Elvenborn
~ 3rd Novel in the Elvenbane Series by Andre Norton
(Series aka) Halfblood Chronicles
Written with Mercedes Lackey
Synopsis ~
Write-up from the front flap of the 2002 dustjacket ~
In this long-awaited new novel in the Halfblood Chronicles, fantasy greats Horton and Lackey tell the enthralling story of the reclusive elvenlord Kyrtian, who emerges as a hero in a world torn by politics and war. When his cousin, Aelmarkin, tries to prove that Kyrtian is unfit to run his estate, the plan backfires, and soon Kyrtian, who doesn't share the venal, greedy nature of his cousin, finds himself with more power than he ever wanted.
Like his father before him, Kyrtian has always treated the humans on his estate like servants, instead of enslaving them as other elvenlords do. His father's legacy also leads Kyrtian to learn ancient military skills long since lost to elvenkind through the carelessness of the elvenlords. Kyrtian's rediscovered knowledge piques the interest of the current elvenlords, and soon Kyrtian finds himself appointed the new commander of the army, to the relief of his ruling peers.
For the Young Lords, sons of the most powerful elvenlords, have rebelled against their fathers and are waging war. But by taking advantage of both the privileges of his new command and the help of some unexpected new friends, Kyrtian‘ finally gains the resources to embark on his own, personal quest—resuming his father's search for the Great Portal, the magical doorway through which the original elvenlords entered this world.
As war rages between some sons and fathers, Kyrtian searches desperately for his own lost father, hoping to uncover not only the mystery of his disappearance, but also the secret behind the origin of elvenkind.
Write-up from the back of the paperback edition ~
For generations, Elvenlords have ruled the world, holding sway over humans and half-bloods alike. But the peace was shattered when the Elvenbane emerged to lead a rebellion against them. And now the Elvenlords’ own children, grown old enough to want their own power, have begun their own revolt, and are seizing the houses of noble Elvenlords.
The Elvenlords need a new military leader, and they find one in Krytian, a quiet, un-ambitious Elvenlord who has studied the art of war since his father disappeared years ago while searching for the Great Portal through which the Elvenborn came to this world.
Kyrtian proves to be the Elvenlords’ best military mind. But as he fights the young lords, his scheming cousins Aelmarkin and Triana are hatching a plot to take over his estates. And his greatest supporter, Lord Kyndreth, is as wily a politician as any among the elite. Kyrtian can defeat any foe on the field of battle…but can he survive his “allies”?
Write-ups from fans ~
The rebellion of the Young Elvenlords, instigated and fostered by the Halfbloods, is causing the ruling Elvenlords quite some trouble. So, they bring in a young Elvenlord believed to be not quite normal mentally--he actually LIKES to play war games and does so by getting down in the muck with his human "slaves" and doing his own fighting. The ruling Elvenlords figure anyone as monomaniac as he should be a "safe" one to lead the Elven armies to defeat the Young Lords, even if the Young Lords have discovered some means of blocking magic. Turns out Kyrtian V'dyll Lord Prastaran doesn't have to be one of the Young Lords to rebel against the traditions of the Elvenlords, and he's not about to lead his humans--or any humans, for that matter! -- into the slaughter of a real war. ~ SL
Book 3 of the Halfblood Chronicles. This is the story of young Elvenlord Kyrtain, a military genius and one of a small group of Elvenlords who treat their human servants with respect and dignity instead of cruelty and abuse. He hides his treatment of his "slaves" from the other more powerful Lords who would never trust him. He is named general of the Envenlords' army to fight the young rebellious Elvenlords who, aided by iron jewelry, are out to overthrow their fathers. He fakes a victory where the young lords go into hiding and the army is disbanded. Krytain studies old records from the times when Elvenlords first came into this world. Shocker! He discovered that the Elves who came through a gate were not looking for a new world to conquer as previously thought. They were fleeing for their lives from powerful ruthless adversaries. Meanwhile, the wizards have decided to send Shana (the Elvenbane) to form an alliance with Krytain so he would not come after them. He purportedly goes out "looking for rebels and Wizards" in a very dangerous section of woods and caves. In reality, he is searching for evidence of the fate of his father who, several decades ago, went searching for the original gate through which the Elves entered and any records of any machines or objects or techniques that can increase an Elvenlords power. Shana and Keman join Kyrtain's quest. Krytain finds his father's body encased in a clear block and lots of old machines as well as the gate. When a rival Elflord accidentally activate a killer robot, our intrepid party has to run for their lives. Two rival Elves and a rogue wizard die in the mayhem surrounding this trip.
