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"The Dales of Andre Norton's Witch World have endured wars, natural disasters, the predations of strange creatures, and treachery. None loves the land as well as Lorcan, orphaned at birth, who has sought his birthright for as long as he can remember. Exiled from his native land when it was invaded by Alizon, he spent his youth in Paltendale, where he was treated as an outsider, especially by Hogeth, an heir of that dale, who resented Lorcan's presence when both were still young men." "When show more he came of age, Lorcan left to seek his own destiny. Since then, he has fought valiantly to rid the Dales of the Alizon invaders, but not even his efforts can prevent the deaths of many people and the destruction of many keeps and garths. The war now over, he has survived, but so have those who would plunder the lands of the survivors. And among the plundering bandits is his nemesis from Paltendale, now more bitter and determined to vanquish Lorcan." "During his travels, Lorcan has joined with five blank shields, who, fighting together for common cause, have become his boon companions. Then he meets a young, noble lass from Honeycoombe, a dale known for its beekeeping. Honeycoombe has been decimated by the war, but with Lorcan and his band, she will try to rebuild a home where they all can live in peace. Lorcan feels that he might at last find happiness with the valiant fair maiden. But Hogeth now leads marauders across the Dales, destroying what they cannot rightfully have, and there will be no peace in the Dales until Lorcan and Hogeth settle their old, bitter score."--BOOK JACKET. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Synopsis: Noble Boy looses castle. Peasant Girl looses family. Girl can talk to magic bees. Boy and Girl chased by bad guys; “warrior” bees save them. Boy and girl hook up and form new settlement (with bees). Huzzah.
One of the things that really annoys me in a science fiction or fantasy book is using very formal, stilted language to give you the sense that you are in a different place or time. I’m sorry, but a good writer can give you the sense of altered reality without sounding like King Henry and his wench at the Kansas Ren Faire. This book is painful in spots.
Also, if you are going to use magic bees as a central plot point in your book, at least take the time to learn a little bee biology. The “Warrior” bees are all male, show more and are described as:
“Warriors many times the size of a normal bee….behind they bore stingers over an inch long.”
Now, even if they are magical bees, they are still male–and since the bee sting is a modified ovipositor–well, one can only conclude that we perhaps have transgendered bees, or at least bees that have been to Sweden for an operation.
Not a terrible book; just disappointing that it wasn’t a very good one either.
Full review here: http://membracid.wordpress.com/2007/07/16/goddess-blessed-bees-as-a-plot-device/ show less
One of the things that really annoys me in a science fiction or fantasy book is using very formal, stilted language to give you the sense that you are in a different place or time. I’m sorry, but a good writer can give you the sense of altered reality without sounding like King Henry and his wench at the Kansas Ren Faire. This book is painful in spots.
Also, if you are going to use magic bees as a central plot point in your book, at least take the time to learn a little bee biology. The “Warrior” bees are all male, show more and are described as:
“Warriors many times the size of a normal bee….behind they bore stingers over an inch long.”
Now, even if they are magical bees, they are still male–and since the bee sting is a modified ovipositor–well, one can only conclude that we perhaps have transgendered bees, or at least bees that have been to Sweden for an operation.
Not a terrible book; just disappointing that it wasn’t a very good one either.
Full review here: http://membracid.wordpress.com/2007/07/16/goddess-blessed-bees-as-a-plot-device/ show less
Lorcan is the son of a noble house, turned out after his father was killed he joins with others to fight mauraders. Meive is another survivor, she wants to breed her honeybees in peace but finds herself caught up in the fight. The two of them come together and must try to work with each other to save themselves and to save the people around them.
It's pretty much a predictable story from the Witch World, but I liked it a lot.
It's pretty much a predictable story from the Witch World, but I liked it a lot.
Not a bad little tale. Very little time was spent on the war itself, mostly the problems of early life, then the wondering until they found their final destiny.
This one is the same style as the Crystal Gryphon - alternating between the people whose story we are following.
These two collaborate well.
This one is the same style as the Crystal Gryphon - alternating between the people whose story we are following.
These two collaborate well.
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Read-Alike - Incarnations of Immortality Series
19 works; 1 member
Author Information
436+ Works 76,168 Members
Born Alice Mary Norton on February 17, 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio, she legally changed her name to Andre Alice Norton in 1934. She attended the Flora Stone Mather College of Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve) for a year then took evening courses in journalism and writing that were offered by Cleveland College, the adult division of show more the same university. Norton was a librarian for the Cleveland Library System then a reader at Gnome Press. After that position, she became a full-time writer. She is most noted for writing fantasy, in particular the Witch World series. Her first book The Prince of Commands was published in 1934. Other titles include Ralestone Luck, Magic in Ithkar, Voorloper, Uncharted Stars, The Gifts of Asti and All Cats are Gray. She also wrote under the pen names Andre Norton, Andrew North and Allen Weston She was the first woman to receive the Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy and the Nebula Grand Master Award. She has also received a Phoenix Award for overall writing achievement, a Jules Verne Award, and a Science Fiction Book Club Book of the Year Award for her title The Elvenbane. In 1997 she was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. She died on March 17, 2005. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Silver May Tarnish
- Original title
- Silver May Tarnish
- Original publication date
- 2005-12
- People/Characters
- Joros; Ayneta; Lorcan; Anla; Devol; Merrion (show all 57); Hogar; Hegeth; Talsa; Meera; Ashera; Harkkon; Yngilda; Lisia; Faslane; Lerrin; Berond; Ithia; Imgry; Meive; Halin; Neeco; Aran; Annet; Farris; Garlen; Altan; Aylin; Saldea; Tarro; Jenna; Saran; Welwin; Toldon; Hann; Lansen; Tral; Trela; Fraido; Salas; Jerin; Keris Tregarth; Malachi; Degos; Marteyn Crowsbait; Merria; Malco; Elesha; Vari; Levas; Criten; Isa; Arla; Manen; ElbanBetha; Lirwas; Gera
- Important places
- High Hallack, Witch World; Landale, High Hallack; Honeycoome, High Hallack; Erondale, High Hallack; Paltendale, High Hallack; Merrowdale, HIgh Hallack
- Dedication
- To Linnette Horne, Old friend
and a very good companion at many conventions
L. McC - First words
- I was born in Erondale in the Year of the Pard.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)In the end I have deemed myself fortunate.
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Statistics
- Members
- 209
- Popularity
- 155,574
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.40)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 3
