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Witchdame
The oracles have spoken: Elizabeth, King Richard's daughter, is to be Queen of Englene. Never have such signs attended the coming of age of a witchdame princess. And never have the dark forces mustered against an Earthly being as they do now...
For Elizabeth is of woodwitch blood as well, and before the final battle, she will enter the ancient flames of the banished mysteries of the Heartwood, into the secret wisdom of the Goddess herself...
For Elizabeth is of woodwitch blood as well, and before the final battle, she will enter the ancient flames of the banished mysteries of the Heartwood, into the secret wisdom of the Goddess herself...
323 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
About the author
Kathleen Sky
19 books8 followersKathleen Sky is the pen name of Kathleen McKinney Goldin, an American science fiction and fantasy author.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 18, 2013
I just wish I knew what would make any author think putting the concept of 'magical incest' in a book, was a good idea. It is baffling. Utterly baffling.
I wish I had stopped reading at the first mention of this, as the second one was far worse.
In this book not an eyebrow is raised at the idea a father would have sex with his young virgin daughter to create magic to help crops grow better. This is a known ceremony in the author's world. No big deal. No mention at all that either party may find such actions objectionable or traumatic.
In the second instance of this idea being mentioned a father is about to be killed by an angry mob after having sex (without obeying the proper law around such ceremonies) in a field with his young virgin daughter to improve the crops. The main character is upset when the man blames her father the King for his crop failure so she feels pity for him and helps him escape, so long as he promises to no longer bad-mouth her father. Yep, that was his worst crime there....WTF??? The fate of the daughter is not even mentioned.
Why would anyone think readers would enjoy this sort of addition to a book, when there are thousands of other options for magic lore that could have been used. Each far more interesting and many times over less icky than what the author chose. Again, it is baffling to me that an author would choose this option. It serves no positive purpose at all and made the book impossible to like. The stuff about marrying cousins at the end didn't help either! Eww!!
I have read many many fantasy books and this was one of the worst ever. There are hundreds and hundreds of better books out there with better writing, main characters and worlds. The cover art on the book is pretty great but that is it. Save your dollars on this one.
I wish I had stopped reading at the first mention of this, as the second one was far worse.
In this book not an eyebrow is raised at the idea a father would have sex with his young virgin daughter to create magic to help crops grow better. This is a known ceremony in the author's world. No big deal. No mention at all that either party may find such actions objectionable or traumatic.
In the second instance of this idea being mentioned a father is about to be killed by an angry mob after having sex (without obeying the proper law around such ceremonies) in a field with his young virgin daughter to improve the crops. The main character is upset when the man blames her father the King for his crop failure so she feels pity for him and helps him escape, so long as he promises to no longer bad-mouth her father. Yep, that was his worst crime there....WTF??? The fate of the daughter is not even mentioned.
Why would anyone think readers would enjoy this sort of addition to a book, when there are thousands of other options for magic lore that could have been used. Each far more interesting and many times over less icky than what the author chose. Again, it is baffling to me that an author would choose this option. It serves no positive purpose at all and made the book impossible to like. The stuff about marrying cousins at the end didn't help either! Eww!!
I have read many many fantasy books and this was one of the worst ever. There are hundreds and hundreds of better books out there with better writing, main characters and worlds. The cover art on the book is pretty great but that is it. Save your dollars on this one.
September 8, 2021
I first read “Witchdame” by Kathleen Sky when it was new in 1985, and I was about 15 years old. I remembered I enjoyed it, so when I saw it available used now for cheap I picked up another copy to reread.
It’s still a pretty good fantasy novel. While taking place in a fantasy version of medieval England and Wales, Sky doesn’t give a huge amount of background about who the Witchlords and Woodwitches are, though eventually it comes out that the Witchlords and Witchdames are the nobility of this version of England, capable of magic, while the Woodwitches are more nature-oriented magic users who were mostly defeated by the Witchlords of prior generations. It’s not hard to pick up that the Witchlords aren’t, in general, friendly with the Woodwitches, however, the Witchlord king of England had married a Woodwitch woman, Dianne and their heir, the main character, Elizabeth, is both.
The novel begins shortly before Princess Elizabeth’s 18th birthday, with her mother dying and her father already having selected his new wife, who intends to give Richard a son to follow him on the throne. It’s clear that Dianne’s existence has been restricted for some time due to her being a Woodwitch in a Witchlord royal court, but she’s passed on a little bit of Woodwitch culture to Elizabeth.