The book ends with a powerful Elflord plotting against our heroes. Maybe Ms. Lackey will write the last book (Elvenbred) and we will find out what happens. It's been THIRTEEN years. ~ PG
Reviews ~
Kirkus Reviews ~ Issue: Aug. 15th, 2002
Norton and Lackey add to their swelling, long-gestated epic fantasy begun with The Elvenbane (1991). A friendly dragon rescues the red-haired half-blood child Shana, abandoned daughter of Elf-Lord Dyran and his star-crossed concubine Serina Daeth, and raises her among her own brood. Later, Shana is cast out as being too powerful a sorcerer and is captured by the Iron People but assisted by the fleeing brother and sister Lorryn and Rena, she overthrows Jamal, War Chief of the Iron People, and even breaks the power of the Elvenlords, cruel oppressors of dragons and human-elven half-bloods. Now dissension visits the Elvenlords. When V’kel Lyon Lord Kyndreth complains to his Elvenlords council that the Young Lords’ Rebellion is bleeding the kingdom, he worries as well that the “errant children” may decide to ally with the Elvenbane and her wizards and dragons. Meanwhile, V’kel Aelmarkiner-Lord Tornal allies himself with the disgraced but vicious and acidulous Triana, Lord of the Falcion holdings, to unseat his cousin, Lord Kyndreth. All may be politics among the Elvenlords, but Kyrtian V’dyll Lord Prastaran cares nothing for politics. His power is economic, for his farms feed and clothe the Lords of the Council. Even so, he finds himself caught in a feud between Great Lords.
Better than 1995’s Elvenblood but far from over.
Booklist Review ~ Oct. 01, 2002
The third Halfblood chronicle continues to unfold a mighty struggle among elves of great power, elves of lesser power, and the former slaves and other foes of the elves, who have a lot of substantial grievances but no power. The elven lord Kyrtian, having escaped a vicious plot to seize everything he owns, now finds that his archaic military skills are needed for the elven lords’ fight against their own children. But Kyrtian is properly skeptical of his peers, and as the war escalates, he must continually reevaluate friends as well as foes. Neither Norton nor Lackey could tell a really bad story if she tried, and together they use the multivolume-saga format to incorporate abundant detail into their narrative. That is not bad in itself, but it slows the story’s pace and makes Elvenborn a less than perfect entry into the saga. Have The Elvenbane (1991) and Elvenblood (1996) on hand for newcomers to the Halfblood chronicles. — Roland Green
Review by Publishers Weekly ~ Sept. 23, 2002
The excitement flags somewhat in the third book of Norton and Lackey's popular high fantasy series (after The Elvenbane and Elvenblood). Where earlier volumes focused on humans and dragons, now elves come to the fore in a tale of the machinations, power-playing and cruel games that are the lifeblood of the High Lords. Into this treacherous territory blunders a good-hearted elf, Kyrtian V'dyll Lord Prastaran, who is not a High Lord, has no political ambitions and doesn't care for the cruel ways of most of the elven folk. Kyrtian has a small holding in the country, keeps no slaves and his human servants actually like him. Obsessed with military tactics out in the middle of nowhere, Kyrtian has learned the art of war—which brings him to the attention of the High Lords. Against his will, Kyrtian ends up leading the elven armies in their ongoing war against the dragons and the halfblood elves that have plagued them throughout the series. But the battles that Kyrtian supposedly wins against his half-elven foes turn out to be just the beginning of his adventures. The authors take moral stabs at issues ranging from slavery to strip-mining, but the story line itself glosses over details, while the action comes across too often as told rather than shown. Hopefully, the next installment, the forthcoming Elvenbred, will resurrect the fireworks more typical of these heavy-hitting authors.
