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The World of the Alfar #2
The Elves and the Otterskin
This is a later printing of the second novel in Boyer's "World of the Alfar" sequence. These novels The Sword and the Satchel (1980); The Elves and the Otterskin (1981); The Thrall and the Dragon's Heart (1982); The Wizard and the Warlord (1983).
297 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 12, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 24, 2011
Five stars? Well, I'm usually pretty stingy with them. More than 20 years ago (closer to 30) I came across Elizabeth Boyer. I enjoyed her books immensely. Built on Norse mythology (my favorite of the mythological schools as it was for that Tolkien guy and others.) Fire Giants, Trolls, Dark elves and others I snatched up most anything I could find by her.
Oddly in the proverbial "press of life" I lost track of her work, especially since she stopped writing. Most of her books are still on my shelves, but now I think I'm about to begin a search to be sure I haven't missed any.
Here "Ivarr" (who was sold to a witch) having been "loosed" by the witch's death finds the only way to get out of the lands of the Elves is to become a hero....
Good book.
Oddly in the proverbial "press of life" I lost track of her work, especially since she stopped writing. Most of her books are still on my shelves, but now I think I'm about to begin a search to be sure I haven't missed any.
Here "Ivarr" (who was sold to a witch) having been "loosed" by the witch's death finds the only way to get out of the lands of the Elves is to become a hero....
Good book.
April 15, 2013
A fun and quirky lighthearted read.
An amusing take on the traditional swords and sorcery of high fantasy. This novel had all the elements of a traditional fantasy novel: elves, dwarves, wizards, dragons and a seemingly impossible quest thrown in for good measure. However it manages to turn it all into an entertaining and comical progression of events (mainly through the help of several inept elves) that I have not really seen in too many other novels in the genre. Augmenting its uniqueness is the Norse themes and language used throughout.
I think this novel may have been written mainly for a YA audience and sometimes comes off a little too simplistic in a number of places but it was one I nevertheless enjoyed discovering having never encountered any of Elizabeth Boyer’s works before and look forward to reading more in the future.
An amusing take on the traditional swords and sorcery of high fantasy. This novel had all the elements of a traditional fantasy novel: elves, dwarves, wizards, dragons and a seemingly impossible quest thrown in for good measure. However it manages to turn it all into an entertaining and comical progression of events (mainly through the help of several inept elves) that I have not really seen in too many other novels in the genre. Augmenting its uniqueness is the Norse themes and language used throughout.
I think this novel may have been written mainly for a YA audience and sometimes comes off a little too simplistic in a number of places but it was one I nevertheless enjoyed discovering having never encountered any of Elizabeth Boyer’s works before and look forward to reading more in the future.
April 15, 2013
This is possibly my favorite story of all time, next to Star Wars. I enjoy Elizabeth Boyer's style of story telling. The sword and sorcery elements are dramatic and engaging. But the best part is the character development of the seemingly useless elves that really caught my interest most profoundly. I recommend this book very highly.
September 2, 2013
Another interesting but flawed book from Boyer that is strong on mythic Nordic influences, but lacking in character development. This is not a sequel, except in spirit - with completely different characters and taking place in a different land, but with enough references to the Sword and the Satchel that it's clearly in the same world, with the same rules in place.
October 4, 2022
2.5 stars rounded up. Another of Eliabeth H Boyer's Alfar books from the mid '80s that I originally read way back when.
Synopsis: After being sold as an apprentice to the witch Brina (a sort of herb using wisewoman with a bit of magic thrown in), Ivaar is magically transported to the world of the Alfar when Brina is murdered and has to help a band of inept Alfar spies who have accidentally murdered the son of the king of the Black Dwarves when he was shapechanged in otter form. As a result they have to pay a werguild enough gold to cover the otterskin. Problem is, the otterskin is enchanted so it grows every time a piece of gold is added. So they need a shed load of gold: basically, a dragon's hoard. And for that they need a hero (once properly equipped with a magic sword) to kill the dragon for them. Enter Ivaar.
So what did I think? Hmmm, it was okay. Re-reading the book now I was struck by how much travelling there was. This was definitely a book written in the old quest mode: travel to point A to get information about magic sword, travel to point B to find sword, travel to point C... if this isn't your thing, you're going to find this book hard work.
As with the first book, it seemed a bit basic and twee compared to fantasy nowadays. I wouldn't say simplistic, but honestly it's not far off. Many of the characters are pretty basic standards: the young lad who has to grow up and become a hero, the wizard mentor , the questing party... all the familiar tropes are in place. The biggest difference is probably the Alfar themselves. These are not Tolkien's elves: based more on the original Scandinavian model (of light and dark elves), the Alfar have, perhaps, more similarities with dwarves in modern fantasy: rather than lithe forest dwellers, these elves are (fairly) capable blacksmiths who spend a fair amount of time underground.
