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Witch World #8
Spell of the Witch World
Their fates were bound by their mother's white magic - though darkness and battle strove to drive them apart. It was in the year of the Fire Troll that the sea-raiders struck at High-Hallack and, promise-bound, its sons rose to the defense of their Dale. But there stood amongst their number a youth whom the Dalesmen had merely fostered: Elyn, born of Estcarp, whose birthright was the wisdom of the Wise. But Elyn of Estcarp was still young and, though a warrior impatient for battle, his unscatred sword had learnt little the dark treacheries of war. In his most desperate hour of danger Elyn's stoutest weapon would prove his brave witch-sister Elys. Together witch and warrior would face perils beyond the laws of our everyday stars!
220 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1972
63 people are currently reading
666 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
696 books1,388 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 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 16, 2020
Updayed 06/16/2020.
(DAW Collectors #1
Cover art by Gaughan
Name: Norton, Andre Alice,Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, USA, (17 February 1912 - 17 March 2005
Alternate Name: Andrew North
This is an anthology of three short stories,
"Dragon Scale Silver", "Dream Smith", and "Amber out of Quayth"
this collection is a fine introduction to Andre Norton’s fantasy books,
The witch World Series chronicles the adventures of an Army Officer on the run who escapes to a whole new world ruled by magic rather than technology.
(Alice Mary Norton)
(1912 - 2005)
Alice Mary Norton was born on February 17, 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She was the second daughter of Adalbert Freely Norton, owner of a rug company, and Bertha Stemm. Being a late child, born seventeen years after her sister, she never developed close relationships with her siblings or contemporaries and was influenced primarily by her parents, especially her mother, who later on did all her proofreading and served as a critic-in-residence.
To classify Ms. Norton as strictly a science-fiction and fantasy writer or as a juvenile author would be an error. Her genres range far beyond the confines of only a few types of literature. Her canon includes mysteries, westerns, gothic fiction, historical novels, adventure stories,
aka Andrew North
Witch World : High Halleck Cycle
1. Year of the Unicorn (1965)
2. The Crystal Gryphon (1972)
3. Spell of the Witch World (1972)
4. The Jargoon Pard (1974)
5. Zarsthor's Bane (1978)
6. Gryphon in Glory (1981)
7. Horn Crown (1981)
8. Gryphon's Eyrie (1984) (with A C Crispin)
9. Were-Wrath (1989)
10. Songsmith (1992) (with A C Crispin)
(DAW Collectors #1
Cover art by Gaughan
Name: Norton, Andre Alice,Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, USA, (17 February 1912 - 17 March 2005
Alternate Name: Andrew North
This is an anthology of three short stories,
"Dragon Scale Silver", "Dream Smith", and "Amber out of Quayth"
this collection is a fine introduction to Andre Norton’s fantasy books,
The witch World Series chronicles the adventures of an Army Officer on the run who escapes to a whole new world ruled by magic rather than technology.
(Alice Mary Norton)
(1912 - 2005)
Alice Mary Norton was born on February 17, 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She was the second daughter of Adalbert Freely Norton, owner of a rug company, and Bertha Stemm. Being a late child, born seventeen years after her sister, she never developed close relationships with her siblings or contemporaries and was influenced primarily by her parents, especially her mother, who later on did all her proofreading and served as a critic-in-residence.
To classify Ms. Norton as strictly a science-fiction and fantasy writer or as a juvenile author would be an error. Her genres range far beyond the confines of only a few types of literature. Her canon includes mysteries, westerns, gothic fiction, historical novels, adventure stories,
aka Andrew North
Witch World : High Halleck Cycle
1. Year of the Unicorn (1965)
2. The Crystal Gryphon (1972)
3. Spell of the Witch World (1972)
4. The Jargoon Pard (1974)
5. Zarsthor's Bane (1978)
6. Gryphon in Glory (1981)
7. Horn Crown (1981)
8. Gryphon's Eyrie (1984) (with A C Crispin)
9. Were-Wrath (1989)
10. Songsmith (1992) (with A C Crispin)
April 29, 2021
This book is actually three stories, two longer ones and the middle quite short, all set in the world of the Dales/High Hallack during the time of the invasion by the Hounds of Allizon (which was covered in the earlier Witch World series). As such, it deals with the dislocation of society caused by that war.
In the first story, 'Dragon Scale Silver', a twin brother and sister live in a seaside village but are not really part of the community. Their parents came from a shipwreck, and to a previous reader of Witch World stories, it is obvious that their mother, who dies shortly after their birth, was a Wise Woman of Estcarp. The brother, Elyn, takes after his taciturn father and assumes the arts of war rather than the fishing and gathering lifestyle of the village, and the sister Elys becomes apprentice to the village's own wise woman, someone with far less power than her mother, but who teaches her herb and healing craft, and as much as she can of psychic gifts. When the Hounds invade, both father and brother leave to join the defenders, and Elys and her foster mother help the other villagers survive a ragtag wandering life until Elys discovers that her brother desperately needs her aid. I enjoyed this story, which involves Elys' growth, disillusionment and promise of fulfilment with someone who appreciates her.
'Dream Smith' is a slighter story and deals with the issue of appearance and whether beauty is only skin deep or not.
