Product Description
Macati swore off apprentices after his less than pleasant experiences with the first three. He's still feeling the sting of Tlory, his last apprentice gone awry, but then an old friend shows up on his doorstep with a shy, brilliant, and horribly awkward student in tow, and he can't say no.

Guylian seems to fit nowhere. The life he loved is forever gone, he is desperate to avoid a life he hated, and now his teacher in magic is turning him over to someone else, completely out of patience with him. He doubts his plans to become a proper mage, as magic seems to come with more trouble than he can manage. Still, he cannot bear to give up his last ties to the past, even if that means dealing with a teacher who is kind, patient, and too attractive for Guylian's peace of mind and the trouble stirred up by a certain former apprentice... ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

The Bespelled Prince
The Knight of the Red Beard (2008) is the fifth fantasy novel in the Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan Cycle, following Dragon Blade.In the previous volume, the Great Signet rings were used to destroy the slime-troll.Gaurin stabbed the Mother Ice Dragon with the Dragon Blade, but did her no harm.Then Ashen broke the Dragon Blade and the Mother Ice Dragon died.Both had damaged their right hands by using the Blade.

In this novel, Mikkel is the youngest child of the NordornKing and the NordornQueen.He is eleven years old and the youngest in the family.His chances of becoming king are very slim.

Elin is the next oldest sister and the NordornPrincess.She has ambitions to inherit the whole of NordornLand.But first she wants to inherit Iselin from Granddam Ysa.

Bjaudin is the older brother and the NordornPrince.He is the heir to the throne of NordornLand.

Zazar is a Wysen-wyf.She has formerly been the Wysen-wyf of the Bog, but Nayla had become her replacement after Zazar moved to the Castle of Fire and Ice.Zazar had raised Ashen from a child and is now Wysen-wyf for the king and queen.

Ysa is the former Dowager Queen of Rendel.Now she is a duchess within NordornLand.Ysa likes to make trouble for other people.

Askepott is a Wysen-wyf among the Wykenigs, a northern seagoing tribe.

In this story, Mikkel is trying to study in his rooms, but Elin and Bjaudin are arguing.He had retreated from the outer room and is sprawled on the bed.He had even stuffed cotton in his ears and covered them with his hands, but he can still hear the argument.

Luckily, Rols -- a senior house servant -- comes to tell him that four Sea Rover ships are entering the harbor.Rols also informs the argumentative pair in the outer room.Mikkel hurries down the steps to see the new ship arriving from the shipyard.The Ice Princess is truly a magnificent sight.

Later, Mikkel goes hunting with his friend Tjorvi.Tjorvi invites him to stowaway on the newly arrived GorGull.This is a common practice among Sea Rovers and the boys will be teased, but included within the crew.

Of course, there is the problem of Yngvar -- Tjorvi's older brother -- who is charged with keeping his brother out of trouble.The boys play on the GorGull and prepare a hiding place.Then they sneak out and row themselves to the ship.They are not discovered until the cook comes down to get fixings for breakfast.

When they encounter a Wykenig ship, the boys are send down to a sails locker while the sailors prepare for battle.But the Wykenig ship rams the GorGull and it starts to sink.The captain comes to get the boys, puts them in his dinghy and tells them to row to the nearby shore.

Unfortunately, the Wykenigs intercept the dinghy and take Mikkel and his warkat Talkin aboard their boat.Tjorvi is dumped out of the dinghy into the sea.The Wykenigs also capture the captain of the GorGull and eight sailors, but are driven away by the Ice Princess.Tjorvi is rescued by sailors from this ship.

Meanwhile, a wedding is being planned for Earl Royance and the Lady Mjaurita.Elin is sent to invite Duchess Ysa to be Mistress of Protocol for the wedding and works closely with her during the preparations.Ysa encourages Elin to flirt with two of the guests.

The wedding plans are suspended after arrival of the news of Mikkel's abduction and the confession by Royance of his previous marriage to Mjaurita.Still, a feast is held to celebrate their new status.Then Ysa and Elin start arranging betrothals.

Then a note is delivered from Holger, the man who captured Mikkel.Included with the note is a missive from Askepott to Zazar.She tells Zazar that Mikkel is alive and well.She also encloses a packet of travel herbs.

Zazar passes the news about Mikkel to his mother.Then she arranges a personal visit to the boy.She pours the travel herbs in a circle, lights it with a spell, steps into the circle, and raises the fire.After a small delay, Zazar is within the Wykenig dwelling.

Askepott greets her, shows her the boy, and sits down for a cup of tea.They discuss the boy and agree to meet again.Then Zazar goes back to the Castle of Fire and Ice.

This tale acquaints Mikkel with the many ways that the castle menials worked to provide him food, clothing, shelter and all the other things that he had taken for granted.He works very hard at menial tasks.And he begins to relate directly with adults.

This story probably concludes the Cycle.Since the each book is named for one of the four trees, the Cycle was almost certainly designed as a four part series.So this is an extension of the original sequence.

