Werenight and Prince of the North by Harry Turtledove
"Werenight and Prince of the North" is a dual-novel series by Turtledove that chronicles the adventures of Gerin the Fox, a baron in the northern Empire of Elabon. In "Werenight," Gerin faces the threat of an evil wizard named Balamung and his barbarian army, the Trokmoi, as he seeks to protect his realm. Gerin's journey involves seeking assistance from a sorcerer, navigating complex relationships, and overcoming magical challenges, ultimately leading to the establishment of his own kingdom in the north.
The sequel, "Prince of the North," takes place five years later, exploring Gerin's evolution as he embraces his title as Prince following personal upheaval, including the dissolution of his marriage to Elise and the kidnapping of their son, Duren. Gerin's quest to rescue Duren leads him to confront new threats, including a race of monsters and the scheming Trokmoi baron, Adiatunnus. Throughout both novels, themes of loyalty, power struggles, and the interplay of magic and personal relationships are central to Gerin's journey, as he navigates the challenges of leadership and the complexities of his world. The series blends elements of fantasy with intricate character dynamics, providing a rich narrative for readers interested in epic tales of adventure and conflict.
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Werenight and Prince of the North
First published:Werenight (1994; includes Werenight, 1979, and Wereblood, 1979, both originally published as by Eric Iverson) and Prince of the North (1994)
Type of work: Novels
Type of plot: Fantasy—heroic fantasy
Time of work: A span of six years on another world
Locale: The area around Fox Keep and the northern provinces of the Empire of Elabon
The Plot
Harry Turtledove’s two novels present the story of Gerin the Fox, a baron on the northern border of the Empire of Elabon, who attempts to preserve his realm against attacks by barbarians, a wizard, monsters, and rival nobles. Gerin first confronts the challenge of the evil wizard, Balamung, and must seek the aid of a sorcerer from the Empire of Elabon. After the wizard’s defeat, Gerin establishes his own kingdom in the north, because the only route to the Empire of Elabon has been cut off. His kingdom is far from secure, as it is threatened by attacks from a barbarian ruler, a rival monarch, and strange monsters. Gerin overcomes these challenges and then stands on the precipice of even greater power.
Gerin’s adventures begin in Werenight with a surprise attack by Balamung’s army of barbarians, known as the Trokmoi, on Fox Keep. By observing the powerful magic used by the Trokmoi in their assault, Gerin realizes that Balamung has come into possession of the Book of Shabeth-Shiri, an artifact of immense power. Gerin decides to travel to the capital of the Empire of Elabon to hire a wizard to fight Balamung.
Gerin sets forth on his journey with his close friend, Van of the Strong Arm, a powerful fighter. During the first part of their voyage, Gerin and Van stop at the castle of Ricolf the Red, another baron, who is about to name the man whom his daughter, Elise, will marry. When the choice is announced as Wolfar the Axe, the chief rival of Gerin in the north, Elise decides to flee the castle with the Fox in order to live with her uncle in Elabon.
When the trio reaches Elabon, Gerin and Van leave Elise with her uncle and go to seek the aid of a wizard. Their request for aid is refused by the wizards because they do not believe his claims and do not see the need to help the northern provinces. Gerin discovers that Ricolf’s first choice for Elise’s husband, Rihwin the Fox, has some magical ability and might be able to help him. Gerin recruits Rihwin to fight Balamung, and, as they leave Elabon, they are joined by Elise, who no longer wishes to live with her uncle.
As the four comrades travel north, they discover that Balamung and the Trokmoi have launched a massive invasion. Gerin and his comrades manage to get north of the Kirs mountain pass before the wizards of Elabon seal it with an avalanche, isolating the northern barons. As they race to confront Balamung, Gerin and Elise realize that they love each other. Unfortunately, Rihwin loses his power in a dispute between Gerin and Mavrix, the god of wine.
Gerin gathers a small army to fight the Trokmoi. His army is disrupted when four full moons rise, causing many of his soldiers and their enemies to transform into animals. After surviving the werenight, Gerin confronts Balamung and succeeds in destroying the wizard by drawing on his own magical ability.
Prince of the North continues Gerin’s story five years after the events of Werenight. During the interim, Gerin married Elise and they had a son, Duren. Their marriage ended when she left him for a horse trader. Gerin has declared himself the Prince of the North and seized the land of his dead rival, Wolfar. His life is turned upside down when his son is kidnapped. Believing that the emissaries of the Trokmoi baron, Adiatunnus, may have taken his son, Gerin follows their trail until he learns that his son was not seen with them.
In an attempt to find out about his son’s fate, Gerin goes to see a prophet, the Sibyl of Ikos, a young woman known as Selatre. He does not discover his son’s location, but, while Gerin and Van are at Ikos, a race of monsters escape from their underground prisons. Gerin saves Selatre from being slain by the monsters, and they speed back to Fox Keep so they can prepare to fight the creatures. The monsters soon threaten Gerin’s territory, causing him to launch an armed expedition against them. The expedition does little harm to the monsters, and Gerin’s situation becomes worse when the beasts ally themselves with Adiatunnus.
Gerin invades Adiatunnus’ territory and succeeds in driving off the monsters for a short time, even though he fails to score a decisive victory over the Trokmoi baron. Gerin forges an alliance with his chief rival, Aragis the Archer, to defeat the creatures and Adiatunnus. When Aragis joins Gerin, he brings Duren with him, along with the head of the kidnapper, Tassilo, a traveling minstrel. Their campaign succeeds in smashing Adiatunnus’ power, but they do not destroy the monsters.
In an effort to sweep away the rest of the monsters, Gerin and Selatre summon Mavrix and Biton, two gods. The two deities argue with each other, but their confrontation causes Mavrix to dispose of the monsters. After the deities have left, Adiatunnus sends emissaries to Gerin offering to become the Fox’s vassal. Gerin accepts the Trokmoi’s pledge of loyalty. Gerin plans to marry Selatre and wonders if he will eventually become, as Van suggests, the King of the North.