'Amber Out of Qayth' was my favourite, told in a closer third person narrative. Ysmay is a young woman who has been accustomed to run the steading in her brother's absence, while he was away at the wars, but is now relegated to a position with no authority, living on the suffrance of her brother and his new wife. It is clear that the other woman resents Ysmay, but is too crafty to show it in front of her husband. Then a fair provides the diversion of traders and their goods, and one in particular becomes of interest to the family, since he brings with him fabulous goods in amber. Ysmay's brother sees a way of gaining wealth through an alliance with the trader, Hylle, who claims also to be a ruler - of a mysterious holding called Qayth, and Ysmay sees this as a way of escaping an invidious situation where her life will be made even more of a misery if she refuses. I loved the calm, steadfast, and resilient nature of Ysmay who is faced with many strange and supernatural perils in this story. She is one of the better developed of the author's protagonists and it is a pity she was not the star of a novel length outing.
All in all, I would rate this at 4 stars.
In the first story, 'Dragon Scale Silver', a twin brother and sister live in a seaside village but are not really part of the community. Their parents came from a shipwreck, and to a previous reader of Witch World stories, it is obvious that their mother, who dies shortly after their birth, was a Wise Woman of Estcarp. The brother, Elyn, takes after his taciturn father and assumes the arts of war rather than the fishing and gathering lifestyle of the village, and the sister Elys becomes apprentice to the village's own wise woman, someone with far less power than her mother, but who teaches her herb and healing craft, and as much as she can of psychic gifts. When the Hounds invade, both father and brother leave to join the defenders, and Elys and her foster mother help the other villagers survive a ragtag wandering life until Elys discovers that her brother desperately needs her aid. I enjoyed this story, which involves Elys' growth, disillusionment and promise of fulfilment with someone who appreciates her.
'Dream Smith' is a slighter story and deals with the issue of appearance and whether beauty is only skin deep or not.
'Amber Out of Qayth' was my favourite, told in a closer third person narrative. Ysmay is a young woman who has been accustomed to run the steading in her brother's absence, while he was away at the wars, but is now relegated to a position with no authority, living on the suffrance of her brother and his new wife. It is clear that the other woman resents Ysmay, but is too crafty to show it in front of her husband. Then a fair provides the diversion of traders and their goods, and one in particular becomes of interest to the family, since he brings with him fabulous goods in amber. Ysmay's brother sees a way of gaining wealth through an alliance with the trader, Hylle, who claims also to be a ruler - of a mysterious holding called Qayth, and Ysmay sees this as a way of escaping an invidious situation where her life will be made even more of a misery if she refuses. I loved the calm, steadfast, and resilient nature of Ysmay who is faced with many strange and supernatural perils in this story. She is one of the better developed of the author's protagonists and it is a pity she was not the star of a novel length outing.
All in all, I would rate this at 4 stars.
August 14, 2013
The cover blurb of my copy of Spell of the Witch World is deceptive. After three paragraphs of effusive – but general – praise and comparison to Tolkien, the final one explains “[h]ere you will meet the twins, Elys, the witch-sister, and Elyn, the warrior-brother – and the pact that drew both into perils beyond the laws of our everyday stars.” Leaving aside the over-the-top rhetoric, the deception lies in the fact that Spell comprises three novellas – “Dragon Scale Silver” (where we meet the twins), “Dream Smith” and “Amber out of Quayth” – connected only by their Witch World setting.
Elys and Elyn of “Dragon Scale Silver” are the children of Estcarp refugees who washed up on the shores of High Hallack and found refuge in a fishing village. When Alizon invades some years later (after the twins’ parents have died), Elyn goes off to fight them, and Elys flees with the other villagers to hoped-for havens inland. Through her witching abilities and aided by the village’s wise-woman and Jervon, a wounded soldier who’s sought succor with the refugees, Elys learns that her brother has been ensnared by an ancient curse and she’s the only one who can rescue him. It’s a well told if formulaic entry in the Witch World oeuvre. What puts it a bit above average is the ending,
“Dream Smith” is a departure from other works of the author that I’ve read. I would describe Norton’s typical prose as “concrete” but here it reads closer to a traditional fairy tale. It’s the tale of Collard, a young smith horribly disfigured in an accident, and Jacinda, a young girl equally marred. Again, well told but not overly memorable.
“Amber out of Quayth” is the best story of the three. Ysmay is the sister of Gyrerd, who returns from the Alizon wars with a new wife, who displaces Ysmay as lady of the hold. Faced with a lifetime of drudgery under her brother’s wife or retiring to an abbey, Ysmay fair leaps at the chance to marry Hylle, a stranger from the North. I could draw a parallel with “Bluebeard,” though the specific danger to Ysmay was not the same. Regardless, Ysmay soon learns that it’s not a “good thing” to be Hylle’s wife when she finds herself in a battle for body and soul. I enjoyed this one the most because of Ysmay’s character. She was more fully developed than Elys in “Dragon Scale Silver,” who is one of Norton’s stock characters, hardly distinguishable from a large cast of alienated youths searching for their lives’ meanings. Granted, Ysmay too is part of that company but her personality and trials stood out for me. I had a greater affinity with her particular plight than Elys’.
Recommendation? As with my review of Year of the Unicorn , this is a “read” for Norton fans, a credible addition to Witch World lore. For the general SF audience – if you’re in the library or at a bargain-book table and you’re looking for something comfortable and untaxing to distract you from global climate change, you could do worse.
