How to Read the Five Senses Series (Recommended Reading Order)
The Five Senses series by Andre Norton (with the final volume co-authored by Jean Rabe) is a collection of high fantasy novels unified by a singular, creative concept: each book centers on a different human sense that serves as a unique magical talent. Unlike many fantasy series that feature a continuous storyline spanning multiple volumes, these novels are standalone adventures. They are set in different realms, feature entirely distinct casts of characters, and do not rely on one another for plot continuity.
Because there is no chronological thread connecting the books, you have complete freedom in how you read them. However, for the best experience, we recommend reading them in Publication Order. This path allows you to watch the evolution of the concept from the initial release in 1994 to the collaborative finale in 2006. Starting with the first book also helps establish the baseline tone of sensory-based magic that defines the series.
The Five Senses Books in Detail
If you choose to follow the publication order, here is the order in which the books were released, along with details of the specific sensory magic explored in each tale:
- 1. The Hands of Lyr (1994) – Focus: Touch
Set in a desolate wasteland known as the Ryft (historically dedicated to the goddess Lyr), the series opener follows Alnosha, a young woman with a psychic gift of divination through touch. The Ryft has been reduced to a blackened ruin by an ancient depravity. When Kryn, an exiled noble youth fleeing the minions of a corrupt deity, wanders into the Ryft, he becomes Alnosha’s champion. Together, they use her tactile magic to navigate the darkness, find the source of the rot, and attempt to restore light to the ruined land. Touch functions as a medium of detection, healing, and spiritual guidance.
- 2. Mirror of Destiny (1995) – Focus: Sight
The second book shifts the focus to sight, following Twilla, an orphan apprentice to a wise woman named Hulde. As a destructive "Industrial Monster" consumes the kingdom and drives people toward a treacherous primeval forest, Twilla is forced into an arranged marriage. Armed with a magical mirror inherited from her mentor, Twilla escapes into the woods alongside a commander’s blinded son. Through dwarf and sprite encounters, she uses her sight-based talisman to mend ancient magical conflicts and resolve a war of magical proportions. The concept of vision here is both physical and spiritual, contrasting Twilla's magical sight with her companion's physical blindness.
- 3. Scent of Magic (1998) – Focus: Smell
Widely considered by fans to be one of the strongest entries in the series, this book follows Willadene, an orphaned scullery maid who can smell magical odors. When her guardian tries to force her into a repulsive marriage, Willadene flees to a local herbmistress, becoming her apprentice. She soon learns to use her keen olfactory sense to detect both natural properties and the foul scent of dark sorcery, drawing her into court conspiracies to root out deep-seated corruption. Smell serves as an intuitive compass that detects alignment, danger, and the raw nature of magic itself.
- 4. Wind in the Stone (1999) – Focus: Hearing
Representing the sense of hearing, this novel tells the story of an infant girl saved by the denizens of a magical forest after a dark sorcerer tears her family apart. Her twin brother is taken captive to be raised as the sorcerer's protégé in a black tower. As the sister grows to womanhood, she develops the ability to hear the secret sounds and music of the world. She must use this auditory gift to confront the sorcerer and save her brainwashed twin. Hearing acts as a tool of harmony, allowing the protagonist to communicate with the natural world and counteract discordant, destructive sorcery.
- 5. A Taste of Magic (2006) – Focus: Taste
Co-authored with Jean Rabe and published posthumously, the final entry centers on Wisteria, a young woman who can "taste" the magic flowing through the natural world. After her peaceful village is destroyed by the brutal warlord Lord Purvis, Wisteria and a young girl are the sole survivors. Swearing a blood oath of vengeance, Wisteria uses her taste-based magic to track the warlord through the wilderness. Here, taste connects the protagonist directly to the elements, allowing her to discern chemical compositions, tracking trails, and elemental forces.
The Collaborative Element: Andre Norton and Jean Rabe
While the first four books were penned solely by Andre Norton, the fifth book, A Taste of Magic, represents a collaboration with author Jean Rabe. Norton, often called the "Grande Dame of Science Fiction and Fantasy," frequently collaborated with other prominent fantasy writers during the later years of her career (including Rosemary Edghill, Mercedes Lackey, and Sherwood Smith). Jean Rabe, known for her work in the Dragonlance universe, helped finish the novel, ensuring the series concluded with its thematic quintet intact. Rabe’s influence brought a slightly more action-oriented pace to the narrative, though it carefully preserved Norton’s signature emphasis on environmental connection and strong, self-reliant heroines.
Themes of Environmentalism and Sensory Magic in Norton’s Work
A recurring hallmark of Andre Norton's fantasy is the battle between organic, natural magic and artificial, industrial corruption. The Five Senses series exemplifies this thematic conflict. In Mirror of Destiny, the villainous force is an "Industrial Monster" eating the landscape, while in Wind in the Stone, the antagonist seeks to cut down and dominate the ancient forest. By framing the magic system around the five physical senses, Norton reminds readers of the power of the natural human body and its connection to the earth. The magic is not academic or formulaic; it is felt, heard, tasted, seen, and smelled.
Practical Reader Advice and Starting Points
If you are wondering where to begin, here are a few suggestions depending on your reading style:
- The Purist Path: Start with The Hands of Lyr to experience the series exactly as it was published.
- The Fan-Favorite Choice: Start with Scent of Magic. Many readers find Willadene's story to have the most engaging pacing and the most creatively integrated magic system.
- The High-Stakes Wilderness Path: Start with A Taste of Magic if you prefer a classic revenge tale with a fast-paced co-authored style.
Because these books are completely independent, you can safely skip any volume that doesn't appeal to you or read them out of order without missing any plot connections or character arcs.