The Winter Players

by Tanith Lee

No one but the priestess knew of the Relics.
No one.

But a grey-haired Young man comes, a steely-eyes stranger clad in a great wolf's skin. He wants one of the Relics and stops at nothing to get it.

The shrine is desecrated. Oaive, the priestess, must set out on the perilous journey to retrieve the Bone, across the ice-bound wastes to the land 'Beyond the Mist'. Alone and inexperienced, can she hope to succeed against a magic far greater than hers?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Time Travel, Magic, Science Fiction Fantasy, Novella, British Literature

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Tanith Lee was a British writer of science fiction, horror, and fantasy. She was the author of 77 novels, 14 collections, and almost 300 short stories. She also wrote four radio plays broadcast by the BBC and two scripts for the UK, science fiction, cult television series "Blake's 7."
Before becoming a full time writer, Lee worked as a file clerk, an assistant librarian, a shop assistant, and a waitress.

Her first short story, "Eustace," was published in 1968, and her first novel (for children) The Dragon Hoard was published in 1971.

Her career took off in 1975 with the acceptance by Daw Books USA of her adult fantasy epic The Birthgrave for publication as a mass-market paperback, and Lee has since maintained a prolific output in popular genre writing.

Lee twice won the World Fantasy Award: once in 1983 for best short fiction for “The Gorgon” and again in 1984 for best short fiction for “Elle Est Trois (La Mort).” She has been a Guest of Honour at numerous science fiction and fantasy conventions including the Boskone XVIII in Boston, USA in 1981, the 1984 World Fantasy Convention in Ottawa, Canada, and Orbital 2008 the British National Science Fiction convention (Eastercon) held in London, England in March 2008. In 2009 she was awarded the prestigious title of Grand Master of Horror.

Lee was the daughter of two ballroom dancers, Bernard and Hylda Lee. Despite a persistent rumour, she was not the daughter of the actor Bernard Lee who played "M" in the James Bond series of films of the 1960s.

Tanith Lee married author and artist John Kaiine in 1992.

Reviews

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It astounds me that at just over 100 pages, Lee manages to erect an entire world, create an action-packed quest and construct such emotive and real characters. Her evocative and poignant writing meant that this book was a wonder to behold: each word was perfectly formulated for maximum impact and a sea of brooding and atmospheric settings were consistently created. Whilst reading this I managed to tune out the birds tweeting in the trees and could instead feel the icy wind biting my exposed flesh and see nothing but the snowy world I became so enraptured in!

In true Lee fashion, I had little idea of the direction the plot was taking me and the grand reveal towards the close of the novel was definitely climatic! This little gem has proven to me, once again, why Tanith Lee is one of the greatest ever writers. If you like high fantasy, time travel and well-crafted magic systems, then this is the book for you!

[Meredith is a hot mess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read from open-library, HERE. Starts on pg. 103. Such a well-done novella by Lee. I think I'll purchase a hard copy. Loved the ending theme of self-sacrifice and love. The time-travelling concept was executed perfectly. What a twist. <3

[Fergal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this Tanith Lee ... Legend.

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why have I not read this before? I keep forgetting how good Tanith Lee is until I go back and read a new story of hers. "The Winter Players" is a short novel of a priestess' quest to recover a relic stolen from her by stranger. Her pursuit of the lost relic leads her on a quest where she discovers the true nature of her magic and the relics upon which the shrine she keeps is built. A lovely story, and one I would reread.

[Asaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rarely able say "no" to the prospect of beautiful prose, and Tanith Lee was a great stylist. "The Winter Players" is no exception.

One day a stranger arrives at the temple and steals one of the relics. Because of this, the young priestess has to embark on the journey toward self-discovery. Two fates, two lives bound together in an unexplainable connection.

Slow reflective pace reminds me of Ursula le Guin. I also like Tanith's heroine. She is strong in a quiet way, resilient and empathetic.

[Claire Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautifully written book by Tanith Lee, one that I have read and reread several times in the years since it was first published. It is an evocative and satisfying tale that can take you into an alternative world for an evening. Very much recommended.

[Leila Anani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grey, a young thief, steals a finger bone - one of three holy relics from a sea-temple. The teenage priestess gives chase and has to contend with the evil sorcerer who has enslaved Grey.

Tanith Lee is truly incomparable - in just 100 pages she creates an entire fantasy world with engaging characters and a plot where you truly have no clue what's going to happen. I love the mythic feel to this - it's like a fairytale... yet not based on any story you actually know. The characters almost feel like tarot cards and yet are somehow real too. Towards the end this veers into SF with time travel and has a highly unusual but very satisfying conclusion. Love her use of unusual names - here the priestess heroine is called Oaive which is fitting since she comes from the fisher folk.

