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Five Senses #2-4
The Five Senses Set: Mirror of Destiny, The Scent of Magic, and Wind in the Stone
Adventurous maidens and sinister mages clash in these magical tales by a World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and “one of the all-time masters” (Peter Straub). Three different young women, each endowed with extraordinary abilities, pit their powers against warriors, wizards, and royal intrigue to preserve their worlds and stem the tide of evil. Mirror of Transformed by a powerful talisman, the orphaned apprentice Twilla defies her king—and escapes her fate as an unwilling bride—in favor of joining a crusade to rescue the vanquished of an ancient magical war and help save the destiny of a disputed land. The Scent of An orphaned child and captive scullery maid, young Willadene’s uncanny ability to smell the magic of the natural world delivers her from servitude—to the highest circles of the Ducal court. But depravity and corruption infest the castle, and the power that has been her fortune now draws her into a maelstrom of evil. Wind in the An infant girl, abandoned after her mother’s death and raised to young womanhood by the strange denizens of the Forest, discovers the wondrous earth magic she wields. Now, Sulerna must confront the brutal sorcerer who enslaved her homeland—and battle an enemy who is both her bane and the twin brother she lost to darkness.
1077 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2017
500 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
695 books1,385 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 21, 2021
Andre Norton is one of those authors I've been meaning to dip into again for years, so when the Five Senses Set of three novellas was on sale on Amazon, I decided to give it a try. Certainly, the list of titles to her name is formidable, and from a perspective of giving love to the older works of SFF out there, I felt it was valuable to revisit. But...
There's going to be a but here.
I need to relook some of her more popular works for comparison, because this collection was so far off the mark for me in terms of the quality of the writing.
Overall, there's a theme in each story – of a young woman who inherits or possesses a rare magical skill related to the senses, who sets out to right an imbalance along strongly expressed lines of good and evil. Norton also brings across inventive world building, but it's not enough for me – across the board I felt there was something off with each story, be it the pacing or the lack of attention to characterisation. Not to mention the clumsy sentence construction. Whether the latter is a product of its time or simply that these stories were never subjected to the tender mercies of both a structural and copy editor's talents, I don't know.
In Mirror of Destiny Twilla inherits a magical mirror from her teacher, but before she can establish herself as more than a trainee wise woman, she is whisked off as a prearranged bride for people in a nearby land. By some luck, she ends up in the duke's household, destined for his son, but the marriage is not to either of their taste, so she makes her escape that leads her to the forest, and the breaking of an ancient curse that binds the fair folk of this world. The biggest issue I had with this story was that the pacing dragged, and I didn't once feel as if the characters were ever in any real danger that they had to overcome.
The Scent of Magic sees Willadene escape a life of drudgery as a scullery maid to apprentice her to a herbwoman – as Willa has the ability to sniff out magic, which is apparently a rare talent indeed. We also see the point of view of the baron's daughter, who upon gaining her majority, starts working on gaining power – so that was at least interesting, seeing a woman working on feminine power in a patriarchal society. There's a larger plot afoot too, once again tied into an ancient evil, and the story heads off into a completely different direction near the end. Of the three novellas, this was the one that I felt was structurally stronger. But it was still a slog.
Wind in the Stone absolutely starts in the wrong place, with its first part essentially just back story that sets up the events that take place in the second half. Other reviewers despised this story (from what I can pick up) due to the fact that there is a scene that involves the rape of a young woman. I just found this story unutterably dull, to be quite honest. Stuff happens, and there's an antagonist who appears to be power hungry for the sake of being power hungry. Oh, and the Sasquatch. Which are an interesting addition to the plot if they served any real purpose other than writing a story that features Sasquatch. I suppose it makes a difference from elves and dwarves, I guess.
Look, I'm sure there are some of Norton's other books that are good. I recall reading one of her Witch World books when I was much, much younger, and finding it a fair read, but none of these three in this collection are what I would call sterling examples of the genre. Stilted dialogue, great need for structural edits, and peculiar diction all combine to make these uncomfortable reads that were a relief to finish and make me doubt whether I am brave or foolish enough to pick up any of Norton's other writing. As a peculiarity of the genre, this was interesting to read, and there were moments when some of the leaps of imagination hinted at greater depths (like the malevolent forest ruins in The Scent of Magic). Mostly, I just felt like there wasn't enough depth in the writing to convince me of the characters' motivations. And yes, all my aforementioned issues.
So read this one at your own peril. Obviously, if you're a huge fan of Norton, and she can do no wrong for you, then kindly disregard this review. I was mostly disappointed with this collection.
There's going to be a but here.
I need to relook some of her more popular works for comparison, because this collection was so far off the mark for me in terms of the quality of the writing.
Overall, there's a theme in each story – of a young woman who inherits or possesses a rare magical skill related to the senses, who sets out to right an imbalance along strongly expressed lines of good and evil. Norton also brings across inventive world building, but it's not enough for me – across the board I felt there was something off with each story, be it the pacing or the lack of attention to characterisation. Not to mention the clumsy sentence construction. Whether the latter is a product of its time or simply that these stories were never subjected to the tender mercies of both a structural and copy editor's talents, I don't know.
In Mirror of Destiny Twilla inherits a magical mirror from her teacher, but before she can establish herself as more than a trainee wise woman, she is whisked off as a prearranged bride for people in a nearby land. By some luck, she ends up in the duke's household, destined for his son, but the marriage is not to either of their taste, so she makes her escape that leads her to the forest, and the breaking of an ancient curse that binds the fair folk of this world. The biggest issue I had with this story was that the pacing dragged, and I didn't once feel as if the characters were ever in any real danger that they had to overcome.