The work still leaves some unresolved issues.Yet Norton always left such dangling threads.Still, there probably will not be a sequel.

Recommended for Norton fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of differing magics, human courage, and true romance.For those who have not previously read this series, the initial volume is To the King a Daughter.

-Arthur W. Jordin

The Night of the Bad Ending
Billed as the conclusion of "The Cycle of Oak," "Yew, Ash and Rowen," "The Knight of the Read Beard" ends the series with a fizzle, instead of a bang. Old plot lines are not resolved, new ones are started leading one to assume there will be another book or two (or three) planned for the future. The story is ostensibly about the transfer of power from NordornQueen Ashen and NordornKing Gaurin to the next generation, but, instead, concentrates on the younger children who are making trouble of their own. Readers of the previous four books may be happy to revisit the NordornLand, but a new reader will be lost in the story. And, this ending isn't worth going back to the beginning.

exciting well written fantasy
Having resolved their adversarial relationship the NordornQueen Ashen and NordornKing Gaurin ruled pragmatically yet with fairness for years over a prosperous kingdom.However, before their respective ages becomes issue, the NordornLand monarchs must look at the next generation to insure the heir Dependable and conscientious Bjaudin succeeds them to the throne.

After seeking adventure by stowing away on a Sea-Rover, Bjaudin's eleven-year-old younger brother Mikkel is made prisoner by the ferocious Wykenigs; especially interested in the captive is abusive Gunnora who has a past with her detainee's family.His thirteen years old sister Elin, coveting the throne, turns to her scheming malevolent grandmother Ysa as her mentor-ally causing havoc for her parents.Meanwhile, the age of peace and prosperity seems to have ended as a new threat to the NordornLand surfaces; the other grandmother, Zazar uses magic to attempt to free Mikkel and to eliminate the danger.

This is an exciting well written Oak, Yew, Ash and Rowan Cycle fantasy that will leave fans of the saga enjoying the "final" entry, but annoyed that closure to the major dangling plot threads from the previous four books failed to occur.Instead new subplots lead to the conclusion more novels are coming.Still this is an entertaining story as the focus is on the children of Ashen and Gaurin and to a degree their stereotypical diametrically opposite grandmothers.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Product Description
School is hard enough, with finals to face, accolades exams to prepare for, and far too many books to read and papers to write. Toma's had more than enough—all he wants is to be left in peace to do his work, get his accolades, and figure out what he's going to do post-graduation.

He doesn't need the aggravation that comes from being harassed by a fellow student, and he most certainly does not need the distraction that comes in the form of Professor Lajos. ... Read more

Product Description
To the King a Daughter begins the cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan: the four powers of the world who have been warring for centuries. The Clan of Ash is slowly dying, their totem tree in the sacred square withering away to nothing. There is a prophecy that a daughter of Ash will rise again, but none have survived the mass killings, thereby rendering the prophecy unfillable.

But deep in the swamps, in the care of the witch-healer all need and all fear, there is a young girl-woman who can not be the witch's daughter; a girl who, in fact, by virtue of her beauty and elegance and simmering power, can only be a Daughter of Ash, the one who will rise to fulfill the prophecy--and the destiny of her birthright.
Amazon.com Review
This novel from beloved writer Norton and coauthor Miller begins a new fantasy series: The Cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan. Fans of Norton's classic Witch World stories will find familiar terrain in this tale of a crumbling kingdom besieged by dark forces. Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan are the four legendary powers of the world, now fallen on hard times after years of warfare and mutual betrayal. Weak-willed Boroth, King of Oak, and his scheming wife, Ysa, sorcerous Queen of Yew, hold the monarchy for now. Desperate to escape the ancient prophesy that a Daughter of Ash will claim the throne, Ysa orders the death of Boroth's runaway lover, Lady Alditha of Ashe--without knowing Alditha has already given birth to Boroth's bastard daughter, Ashen. Years pass. Boroth's health fails. As Ysa grooms her unworthy son, Florian, to inherit the throne, Ashen is raised by Zazar, a wise woman living with the Bog Folk. When Zazar dies before she can warn the girl of her true heritage, Ashen must trust her instincts and the little magic she knows for protection. After she saves Obern, the dashing son of Snolli, High Chief of the Sea Rovers, who seek alliance against enemies from the north, Ashen and Obern travel to court with Lord Harous, who distrusts Ysa's intentions. Here book 1 concludes, almost as soon as the story really begins. While Norton fans will be eager to read her newest book, they're likely to be disappointed by its slow pace and minimal storyline. --Charlene Brusso ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

More of the same, not done well
I was not yet a quarter of the way into the book when I started thinking "ho-hum, now they're going to do this." And they did. Flat characters, random plot elements, unwoven story threads, I agree with all the critiques I've read.

Go read some of Andre Norton's classic works. Then you'll realize why everyone makes a fuss about her.