These elves are distinguished from others by their sheer ineptitude: it is stated a couple of times that they are a band of misfits and failures pretty much banished to a spying post just to get them out of the way. Reading about their interactions with each other and seeing (some) of the characters grow were among the highlights of this book for me.
Do I recommend it? If you have a fondness for older, more gentle, fantasy and enjoy fairly simple, linear stories, then you may enjoy it. If you like grimdark or complex twisting plots you may find it something of a trial.
Synopsis: After being sold as an apprentice to the witch Brina (a sort of herb using wisewoman with a bit of magic thrown in), Ivaar is magically transported to the world of the Alfar when Brina is murdered and has to help a band of inept Alfar spies who have accidentally murdered the son of the king of the Black Dwarves when he was shapechanged in otter form. As a result they have to pay a werguild enough gold to cover the otterskin. Problem is, the otterskin is enchanted so it grows every time a piece of gold is added. So they need a shed load of gold: basically, a dragon's hoard. And for that they need a hero (once properly equipped with a magic sword) to kill the dragon for them. Enter Ivaar.
So what did I think? Hmmm, it was okay. Re-reading the book now I was struck by how much travelling there was. This was definitely a book written in the old quest mode: travel to point A to get information about magic sword, travel to point B to find sword, travel to point C... if this isn't your thing, you're going to find this book hard work.
As with the first book, it seemed a bit basic and twee compared to fantasy nowadays. I wouldn't say simplistic, but honestly it's not far off. Many of the characters are pretty basic standards: the young lad who has to grow up and become a hero, the wizard mentor , the questing party... all the familiar tropes are in place. The biggest difference is probably the Alfar themselves. These are not Tolkien's elves: based more on the original Scandinavian model (of light and dark elves), the Alfar have, perhaps, more similarities with dwarves in modern fantasy: rather than lithe forest dwellers, these elves are (fairly) capable blacksmiths who spend a fair amount of time underground.
These elves are distinguished from others by their sheer ineptitude: it is stated a couple of times that they are a band of misfits and failures pretty much banished to a spying post just to get them out of the way. Reading about their interactions with each other and seeing (some) of the characters grow were among the highlights of this book for me.
Do I recommend it? If you have a fondness for older, more gentle, fantasy and enjoy fairly simple, linear stories, then you may enjoy it. If you like grimdark or complex twisting plots you may find it something of a trial.
March 13, 2020
Loved as a teen as still love it today, some 30 years later.
Once I pick it up, I have to finish.
Once I pick it up, I have to finish.
July 27, 2022
At first, I had a hard time getting into this book due to the first couple of chapters being fairly uninteresting and cliche. However, I decided to give it a second chance, and... a rare thing happened. I found myself, surprisingly, really enjoying it! When the main character met up with his companions, the book was transformed and I was sold. The group of old, sad, incompetent, bickering, self-pitying outlaw Alfar I found to be instantly amusing and endearing. They proceed on a series of fairytale-esque adventures on their quest to find an ancient sword, defeat a dragon and steal its gold.
There is no romance, no politics, no tedious history/lore, no unnecessary worldbuilding; magic is old-fashioned unexplainable magic, natural humour without being intentional 'comedy', all written in a distinctly British style... It was everything I wanted to read in fantasy book.
It was everything that modern books are not (but not in an objectionable way).
One thing that I did find a bit strange was the way that the Alfar were described was, for me, impossible to imagine as elves. They seemed so much like dwarves (albeit magical ones!) that I couldn't picture them as anything else, even when the book contains actual dwarves. A few parts of the story are also described in a vague and confusing way that made it difficult to comprehend what was going on.
Yes, on the surface this is a typical male hero quest story, with a predictably cartoonish main villain, but the main group was relatable and sympathetic, and throughout their bickering supported and encouraged each other through their hardships. The way they grew from having no confidence or hope to having pride in themselves and discovering their abilities lay at the heartwarming core of this book. In that sense, I felt the story was less about 'Hero Ivarr' and more about the growth of these cast out characters.
As a reader disillusioned with modern fantasy, I appreciated this book a great deal, and can only lament that stories of this style appear to be relegated to the past. :(
There is no romance, no politics, no tedious history/lore, no unnecessary worldbuilding; magic is old-fashioned unexplainable magic, natural humour without being intentional 'comedy', all written in a distinctly British style... It was everything I wanted to read in fantasy book.
It was everything that modern books are not (but not in an objectionable way).
One thing that I did find a bit strange was the way that the Alfar were described was, for me, impossible to imagine as elves. They seemed so much like dwarves (albeit magical ones!) that I couldn't picture them as anything else, even when the book contains actual dwarves. A few parts of the story are also described in a vague and confusing way that made it difficult to comprehend what was going on.