Various reviews ~ For more info and other listings see Articles Over the Years
2002 by Carolyn Cushman in Locus #502, November
Dedications and Acknowledgements ~
Dedicated to the memory of the following men of the FDNY
September 11, 2001
Whose motto could have been: “I will, because I must."
|
RETIRED: PARAMEDICS: CHAPLAIN: HAZ-MAT: RESCUE 1: |
RESCUE 2: RESCUE 3: RESCUE 4: RESCUE 5: |
Bibliography of English Editions ~
- (2002) Published by TOR, HC, 0-312-86456-6, 978-0-312-86456-9, LCCN 20020717999, $24.95, 382pg ~ cover by Julie Bell {Black Paper Boards}
- (2002) Published by SFBC, HC, # 52265, $13.99, 382pg ~ cover by Julie Bell
- (2003) Published by TOR, PB, 0-812-57123-1, 978-0-812-57123-3, $7.99, 449pg ~ cover by Julie Bell
- (2004) Published by Demco Media, HC, 0-606-29789-8, 978-0-606-29789-9, $14.98 ~ cover by Julie Bell ~ "Turtleback" library binding.
Non-English Editions ~
- (2003) Combined with "Elvenbane" and "Elvenblood" ~ Published in Sofia, Bulgaria; 9548826658, PB, ~ Bulgarian title Проклятието на елфите [Curse of the Elves]
- (2003) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo, 5-699-03978-3, HC, 512pg ~ translation by O. Stepashkina ~ cover by Tom Kidd ~ Russian title Эльфийский лорд [Elven Lord] ~ Limited to 8100 copies
- (2004) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo, 5-699-6313-7, HC, 512pg ~ translation by O. Stepashkina ~ cover by H. del Nido ~ Russian title Эльфийский лорд [Elven Lord] ~ Limited to 9200 copies
- (2008) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo, 978-5-699-27177-1, PB, 480pg ~ translation by O. Stepashkina ~ cover by Tom Kidd ~ Russian title Эльфийский лорд [Elven Lord] ~ Limited yo 5000 copies
Russian Omnibus Editions ~
- (2007) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo, 5-699-20513-6, HC, 1248pg ~ cover by Boris Vallejo ~ Russian title Эльфийская трилогия [Elven Trilogy]
Contains:
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- "The Elvenbane" as "The Curse of the Elves" ~ translation by O. Stepashkina, pp. 5-492
- "Elvenblood" as "Elven Spawn" ~ translation by A. Khromova, pp. 493-796
- "Elvenborn" as"Elven Lord" ~ translation by O. Stepashkina, pp. 797-1242
Ukrainian Omnibus Editions ~
- (2017) Published in Kyiv, Ukraine by Globe (Fanzine) ~ cover by Boris Vallejo ~ Ukrainian title Эльфийская трилогия [Elven Trilogy] ~ Limited to 10 copies?
Contains:
-
- "The Elvenbane" as "The Curse of the Elves" ~ translation by O. Stepashkina
- "Elvenblood" as "Elven Spawn" ~ translation by A. Khromova
- "Elvenborn" as "Elven Lord" ~ translation by O. Stepashkina
View the Original contract
Elvenborn - 2002
Elvenborn - 2002
Elvenborn - 2003
Elvenborn - 2003
Elvenborn - SFBC - 2003
Elvenborn - SFBC - 2003
Elvenborn - Bulgaria - 2003
Elvenborn - Bulgaria - 2003
Elvenborn - Russia - 2003
Elvenborn - Russia - 2003
Elvenborn - Russia - 2004
Elvenborn - Russia - 2004
Contains: Elvenborn - Russian - 2007
Contains: Elvenborn - Russian - 2007
Elvemborn - Russian - 2008
Elvemborn - Russian - 2008
Contains: Elvenborn - Ukrainian - 2017
Contains: Elvenborn - Ukrainian - 2017
https://andre-norton.com/works-of-a-master/series-of-a-master/the-elvenbane-series/262-elvenborn#sigProId1e6775fe82