In a word, turgid
What an utter disappointment to read this work with the expectations of an Andre Norton work! What, I wondered, had happened to the old master, even knowing now she was nearly at the end of her life.

The answer turned out to be simple. The alien feel resulted from the dubious skills of her co-author, Sasha Miller. Read her solo work and the lugubrious tedium and stilted language will become all too familiar when reading this cycle she wrote with Norton.

It is customary for aging authors to take on a young protegy to share the writing honors and title with the "pro" and it is understood that the famous author may be pretty much a figurehead. That would certainly seem to be the case.

The plot is not bad and the potential is still there. But the writing itself is often tedious and sometimes painfully artificial. Most of all it is not Andre Norton.

My wife asked if she should read this and the second book when I finished them. I suggested a comic book or even the cereal box. A true disappointment to see Norton's name on second rate SF. I regret buying the second book at all and certainly won't bother with the rest. I also told her that "Sasha Miller" might be taken as a warning sign.

Incomplete, but understandably so
Unlike other first books of a series I read, this one seemed to be designed from the beginning to be part of a series. It certainly does not stand alone, as it ends with a huge, wide open space of story that needs to be filled in.

The book begins with a pregnant noblewoman, the last of the Ash family, on the run who reaches the edge of civilization, is taken in by an old medicine/magic woman, and dies in childbirth. This old woman lives in a village of bog-people, who are not particularly nice. The woman has to convince the others to accept that she intends to keep the new baby alive, and raise her. Recognizing the baby's features, she names the king's illegitimate daughter Ashen.

After this, the book goes in several storylines. I found one to be extremely boring and the other two to be very interesting for different reasons. One line follows the royal household, and in particular the queen Ysa, who was the one who caused the family of Ash to be killed off in order that only hers and the king's will live on. Ysa is tough for me to figure out. She seems more disturbed, worried, and hurt than evil, due partly to the king's bad treatment of her and cheating on her.

Another storyline is that of Ashen, who is now sixteen. She doesn't know who her real parents are but knows she is different from the rest of the bog-people. I found it quite fascinating to read about this girl who uses her intelligence, alert senses, and strong will to make her way through life, to survive, to prevent a group of boys from raping her, and to eventually travel from the bog and learn who she is. I wish she took more of the book's space than she did; this is only forgivable because this is only the first in a series.

The last thread regards a group of Sea-Rovers. I did not find their travels over the sea to be very interesting.

As time went on, it became obvious that Ashen, Ysa, and the Sea-people would eventually meet. Ysa would learn that the king has an heir other than her son. She would have to decide which of them should succeed the king: the older, better but illegitimate daughter, or her own spoiled, selfish, legitimate son. Indeed, I found Ysa's raising of her son to be very strange. She spoils him, and when he grows up into a brat, she thinks "so like his father" as if her son inherited his ways rather than being brought up to not care for others.

Another problem is that when Ashen enters civilization, she slips into her new lady role too easily. She is used to being outdoors, working, wearing breeches. She seemed a little too comfortable wearing dresses and being polite.

Still, I am extremely curious what will happen to Ashen after this book, and whether her strong-character features survived her transition to civilization after all. I am also curious about some loose ends, such as the implication that one character had killed another character and nothing is made of it so far.

The cover art is a very recognizable scene from the book, depicting Ashen finding a strange statue in the bog and holding a necklace in her hand. It seems only her hair (which ought to be bound) and her clothing (which should probably be a shirt and leggings) are inaccurate. She only wears a dress (and a high-necked one under a V-necked one) late in the book, and the cover seems to depict that dress as it would be after it got aged and ripped up. It's as though the artist combined different parts of the book, something I'm not too fond of.

Bittersweet Relief
I read/skimmed some of the other reviews and had to agree with what i read.The book is too sketchy and not enough focus on the main character, Ashen.But, what is most agonizing is not that it takes forever for the main characters to meet, but at the time frames of the story.In one section you are in one scene and time and the next you are back in time a few hours, even days ago.there doesn't seem to be an understandable reason for how the sections are split.there is no build up of anticipation over wanting to know what'll happen next.you know what will happen next.
this is a good start though.i was relieved knowing that this was a series.the authors of this book didn't do enough editing for the book to stand on its own.
i was intrigued by the other characters.Ysa was shown not to be a complete villian, but an actual human being.Zazar does seem interesting and i hope she'll show up again with a looser tongue.Ashen did disappoint a little.at the beginning her character seemed tougher, and toward the end she just seemed lost and weak.
I did expect more of Andre Norton having read her Elven Blood books co-written with Mercedes Lackey.I'll cut Ms. Miller some slack assuming that she has just started.
I hope the series proves to be more exciting and enchanting.

Mutable Time & Geography
This was the first Andre Norton book I had read in many years and I was very disappointed in it.I had much higher expectations.

What really annoyed me about it was the highly mutable geography and timeline.The map was nothing like the geography described in text.The Bog was north, west, or south of the kingdom depending on what paragraph was being read.A teenage girl could cautiously walk through the dangerous bog in a few hours but it took a week for sea rovers to sail around the edge.The antagonist could magically scry upon the protagonist, spend several days doing other things then scry again and only a few hours would have passed in the life of the protagonist.

