The story of Tirtha and her hired protector, the falconer Niral follows a nearly tragic path as they return to Estcarp under a geas to find Tirtha’s lost home. The Dark holds sway in the book as the characters don’t even know why they are headed for Hawkholme, the destroyed land of Tirtha’s parents.

A story of home and sorrow, this is one of Norton’s later Witch World novels. It takes place after the Turning which tore Estcarp apart. Much of the story takes place during the travels of Tirtha and Niral as they head to their unknown destination. It’s a very dark novel, dealing with resilient human spirit.

Zarsthor’s Bane by Andre Norton is a psychedelic tripe into the unconscious world where not is all that it seems and the gods still mix their fingers in the soups of fate.

Brixia has been living in the forests for a year after her Hall was ransacked. She has survived on her own for all this time with only a wild cat for company. She comes across a bewildered lord and his squire seeking the Zarsthors’ Bane. Despite her efforts, she is drawn to fallow them. A completion of the war between Green Magic and the Dark ensues.

Not only is this book filled with wild description and magical battles, but it is also illustrated. It was a fun read.

Interesting and a little dry. This book follows Kaththea, daughter of Simon and a former council member of Estcarp. She begins by recounting some of the previous books, where Simon and the councilor have disappeared and she is powerless because she went to the dark side for love.

Her brothers Kemoc and Kellen have saved her but she is torn and powerless. As they attempt to return her to Estcarp for healing she looses them in a freak accident.

In a series of misadventures which reveal her self-worth, she regains her power. It’s a nice story…not my favorite though.