Elys and Elyn of “Dragon Scale Silver” are the children of Estcarp refugees who washed up on the shores of High Hallack and found refuge in a fishing village. When Alizon invades some years later (after the twins’ parents have died), Elyn goes off to fight them, and Elys flees with the other villagers to hoped-for havens inland. Through her witching abilities and aided by the village’s wise-woman and Jervon, a wounded soldier who’s sought succor with the refugees, Elys learns that her brother has been ensnared by an ancient curse and she’s the only one who can rescue him. It’s a well told if formulaic entry in the Witch World oeuvre. What puts it a bit above average is the ending,
“Dream Smith” is a departure from other works of the author that I’ve read. I would describe Norton’s typical prose as “concrete” but here it reads closer to a traditional fairy tale. It’s the tale of Collard, a young smith horribly disfigured in an accident, and Jacinda, a young girl equally marred. Again, well told but not overly memorable.
“Amber out of Quayth” is the best story of the three. Ysmay is the sister of Gyrerd, who returns from the Alizon wars with a new wife, who displaces Ysmay as lady of the hold. Faced with a lifetime of drudgery under her brother’s wife or retiring to an abbey, Ysmay fair leaps at the chance to marry Hylle, a stranger from the North. I could draw a parallel with “Bluebeard,” though the specific danger to Ysmay was not the same. Regardless, Ysmay soon learns that it’s not a “good thing” to be Hylle’s wife when she finds herself in a battle for body and soul. I enjoyed this one the most because of Ysmay’s character. She was more fully developed than Elys in “Dragon Scale Silver,” who is one of Norton’s stock characters, hardly distinguishable from a large cast of alienated youths searching for their lives’ meanings. Granted, Ysmay too is part of that company but her personality and trials stood out for me. I had a greater affinity with her particular plight than Elys’.
Recommendation? As with my review of Year of the Unicorn , this is a “read” for Norton fans, a credible addition to Witch World lore. For the general SF audience – if you’re in the library or at a bargain-book table and you’re looking for something comfortable and untaxing to distract you from global climate change, you could do worse.
January 18, 2016
A collection of three stories that all take place in the land of High Hallack over a period of time which has an invasion as the backdrop to the stories. Although the invasion isn't the main issue of the stories it does serve as a device to place these stories in a chronological order. The stories contained are "Dragon Scale Silver", "Dream Smith", and "Amber out of Quayth". They are all good stories though I would say that they progressively get better. Dragon Scale Silver seemed rather stilted to a degree in its writing but still a good tale. The next two stories were excellent and as much as I liked Amber out of Quayth I would have to say that Dream Smith was the most powerful of the tales. Highly recommend this book.
October 18, 2010
I bought this book because it was part of the Witch World series, my favorite series by Norton. As I started to read it, I couldn't tell it had anything to do with the Witch World except in title only. Then, about a hundred pages in, I realize it's 3 short stories. Generally not a fan of the shorties.
With that being said, I still found myself enjoying this book, liking the characters and the story itself. Not nearly as entertaining as other Witch World books but still worth a read if you're a Norton fan.
With that being said, I still found myself enjoying this book, liking the characters and the story itself. Not nearly as entertaining as other Witch World books but still worth a read if you're a Norton fan.
July 11, 2025
The first story was pretty good. The last two stories were so so at best
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July 22, 2009Consisting of three short stories: (1) The novella Dragon Scale Silver (introducing Elys and Jervon), (2) Dream Smith, and (3) Amber Out of Quayth.
More essentially motiveless violence. If the invaders from Alizon were after something in the Waste, why didn't they just ask the Dalesfolk for passage? The Dalesfolk might've issued warnings, but they probably wouldn't've tried to stop the strangers' passage. Come to that, once the Dalesfolk realized what the 'Hounds of Alizon' wanted, why didn't they offer truce and free passage to them? It's not like the invaders would find anything but trouble (for themselves and/or their masters)in the Waste.
Similarly, in Dragon Scale Silver, wherefore the assumption that what a man finds seductive in a woman, another woman would find repulsive and provacative of jealousy? It seems an odd theory, and not a sound basis for a curse--or the breaking thereof.
More essentially motiveless violence. If the invaders from Alizon were after something in the Waste, why didn't they just ask the Dalesfolk for passage? The Dalesfolk might've issued warnings, but they probably wouldn't've tried to stop the strangers' passage. Come to that, once the Dalesfolk realized what the 'Hounds of Alizon' wanted, why didn't they offer truce and free passage to them? It's not like the invaders would find anything but trouble (for themselves and/or their masters)in the Waste.
Similarly, in Dragon Scale Silver, wherefore the assumption that what a man finds seductive in a woman, another woman would find repulsive and provacative of jealousy? It seems an odd theory, and not a sound basis for a curse--or the breaking thereof.
January 28, 2016
I enjoyed this collection. Three stories set at different times in High Hallack. Thus us the first book in the Witch World setting of Andre Norton which I've read and it has whetted my appetite to seek out and read more. For more details on each of the stories please see my posts in the DAW Books group.
October 5, 2014
Revised 10-5-2014 to the version I own.
This series of short stories is a good way to gain some background on some of the characters in other, longer tales. For example, Elys, daughter of a witch, from the first story, emerges again as a side role in Gryphon in Glory.
This series of short stories is a good way to gain some background on some of the characters in other, longer tales. For example, Elys, daughter of a witch, from the first story, emerges again as a side role in Gryphon in Glory.