There was no thought, logic, or consistency to matters of time, travel time, and geography; and I found that very aggravating. ... Read more

Product Description
Struggling with the decimation of their witch guardians when an invasion by Pagar of Karsten threatens their home world, the people of Estcarp find their only hope for survival in a young scribe who challenges the evil Hounds of Alizon. Reprint. PW. AB. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A gread ending to a trilogy!
The turning books are all interesting.Each giving a different insight into the WW series.Bringing new thoughts and ideas...a very satisfying read...as all the books in this trilogy were.They are all good additions to your library. ... Read more

Product Description
Facing little better than a political marriage in the patriarchal Five Provinces of Monserria, Lady Javere is named her late father's "son" and heir and must complete an impossible task in order to become the Lord of Third Province. Reprint. PW. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

nostalgia
i first read this book in high school, and later on i kept thinking back to it, but it is no longer in print and i could not find it in bookstores.when i saw it on amazon, i was excited and ordered it.its a wonderful fantasy book, except i feel a little disappointed in the ending, but i do love the story before it leads into the end.it might just be a personal problem, i tend to not really like when authors wrap up everything so neatly.

Average fare
Miller's work here, her first solo foray after a half-dozen collaborations with the prolific Andre Norton, is not bad, but not terribly good either.Her characters might compel if she didn't insist on whisking them offstage every other chapter in order to pursue her multiple storylines.This narrative dodging back and forth should keep the novel lively, but ends up frustrating this reader instead, particularly when she yanks us out of a really climactic sequence in order to pursue some interior monologue of a minor character.Miller is clearly trying hard at her world-creation here, one of the staples of post-Tolkien fantasy, but she's trying too hard.

Well researched and well written
This book seems to fall somewhere in between Feist & Wurts' Empire trilogy and James Clavell's Shogun.It has similar thematic elements to the Empire trilogy and the tone and atmosphere of Clavell's seminal work.Miller seems to have done her homework in researching for this book in that the samurai mentality of medieval Japan is ever present.The attitudes and beliefs of the characters add a note of authenticity (not that I'm an expert, but judging from Clavell's book) to the book.

Yes, the plot is almost exactly the same as Feist and Wurts' series:a young woman must fight for her right to assume her father's throne in a medieval Asian setting dominated by men.However, the story elements differ quite a bit.Miller places more focus on the samurai mentality and code of honor than Feist and Wurts did.She also adds elements such as geishas and their behind the throne movements that only enhances the atmosphere of the book.

Miller's strong point is her characters.While many authors attempts at writing in a medival Japanese world result in many characters becoming interchangeable, this is most definitely not the case here.From Javere, the main character, to her court wizard and military leaders, each has their own personality and quirks.The desert people she mixes in also adds to the diversity of the world that is only hinted at in other places.Her dialogue adds to the mixture.Not only is it realistic and authentic in tone, but it also adds to the strong characterization.

Unlike Clavell's book, however, this is definitely a fantastical story.From the court mage to the dragon warriors, this book is firmly rooted in the genre of fantasy fiction.Miller does not overpower the reader with this, though, which makes these elements much more mysterious and engaging.Not only that, but the characters react to them as if they were not unexpected.By making them seem, not common, but rather expected, they seem that much more believable to the reader.

If you enjoyed Feist and Wurts' Empire trilogy, you will most likely enjoy this standalone book.As it is out of print, however, you may have a bit of a time tracking down a copy.I do wish there was a sequel to it as I would enjoy seeing what has happened to the characters and the ending seemed a bit abrupt.

Swords and Kick-N females
I have enjoyed reading about this mythical land very much. Javere is clean character. She does what she does because she must. She will not give up. I believe that women need characters like that. Ivo waits for the right moment in everything, he is kind, loving and patient. With their love they do not know how to handle, Javere comes through victorious. She does have help from many other characters but it is she who emerages victorious alone. Shab Vorsa and his wife are refreshing characters. They brought good humor into the story.
Although I will recommend this book to almost anyone, some of my friends were a little upset by the graphic nature of the description of the rape.

Long live SHAB VORSA!
The story takes place in Monserria the land of the 5 provinces and revolves around Javerri one of the daughters of the Lord Qai, Lord of the 3rd Province.
Upon the 3rd Lord's death bed and having no sons to give Lordship to, he gives over his Lordship to Javerri.
But before she can truly become Lord of the 3rd Province she must Journey to the 1st province to be recognized by Lord Yassai "The sublime ruler of the 5 provinces."
Not truly wanting her to become the lord of the 3rd province he sets her out on impossible task that she must complete in order to be recognized.
This is where the book REALLY begins to pick up.
She and her companions journey out of Monserria to land of Fogestria and beyond to complete Lord Yassai's impossible task.