Yes, on the surface this is a typical male hero quest story, with a predictably cartoonish main villain, but the main group was relatable and sympathetic, and throughout their bickering supported and encouraged each other through their hardships. The way they grew from having no confidence or hope to having pride in themselves and discovering their abilities lay at the heartwarming core of this book. In that sense, I felt the story was less about 'Hero Ivarr' and more about the growth of these cast out characters.
As a reader disillusioned with modern fantasy, I appreciated this book a great deal, and can only lament that stories of this style appear to be relegated to the past. :(
August 12, 2021
Elizabeth Boyer is an oft-overlooked fantasy author from the 1980s, but she is worth seeking out. Setting her books against a backdrop of Scandinavian myth and folklore, her works convey a true feel for the way the magical realm of the Alfar was believed to interact with our realm when these myths were believed to be real.
The Elves and the Otterskin is a solid read, with great pieces of magical wonder, feats of derring-do, and heroes and villains as you would expect. The only criticism I have is that Boyer has a tendency to write very unlikeable protagonists. While reading this book, there were many times when I felt like our hero needed a smack in the back of the head to clear his thoughts. Willful ignorance is a decent plot point when trying to drive home the differences between the Alfar Realm and the Scipling Realm, but Boyer has a tendency to take this too far.
Well worth checking out.
The Elves and the Otterskin is a solid read, with great pieces of magical wonder, feats of derring-do, and heroes and villains as you would expect. The only criticism I have is that Boyer has a tendency to write very unlikeable protagonists. While reading this book, there were many times when I felt like our hero needed a smack in the back of the head to clear his thoughts. Willful ignorance is a decent plot point when trying to drive home the differences between the Alfar Realm and the Scipling Realm, but Boyer has a tendency to take this too far.
Well worth checking out.
September 11, 2025
Vivid dramatic landscapes are crafted, creating a fantasy, which evokes nostalgic memories of other classics in the genre, while remaining unique with its own distinctive Scandanavian flavor, brought home by the adventures of a young human (Scipling) protagonist learning to be a hero, five Alfar growing into their own power, and their wizardly companions. They trek across the landscape, seeking a sword, a treasure, redemption, and revenge; stalked by a dangerous necromancer and the various perils lying in wait for them. Starting out with little confidence in themselves, they grow in strength and wisdom as they discover what they’re capable of. Peppered with lively banter and a couple of characters with intriguingly complex morality, it was a delight to rediscover this book I loved as a child.
May 18, 2021
I really didn't know how to rate this book.
Ultimately it was a fun read. Lots of action in a parallel universe of dwarves, elves, magicians, goblins and the like (plus a dragon, of course). There was a quest, an evil wizard, an unlikely band of warriors and an unprepared human hero from another place.
But. And I don't know if this would have been different if I'd read the first book in the series. I couldn't see WHY. Why Ivarr bothered in the first place. Obviously over time as things happened and friendships developed, then it became more natural for him to be invested in helping the elves and, indirectly, saving the realm. But right in the beginning? I couldn't see why at all. And I almost abandoned the book because of it.
Ultimately it was a fun read. Lots of action in a parallel universe of dwarves, elves, magicians, goblins and the like (plus a dragon, of course). There was a quest, an evil wizard, an unlikely band of warriors and an unprepared human hero from another place.
But. And I don't know if this would have been different if I'd read the first book in the series. I couldn't see WHY. Why Ivarr bothered in the first place. Obviously over time as things happened and friendships developed, then it became more natural for him to be invested in helping the elves and, indirectly, saving the realm. But right in the beginning? I couldn't see why at all. And I almost abandoned the book because of it.
May 27, 2017
The first book I read by Elizabeth Boyer I couldn't put down. The one wasn't quite as good. The characters weren't quite as believable (as far as fantasy characters go.) And I had a harder time getting into it, once the main character crossed over into the other realm.
March 6, 2021
Better than I remembered it being when I read it as a teen
May 31, 2023
I always loved this author. And I love stand alone fantasy books that aren’t a million pages long. I don’t think this was ever my favorite of her books (I think that would be “The Sword & the Satchel”) and upon reading it again after a long time it shows. It’s an entertaining story, I enjoy the world of the Alfar, but many of the characters lack depth. And some of the plot points are almost too convenient to move the story along. But I enjoyed reading it again and am glad I found a copy at my used book store!
October 8, 2023
Viking Saga meets Lord of the Rings - good read!