October 12, 2024
Comprises three short stories:
Dragon Scale Silver ⭐⭐⭐
Dream Smith ⭐⭐⭐
Amber of Quayth ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dragon Scale Silver ⭐⭐⭐
Dream Smith ⭐⭐⭐
Amber of Quayth ⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 20, 2019
Andre Norton wrote a lot of young adult novels and stories in the Witch World universe, and one cycle of them is known as the High Hallack Cycle. I have seen that Spell of the Witch World is considered #2 of the High Halleck Cycle. As a child, I read a lot of Andre Norton’s YA science fiction, but none of these. Now that I’ve read my first one, I can’t really say whether they should be read in order. However, I can say that this book consisted of not a novel, but one novella and two stories set at various times, without any character continuity. Those three, at least, could be read in any order.
I chose to read this book simply because it was DAW #1, but I’m glad I did. As a child, I preferred Andre Norton’s science fiction over her fantasy basically because I was a boy. Reading this now, I can see that her plots in both subgenres are actually very similar – differing mostly in superficial trappings, such as magic spells versus force fields. But one significant difference is that these stories, and perhaps all of Andre Norton’s Witch World writing, have a magical thematic response to the powerlessness of its women. They are all bound by hardened social expectation including marriage against their will. Discovery of the lost magic bestowed on them by heritage or artifact is the key to gaining freedom. No wonder these books are so highly revered by girl readers, who are now women.
This book is a collection of three works, all original to DAW #1, in 1972. They are
“Dragon Scale Silver” A twin sister and brother are born to a pair of refugees found at sea. Both parents are lost, without ever disclosing what their background is, or even the circumstances of their escape the Invasion. Brother and sister follow very different life paths, even though they are bound magically. *****
“Dream Smith” A boy who is accidentally disfigured becomes aware of a girl also disfigured. But there is no place for them to even meet in the real world. A clever device, but not much of a plot. **
“Amber Out of Quayth” A young woman has been displaced from her position as Lady of the family keep, by the return from battle of her brother with a wife. At a fair, the three of them encounter a wealthy and mysterious trader – to whom she is bartered in marriage. ****
I chose to read this book simply because it was DAW #1, but I’m glad I did. As a child, I preferred Andre Norton’s science fiction over her fantasy basically because I was a boy. Reading this now, I can see that her plots in both subgenres are actually very similar – differing mostly in superficial trappings, such as magic spells versus force fields. But one significant difference is that these stories, and perhaps all of Andre Norton’s Witch World writing, have a magical thematic response to the powerlessness of its women. They are all bound by hardened social expectation including marriage against their will. Discovery of the lost magic bestowed on them by heritage or artifact is the key to gaining freedom. No wonder these books are so highly revered by girl readers, who are now women.
This book is a collection of three works, all original to DAW #1, in 1972. They are
“Dragon Scale Silver” A twin sister and brother are born to a pair of refugees found at sea. Both parents are lost, without ever disclosing what their background is, or even the circumstances of their escape the Invasion. Brother and sister follow very different life paths, even though they are bound magically. *****
“Dream Smith” A boy who is accidentally disfigured becomes aware of a girl also disfigured. But there is no place for them to even meet in the real world. A clever device, but not much of a plot. **
“Amber Out of Quayth” A young woman has been displaced from her position as Lady of the family keep, by the return from battle of her brother with a wife. At a fair, the three of them encounter a wealthy and mysterious trader – to whom she is bartered in marriage. ****
June 8, 2017
This is a short little book with 3 self-contained stories, which all come to proper conclusions. All take places in High Hallack and in or around the Dales there. Each story is immersive and action-packed. It's difficult to put it down, but there's also very little in the way of unnecessary information. You get what you need to move the story and the narration along, to learn about the characters involved and the adventures that they're part of. Their troubles and peril feel real and important.
The writing style is different from what I'm used to, but it seems to me that it was likely done that way on purpose to match the setting of the stories. Still, it took me a bit to get used to it and slowed me down for the first several pages, so watch out for that but don't let it deter you!
I loved this book. The first Andre Norton book that I think I've ever read, and I can definitely see why he's so important in sci-fi/fantasy.
This book is also part of at least two series, Witch World and High Hallack Cycle, but I didn't find it difficult to follow or understand the stories and plots and events even though I haven't read the other books in either of these series. It's possible that if you have read other books in these series that you might get even more out of this book, but I don't think there's anything here to confuse or trip anyone up if this is the first book you picked up either from the author or from these series (at least nothing struck me that way).
I also really liked that, especially in the first story, you could really see that Andre Norton knows his stuff on magic. You can see where he did research into actual magical theory by people who actually consider themselves practitioners, and there is a whole lot of symbolism there as well. Don't get me wrong, he took great liberties and creative license but you can see the foundations if you know what to look for and it's pretty awesome to see that.
Just a great little book and one that I'm definitely going to keep on my shelf. Absolutely recommended for anyone who likes fantasy, especially high fantasy. The series themselves are also sci-fi but if you don't already know that then these books really do come off as straight high fantasy. So, keep that in mind but don't let it deter you! :)
The writing style is different from what I'm used to, but it seems to me that it was likely done that way on purpose to match the setting of the stories. Still, it took me a bit to get used to it and slowed me down for the first several pages, so watch out for that but don't let it deter you!
I loved this book. The first Andre Norton book that I think I've ever read, and I can definitely see why he's so important in sci-fi/fantasy.