The author does a really good job of making you either like or hate a character. All of the villains are very detestabel and all the good guys are very likeable.My personal favorite are: Vorsa the desert man: This was just awesome! He had a great personality and had some cool moments.
Wande-Hari the mage: He may have been an old man but I loved this guy! And he had probably the single best moment in the entire book.
Also the story is very mature and should probably not be read by young kids.

It has been a long time since I reada book that I really did not want to stop reading. Every time I would start reading this I would almost always have to force myself to stop.
My only gripe is that I felt that the book was kind of rushed near the end. But it's still a great book nonetheless. ... Read more

Product Description
MOTHER MILLER'S HOW TO WRITE GOOD BOOK is a writingguide that doesn't take itself too seriously, but even so, it isfull of advice that the would-be writer of prose, andparticularly of fiction, would do well to heed. Put this conciseguide on a shelf close to your desk, in between THE ELEMENTS OFSTYLE and your favorite dictionary. You'll reach for it often.Written with wit and humor, MMHTWGB (this book is best known byits initials) covers everything from plotting to characterdevelopment to grammar to manuscript style. Sasha Miller writeswith the sharp, witty, acerbic, and yet gentle style that hasmade her the bane and the delight of hundreds of writingstudents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Every writer should own this book
This is a MUST for writers.Helpful hints on grammar, puncutation, sentence structure, storytelling, etc.

Great Advice for Beginners
I don't own this book, but on the recommendation of a local author I checked a copy out from our library and read it.

The book takes a broad approach to writing fiction--that is it covers a little bit of everything, but not in a lot of depth. There are a few things she touches on that I haven't seen covered in other writing books, but if you already have a shelf-full of books on the craft of creating fiction, you probably don't also need this. On the other hand, this would make a fine first book for any would-be author.

Her advice is solid and the only thing I didn't agree with is her insistence that proper professional manuscript format requires that you put two spaces between sentences. The "two space" rule is a pet peeve of mine: I feel it is an throwback to the time when Underwood was king of the typewriters, but that's just me.

The advice in this book is breezy and light. It's easy to read and understand, and one may flip through the book and read bits here and there at random. She covers everything from character creation, world building, and plotting; to dialog, scene construction, and common grammar problems; through to editing and polishing your manuscript.

This would be an excellent book for a parent to buy for any child who shows promise in creative writing, but you don't need to be a child to get something out of it. I'm in my 50s and I learned a few things--even after reading and digesting Stein, Maass, Swain, Browne & King, Collins, Vogler, McCutcheon, and Ingermanson.

Er...on what basis
You just have to ask yourself -- on what basis does Ms. Miller write a "guide to writing" when she has one (count 'em, ONE) novel to her credit?The (very few) other titles in her ouvre wer co-written with a REAL writer, Andre Norton.

Excellent Writing Advice
If you want a good companion book to "Elements of Style", this is it. Sasha provides sound, straightforward advice about writing, along with good technical expertise. She highlights many pitfalls and stumbling blocks that many new writers might encounter, then tells the reader what to do about them. Recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
Times are changing in Rendelsham. The old King is dead, and the foolish Prince Florian has assumed the throne. Florian's mother, Queen Ysa of the House of Oak, still controls the land from behind the scences, but her job grows more difficult every day. Her unworthy, headstrong son is harder to control than her husband was, and she must spend more time than ever masking her own movements. Her husband's illegitimate daughter Ashen, heir to the nearly dead House of Ash, still causes trouble by her very existence, and must never be given an opening to the throne. The barbarian Sea-Rover clan presents problems from the edge of the Bog, Ysa's newest magical ally has been exposed as a traitor, and nothing is going as Ysa had planned.

And still the unknown yet encroaching threat from the North continues to grow.

Through births and deaths, marriages and duels, love and betrayal, magic and force, the four Houses of Rendelsham can only survive by the strength of their unity--but is unity possible in such a court of intrigue as this one?
... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Another wonderful Norton fantasy
With this book in the series, Norton develops the complex conflict between good and evil in both the profane and ethereal realms of the world.

childish writing, boring plot
This is a very poorly edited book, it was written by two people, and the separate chapters are very poorly integrated.

Have you ever played the continuing story game? Each person writes some part of the story and then passes it on to the next person. That's exactly what this book is like. In one chapter you'll real some great prose and exiting plot, only to be struck by how childish everyone suddenly acts in the next chapter.

It gets even more confusing when the same character is written by both of the authors - the characters act different in the hands of each author! The queen is the worst in this regard - one author has her as this evil manipulator, the other has her as a reluctant queen of a decaying realm. Another example is the Sea-Rovers, in the first book they are noble people who are going to save the realm by example, in this book they are dismissed as savages, and killed off and completely forgotten by the end of the book! (Did the two authors have a disagreement?)

It also suffers plotwise for the same reason - since each author basically wrote their own story the book never quite gets it together. Nothing much happens by the end of the book to move the story along from the first book. Basically some time passed, with descriptions of what everyone did - none of which really matters in the long run. This book doesn't even appear to have had an outline prepared of upcoming events so that the authors could add some foreshadowing, and coordinate events!