Themes:
• Witchcraft
• Adolescent heroine
• Metamorphosis
• Wolves
• Rite of passage
• Male/Female
• True love

[Alien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Oaive is the healer of a small fishing village and also priestess in the temple. Then a young man shows up and steals an important relic. She follows him to get it back, but it turns out to be a trap.

3.5 stars. It has a simple story line. It works with one of the oldest Fantasy tropes: the adolescent, who finds out that she has huge powers. And then she uses these powers to fight a mighty foe (and who wins? .... you guessed it).
The characters are also rather flat.
But it was a quick and pleasent read anyway.

[Seikaiha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Winter Players" is one of my earliest Tanith Lee books, and definitely my favorite. Oaive is my first priestess in Western fantasy. It has an earlier motif of Narasen and Issak story in "Death's Master" in some sense.

It's coming as a Kindle book on July 31. 6 more Tanith Lee kindle books are coming on the same day, and 3 came out on June 30, including my anothor favorite, "The Castle of Dark". The best time to start reading or re-reading Tanith Lee.

[R.B.]

I just managed to recall what the title of this book was. One of my first reads chosen specifically because it's short with only 100 pages, I still remember parts of the plot even if vaguely so it certainly left an impression. I probably should borrow it again and reread.

[Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Tanith Lee's tale.
So beautiful, and a sweet pain.

[Jenny]

A re-read of a favourite Tanith Lee novel. Small and perfectly formed sums it up beautifully.

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible world and story that is developed in only a hundred pages or so. Definitely worth the read. I had never read anything by Tanith Lee before - she is marvelous.

[Sarah Koz · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH what a sweet magical Earthsea-y little book OH

[Ана Хелс · Rating 5 out of 5]

Първата от трилогия мистични истории, без ясна връзка между тях освен духа на тъмни и необясними сили, завладяващи деня и нощта на обикновените хора в неизяснена реалност, на непрежалимата магьосница на думите Танит Лий, ще ви понесе в едно измерение на лед, вода и демони с почти безкрайни сили, където само надеждата в добрия край, колкото и да е необоснована, може да доведе сюжета до нещо приемливо за привидно добрите в историята. Жрица на отдавна забравил силата си храм, пази от повече от ранна възраст странни реликви, които нито правят чудеса, нито лекуват, или убиват, а само съществуват като отломка от старата, и вече забравена вяра. Хората на селото около храма имат само неясни спомени, наследени от родителите на родителите на родителите си за това, че жрицата е важна, и винаги трябва да има жрица. Защо и как, не се знае, и всички са добре възпитани да не питат. Да ви напомня на една наша реалност?

В един особен ден млад мечоносец (да, любима дума ми е), идва с особено еретичното искане да му се даде една от реликвите. Без обяснения, просто нужда. Пред младата жрица се поставя избор – да даде доброволно или да ѝ бъде отнето онова, което прави животът ѝ смислен и нужен за света. Борба ще има, битка ще бъде изгубена, но понякога войните са малко по-сложни, отколкото на пръв поглед изглеждат. Мотивите са силни, магиите също, господарите на нощта завладяват и дните, наказвайки непокорните с агресивна ликантропия и некромантия. Едно всъщност обикновено момиче с предначертана съдба тръгва на обречено пътешествие срещу повече от видно по-силни противници в името единствено на наследеното. Силите са ѝ малко, идват от твърде далеч и не я смятат за най-подходящия съсъд. Какво ще направите, ако имате да доказвате на цяла една непозната вселена от мощ, скрита зад диплите на реалността, че си струвате?

Танит разказва тъмна приказка за лека нощ, дарк фентъзи, с пътуване през времето, подчиняване на етерните сили, смърт, болка и отчаяние, но неспособност от отказ до последен дъх. Къде свършва предначертаното, къде започва избора, кой решава съдбата на света по-ясно от своята собствена. Малка книжка, натежала от идеи, красива философия и изящни думи. Сякаш снежинките пеят своята лебедова песен, докато умират, създавайки най-очарователните етюди от скреж по стъклата. За онези специални зимни нощи.

[Patricia De Boer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een oudje want deze is in 1976 geschreven, maar door het tijdloze fantasy verhaal ook nu nog steeds heel goed te doen.
Het is tevens een jeugdboek en met 106 bladzijden heb je deze in no time uit.
Maar ik kocht hem tweedehands, uit sentiment, omdat ik deze als tiener heb verslonden en het voor mij een eerste kennismaking was met het fantasy genre.
Later heb ik meerdere boeken van Tanith Lee, koningin van de fantasy, gelezen.
En nu, bijna 40 jaar later, lees ik hem opnieuw.