This book is also part of at least two series, Witch World and High Hallack Cycle, but I didn't find it difficult to follow or understand the stories and plots and events even though I haven't read the other books in either of these series. It's possible that if you have read other books in these series that you might get even more out of this book, but I don't think there's anything here to confuse or trip anyone up if this is the first book you picked up either from the author or from these series (at least nothing struck me that way).
I also really liked that, especially in the first story, you could really see that Andre Norton knows his stuff on magic. You can see where he did research into actual magical theory by people who actually consider themselves practitioners, and there is a whole lot of symbolism there as well. Don't get me wrong, he took great liberties and creative license but you can see the foundations if you know what to look for and it's pretty awesome to see that.
Just a great little book and one that I'm definitely going to keep on my shelf. Absolutely recommended for anyone who likes fantasy, especially high fantasy. The series themselves are also sci-fi but if you don't already know that then these books really do come off as straight high fantasy. So, keep that in mind but don't let it deter you! :)
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May 6, 2015I'm going back and adding reviews to the editions I have, rather than just taking the first edition that shows up when I search a title. This is because edition often matters even with non-'classical' books.
This edition is probably the 1st edition, or at least the 1st paperback edition. The cover art is credited to Michael Whelan, and the interior art to Jack Gaughan.
The problem with trying to read a series in order of internal chronology is that it's often not clear where a particular story fits in the sequence. And then there're collections like this, which range across the chronology of several generations (probably--some of the stories are in mythic time, and can't reliably be dated).
But I have to introduce this particular collection at this point because it's the only anthology I know of that contains the novella Dragon Scale Silver; and Dragon Scale Silver introduces several critical characters, who play major parts in later stories.
Table of contents:
I DRAGON SCALE SILVER
Chapter I: The Coming of The Far Strangers: This story is told by Elys--but she and her twin Elyn don't come into the story right away. This makes the story a little speculative at first. Elys is not a well-traveled person from the beginning--her whole experience is centered in one fisher village in the Dales. It's an indication of her lack of outside information that she isn't really clear under whose lordship Wark falls, and can't make a particularly reliable guess where her parents came from (Estcarp, at a guess--but it's not clear why they left, or how they came to be at sea to be shipwrecked off High Hallack).
Chapter II: Cup Spell: The Lady Almondia, desiring children for herself and her husband, Truan, makes an appeal to relics of the Old Ones in High Hallack, although she knows the price will be very high--including, but not limited to, her life. Part of the payoff is a silver(ed) cup.
Chapter III: Tarnished Silver: Elys and Elyn reach adolescence about the time that the Dales war begins. Their father goes off to help lead the Dales resistance to the invaders, but forbids Elyn to accompany him and the volunteers from Wark (their mother had died shortly after their birth, and Elys and Elyn had been fostered by the Wise Woman Aufrica). Elyn waits about fifteen seconds and then follows their father. Elys insists that Elyn provide her with a barometer--the silvern cup, which will tarnish when Elyn is endangered. Jervon, who was injured and had taken refuge in the village to recover, insists on escorting Elys on her quest to succor Elyn, saying that it's (sort of) on his way, and anyway, nobody but a fool travels alone in High Hallack at this time.
Chapter IV: Coomb Frome: Elyn, meanwhile, has married the heiress from a shadowed family. I should say that when I realized what the basis for the curse was, I was shocked. The idea that an Old One would take such umbrage for something (which, truth be known, she would have been wise to have suggested herself), that she not only cursed one man, but ANY male who comes into her territory, is an indication of how irresponsible many of the Old Ones must have become. Norton often used the excuse that the passage of time doesn't ameliorate the near immortal Old Ones' passionate obsessions, because (I gather) they just don't learn new things as fast. This is a good solid argument for there being limitations and brakes put on their powers--and there seem to be some--just not enough.
Chapter V: The Curse of Ingaret: Elys, having learned of the threat that Elyn has incurred, tries to reject Jervon's offer of help, for his own protection. Jervon has no powers, and the curse, after all, is potent primarily against males. Jervon basically ignores her--and it turns out that the added danger improves Elys's effectiveness, rather than hindering her.
Chapter VI: Field of Stone: There seems to be some time limitation on how long people can languish under the curse before they become unsalvageable. Elyn has been gone for a month or so (it seems). Jervon has only just arrived. But there are at least a dozen others who are, apparently, dead.
Chapter VII: Silver Bright: Elys, having rescued her twin, realizes that she no longer has any real link with him. So she now has to consider where she DOES fit in. She could go back to Wark...but her place there was really based on her immediate family, who are no longer there. So where now? Jervon argues that there might be another path, if she's willing...
II DREAM SMITH
Misfits play a big part in Norton's works. This is a story of the Dales--but it would have fit in about equally with what were once called 'Ruritanian' romances (the fictional place name is, as I suspected, from The Prisoner of Zenda. Its geographical location is deliberately vague--maybe a German principality, or a Balkan nation...). The part that locates it most clearly in the Dales is the introduction of metal from ruins of the Old Ones. This metal can be worked into finer artifacts than any native to the Dales: but it's also prone to exploding.
Collard, heavily maimed by such an explosion, continues to work with the dangerous stuff--and thereby makes a refuge for himself and a deformed lady, near death and about to be forced into a dynastic marriage.