I have no way of knowing, but I assume Andre Norton wrote the better parts and Sasha Miller wrote the childish prose. I wish Andre had just written the whole thing, and given us a great story - the background certainly had potential. Or if the background was created by Sasha (as is common in these types of collaborations), then at least Andre should have gone over the book later and reedited it to integrate it. And make an outline of future event that both authors can agree on! It seemed like exactly the opposite happened - Andre just sent in some material, and had Sasha do all the work of integrating it, which was a mistake.

The Enemy Prepares
Knight or Knave is the second novel in the Cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan series.In the previous volume, Ysa's magic has brought Zazar, Ashen, and herself together for introductions.The Sea-Rovers have settled New Vold in Ashenhold lands.Ashen Deathdaughter and Obern have been brought to Cragden Keep by Count Harous, who gives Ashen gifts and hints of her mother.The Bog-folk have begun to attack Rendelian lands.King Boroth has died, after claiming Ashen as his daughter.

In this volume, Florian has become the King, succeeding his father, and, under pressure of his mother and various nobles of the court, has married Rannore, whom he has made pregnant.Ashen meets Queen Ysa and moves into Rendelsham Castle.Ysa sends a messenger to New Vold to inform Snorri know of her son's wedding, to let him that his son, Obern, is alive, and to invite him to visit her at a later date.In the unseasonable cold, the Bog-folk have taken to attacking New Vold for food.

Ashen has met a priest in the Great Fane of the Glowing, who informed Obern and herself of the history of Rendel.Meeting again in the fane, the priest, Esander, shows her a great library hidden deep under Rendelsham which contains many volumes of magical lore.As directed by Zazar, she does not yet attempt any of the magics, although she studies the lore diligently.

Snorri arrives in time for Florian's wedding and, after the ceremony, he tells Obern of the death of his wife, Naeve.Upon discovering that Ashen has been abducted, Obern mounts a rescue effort and then asks for her hand in marriage;his request is granted.After the wedding, Ashen meets the new emissary of the Nordens, Gaurin, son of Count Bjauden, who tells her that his father has never returned from his mission to Rendel and that she wears his father's bracelet, which she had found on a skeleton in some ruins within the boglands.He takes the bracelet, breathes on it -- which causes it to glow briefly -- and returns it, telling her to put it on and think of him if she is ever in need on anything.Obern and Ashen travel to New Vold, where she meets his son, Rohan.

In the northlands, ominous forces are gathering.The Foul One is preparing for the invasion of Rendel.

Some reviewers seemdisappointed that this series is not like the Witch World or Time Traders series.Yet those series were intended as juveniles for the most part, whereas this series is for more mature readers.Those series were mostly focused on singleton or paired characters, whereas this series deals with a larger cast of interacting protagonists.Hints of this series can be seen in the tales of Escore, High Hallek, and the Dales, and especially in the Gryphon stories.Indeed, Shadow Hawk, one of Norton's earliest stories, is a tale of courtly intrigue.

Recommended for Norton and Miller fans and anyone who enjoys court intrigue in a fantasy setting.

Great book
Make sure read the first book first or you will be lost.
Pay attention or you will be lost.
If you do all of the above this book will be the best, most enjoyable book you've ever read!

Did Andre Norton really write this crap?
I don't think so.Andre Norton's Witch World books got me hooked on the genre so many years ago.It's hard to believe that she has lent her name to this poorly written book.

The premise was promising, and I had high hopes after the first book that the characters would take on a life of their own, and pull me into their world.Sadly, that didn't happen.Norton and Miller can't seem to decide who their protaganist is, or even who major characters in the story are.Are we supposed to like or dislike the queen?We know Ashen is important, but why should we care about her?She is supremely uninteresting.Much time is spent explaining why characters do the things they do (a hallmark of poor writing) because no development has taken place that would allow the reader to infer motivations, or even personalities.

It's a shame.In the write hands, I do believe this could have been an interesting story, with characters who live and breathe, and make you care about what will happen to them next. ... Read more

Product Description
A Crown Disowned is the third volume of the cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan that began with To the King a Daughter and continued in Knight or Knave.

The earth shakes and splits as the forces from the North draw nearer. The Ice Dragon Riders are speaking to the land, and more fire mountains awaken in the Bog. Rohan seeks to join forces with Tusser, leader of the Bog-folk, as Queen Ysa raises an army to clear the Bog.

War draws closer until even the Queen cannot deny it any longer. Raids from the north increase, and, for the first time, the Riders of the Ice Dragons appear. It is time for the Queen to give up her game of pitting one faction against another. Four great armies are assembled to march under the same banner. Though they do not represent the Four Trees, they nevertheless see this as a good omen.

Many good men from all four armies fall in battle, yet the Great Foulness is still at large. Is the combined might of the four powers enough to free the land from evil?
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Customer Reviews (5)

Wonderful scenes and characters
I love the characters in this series of Norton's, which represent the range of nobility and faults of the human race.

Enjoyed it
I enjoyed the book greatly. Not sure what the May 28 reviewer was thinking.

Very poor offering; much worse than previous books in series
...This book, "A Crown Disowned," suffers from too many plot discontinuities, bad characterization, very cardboard, wooden dialogue, and manages to do something I never had done in all the years I've read books -- made me want to throw a book Andre Norton has contributed to across the room.

Let me try and explain.Basically, in the previous two books, Ashen was a sympathetic character (although toward the end of book two, she started becoming less sympathetic, as she did not like her stepson's girlfriend).However, in this book, Ashen seems rather pointless.The action doesn't really revolve around her -- it revolves around Queen Ysa, who at best is a tragic heroine.Ashen's romance, which was one of the focal points of the first two books, is an afterthought here, and her daughter's romance with the young boy-king seemed tacked-on hurriedly.

Plus, there's no real sense of how time is passing in this book.There seem to be very few time referents, which is extremely strange.I thought it was probably due to poor editing or the rush to get this book to the printers, as I couldn't understand why else it'd happen.

The big confrontation loses all steam once the big bad Flavielle is gone, and considering she's taken out more by incompetence than anything, that's a major waste of resources.Personally, I'd rather have seen someone deliberately succeed in taking her out, rather than the drugged, half-feverish way it's done in this book.

Basically, I didn't care about any of the characters at the end of this book, and I was glad the book was over (even though I'd really looked forward to it, and had enjoyed the first two books of the series).Like I said, it's probably one of the worst books I've read in a long time, and I regret paying hardcover price for it.

If I could give this less than one star, I would, despite my high respect for Ms. Norton and her stature in the field.

The Foulness Strikes
A Crown Disowned (2002) is the third novel in the Cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan and the last in the trilogy.The previous volume ended with King Peres on the throne, Ashen married to Gaurin, Rohan knighted, Anamara mad and lost in the Bog, and the dowager Ysa learning that the long awaited invasion from the north has begun.

This novel begins with a meeting between Rohan and the Bog headman Tusser in the remains of the city of Galinth.While debating the fine points of alliance, they are interrupted by a group of men, hired by the dowager Ysa, who are trying to burn up the Bog.After fighting off the Outlanders, they discover Anamara in the ruins and take her to Zazar for healing.

Despite the severity of the situation, the dowager clings to her plots and magic.Throughout most of the book, she tries to control everybody.One of the funniest places in the book is when the dowager Ysa is told that Rannore has married Lathrom, the former Sergeant.Of course, Ysa is scandalized that Rannore has married well below her station and is frustrated to learn that her son, King Peres, has knighted Lathrom and has granted him lands and properties.

Meanwhile, Ashen studies the magic tome found by Esander, Zazar prepares for a summons, and the Foul One uses Flavielle to set up a trap.In the north, the armies of the Rendelians, Nordorn, Sea-Rovers and Bog-folk fight Ice Dragons, Frydans and renegade humans.The Unnatural cold is as deadly as the enemy.

The ultimate confrontation is not obvious, but is satisfying, and the aftermath is even more so.Recommended for all fans of Andre Norton and Sasha Miller as well as anyone who likes adventure fantasy with a touch of romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

exciting sword and sorcery tale
The human, inhuman and ice dragon armies of the Great One march south causing havoc to an already besieged Rendelsham and the other southern lands already struggling with hostile frozen precipitation.To survive the onslaught, the four great houses of the south must unite in an alliance against the seemingly invincible Great One.However, a key player, dowager Queen Ysa, appears in denial as she continues to divide rather than unite by pushing the rivalries between the houses.

However, even Ysa ultimately realizes the danger though it may prove to late when the Ice Dragons begin spewing out frozen waste at its southern targets.Rohan and his Sea Rovers with their ships try to unite with the Nodors and the Bog-folk in an uneasy alliance.Unbeknownst to the desperate southern alliance is the Great One's most loyal servant is a sorceress who has seduced Rendelsham's High Marshal into leading Rohan and his allies into a trap.If they escape, they still must find a way to defeat the Great One's superior armies, unconquerable ice dragons, and ultimately yield magic that none seem to possess to crush the Great One.

The third Cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan novel, A CROWN DISOWNED is an exciting sword and sorcery tale though the story line provides little new from the previous two novels of this entertaining series.The fantasy contains numerous subplots focusing on war, intrigue, and betrayal, albeit the typical fare for an S&S novel.Still the cast engages the reader especially the enchanting magic gathering the myriad of fans of Andre Norton and Sasha Miller into the fold of a fine finale.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Great end to a series
This older series of Andre Norton is as wonderful as The Elvenblood trilogy more recently published.

The Mother Dragon
Dragon Blade (2005) is the fourth novel in The Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan Cycle, following A Crown Disowned.In the previous volume, the Dowager Queen Ysa, Zazar and Ashen used their various magics to defeat, and maybe even to destroy, the Great Foulness.Ashen became pregnant again by Gaurin and this time she is bearing an heir for NordornLand.

In this novel, kings and ambassadors are coming to the new Castle of Fire and Ice for the coronation of Gaurin and Ashen as the King and Queen of NordornLand and the naming day of their son.They bring grand gifts for the royal pair and for the NordornPrins.Rohan has brought a gift of mystery and challenge:a solid silver Ice Dragon box with a hidden drawer.

Within the concealed compartment is a necklace of nine small teeth and a document in the archaic language of Rendel.Zazar translates the manuscript, but it raises more questions than answers.Ashen decides to travel to Galinth, the ancient city in the Bog, to present this mystery to the antiquarians there.

Ashen, Zazar and their guards take ship with Rohan, Anamara and young Obern to New Vold and then ride on to Galinth.On the way, Ashen meets Nayla, the new Wysen-Wyf of the Bog, and receives a warning of someone of indiscernible gender at the Castle of Fire and Ice and of great upset there.Ashen resolves to watch for such a person when she returns to the castle.

At Galinth, Ashen meets Master Emmorys and Tusser, an old friend who is assisting in the restoral of the city.She is shown relics retrieved from the ruins and is presented with the long lost sapphire signet ring of the House of Ash.She is also entrusted with the delivery of the signet rings for the Houses of Oak, Yew and Rowan to the appropriate persons.Although she learns little in Galinth, Master Emmorys vows to forward any future information on Ice Dragons and the Dragon Blade.

On the way back to NordornLand, Ashen delivers the signet ring of the House of Yew to the Dowager Queen Ysa.She is welcomed with every sign of pleasure and soon finds herself allowing the Dowager to accompany her to the Castle of Fire and Ice.Little does she know that Ysa has inadvertently awakened a noisome creature buried under one of the towers of Yewkeep.Now Ysa wants only to flee the monster before it consumes her.

This novel is subtitled The Book of the Rowan and is presumably the final volume in the series.While the Great Foulness is probably dead, the Mother Ice Dragon may well be dwelling within the ice and snow of the north.Ashen is determined to find the great Dragon Blade to protect the region from the dragon broods.

This novel lacks some of the zest and suspense of the first three works in this series.The Great Foulness is defeated and now the heros and heroines are cleaning up the remaining bits of corruption.The Mother Ice Dragon is only one of these remnants.

The Dowager Queen Ysa is, of course, the false friend of which the omens have warned.Ashen is still putty in her manipulating hands for most of the book.Too bad the noisome creature doesn't really have a chance to *eat* the trouble making lady.

Recommended for Norton and Miller fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of magic and high adventure.

-Arthur W. Jordin

The worst Andrea Norton I ever tried to read.
I believe an Andre Norton was the first fantasy novel I ever read.As a teen-ager, I thought Witch World and books like Beast Master were wonderful.Now that I'm (much) older and wiser, I think the genre has grown past her, but most of her later books were at least amusing for quick read, even the co-authored ones.'Dragon Blade', however, seems pedestrian, pedantic and just plain boring.I haven't read the first three books in the series (fortunately for me)and I assume this one suffers from trying to explain what went before.I can't see any reason to have published this except to cash in on the attention caught by Norton's death.

Recommended
Interesting story, great characters, and strong female characters. I have enjoyed all of the books in this cycle. As the series continues, the characters are taking on more depth and complexity.

The author has a sly sense of humor, so pay attention.

fabulous fantasy
The Nordon monarchs Ashen NordornQueen and Gaurin NordornKing are looking forward to peace, spending quality time together and with their infant son having recently defeated the Great Foulness ice dragon.However, their tranqulty ends when Ashen finds a letter inside the false bottom of a box containing a gift; the note explains that only the legendary DRAGON BLADE can kill the Mother Ice Dragon.

Corageous though wary, Gaurin leaves to find the blade made from the scales of the enemy's deceased mate that will finally end this nightmare.After her sposue left, Ashen disocvers a map that shows where the DRAGON BLADE and the Mother Ice Dragon lair are located.She sets off to catch up to her husband while their land has a new foe, a rogue troll destroying anything in its path.

The fourth tale in the Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan saga is a fabulous fantasy especially when the exciting story line follows the escapades of the Nordorn rulers.The action is fast-paced and never slows down even when the Troll threat takes fans down a sidebar that is fun to follow by bringing in other favorites from previous books, but also weaves a thread that takes away from the grand adventure.Still fantasy fans will gain immense delight from this fine tale.

Harriet Klausner
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Weekly magazine featuring television listings and celebrity profiles. ... Read more

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Stories and short novels from the magical world of Arthurian [King Arthur] legend, each one a masterpiece of heroic fantasy. ... Read more

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Designed for use with GURPS Basic Set (3rd edition), but can be used as a sourcebook for any other roleplaying game system. ... Read more