Early in the book there’s tremendous amount of narration about the various women’s clothing. Considering how confusing it was to me now, I can’t remember what I thought of that when I read this the first time when I was only 15.
Sky isn’t very consistent on Richard supporting or hating Woodwitch culture, so that gets a bit confusing.
The main adventure involves the now 18 year old Elizabeth making a journey to the four compass directions of England, the land that she’ll eventually rule over as queen, and resolving a major issue at each of those points.
Sky was more clear on the timeframe of the travel at the beginning of the journey, but after they finished their “west” task, it was confusing how long it took the party to travel to their “north” task. The distance on the map was several times further, but there was nothing about it in the story.
The conclusion was a little disappointing, too much of a deus ex machina sort of thing, especially after Elizabeth went through a lot to become more powerful in her own right. I’d been hoping her victory would be much more her own.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, with the down points not detracting too much. If Kathleen Sky ever wrote a sequel to it, I’d read it.
It’s still a pretty good fantasy novel. While taking place in a fantasy version of medieval England and Wales, Sky doesn’t give a huge amount of background about who the Witchlords and Woodwitches are, though eventually it comes out that the Witchlords and Witchdames are the nobility of this version of England, capable of magic, while the Woodwitches are more nature-oriented magic users who were mostly defeated by the Witchlords of prior generations. It’s not hard to pick up that the Witchlords aren’t, in general, friendly with the Woodwitches, however, the Witchlord king of England had married a Woodwitch woman, Dianne and their heir, the main character, Elizabeth, is both.
The novel begins shortly before Princess Elizabeth’s 18th birthday, with her mother dying and her father already having selected his new wife, who intends to give Richard a son to follow him on the throne. It’s clear that Dianne’s existence has been restricted for some time due to her being a Woodwitch in a Witchlord royal court, but she’s passed on a little bit of Woodwitch culture to Elizabeth.
Early in the book there’s tremendous amount of narration about the various women’s clothing. Considering how confusing it was to me now, I can’t remember what I thought of that when I read this the first time when I was only 15.
Sky isn’t very consistent on Richard supporting or hating Woodwitch culture, so that gets a bit confusing.
The main adventure involves the now 18 year old Elizabeth making a journey to the four compass directions of England, the land that she’ll eventually rule over as queen, and resolving a major issue at each of those points.
Sky was more clear on the timeframe of the travel at the beginning of the journey, but after they finished their “west” task, it was confusing how long it took the party to travel to their “north” task. The distance on the map was several times further, but there was nothing about it in the story.
The conclusion was a little disappointing, too much of a deus ex machina sort of thing, especially after Elizabeth went through a lot to become more powerful in her own right. I’d been hoping her victory would be much more her own.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, with the down points not detracting too much. If Kathleen Sky ever wrote a sequel to it, I’d read it.
January 3, 2025
As much as I wanted to stop reading this at a number of points, it's a bit like watching an accident or a train wreck - you can't stop. You need to see how it pans out.
That said, there is some good in what I felt was sour. I enjoyed that it was a female protagonist, and that she was allowed to be both a lady and a warrior - even if she was a bit vapid at times, petulant as a child at others. She didn't seem to grow much over the course of her quest and travels, as one might expect to see.
I appreciated the sex positive outlook the world seemed to have, yet the overtly sexual nature of nearly every single ritual was tiresome. If not a bit startling and disturbing at times.
The world building was muddled and confusing. The concept, at its core, was delightful, but the execution felt lacking. With an odd mix of varying real-world religions, I think it would have been better served with it's own take.
I did take a handful of issues with some of the language and approach to specific topics. But I also understand it's a product of it's time and don't factor that into my rating.
Overall, I loved the concept at it's core. I just think the execution is where it lacked the most.
That said, there is some good in what I felt was sour. I enjoyed that it was a female protagonist, and that she was allowed to be both a lady and a warrior - even if she was a bit vapid at times, petulant as a child at others. She didn't seem to grow much over the course of her quest and travels, as one might expect to see.
I appreciated the sex positive outlook the world seemed to have, yet the overtly sexual nature of nearly every single ritual was tiresome. If not a bit startling and disturbing at times.
The world building was muddled and confusing. The concept, at its core, was delightful, but the execution felt lacking. With an odd mix of varying real-world religions, I think it would have been better served with it's own take.
I did take a handful of issues with some of the language and approach to specific topics. But I also understand it's a product of it's time and don't factor that into my rating.
Overall, I loved the concept at it's core. I just think the execution is where it lacked the most.