III AMBER OUT OF QUAYTH
Ysmay finds herself in an untenable position. Her brother is heir to her natal Dale. Ysmay has her own heritage--amber mines (?) (associated with a buried petrified forest, perhaps?) which have been rendered inaccessible by landslides.
Ysmay has also been forced to surrender her keys to her sister-in-law, meaning that she no longer has any power in her own home.
All of which means that Ysmay's only hope of escape is to marry, and come into her own domain. But there seems not much chance of that, until Hylle comes trading 'Amber Out of Quayth'.
Hylle makes what seems a fair offer: he will marry Ysmay, and take her away to Quayth, in exchange for a share of her birthright, which he gains access to by power apparently not much more sophisticated than gunpowder.
Ysmay is doubtful about the worth of such a bargain, but she doesn't think she has much choice. It isn't until she begins to realize that Hylle might be a usurper, and to seek to liberate the rightful rulers, that she begins to sense a third alternative.
This edition is probably the 1st edition, or at least the 1st paperback edition. The cover art is credited to Michael Whelan, and the interior art to Jack Gaughan.
The problem with trying to read a series in order of internal chronology is that it's often not clear where a particular story fits in the sequence. And then there're collections like this, which range across the chronology of several generations (probably--some of the stories are in mythic time, and can't reliably be dated).
But I have to introduce this particular collection at this point because it's the only anthology I know of that contains the novella Dragon Scale Silver; and Dragon Scale Silver introduces several critical characters, who play major parts in later stories.
Table of contents:
I DRAGON SCALE SILVER
Chapter I: The Coming of The Far Strangers: This story is told by Elys--but she and her twin Elyn don't come into the story right away. This makes the story a little speculative at first. Elys is not a well-traveled person from the beginning--her whole experience is centered in one fisher village in the Dales. It's an indication of her lack of outside information that she isn't really clear under whose lordship Wark falls, and can't make a particularly reliable guess where her parents came from (Estcarp, at a guess--but it's not clear why they left, or how they came to be at sea to be shipwrecked off High Hallack).
Chapter II: Cup Spell: The Lady Almondia, desiring children for herself and her husband, Truan, makes an appeal to relics of the Old Ones in High Hallack, although she knows the price will be very high--including, but not limited to, her life. Part of the payoff is a silver(ed) cup.
Chapter III: Tarnished Silver: Elys and Elyn reach adolescence about the time that the Dales war begins. Their father goes off to help lead the Dales resistance to the invaders, but forbids Elyn to accompany him and the volunteers from Wark (their mother had died shortly after their birth, and Elys and Elyn had been fostered by the Wise Woman Aufrica). Elyn waits about fifteen seconds and then follows their father. Elys insists that Elyn provide her with a barometer--the silvern cup, which will tarnish when Elyn is endangered. Jervon, who was injured and had taken refuge in the village to recover, insists on escorting Elys on her quest to succor Elyn, saying that it's (sort of) on his way, and anyway, nobody but a fool travels alone in High Hallack at this time.
Chapter IV: Coomb Frome: Elyn, meanwhile, has married the heiress from a shadowed family. I should say that when I realized what the basis for the curse was, I was shocked. The idea that an Old One would take such umbrage for something (which, truth be known, she would have been wise to have suggested herself), that she not only cursed one man, but ANY male who comes into her territory, is an indication of how irresponsible many of the Old Ones must have become. Norton often used the excuse that the passage of time doesn't ameliorate the near immortal Old Ones' passionate obsessions, because (I gather) they just don't learn new things as fast. This is a good solid argument for there being limitations and brakes put on their powers--and there seem to be some--just not enough.
Chapter V: The Curse of Ingaret: Elys, having learned of the threat that Elyn has incurred, tries to reject Jervon's offer of help, for his own protection. Jervon has no powers, and the curse, after all, is potent primarily against males. Jervon basically ignores her--and it turns out that the added danger improves Elys's effectiveness, rather than hindering her.
Chapter VI: Field of Stone: There seems to be some time limitation on how long people can languish under the curse before they become unsalvageable. Elyn has been gone for a month or so (it seems). Jervon has only just arrived. But there are at least a dozen others who are, apparently, dead.
Chapter VII: Silver Bright: Elys, having rescued her twin, realizes that she no longer has any real link with him. So she now has to consider where she DOES fit in. She could go back to Wark...but her place there was really based on her immediate family, who are no longer there. So where now? Jervon argues that there might be another path, if she's willing...
II DREAM SMITH
Misfits play a big part in Norton's works. This is a story of the Dales--but it would have fit in about equally with what were once called 'Ruritanian' romances (the fictional place name is, as I suspected, from The Prisoner of Zenda. Its geographical location is deliberately vague--maybe a German principality, or a Balkan nation...). The part that locates it most clearly in the Dales is the introduction of metal from ruins of the Old Ones. This metal can be worked into finer artifacts than any native to the Dales: but it's also prone to exploding.
Collard, heavily maimed by such an explosion, continues to work with the dangerous stuff--and thereby makes a refuge for himself and a deformed lady, near death and about to be forced into a dynastic marriage.
III AMBER OUT OF QUAYTH
Ysmay finds herself in an untenable position. Her brother is heir to her natal Dale. Ysmay has her own heritage--amber mines (?) (associated with a buried petrified forest, perhaps?) which have been rendered inaccessible by landslides.
Ysmay has also been forced to surrender her keys to her sister-in-law, meaning that she no longer has any power in her own home.
