This is a YA coming of age/quest novel very much in Andre Norton's classic style. Not too original, but some good plot twists. It definitely can be read on its own, though I suppose technically it follows a couple other volumes, one of which is THE SCENT OF MAGIC.
This was Andre Norton's last book. Unfinished at her death, it was completed by Rabe, a friend of Norton's, from her notes. I didn't get the impression that Norton was anywhere close to finishing the book, but that's okay.
Young Wisteria, called Eri, has natural magic, which she is trained in by the witch Nanoo Gafna. One day she is out hunting for the village, and when she returns, it is to a scene of devastation and bloodshed. The only person left alive in the village is the Nanoo's other apprentice, a young girl named Alysen, whom Nanoo put an invisibility spell on to protect. Alysen bitterly tells Eri that it is all Eri's fault that the village was slaughtered, that the armed band of men led by Lord Purvis, were looking for Eri, to kill her because of her magic. Regardless of Alysen's anger, Eri feels the responsibility to bring the younger girl safe to the witches' settlement before going out for revenge.
This setup is fine, if not terribly original, but then, an inordinate amount of the subsequent plot has to do with the girls' dealings with a random supernatural creature that they encounter in the wild, which has not much to do with anything, and doesn't really go anywhere.
Young Wisteria, called Eri, has natural magic, which she is trained in by the witch Nanoo Gafna. One day she is out hunting for the village, and when she returns, it is to a scene of devastation and bloodshed. The only person left alive in the village is the Nanoo's other apprentice, a young girl named Alysen, whom Nanoo put an invisibility spell on to protect. Alysen bitterly tells Eri that it is all Eri's fault that the village was slaughtered, that the armed band of men led by Lord Purvis, were looking for Eri, to kill her because of her magic. Regardless of Alysen's anger, Eri feels the responsibility to bring the younger girl safe to the witches' settlement before going out for revenge.
This setup is fine, if not terribly original, but then, an inordinate amount of the subsequent plot has to do with the girls' dealings with a random supernatural creature that they encounter in the wild, which has not much to do with anything, and doesn't really go anywhere.
Andre Norton blocked out the plot for this book, but the writing was done by Jean Rabe. I have not read any other books by Norton, but I have read one other Rabe, and I have decided I just don't like her writing style. The characters irritated me, as did the use of first names in every single sentence, sometimes three times within a paragraph. No one but Horatio Cane uses names like that.
Beyond that, at the beginning I thought the plot was a simple journey tale where the characters run into trouble way more often than any normal people would, none of it really necessary. I knew plot twists were coming, but I didn't know exactly what they would be.
Perhaps a younger reader would like the book (there was no language, sex, or anything questionable), but this mature reader had to skim a lot just to finish it.
Beyond that, at the beginning I thought the plot was a simple journey tale where the characters run into trouble way more often than any normal people would, none of it really necessary. I knew plot twists were coming, but I didn't know exactly what they would be.
Perhaps a younger reader would like the book (there was no language, sex, or anything questionable), but this mature reader had to skim a lot just to finish it.
Andre Norton blocked out the plot for this book, but the writing was done by Jean Rabe. I have not read any other books by Norton, but I have read one other Rabe, and I have decided I just don't like her writing style. The characters irritated me, as did the use of first names in every single sentence, sometimes three times within a paragraph. No one but Horatio Cane uses names like that.
Beyond that, at the beginning I thought the plot was a simple journey tale where the characters run into trouble way more often than any normal people would, none of it really necessary. I knew plot twists were coming, but I didn't know exactly what they would be.
Perhaps a younger reader would like the book (there was no language, sex, or anything questionable), but this mature reader had to skim a lot just to finish it.
Beyond that, at the beginning I thought the plot was a simple journey tale where the characters run into trouble way more often than any normal people would, none of it really necessary. I knew plot twists were coming, but I didn't know exactly what they would be.
Perhaps a younger reader would like the book (there was no language, sex, or anything questionable), but this mature reader had to skim a lot just to finish it.
This book follows A SCENT OF MAGIC; it is a celebration of the sense of taste rather than scent. Wisteria's entire village is slain while the teenager was off hunting for food. Then she discovers a single survivor, a young girl who seems maddened by all the death she's witnessed. This girl is none too friendly to Wisteria, saying the slayers were hunting for her, but the village leader would not give Wisteria up.
Determined to have revenge for her loved ones, Wisteria vows revenge, but before she can act, she must take the single other survivor to a place of safety-- if there is such a place...
Andre Norton left A TASTE OF MAGIC unfinished at her death. It was seamlessly completed by Jean Rabe.
From back cover: Wisteria has been favored by the Green Ones with a taste of magic, a sorcerous ability to attune her senses to the flavor and presence of enchantment, spells, and elementals.
Up to now she has lived a pastoral existence, a life of study, contemplation, and oneness with nature, but that is destroyed when her village is slaughtered by a barbaric warlord.
Together with the only other survivor, an adolescent girl, this brave young sorceress sets out on a quest for revenge.
Along the way, the two survivors encounter deadly threats, both large and small, but nothing will deter them.
Wisteria has developed a new taste, a taste for vengeance, and it will only be sated by the blood of the murderous and barbaric Lord Purvis.
Determined to have revenge for her loved ones, Wisteria vows revenge, but before she can act, she must take the single other survivor to a place of safety-- if there is such a place...
Andre Norton left A TASTE OF MAGIC unfinished at her death. It was seamlessly completed by Jean Rabe.
From back cover: Wisteria has been favored by the Green Ones with a taste of magic, a sorcerous ability to attune her senses to the flavor and presence of enchantment, spells, and elementals.
Up to now she has lived a pastoral existence, a life of study, contemplation, and oneness with nature, but that is destroyed when her village is slaughtered by a barbaric warlord.
Together with the only other survivor, an adolescent girl, this brave young sorceress sets out on a quest for revenge.
Along the way, the two survivors encounter deadly threats, both large and small, but nothing will deter them.
Wisteria has developed a new taste, a taste for vengeance, and it will only be sated by the blood of the murderous and barbaric Lord Purvis.
This is the last book that Andre Norton had notes and plans to finish, but she died before that could be accomplished. Jean Rabe worked with Andre Norton and Norton's notes and completed the book. There are some definite plot twists here and it's interesting reading, but it's not a keeper for me. It just doesn't appeal to me as most of her other books have. However I wouldn't skip reading any of Norton's books, on the chance that it would be great. You be the judge.