Dit korte verhaal gaat over het jonge meisje Oaive. Zij is opgegroeid bij de 90 jarige priesteres van een klein dorpje, die Oaive heeft ingeleid als tovenares.
Wanneer de oude vrouwe sterft neemt Oaive haar rol over.
Tot er een jongeman het vissersdorpje binnenkomt, en 1 van de geheime relikwieën op komt eisen die verstopt liggen in de tempel.
Het drijft Oaive er toe om haar dorp te verlaten en de jongen die "Grijs" wordt genoemd te achtervolgen.

[Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stelline e più... un libro che mi era rimasto nel cuore da piccola, forse una delle mie prime letture in assoluto. Ho fatto una lunga ricerca per ritrovarlo, ricordavo solo che la protagonista, una sacerdotessa, viaggiava nel tempo alla ricerca di una reliquia magica che le era stata sottratta. Avevo un terzo degli anni che ho adesso, ma rileggendolo ho capito perché mi fosse rimasto nel cuore: la storia, seppur breve, è intensa e scritta benissimo e il tema della circolarità è reso in maniera affascinante e misteriosa... Il lettore viene catturato nel Cerchio del tempo, che però si chiude senza lasciare nulla al caso. L'autrice ricostruisce un universo magico perfetto in poco più di cento pagine e mi ha assolutamente (ri)conquistata! Sono davvero contenta di averlo ritrovato e riletto in età adulta, il libro non è invecchiato affatto (e neanche la lettrice a dire il vero!)

[SBC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good. Very short, easy to read. A little bit emotionless overall, but an interesting read with a great ending (I liked the way they expected it to go badly for her but it made the fisher village really good, with magic accepted as a part of life instead of cold separated lives). I wonder what the original Oaive did after she left Grey as a boy with her finger? She may have gone back to the beginning and started up their new way, perhaps.

[Rosamund Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tightly woven novella in which a young priestess, Oaive, has a precious relic stolen from a shrine, and must travel through a hostile country in order to retrieve it. But the person who has stolen it, Grey, is not the thief he seems, and Oaive's quest is more complex than she ever realised. Tanith Lee creates a rich world in a few worlds, and the story takes a number of surprising and compelling twists. Both fun to read and very clever.

[Ashwini Abhyankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was an interesting and quick read. The writing was lovely and atmospheric and even for its length, this story feels complete. The only issue I have is the time being circle and all that. Wibbly wobbly time is always a game of chance and this time I am unsure if it worked for me or not. Oh well. I know I am gonna be trying this author's other works for sure because I liked the writing a lot.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up on recommendation that it might hit the spot after playing through the Solas romance (again) from Dragon Age Inquisition.

The Winter Players was alright. More than anything, it reminded me of Tamora Pierce's early works in pacing and writing style. I think the payoff would have been better if it had been a full length novel.

You can't find this story in print easily, but you can borrow it from the Internet Archive, a free, digital lending library.

[Limecello · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice heroine although it felt like a somewhat incomplete story, and I read it two days ago but already don't really remember the ending. (Did she end up with Grey?)
And then the whole circular she's her own ancestor? O_o And does it really mean anything or not?

It felt like it was the middle of a larger story


C-

[Mephistopheles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not sure how I felt about the ending... But most of the novella was delicious, moving in ways I did not expect, but with deep mythic resonances. I felt the meaning of the rite was a cop out.

Changed to three and a half stars, because I felt the ending was such a cop out, and removed the meaning of the events of the story.

[Layla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik weet niet zo goed wat ik van dit boek moet vinden. Het is een kort boek, maar toch heb ik het idee dat het hier alsnog wat te lang is. Verder vond ik het een prima en hier en daar wat kort door de bocht- verhaal.

[F Line · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! It was only short but spun a sweet little tale. However, maybe the first half or third of the book felt a little bit generic to me, though later on it got a lot more interesting. Overall told a really good story for something just over 100 pages.

[Eva Strange · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was achingly beautiful, and if Lee hadn't slipped in that blasted paradox at the last minute, it would have been an easy five stars from me. I'm going to go sit in a corner and let my heart bleed for a while now.

[Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll admit I'm biased, as this was the fantasy book that got me into the genre when I was just a child. Reading it again as an adult in its original language (I read it in Dutch all those years ago) has brought me so much nostalgia and it's almost like I'm being reunited with a long lost friend.

[Nighteye · Rating 4 out of 5]

like this one jut don't remember when I read it a couple of years ago. Okey story.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome. Short and sweet. Reminds me of The Thief for pithiness with a twist, though also with an added touch of the sea witch.

[Tina Rath · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I loved this novella. I recommend it to everyone.