October 23, 2012
I adored this book back when I read it in high school and college. All these years later, I admit I see more flaws in it: a narrative that staggers between detailed scenes and rushed endings, an abrupt halt at the end of the book, and characters that could be more fully developed. Still, I found myself wishing, like back in high school, that the author had returned to this world and written more stories in it: the hints of an Elven (Roman) past, the mysteries of Faerie (Ireland), and the unresolved tensions between the woodwitches, witchlords, and humans all left me wanting to know more about Englene and its neighbors.
Okay, and I liked Elizabeth. Must be because we have the same name. :)
Okay, and I liked Elizabeth. Must be because we have the same name. :)
August 10, 2008
This story is about the young crown princess of an alternate England going out to find her power through a quest to the four corners of her kingdom. In the course of the journey she learns about herself and about the failing health of the kingdom and her father's rule.
I liked this book very much the first time I read it, well over a decade ago, but it doesn't stand up well to a second reading by a more mature person.
The next time I go to the used bookstore, it will be in my trade-in bag.
I liked this book very much the first time I read it, well over a decade ago, but it doesn't stand up well to a second reading by a more mature person.
The next time I go to the used bookstore, it will be in my trade-in bag.
August 5, 2021
Honestly the most interesting thing about this book was the warning that it was a novel not a grimoire in the foreword. Its this strange alternative Tudor England with witchlords, woodwitches, dragons and angels/demons. The cover art was awesome which is why I snagged it in a little free library last year. Happy to get it out of my TBR pile. Wouldn't recommend unless someone likes angel magic, alternative history and fantasy. Very heteronormative even when a clear opportunity for queerness occurred.
June 5, 2018
I was a little bit worried about this book when it took the author a couple of pages just to describe a room and I’m not sure that she convinced me to really like any of the characters, but it’s an interesting story set in a word with an interesting blended theology and magic system. Ans it’s always good to have a female lead who rescues herself, doesn’t conform to standard beauty ideals and has as much sex and she wants without being slut-shamed.
October 4, 2010
A rollicking historical fantasy set in a 16th century England where magick not only rules, but is in two distinct forms. It's also rather rearranged history, but great fun nonetheless.
January 9, 2022
Look it’s not perfect but it’s fun
June 30, 2024
A childhood favorite of mine. I’ve been told by the artist who did the cover that the cover is called “courage is required”.
March 1, 2019
I picked this up second-hand for €1 because it seemed like this novel from the 1980s could be interesting. And it did start out quite promising, with court intrigue and beautiful prose. Alas, the promise fizzled out as the main part of the plot turned out to consist of a boring quest narrative. The pacing was weird and there was really no tension since it was obvious that Elizabeth was going to conquer all.
The worldbuilding seemed interesting to me at first: an Elizabethan-inspired fantasy England ( = Englene) with powerful magic. However, the worldbuilding turned out to be a weird hodgepodge of Abrahamic and Celtic religion, and I was not into it.
There was little character development and Elizabeth was not a compelling protagonist. However, I have to say that it was pretty cool to read a novel from 1985 where a woman gets to be a warrior and the chosen one. Also, the sex-positivity was a welcome surprise.
The worldbuilding seemed interesting to me at first: an Elizabethan-inspired fantasy England ( = Englene) with powerful magic. However, the worldbuilding turned out to be a weird hodgepodge of Abrahamic and Celtic religion, and I was not into it.
There was little character development and Elizabeth was not a compelling protagonist. However, I have to say that it was pretty cool to read a novel from 1985 where a woman gets to be a warrior and the chosen one. Also, the sex-positivity was a welcome surprise.
April 6, 2022
Un fantasy da adulti, con scene piccanti ma non troppo.
Una bella storia di una principessa destinata ad essere Regina, a patto che sappia superare una serie di prove che la renderanno la Regina più potetente di tutte.
Magia, miti, leggende, fra passato e fantasia, rendono il romanzo davvero coinvolgente.
Peccato, peccato davvero che questi libri siano fuori catalogo da anni...
Una bella storia di una principessa destinata ad essere Regina, a patto che sappia superare una serie di prove che la renderanno la Regina più potetente di tutte.
Magia, miti, leggende, fra passato e fantasia, rendono il romanzo davvero coinvolgente.
Peccato, peccato davvero che questi libri siano fuori catalogo da anni...
September 12, 2017
I never get tired of this one.
March 18, 2012
Not as good as I remembered.
September 4, 2012
This fairy-tale-like story has been one of my favorites since I first read it back in high school.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews