Horn Crown

My best friend, Kal, recommended that I read this book and I've read it ten times since I purchased it. Definitely a wonderful read! :)

'Horn Crown' is a prequel to the series of Witch World books that are set in the dales of High Halleck, e.g. "Year of the Unicorn" and "The Crystal Gryphon". We learn about the original settlers who came through a Gate to the Dales, and their introduction to the Light and Dark forces that still lingered among the ruins. This book is vintage Norton and a must for Witch World fans. I withheld one star because 'Horn Crown' is talkier and carries a bit less of a plot line than most of her WW novels. However, she has a lot to explain and 'Horn Crown' is, after all, a prequel. As always, her hero and heroine are outcasts from the normal run of medieval settlers who came through the Gate in order to claim land and build Holds. The story is told from the masculine viewpoint, and there is a bit more sex (although very tastefully done) than is usual for Norton. We actually get to meet the Goddess Gunnora, who is an intriguing mixture of Ceres, Diana, and Aphrodite (the latter two 'aspects' were a bit of a surprise to me as I had always associated Gunnora with harvests and childbirth, and not much more). There's lots of interesting magic and really evil creatures of the Dark (as I said, vintage Norton if you are a WW fan). You really need to read this if you liked 'Year of the Unicorn' or 'The Crystal Gryphon'.

This is one of the very best by Ms. Norton and I read it over and over again. I own this book and if you are a fan I suggest you find yourself a copy as well.