Customer Reviews

Gryphon in Glory

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3 star:		(1)
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Synopsis - The Waste was stirring and strange forms of the Dark, long quiet, began to wake as Kerovan - whose cloven hoofs marked his kinship with the Old Ones - journeyed into the Waste on a secret mission, leaving behind the girl he loved. Joisan, however, rode after him, wearing about her neck Kerovan's gift, a small crystal globe encasing a miniature gryphon. While Kerovan strove fror answers to the riddles of the Dark, Joisan worked to unlock the power of the crystal gryphon. But only together could they hope to find the ancient Sleeper and defeat the forces of evil

This was my first experience with Norton on an individual basis. I was truly impressed with her fluidity and ability to create a world that was believable.
This is a story about Joisan, and her beloved half-breed husband lord who is in search for his true identity and about her deep devotion to him. They are off into unknown lands for different reasons, not knowing they are pawns to a mightier cause. It is unlike any other romance story you are used to becuz' it isn't sappy and overkill, it is just the right amount of emotion and adventure. I LIKE the different view points that Norton used as each charater. You got to feel what they both felt and truly sense the inner battles.
They venture into the Waste and unleash an anciet magic. I really enjoyed that it was short and not too long and drawn out, but now I want to get the next book!!
I highly recommend it. You could probably read it in a week or two(if you're like me with books) and curious for the next book, not becuz' it left you hanging, but becuz' you want more.

A friend recommended that I read this book, citing Norton's beautiful prose. She was right..it is beautiful. Often, throughout the first 100 pages I was struck at how fluid the language was..and the story was interesting too. It was a classic epic fantasy quest..until halfway through the book.

Then it turns into a love story. The reader is subjected to Kerovan's thoughts on Joisan, and Joisan's thoughts on Kerovan. Norton didn't make it any easier on the reader by alternating viewpoints between Joisan and Kerovan. Example: Kerovan is walking, reunites with Joisan, is overcome with emotion, switch to Joisan viewpoint..we go back a few hours and don't come back to the Kerovan scene for another 10-15 pages. I've never liked a writer who holds the reader hostage.

It's a good book. I didn't understand some references because I didn't read the first book, so I recommend starting at the beginning.

"Gryphon in Glory" (GG) is the sequel to The Crystal Gryphon (CG), and as in the original, the story alternates between Kerovan, the cloven-hoofed, amber-eyed warrior, and Joisan, who was wedded to Kerovan by proxy when she was only eight. Kerovan and Joisan fall in love in 'CG' but at the beginning of 'GG,' Kerovan tries to free Joisan from what he believes to be an unequal marriage (he has been taught to be ashamed of his nonhuman appearance), and he rides off into the sorcerous wastelands of High Hallack, on a mission from his commanding officer.

Naturally, Joisan follows him. She still wears Kerovan's gift: a tiny gryphon encased in a transparent globe. The gryphon displayed powerful magic in 'CG' and Joisan hopes that it will help her locate her absconding husband.

Eventually, Joisan meets up with characters from yet another Norton story: "Dragon Scale Silver" ("Spell of the Witch World (The Witch World Novels of Andre Norton)". They are Elys, a woman of witch-blood who is not fully trained in the use her talent, and her partner, Jervon, once Marshal of Horse at a keep that fell to the invaders from Alizon. The three of them join forces and continue Joisan's search for Kerovan.

Kerovan makes contact with the Were-riders of the Waste (see Year of the Unicorn (Witch World )), and alerts them to the invaders from Alizon, while Joisan is kidnapped by the Thas, underground dwellers who are controlled by the Dark (see "Three Against the Witch World (Witch World #4)").

Now it is Kerovan's turn to join up with Elys and Jervon, and search for Joisan.

It is only when Joisan and Kerovan reunite that they are able to face the evil that has been haunting the amber-eyed warrior ever since his mother had tried to sacrifice her son's humanity to a Dark Lord, in exchange for limitless power.

Although "Gryphon in Glory" is not up to the same high level of story-telling as its predecessor, it still scintillates with Norton's eerie brand of magic. A third novel, "Gryphon's Eyrie" coauthored by Andre Norton and A.C. Crispin, continues the adventures of Joisan and Kerovan.

This along with thte other two "gryphon" books are of Andre's Best! This is were the whole things coems together! My first introduction to the Witch world was in these books. So here was the real love and the two heros of this book stil have the power to move me with their feelings. This is the Glory of the Witch world and the Real feelings and spirit of the stories!