his aid on the side of a long running battle with overseas and outworld invaders.
In the final evaluation though, this it involves a not-quite-human man, Kerovan, and his wife, Joisan, who are separated but she refuses to give up on her love for him. He meanwhile is first trying to find the Wereriders, then afterwards as he heads to an unknown future, he discovers that Joisan has been kidnapped by an evil force. This event, together with other forces interfering, cause strife and turmoil as Kerovan and Joisan find out more about each other, and their need to be together. Even as they find each other, they are nearly rift apart by 'old ones' who preceded mankind and sometimes can't resist interfering.
The tale is well told, with just enough detail to let the reader know what the area looks like, but not enough to overwhelm. A particular point I enjoyed was the 'end of the road' where Kerovan strives to open what must be a gate, as the road obviously once went through the cliff wall that now blocks the road.
A cross-breed man, a human woman, psychic cats, a captive gryphon, and a nod to the ongoing wars and efforts to purge evil from the lands all meld together into a captivating story.
In the final evaluation though, this it involves a not-quite-human man, Kerovan, and his wife, Joisan, who are separated but she refuses to give up on her love for him. He meanwhile is first trying to find the Wereriders, then afterwards as he heads to an unknown future, he discovers that Joisan has been kidnapped by an evil force. This event, together with other forces interfering, cause strife and turmoil as Kerovan and Joisan find out more about each other, and their need to be together. Even as they find each other, they are nearly rift apart by 'old ones' who preceded mankind and sometimes can't resist interfering.
The tale is well told, with just enough detail to let the reader know what the area looks like, but not enough to overwhelm. A particular point I enjoyed was the 'end of the road' where Kerovan strives to open what must be a gate, as the road obviously once went through the cliff wall that now blocks the road.
A cross-breed man, a human woman, psychic cats, a captive gryphon, and a nod to the ongoing wars and efforts to purge evil from the lands all meld together into a captivating story.
January 16, 2017
This book is suffers from the over-doneness of Kerovan's repudiation of Joisan due to his issues about who he is. In a way, it echoes Yonan in Trey of Swords and being used by a greater force.
The alternating POVs continue, with some repetition occurring from chapter to chapter as some events are described from Joisan's POV and then again by Kerovan. The real motivation of the invasion by Alizon is also revealed.
It is here that the initial contact with the Wereriders occurs. And it also here that Joisan meets Elys and Jervon. This is where there is a conflict in the timeline established in "Spell of the Witch World" published in 1972. There, in the 3rd or 4th year of the war, the wereriders are mentioned as having agreed to help. www.xenite.org/features/andre-norton/... And yet, here are Elys and Jervon in the Waste as Kerovan makes contact with the wereriders.
First Joisan is searching for Kerovan and then he is searching for her. But by the end there is some resolution as to his identity and the path he chooses to walk - about time for poor Joisan.
I will say this is more of a 2.5 only because Kerovan was getting on my nerves a bit - I had to keep telling myself he was still quite young. And I would have liked more of the cats.
The alternating POVs continue, with some repetition occurring from chapter to chapter as some events are described from Joisan's POV and then again by Kerovan. The real motivation of the invasion by Alizon is also revealed.
It is here that the initial contact with the Wereriders occurs. And it also here that Joisan meets Elys and Jervon. This is where there is a conflict in the timeline established in "Spell of the Witch World" published in 1972. There, in the 3rd or 4th year of the war, the wereriders are mentioned as having agreed to help. www.xenite.org/features/andre-norton/... And yet, here are Elys and Jervon in the Waste as Kerovan makes contact with the wereriders.
First Joisan is searching for Kerovan and then he is searching for her. But by the end there is some resolution as to his identity and the path he chooses to walk - about time for poor Joisan.
I will say this is more of a 2.5 only because Kerovan was getting on my nerves a bit - I had to keep telling myself he was still quite young. And I would have liked more of the cats.
November 24, 2015
Not bad. Of course there's a lot of romance-novel stuff which I ate up as a youngster, but it's got a nice variety of plot elements.
Joisan and Kerovan are supposed to be married; but Kerovan has rejected her in order to protect her from the fate following his magic-imbued birth defect. Joisian cannot let him go though, and it's just as well, as he will need Joisian's courage and help, and the magic of gryphon charm he gave to her, to follow his destiny. Joisian is a strong, capable woman and she chooses to go after Kerovan to support him... and she does better at taking care of herself than he does.
At least the two of them end up pursuing (at least when Kerovan isn't possessed by an 'other') a relationship of equals, and they have a role model in another couple with an equal relationship, Elys and Jervon, where the woman takes the lead.
Norton's ideas about magic and magical creatures are pretty interesting and they were unique for their time. Very little gore but a lot of spooky or creepy bits. I don't know if modern readers would find it dated. I think I like Crystal Gryphon, Gryphon in Glory, and Gryphon's Eyrie best of all the Witch World books.
Joisan and Kerovan are supposed to be married; but Kerovan has rejected her in order to protect her from the fate following his magic-imbued birth defect. Joisian cannot let him go though, and it's just as well, as he will need Joisian's courage and help, and the magic of gryphon charm he gave to her, to follow his destiny. Joisian is a strong, capable woman and she chooses to go after Kerovan to support him... and she does better at taking care of herself than he does.
At least the two of them end up pursuing (at least when Kerovan isn't possessed by an 'other') a relationship of equals, and they have a role model in another couple with an equal relationship, Elys and Jervon, where the woman takes the lead.
Norton's ideas about magic and magical creatures are pretty interesting and they were unique for their time. Very little gore but a lot of spooky or creepy bits. I don't know if modern readers would find it dated. I think I like Crystal Gryphon, Gryphon in Glory, and Gryphon's Eyrie best of all the Witch World books.
April 24, 2015
Probably this book would'be been better had I known it was x of n in a series (or two?), but still. I slogged through it and read several other books in the meantime. Plus, Joisan was cooler than she seemed to want to allow herself to be, and the romance was thickly painted over a melodramatic Light/Dark battle that made almost no sense and was all described in vague colors and swirls and flowing of "energy".
I wish the actual gryphon had been the cool Power in the end and not just the pet of Gryphon-Man The Most Awesome. I can say it had some cool monsters and cultures (the Thas and the earth-whirlpool were cool) and felt very D&D at times, especially with Elys and her boyfriend as random adventure companions.
Anyway, this isn't one I'll be keeping, and I have no desire to read any of the rest of them.
I wish the actual gryphon had been the cool Power in the end and not just the pet of Gryphon-Man The Most Awesome. I can say it had some cool monsters and cultures (the Thas and the earth-whirlpool were cool) and felt very D&D at times, especially with Elys and her boyfriend as random adventure companions.
Anyway, this isn't one I'll be keeping, and I have no desire to read any of the rest of them.
November 28, 2017
Another re-read. Like an idiot Kerovan leaves Joisan behind and heads off into the Waste, but she’s having none of it, and before long she’s packed up and trailing behind, having adventures of her own, meeting up with Elys and Jervon along the way (characters I’m sure I’ve met in other High Hallack novels). This begins the move from the dales to Arvon and we meet the Wereriders for the first time. It’s hard to get all of Norton’s stories in the right order because they weren’t written chronologically and I’m sure Norton herself sometimes had characters meeting who couldn’t possibly have co-existed.
November 11, 2015
I didn't find this as engrossing as Crystal, maybe because it was a "find your heritage" story rather than something with more concrete goals and dangers? It also felt like the characters weren't driving things: in Crystal Gryphon they were trying to maintain their balance as huge changes happened around them, a nice balance of too-big-for-one-person-to-change and some direction from the individual. This was just coasting to a conclusion.
August 20, 2011
I like this one a lot. I like it about as much as it's direct predecessor, The Crystal Gryphon. It's not easy to follow a book with one neither much better nor much worse than the first, but Andre Norton did it here. But then, that's why she's the Grand Old Dame of science fiction and fantasy. {REALLY BIG GRIN}
April 25, 2013
As per usual, another awesome fantasy [romance] adventure by Andre Norton. She is always so adept at merging fantasy, adventure, and growing romantic feelings that leave me wanting more--and this novel was no different. I love her books, and this High Hallack series was as poignant as The Crystal Gryphon or Year of the Unicorn. I look forward to my next read.
October 11, 2011
I was startled by how old-fashioned this one seemed. I think it was partly the language which was rather deliberately trying for archaic. It made everything seem a little distant. However, the alternating narrative didn’t bother me! [Nov. 2010]
May 1, 2014
Must read for Witch World
This book is fast paced, thought-provoking and spell-binding. Another must read in the Witch World saga. Andre Norton at her best.
This book is fast paced, thought-provoking and spell-binding. Another must read in the Witch World saga. Andre Norton at her best.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews