The Sorcerer's Conspectus:

A comprehensive view of Andre Norton's Witch World

by Lotsawatts

 The Gate of the Cat

7th Novel in the [Witch World: Estcarp Series] by Andre Norton

See Also: [Martinez ~ Glossary] [Martinez ~ Races] [Schlobin ~ Survey] [Coulson's Index]

[Expanded Reading Order] [Bibliography Page] [Read it Here] [Return to Contents]

Edition Used for Analysis:  

(1988) Published by ACE, PB, 0-441-27380-7, $3.50, 219pg ~ cover by Rick Lovell

Synopsis:

An American woman inherits an estate in Scotland, and goes over there to claim it.  What she finds infuriates her "tree-hugger" mentality, and she intends to rescue a wildcat from the farmer hunting it down.  Instead she gets into a brawl with the guy and receives a knock on the head that rolls her into a stone archway, which turns out to be a Gate to Witch World. She lands in Escore just in time to see a Witch of Estcarp foully killed by evil beings, and is given the witch's Jewel.  It carries with it a geas to search out what the Witches hope will be a new source of Power to revitalize their sisterhood after so many had died during the Turning. ~ SL

Timeline Points:

1. p1. Chapter 1:
2. p4. Kelsie McBlair and a wild cat falls through a gate from Ben Blair, Scotland into the Witch World.
3. p15. Chapter 2:
4. p18. Kelsie tries to help the dying Witch Roylane (aka Makeease) who gives her jewel to the wild cat Swiftfoot.
5. p24. Kelsie meets Dahaun.
6. p27. Chapter 3:
7. p31. Kelsie is introduced to Crytha, Yonan, Kemoc, Kyllan and “Urik” (Uruk).
8. p33. Kelsie meets Simon Tregarth and the Witch Wittle.
9. p38. Dahaun mind touches Kelsie and says “You are—summoned one. Foretold—”
10. p39. Chapter 4:
11. p49. Yonan tells of the Turning. (see: Three Against the Witch World)
12. p53. Chapter 5:
13. p53. Kelsie meets Tsali.
14. p55. Swiftfoot passes the witch jewel on to Kelsie.
15. p64. Dahaun says “Kaththea sent us word three tens of days ago that there was to come one who would be a balance for us in new struggles to come”. A prophecy about Kelsie’s arrival. She also mentions that Kaththea is “Lady to Hilarion”. (see: Sorceress of the Witch World)
16. p67. Chapter 6:
17. p74. Kelsie encounters the Thas.
18. p81 Chapter 7:
19. p87. Yonan joins Kelsie on her quest.
20. p92. Kelsie and Yonan are captured by the Thas.
21. p93. Chapter 8:
22. p101. Yonan and Kelsie encounter Lord Rhain, a "Traitor, Betrayer, Dark One" from the ancient past when Yonan was Tolar. (see: Trey of Swords)
23. p107. Chapter 9:
24. p118. Yonan tells Kelsie "A year agone Urik [sic] found such a path when the gray ones had him at their mercy, or so they thought." after he uses his quan iron hilted sword to activate a "star of white stone" that transports them away from the Thasburrow.
25. p119. Chapter 10:
26. p133. Chapter 11:
27. p147. Chapter 12:
28. p159. Chapter 13:
29. p171. Chapter 14:
30. p183. Chapter 15:
31. p195. Chapter 16:
32. p195. Kelsie, Yonan and Wittle discover the magic topographical map of Escore & Estcarp.
33. p207. Chapter 17:

Sorcerer's Notes:
This takes place after Sorceress of the Witch World, Trey of Swords and Ware Hawk.

The Sorcerer’s recommend that you read next: The Duke's Ballad

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Formatted and Edited by Jay Watts ~ May, 2022

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