The Spell-Bound Scholar

Warlock's Heirs #3

by Christopher Stasheff

Gregory Gallowglass is the eligible bachelor on the planet of Gramarye. The youngest son of the High Warlock Rod Gallowglass and the witch Gwendolyn, his powers of intellect and magic are without equal. But he's best known for his pure heart -- one that is impervious to love. To Moraga, sworn enemy of the Gallowglass family, Gregory's heart is the ultimate challenge. Through her spells, she will bring him under her power -- and then destroy him...

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction Fantasy, Novels

309 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

The late Christopher Stasheff was an American science fiction and fantasy author. When teaching proved too real, he gave it up in favor of writing full-time. Stasheff was noted for his blending of science fiction and fantasy, as seen in his Warlock series. He spent his early childhood in Mount Vernon, New York, but spent the rest of his formative years in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Stasheff taught at the University of Eastern New Mexico in Portales, before retiring to Champaign, Illinois, in 2009. He had a wife and four children.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This third book in Stasheff's Warlock's Heirs series focuses on Gregory, the youngest son of Warlock Rod Gallowglass and his wife, Graymayre native witch Gwendolyn. Gregory is the scholar of the family, socially inept and interested only in study. Finister is the leader of the opposition to the Gallowglass family and all that they stand for and are trying to achieve for Graymayre. Naturally, in true Shakespearean tradition, they have to fall in love... This one did tend to drag in places and wander kind of off topic and be predictable, but then I always thought Gregory was the least interesting of the kids. (Perhaps a prejudice many youngest sons feel...) It all comes together nicely with a few clever twists and leaves the family fans with a warmth Stasheff was masterful at evoking.

[James M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this, the central premise is very interesting: The youngest and most powerful of a family of wizards falls for the enemy leader who has been trying to sabotage and murder his family. Torn between desire and practicality he prepares to kill her so the rest of his family tries to help him get the girl so he doesn't become a self-hating murderer.

What follows is a lot of superficial wish fulfillment, ("Oh you need muscles if you're going to be attractive to her, we'll use magic to give them to you") and some character destroying BS ("I'm going to use telepathy to make her stop being evil and fundamentally change her personality but in a way that is morally acceptable.")

And all of that might be fun in a power fantasy sort of way if the majority of the book wasn't so dull. A lot of the chapters are a rote collection of the villains memories of how she was shaped into a villain: various betrayals and lies through her childhood that shaped her into a devious hate filled mastermind. Then we get chapters of the exact same material, but with someone acting as a therapist, explaining to her how she was manipulated and that she should actually view her life differently. It's not a story, just a series of events so dry and analytical that its difficult to make it to an unearned "happy ending" conclusion that is difficult to take seriously because the agency of half the romantic couple doesn't feel real.

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather disappointing. Almost entirely about lust and sex.

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with the youngest child of the wizard Rod Gallowglass and his wife, daughter of The Puck. Our anti-hero, Gregory, is tricked into interacting with a known evil witch, an agent of destruction hired by an off-planet agency.

Gregory has sworn off love, concentrating on growing his already prodigious mental abilities, which he uses for – nothing. His is a purely academical pursuit, and although he loves his family he is estranged from them. Not physically – they all live together or close by, but mentally they are poles apart. They are caring, loving people, who are sometimes a little too voluble or volatile, whereas Gregory is remote, austere and detached.

Therefore, Gregory is thought to be the best choice to escort the witch to her imprisonment. Therein lies the tale, as he begins to take the woman to what promises to be a horrid existence, and she tries to convince him to free her.

There are parts which I felt were a little overdone, especially in the "woe is me" ethos of the witch, and also in the scenes where Gregory detaches emotionally and physically. Overall though a very good read.

[Sherrill Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

See the dedication "With thanks to Finster's advocate, Genevieve Stasheff, who thought Finister could be reformed." Whoever SHE is.

Indeed, Finster spends the first 72 pages (out of 289) seducing Gregory. If you like that sort of thing, it's great. If not . . .

Lord Rod and Lady Gwendolyn Gallowglass and their children, Magnus (off planet), Cordelia and younger son Gregory are on a planet which has witches and warlocks and wizards, of which Gregory is one, the youngest. He falls hopelessly in love with Finster. (Why?)

Page 95-155 has a very interesting story about Cordelia in a convent / monastery, and going underground to confer with a computer.

FINALLY, on page 259 Finster / Allouette has a REALIZATION that Gwendolyn is The Kind Lady, her adoptive parents were up to no good, and that Allouette herself is good.
Out of 289 pages.

Whew.

[C.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In some ways Gregory is my favourite of the Gallowglass children because he is such an old soul and was the one 'abandoned' when he was a baby when the rest of the family were kidnapped. So of course, he is the one to fall in love with Finister, whose real name is Alouette, even though she tries to seduce him in many different disguises. Because of her many crimes against the family, the Crown and various other people, the options are for Gregory to kill her or for his mother to heal her mentally, emotionally and psychologically. They choose the latter and are successful.

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I missed this book so need to get it. It's part of a wonderful series.

[Frank Taranto · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick minhdless fun.