Year of the Unicorn

Witch World, Book 3

By: Andre Norton

Narrated by: Kate Rudd

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

Andre Norton enthralled readers for decades with thrilling tales of people challenged to the limits of their endurance in epic battles of good against evil. None are more memorable than her Witch World novels.

Far from the besieged home of Simon and Jaelithe, in peaceful Norsdale, we meet Gillan, who longs to leave her dull life in a secluded country abbey. But when her wish comes true, she finds more than a little adventure. As she ventures out, not only is her life in danger, but also the power that lies within her, waiting to be discovered.

©1981 Andre Norton (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Engaging Fantasy

The lords of High Hallack have pledged thirteen brides to the Were Riders of the Wastelands. Gillan, having grown up as a foundling child who survived a shipwreck, takes the place of a friend so that she can leave the Abbey of Norstead to seek her fate outside its confining, monotonous safety.

We find that Gillan is of the blood of Escarp and manifests the powers of its witches. This complicates matters for the Were Riders, especially for Herrel, her chosen mate.

This was the first of the Witchworld novels located in High Hallack and one of the most sophisticated in the series. While seeing through the mists of deceptions and magic woven against her, she makes decisions and choices that help her character become full and developed.

Kate Rudd does an admirable, but not spectacular, job in its narration.

Reread As an Adult

What made the experience of listening to Year of the Unicorn the most enjoyable?

Loved this book as a kid! So happy to see it was an audio-book now!

Any additional comments?

I do have a problem with Andre Norton's rambling style as an adult. As a kid, I just zeroed in on the story.

Fantastic Fantasy

I read the Witch World series years ago, and was thrilled to discover that some of its books were available on audible.com. It is like Harry Potter for adults, with a rich fantasy world of adventure and magic. I only wish that more of Andre Norton's awesome Witch World series were available on audiobook. There's about a dozen of them, if I remember right. Kate Rudd did a great job of narrating the Year of the Unicorn, which is written from a woman's point of view. If you love fantasy, adventure, and magic, this series is for you! Welcome to Witch World!!!

even better than I remembered

the final chapter is amazing. Norton's heroes triumph in soit of all against them by embracing self knowledge and commitment.

Feels like a travelog with no map

Long inner monolog about wandering lost, wondering what is real, figuring things out just in time to keep the the storyline going. Not my favorite kind of story.

Great fantasy book

One of the best Witch World serie's book - interesting, beautiful story, good narrator, easy listening.

Great book, good reading... but

I've been a fan of Andre Norton's since I was 10 years old and discovered her books in my school library. I've read just about everything she's ever written. So I was supremely glad when the legal problems with her estate wound down and her books were available on Kindle. So in going through the Witch World series, I came up on this one. And bought the audiobook, wince I often listen during the commute and during work.

The narrator is good. She has a fair voice. She's not what I would have preferred, voice wise, for this book, but she does a good job.

But who the heck picked the audiobook cover for this one? What did they think this was, a Harlequin romance?!? Wrong genre, to say the VERY least. So great book, lots of happy memories about it, good performance so it was a pleasant enough listening to, but negative 20 on the 'cover'. Try actually having someone who has read the book choose the audiobook picture, ok? If I were considering this book on the basis of the cover alone, I would have been unable to leave the webpage fast enough. Major gag, guys.

Just ok

Didn't like as well as the other Witch World novels. Also preferred the other narrator. #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Too wordy

One of the few books by Andre Norton that I didn't give 5 stars. It's so wordy that I almost fell asleep as I listened to it. The story itself is excellent but it has too many long-winded descriptions to easily follow.

Favorite girlhood romance

Andre Norton’s Witch World series are excellent tales of romance and fantasy. This story is a stand-alone, featuring a very strong female lead, shapeshifters and magic. Andre’s magic users operate mainly by will and imagination, refreshingly unencumbered by specific rituals or religion.