The Witch and the Wyrm

The Red Mother

by Elizabeth Bear

A new story set in the world of “The Red Mother.” Hacksilver riddled with a dragon, saved his family's farm, and won the secret to raise his dead. Nothing prepared him, though, for the long cold winter when the dead walked...and his family came back!

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Novella, Dragons

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 26, 2025

About the author

What Goodreads really needs is a "currently WRITING" option for its default bookshelves...

Reviews

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hacksilver beat a dragon at riddles and was asked to culture an egg on the dragon's behalf. When the egg hatches, he finds that life has certainly become more interesting.

An interesting story, which, while lacking the Tolkien tributes of its predecessor, makes up for it by being quite stylish and cinematic.

[K.S. Trenten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel to The Red Mother, complete with consequences, comes back to haunt Hacksilver, warrior and witch, who dared to befriend a dragon. He is the guardian of that dragon egg, mother and uncle to a dragon youngling, along uncle to missing humans. Life and death stalk Hacksilver in the form of countless spawned young and the walking dead. No one seems to understand, other than his presence complicates a home, a small community, even if he’s the only one who can save it.

Preconceived prejudice was felt keenly in all its pain, but there was also friendship and family loyalty. The characters were complicated in a mixture of all three; as they worked together, coping crisis after magical crisis.

This was another rich, layered read offered by Elizabeth Bear; offering fantasy, drama, heart, and thought, peppered by moments of humor rising naturally from the circumstances. If you enjoyed The Red Mother, don’t miss this book.

[Thia Reads A Lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should have read the previous novella first, but I still enjoyed this story. 4*

Summary: Auga Halfsilver bargained with a dragon to stop a volcanic erruption. He brings back the children of Ragnar (Ragnar junior and Ranndis), who helped him, then his own brother and his wife. The third dragon egg hatches (the other two were taken away by the dragon), the draugr attack the living and every female (women and cattle) is pregnant/giving birth out of season. Then he leaves with the dragon, Ranndis convinces him to make her his apprentice.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice little follow up to The Red Mother, expanding on that story and going in some interesting directions. I thought it was an interesting mix of dark but also funny. The phrase "animated people jerky" is a new classic for me.

[Kam Yung Soh · Rating 3 out of 5]

After successfully getting a dragon's magic, a 'witch' sets about resurrecting the family's dead children. What was not expected are 'side effects' of the magic, which would manifest a few days later and involve taking care of a baby dragon and dealing with others that are also newly born.

[Kes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up without realising it’s a sequel. But it works, kind of - Hacksilver sets about raising the dead and bringing life. Magic is sketched out briefly; the focus is on Hacksilver’s narrative voice, which is entertaining enough to keep the story going.

[Janta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A last-minute quick read to finish out my challenge. I enjoyed it; the events of this story follow directly on from Red Mother, and both are an interesting and entertaining take on Viking-Age tales/sagas/eddas. I hope Bear writes more in this setting.

[Per · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://reactormag.com/the-witch-and-...

[Debrac2014 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a continuation of The Red Mother! I enjoyed it! Magical!

[Cat]

did not finish

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, please; please continue to write as many of these stories as possible. Thank you for asking! (Also, I do realize I included the word "please" twice. It's for a reason.)

[Elena Hect · Rating 5 out of 5]

sad bisexual middle-aged sorcerer keeps finding himself adopted as an uncle