The Scent of Magic sees Willadene escape a life of drudgery as a scullery maid to apprentice her to a herbwoman – as Willa has the ability to sniff out magic, which is apparently a rare talent indeed. We also see the point of view of the baron's daughter, who upon gaining her majority, starts working on gaining power – so that was at least interesting, seeing a woman working on feminine power in a patriarchal society. There's a larger plot afoot too, once again tied into an ancient evil, and the story heads off into a completely different direction near the end. Of the three novellas, this was the one that I felt was structurally stronger. But it was still a slog.
Wind in the Stone absolutely starts in the wrong place, with its first part essentially just back story that sets up the events that take place in the second half. Other reviewers despised this story (from what I can pick up) due to the fact that there is a scene that involves the rape of a young woman. I just found this story unutterably dull, to be quite honest. Stuff happens, and there's an antagonist who appears to be power hungry for the sake of being power hungry. Oh, and the Sasquatch. Which are an interesting addition to the plot if they served any real purpose other than writing a story that features Sasquatch. I suppose it makes a difference from elves and dwarves, I guess.
Look, I'm sure there are some of Norton's other books that are good. I recall reading one of her Witch World books when I was much, much younger, and finding it a fair read, but none of these three in this collection are what I would call sterling examples of the genre. Stilted dialogue, great need for structural edits, and peculiar diction all combine to make these uncomfortable reads that were a relief to finish and make me doubt whether I am brave or foolish enough to pick up any of Norton's other writing. As a peculiarity of the genre, this was interesting to read, and there were moments when some of the leaps of imagination hinted at greater depths (like the malevolent forest ruins in The Scent of Magic). Mostly, I just felt like there wasn't enough depth in the writing to convince me of the characters' motivations. And yes, all my aforementioned issues.
So read this one at your own peril. Obviously, if you're a huge fan of Norton, and she can do no wrong for you, then kindly disregard this review. I was mostly disappointed with this collection.
November 6, 2021
5 senses
This was really frustrating. I love Norton's science fiction. The fantasy is not so easy to read. I almost gave up on Mirror of Destiny but gave it another try and finished it. 4 stars for that one. I enjoyed The Scent of Magic very much. 4 stars for that one. Wind in the Stone was so full of twisted archaic language that I gave up on it. Seemed like torture to continue reading. 1 star for that one. Wish I could have enjoyed it.
This was really frustrating. I love Norton's science fiction. The fantasy is not so easy to read. I almost gave up on Mirror of Destiny but gave it another try and finished it. 4 stars for that one. I enjoyed The Scent of Magic very much. 4 stars for that one. Wind in the Stone was so full of twisted archaic language that I gave up on it. Seemed like torture to continue reading. 1 star for that one. Wish I could have enjoyed it.
June 14, 2018
I enjoyed the first two novels of this trio of books that are related only in that each highlights a sense. However, the third novel is so dark and depressing that I gave up on it half way through. Possibly because I'm in a challenging place in my own life, but I didn't want to read about a lovely place that is systematically destroyed by one man's desire for power (sound familiar?).
November 16, 2020
Three woven into one.
It is with a great sense of joy that I began to read "The Five Senses Set". I began my journey along the paths of sci-fi , fantasy and magic in the late 1950's reading novels written by Andre Norton. She open new and wonderful worlds of imagination with her abilities the weave words of description for alien landscapes or mystical times or place of magic. This box set does not disappoint the memory from my youth,as you'll read on you may find that cannot put the novels down. Read on for joy, knowledge,and .wonderment
It is with a great sense of joy that I began to read "The Five Senses Set". I began my journey along the paths of sci-fi , fantasy and magic in the late 1950's reading novels written by Andre Norton. She open new and wonderful worlds of imagination with her abilities the weave words of description for alien landscapes or mystical times or place of magic. This box set does not disappoint the memory from my youth,as you'll read on you may find that cannot put the novels down. Read on for joy, knowledge,and .wonderment
March 24, 2020
The story is lost somewhat in the tale. The individuals overwhelmed the story and left one wandering, wondering.
As my title suggests. I kept getting lost in the back and forth bits in the tales and the characters. So much detail made a confusing mash of a story. Just an opinion
As my title suggests. I kept getting lost in the back and forth bits in the tales and the characters. So much detail made a confusing mash of a story. Just an opinion
March 13, 2021
Exotic worlds and varied champions
Always love her writing. Each story has its own flavor. Each protagonist his or her own talents and problems to overcome. A lovely trio of stories where good overcomes evil.
Always love her writing. Each story has its own flavor. Each protagonist his or her own talents and problems to overcome. A lovely trio of stories where good overcomes evil.
January 31, 2020
The books were interesting but not compelling
March 8, 2020
AN enjoyable read.
September 26, 2020
Not the best
Have read a great number of Andre Norton books and these are the elastomer ones I have read. Too dark and satanic for me.
Have read a great number of Andre Norton books and these are the elastomer ones I have read. Too dark and satanic for me.
November 21, 2020
OOAK
I've been a fan of Andre Norton for about six decades.
Her worlds have enriched my life beyond easy description.
I've been a fan of Andre Norton for about six decades.
Her worlds have enriched my life beyond easy description.
Read
November 4, 2021READ ONLY BOOK 2
November 30, 2021
Each book in this series felt that it read slower and slower. It was good and I would be interested to read some of her SciFi books, but this is not one to start with if you are new to the author.
February 23, 2019
The first fantasy novel I ever read was Catseye, also released as Starman's Son. Andre Norton has been my favorite fantasy author ever since. These three stories are good examples of her unmatched storytelling ability, though Wind in the Stone seems darker than the rest of her books. If you've never read the Ladies' books these would be a good place to start.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews