TALES FROM HIGH HALLACK, VOL. 2 - Andre Norton

It's probably just a little surprising to admit that I am not a big Andre Norton fan. Given my penchant for science fiction and fantasy (as well as for cats), Norton's work would be at the top of my list of favorites, one might think, but based on a couple of novels I'd read in my youth, I've never really gotten into her work.

I'm not sure if my tastes have changed significantly with age, or the fact that I typically really like reading short stories, but I enjoyed this collection more than I initially expected (which is always the hope). Still, I'm not really a fan of fantasy stories featuring cats.

The book starts with a few poems, which I would have to admit, I skimmed over.  I just don't enjoy poetry.

My favorite story among the collection might have been "The Silent One" which was a bit of a ghost story, and that's definitely not the kind of fantasy I was expecting with this book. I also really liked "A Very Dickensian Christmas" (which was also a ghost story).

"Swamp Dweller" also stood out as a very good story for me.

The last group of stories in the collection all featured 'The Noble Warrior' - a cat. The stories read well, but I definitely had the impression that these were characters from a novel or series of novels that I hadn't read.

This book features the following:

Poems:

Freedom
Omniumgathum Poems
Cats
Song of the Barbarian Swordsman
The Last Cohort

Short Stories:

"Swamp Dweller"
"Get Out of My Dream!"
"Of the Shaping of Ulm’s Heir"
"Rider on a Mountain"
"The Silent One"
"The Nabob's Gift"
"Nine Threads of Gold"
"A Very Dickensy Christmas"
"Noble Warrior"
"Hob’s Pot"
"Noble Warrior Meets with a Ghost"
"Noble Warrior, Teller of Fortunes"
"Noble Warrior and the “Gentleman”"

While I am glad I read this and I generally enjoyed my reading, I can't say that I would be eager to read another volume in the "Tales From High Hallack" collection.

Looking for a good book? Fans of Andre Norton will enjoy this collection of shorter works, Tales From High Hallack, Vol. 2, but those less familiar with Norton's work should consider becoming familiar with Ms. Norton through some of her better known novels.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

* * * * * *

Tales From High Hallack, Vol. 2

author: Andre Norton

series: Tales From High Hallack #2

publisher: Premier Digital Publishing

ISBN: 9781624672439

hardcover, 300 pages

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