All of which means that Ysmay's only hope of escape is to marry, and come into her own domain. But there seems not much chance of that, until Hylle comes trading 'Amber Out of Quayth'.
Hylle makes what seems a fair offer: he will marry Ysmay, and take her away to Quayth, in exchange for a share of her birthright, which he gains access to by power apparently not much more sophisticated than gunpowder.
Ysmay is doubtful about the worth of such a bargain, but she doesn't think she has much choice. It isn't until she begins to realize that Hylle might be a usurper, and to seek to liberate the rightful rulers, that she begins to sense a third alternative.
September 16, 2019
3.5. Norton returns to the Witch World with three volumes set in the Dales before, during and after the war with Alizon. In order of quality:
"Amber out of Quayth" is a Gothic fantasy/romance in which a woman marries a wealthy amber trader, discovers he's dabbling in dark powers and tries to find a solution — does it lie with the two he's magically captured in his chambers?
"Dragon Scale Silver" has protagonists born of Estcarp but raised in the Dales (a la Year of the Unicorn) and who happen to be psi-linked twins (a la the Tregarth triplets). However Eslyn is a swordswoman as well as a wise woman and a strong protagonist (I believe she and Jervon return down the road).
"Dream Smith" has a hideously disfigured smith before a physically maimed young woman and gets a Twilight Zone-ish happy ending. But it packs a lot of disability cliches in which killed the intended charm.
"Amber out of Quayth" is a Gothic fantasy/romance in which a woman marries a wealthy amber trader, discovers he's dabbling in dark powers and tries to find a solution — does it lie with the two he's magically captured in his chambers?
"Dragon Scale Silver" has protagonists born of Estcarp but raised in the Dales (a la Year of the Unicorn) and who happen to be psi-linked twins (a la the Tregarth triplets). However Eslyn is a swordswoman as well as a wise woman and a strong protagonist (I believe she and Jervon return down the road).
"Dream Smith" has a hideously disfigured smith before a physically maimed young woman and gets a Twilight Zone-ish happy ending. But it packs a lot of disability cliches in which killed the intended charm.
February 13, 2023
this is actually a collection of three stories - the synopsis is the first one. Based on this + the other one I’ve read, I feel like this author is a little too loose with their magic systems for me to feel satisfied with what happens - a lot of gods and old powers are referred to as an explanation for what happens but it never really feels like the depth of their powers / why and how they decide to get involved are explained
August 23, 2025
Incredible. SUCH a vibe and will definitely be reading this again several times in the future. I didn't even know it was 2nd in a series, I just jumped in thinking it was a one-off. The prose of this author was a little difficult at first because it reads very Victorian, but once I got used to it the imagery and story sucked me in! There are three short stories in this novel and I loved all of them. I'll be thinking of this one for a long time.
January 20, 2019
This book contains a novela and two short stories. Dream Smith somewhat annoyed me; too “ pat.” The other two tales I appreciated. However, I am also getting somewhat overexposed to women forced into subservient roles....
November 11, 2023
Return to High Hallack
Novels or short stories, you can’t go wrong with Andre Norton. I’ve loved her way with words since I discovered her work as a girl. Reading these stories was like a visit to a loved place.
Novels or short stories, you can’t go wrong with Andre Norton. I’ve loved her way with words since I discovered her work as a girl. Reading these stories was like a visit to a loved place.
January 1, 2018
I was completelt enthralled by the characters of this collection of short stories and novellas.
November 19, 2018
I enjoyed this read.
April 14, 2019
This is a book of short stories.
November 20, 2019
A twin boy & girl are linked by a metal cup, a deformed smith forms dreams into beautiful sculptures out of strange metal, the amber mage vs. a lady with an amber talisman.
January 13, 2023
Great group of stories!
April 2, 2023
I read this because it is Daw #1 and fully appreciating this is not my genre of choice. This didn't change that opinion. Intangible and undefined magical battles are profoundly uninteresting to me.
March 24, 2025
A little Free Library find, published in 1972.
Three good short fantasy stories; I love the cadence of the prose. I want to find more books in the Witch World series.
Three good short fantasy stories; I love the cadence of the prose. I want to find more books in the Witch World series.
March 5, 2022
“Spell of the Witch World” is comprised of two short novels “Dragon Scale Silver” and “Amber Out of Quayth”. Between is a short story “Dream Smith”.
“Dragon Scale Silver” is very much in the vein of “Year of the Unicorn” with a strong female narrator who has plenty of agency and is involved in a series of adventures. It is satisfying but not really striking.
“Amber” has a much different type of heroine and her character is given much more time to develop than in the first story. While there is a journey it is not the usual quest one finds In fantasy novels.
Both short novels are well told but the second is perhaps the more interesting.
“Dream Smith” is simply a fairy-tale with a fantasy setting. It made a nice interlude in the anthology and I loved it.
“Dragon Scale Silver” is very much in the vein of “Year of the Unicorn” with a strong female narrator who has plenty of agency and is involved in a series of adventures. It is satisfying but not really striking.
“Amber” has a much different type of heroine and her character is given much more time to develop than in the first story. While there is a journey it is not the usual quest one finds In fantasy novels.
Both short novels are well told but the second is perhaps the more interesting.
“Dream Smith” is simply a fairy-tale with a fantasy setting. It made a nice interlude in the anthology and I loved it.