August 13, 2014
An engrossing tale in the Norse tradition
13 August 2014
There are only a few things that I remember about this book, the first being that it was about a group of inept elves who are given a quest to fill an otterskin full of gold. The catch was that every time you put a gold piece onto the otterskin it would grow, meaning that it was impossible to ever complete the quest. I believe they did manage to do it (because, from what I can remember, the book did have a happy ending) but I cannot remember how (and if I did I would probably have to enclose it in spoilers otherwise I am likely to get into trouble).
The other thing that I remember about this book is that I really enjoyed it. Okay, there are probably a number of other books back then that I also really enjoyed but when I look back upon them I ask the question 'why'. On the other hand I guess with many of the books that I read back I never actually considered them to be any good (not that I was rating books back then, I was just reading them and then moving onto the next one, unless I really liked one of them and then I would make a statement about it to my friends, who would probably ignore me anyway because many of my friends did not actually read).
Remember, though, how I have said elsewhere that there are a number of books that I have read that I cannot remember all that much about. Well, as it turns out, this is not one of those books. Okay, I cannot remember huge details (with the exception of the basic story, and also setting based on Norse Mythology, and the fact that I felt the weight of the character's troubles on my shoulders as I read through it, thus developing a strong emphatic touch with them – something I was not able to do in many of the other novels that I had read at the time) but what I do remember is that I really enjoyed the book. I never was able to bring myself to read any of Boyer's other works though. Maybe it had something to do with this book being so good that I didn't want to spoil the delight by reading another one and not liking it at all.
13 August 2014
There are only a few things that I remember about this book, the first being that it was about a group of inept elves who are given a quest to fill an otterskin full of gold. The catch was that every time you put a gold piece onto the otterskin it would grow, meaning that it was impossible to ever complete the quest. I believe they did manage to do it (because, from what I can remember, the book did have a happy ending) but I cannot remember how (and if I did I would probably have to enclose it in spoilers otherwise I am likely to get into trouble).
The other thing that I remember about this book is that I really enjoyed it. Okay, there are probably a number of other books back then that I also really enjoyed but when I look back upon them I ask the question 'why'. On the other hand I guess with many of the books that I read back I never actually considered them to be any good (not that I was rating books back then, I was just reading them and then moving onto the next one, unless I really liked one of them and then I would make a statement about it to my friends, who would probably ignore me anyway because many of my friends did not actually read).
Remember, though, how I have said elsewhere that there are a number of books that I have read that I cannot remember all that much about. Well, as it turns out, this is not one of those books. Okay, I cannot remember huge details (with the exception of the basic story, and also setting based on Norse Mythology, and the fact that I felt the weight of the character's troubles on my shoulders as I read through it, thus developing a strong emphatic touch with them – something I was not able to do in many of the other novels that I had read at the time) but what I do remember is that I really enjoyed the book. I never was able to bring myself to read any of Boyer's other works though. Maybe it had something to do with this book being so good that I didn't want to spoil the delight by reading another one and not liking it at all.
August 30, 2011
This is an old fantasy book that belonged to my dad. Ivarr is tired of being stuck at home, so when he gets the chance to work for a witch, he takes it. He finds that he really enjoys the work, until a powerful necromancer kills his teacher. Ivarr is stuck in the Other World, but he's not leaving until he gets revenge. Then he meets up with a group of elves who need his help. It seems the same necromancer, named Lorimer, has gotten them into trouble too.
Wicked trolls, a disembodied head, an enchanted maze, and a fire-breathing dragon -- this book has it all. It was good fun. I understand that she wrote more, but they might be hard to find. Recommended, and thanks to Dad. 3.5 stars
Wicked trolls, a disembodied head, an enchanted maze, and a fire-breathing dragon -- this book has it all. It was good fun. I understand that she wrote more, but they might be hard to find. Recommended, and thanks to Dad. 3.5 stars
August 3, 2011
This was much better than The Wizard and the Warlord, which is a bit of a relief. My teenage self, who bought these books, was not in fact totally without good taste in books. There are fools and incompetents in this story, but they're the mangy group of spies our hero finds himself roped into helping, not the hero himself. This is much more fun. The story draws heavily on classic Norse mythology, which is particularly fun if you're the kind of person with an excessive knowledge of such things. If not, it's all internally logical, so you're still good.
April 25, 2009
Read this whole series as a teenager and loved it! I've been trying to think of the author's name for at least a month and it finally came to me yesterday!
Medieval fantasy with a Scandinavian setting.
Medieval fantasy with a Scandinavian setting.
August 23, 2007
In which our hero is deceived for his own good.
May 26, 2011
2nd in the series and a good read.
January 14, 2013
A nice book with an interesting storyline. A little inconsitant though.
April 28, 2011
Fantasy. Fun read. It was nice to have a fantasy I could read in a few hours and I felt like I was done. It didn't leave me hanging on waiting for another book to finish. Well written.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews