Review: Year of the Unicorn by Andre Norton

The war is over, but the price to end it must still be paid....

The war with Alizon is over. High Hallack – the western continent of the Witch World – is finally free. With the loss of the alien Kolder’s machines, the men of the Dales of High Hallack put their unified forces to good use, driving the Hounds of Alizon back across the ocean. In spite of the damage wrought by years of war, the Dales belong to Dalesmen once again.

But victory comes with a price. Pushed to the limits of their strength, the Dalesmen made a pact with the mysterious Were Riders. Able to assume the form of animals, the Were Riders agreed to help the Dalesmen on one condition: When the war ended, they would be provided thirteen brides. For there are no female Were Riders, and if the “Pack” is to survive, they need mates.

When one of the prospective wives-to-be refuses to accept her assigned marriage, another girl sees the opportunity of a lifetime. But will her choice bring good fortune, or a fate worse than death?

The story

The heroine of the novel, Gillan, begins the story working in an Abbey of the Flame in Norsdale. Run by the Dames (nuns), the Abbey served as a shelter for refugees from various Dales during the war. Having come across the sea as a captive of the Hounds of Alizon, Gillan was rescued by a nobleman named Lord Furlo. He and his wife, Lady Freeza, fostered her until the conflict began. Furlo died in the war and the strain of fleeing to Norsdale, coupled with the loss of her husband, cost Freeza her life.

From that day to this Gillan has remained at the Abbey. While grateful for their protection she has also begun to chafe at the confining routine of the cloister. It is a good life, but not the one she desires. So when guests arrive at the Abbey to collect a pair of young noblewomen to fulfill the bargain with the Were Riders, Gillan takes notice.

One of the women chosen, Marimme, becomes hysterical at the idea of marrying a man who may or may not be human. The Were Riders’ magic allows them to shift between human and animal; no one among the Dalesmen knows for certain whether they are human, animal, or some mixture of the two. Thus, Marimme has good reason for her fit of panic.

Unfortunately for her, she meets the requirements the Riders set: She is of an age to wed, has no blemish or illness, and is quite pretty. Moreover, her uncle is the man tasked with delivering the twelve and one brides to the Throat of the Hawk, the place where the Were Riders await their women. A nobleman of no mean intelligence, he has political ambitions which Marimme may have helped to further, but the fact that they need brides for the Were Riders has put those plans to flight. Marimme’s screaming fails to move him; it simply embarrasses him.

It does, however, give Gillan an idea. Marimme has no stomach for the unknown – send her to the Were Riders, and she will likely die of fright before she even arrives. Gillan, on the other hand, has no family and no future in the Dales. She uses a sleeping potion to knock out Marimme and takes the girl’s place, setting off with the other women to the Throat of the Hawk. By the time her deception is discovered, sending her back is not an option, and there is no time to seek a replacement.

At the Throat of the Hawk, the women select their husbands. Gillan chooses Herrel, the youngest Were Rider and the only half-blood in the group. Realizing his new wife can see through the magic he and his fellows use, Herrel cautions her against revealing this fact. Due to his half-blood status, he is considered the weakest of the Were Riders, some of whom will stop at nothing to hurt him – even if they have to go through Gillan to do it!

Will the newlyweds survive the journey to the Were Riders home? Or will the Pack – and their own misunderstandings – tear them apart forever?

The characters

By far, Gillan and Herrel are the most interesting characters in the narrative. Unaware of her Witch heritage and what it means, Gillan nonetheless has all the willpower and tenacity of her people. She chooses Herrel freely and despite the misfortunes that befall them, she does not waver in her determination to remain by her husband’s side.

For his part, Herrel is every inch the knightly beast. Berated and abused for most of his life by the majority of the Pack, he holds a very low opinion of himself. That being said, he will not stand by and let his wife be mistreated or taken from him. It is one matter if she chooses to leave him of her own free will, but those who try to drive them apart will find they have bitten off more than they can chew.

Among the side characters in the novel, the one who has the most to do with the couple is Lord Hyron. Leader of the Pack, Hyron’s animal form is a white stallion. He holds firmly to the laws of his people and does not play favorites, even with his own son. Detestable as he may be, you have to respect the fact that he knows how to lead and will not back down from a position he decides to take.

The world

With characteristic aplomb, Andre Norton builds the continent of High Hallack. Subsequent novels in the Witch World series would explore this part of the world and its lore further, but Year of the Unicorn is undoubtedly one of the best places to enter the continent. The monsters, ancient ruins, and wild landscapes that may or may not exist in the mortal plane of the Witch World are all presented with a deft touch to draw readers into the story.

The politics

Beyond a few references to female empowerment that are fairly banal by modern standards, no politics appear in this book.

Content warning

There is a case of wife-stealing and body/soul splitting, as well as discussions of rape, but those are probably the worst things to happen in the entire novel.

Who is it for?

Fantasy lovers, Andre Norton fans, and anyone who likes retellings of Beauty and the Beast. Ms. Norton cited that story as the inspiration for Year of the Unicorn, and this rendition of the original fairy tale will be quite satisfactory. Romance readers will enjoy the love that blossoms between Herrel and Gillan, cheering them on while booing their enemies as the two fight all attempts to separate them. There is also enough action and adventure to keep a reader guessing, wondering what will happen next, while hoping there is a way to get out of it so the hero and heroine can have their happily-ever-after.

Why read it?

It is a beautiful romance in a fantastic setting written by the Grande Dame of Science Fiction and Fantasy herself. How could anyone resist purchasing it?