September 5, 2012
This is an anthology of three short stories, Dragon Scale Silver, Dream Smith, and Amber out of Quayth. I read many Andre Norton books years ago when I was in high school, so when I saw the free Kindle promotion for this one, I grabbed a copy.
These are typical sword and sorcery stories, and, quite honestly, they were just all right. I remember staying up late into the night reading Andre Norton books as a teenager, but the stories here did not tempt me to do that. I don’t think it’s the stories, though. I’m quite sure my tastes have changed.
The stories are predictable, the prose adequate, and the characters unexceptional. The Kindle version of this book appears to have been hastily assembled. I found several typos caused, I suspect, from relying on an optical character reader to digitize the book and inadequate proofreading.
As a freebie, this collection is a fine introduction to Andre Norton’s fantasy books, but I cannot recommend spending $2.99 for it. There are several better novels and short story collections available for Kindle in that price range from both old favorites and new authors.
These are typical sword and sorcery stories, and, quite honestly, they were just all right. I remember staying up late into the night reading Andre Norton books as a teenager, but the stories here did not tempt me to do that. I don’t think it’s the stories, though. I’m quite sure my tastes have changed.
The stories are predictable, the prose adequate, and the characters unexceptional. The Kindle version of this book appears to have been hastily assembled. I found several typos caused, I suspect, from relying on an optical character reader to digitize the book and inadequate proofreading.
As a freebie, this collection is a fine introduction to Andre Norton’s fantasy books, but I cannot recommend spending $2.99 for it. There are several better novels and short story collections available for Kindle in that price range from both old favorites and new authors.
January 16, 2017
Three short stories, of which the first is most significant as it introduces Elys and Jervon, who also appear in "Gryphon in Glory" and another short story in "Lore of the Witch World". Echoes also of "'Ware Hawk" with loyalties and partnerships developing as equals. Elys, whose parents were from Estcarp, eventually strikes out to find her twin who has disappeared under geas and Jervon accompanies her. Mental and emotional battles ensue, truths are revealed and evil overcome.
Dream Smith is a different sort of story, shorter and with a fairy tale feeling to it, where a damaged young man creates a gift for an ill young woman and gifts it in a place of power with unexpected results.
Amber out of Quayth is about a less angry young woman than Hertha in "Lore of the Witch World" but as resilient and determined. A marriage to a wealthy merchant in a far northerly place to escape her brother and his wife is more mysterious and unsettling than could have been expected and leads to a bluebeard's chamber type of discovery.
Dream Smith is a different sort of story, shorter and with a fairy tale feeling to it, where a damaged young man creates a gift for an ill young woman and gifts it in a place of power with unexpected results.
Amber out of Quayth is about a less angry young woman than Hertha in "Lore of the Witch World" but as resilient and determined. A marriage to a wealthy merchant in a far northerly place to escape her brother and his wife is more mysterious and unsettling than could have been expected and leads to a bluebeard's chamber type of discovery.
August 28, 2016
Spell of Witch World (1972) by Andre Norton is a collection of three stories assembled into one slim novel, all taking place in Witch World, in an area called the Dales.
This was my first Witch World novel, and likely to be my last. Once again, Andre Norton has managed to bore me to apathy, even with a volume as slim as this one.
Witch World should be called Wicca World, because that's really where the magic and philosophy of the wise women derives. Identifying the Wiccan themes proved more fun than reading the stories themselves.
I found the prose thickish and mildly ponderous. The stories read like they're out of the mid-50's, not the early 70's. Although I applaud heroines doing good, especially in that era, I found all the heroines rather tedious and generally lacking in interesting character development. For the era, this was often par for the course, so I can't complain too bitterly.
Unless you're a Norton fan, you should give this book a pass.
This was my first Witch World novel, and likely to be my last. Once again, Andre Norton has managed to bore me to apathy, even with a volume as slim as this one.
Witch World should be called Wicca World, because that's really where the magic and philosophy of the wise women derives. Identifying the Wiccan themes proved more fun than reading the stories themselves.
I found the prose thickish and mildly ponderous. The stories read like they're out of the mid-50's, not the early 70's. Although I applaud heroines doing good, especially in that era, I found all the heroines rather tedious and generally lacking in interesting character development. For the era, this was often par for the course, so I can't complain too bitterly.
Unless you're a Norton fan, you should give this book a pass.
September 11, 2013
(As posted on my blog, Pneumatised!)
Spell of the Witch World is classic Andre Norton. If you're a fan of classic fantasy (that is, swords and sorcery), Andre Norton is highly recommended. Somehow Norton is able to engage the reader in even the simplest of stories. "Dragon Scale Silver" is about a sister who, after having a premonition of her brother heading into danger, decides to rescue him herself. "Dream Smith" is a cute tale about a deformed blacksmith who crafts a dream world for him and the frail young woman with whom he is enamoured. Lastly, "Amber Out of Quayth" tells the story of how a woman escapes the prison of her arranged marriage.
Spell of the Witch World is classic Andre Norton. If you're a fan of classic fantasy (that is, swords and sorcery), Andre Norton is highly recommended. Somehow Norton is able to engage the reader in even the simplest of stories. "Dragon Scale Silver" is about a sister who, after having a premonition of her brother heading into danger, decides to rescue him herself. "Dream Smith" is a cute tale about a deformed blacksmith who crafts a dream world for him and the frail young woman with whom he is enamoured. Lastly, "Amber Out of Quayth" tells the story of how a woman escapes the prison of her arranged marriage.
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