About the Book
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Author:
- Robin McKinley
Cover Story: Desert Duel
BFF Charms: Heck Yes, Caution
Talky Talk: Austen of Arabia
Bonus Factors: Supporting Characters, Loyal Pets, Mystery
Anti-Bonus Factor: Racism
Relationship Status: Rider
Cover Story: Desert Duel
The swords, horses, and desert setting give the reader a fairly good idea of what to expect, Since those swords are made of wood, this is either one of Harry’s training sessions or her warrior trial. I like how she isn’t in the foreground; you have to look closely to see that she’s the blonde on the right, and there’s nothing to distinguish her unless you’ve read the book already. The effect is the same understated realism as the writing.
The Deal:
Hundreds of years after the events of The Hero and the Crown, most of Damar has been colonized by “Home,” a fantasy version of Victorian Great Britain. The remaining Damarians, the Free Hillfolk led by King Corlath, are under threat from two sides: the Northerners preparing to destroy them, and the Homelanders wanting to assimilate them. Meanwhile, Angharad “Harry” Crewe, a Homelander lady new to the frontier, is bored of her restricted life and fascinated by the Damarian desert and its mysterious people. She’s about to learn a lot more of them than anyone expects – including Corlath, who abducts her in the middle of the night for reasons even he is not quite clear about.
BFF Charms: Heck Yes, Caution
In real life, Harry and I would have very little in common – I can’t ride, shoot or fence, I wilt in hot weather, and if anyone kidnapped me, I’d be an absolute mess instead of staying as dignified as she does – but I still admire her very much. Her resilience, dry humor and open-mindedness as she adapts to a foreign culture and climate make her a worthy successor to Aerin.
Let’s face it, Corlath’s abduction of Harry is a very questionable choice. In real life, “my magic demands it” would never work as an excuse. On the other hand, he and his people are in an impossible position, caught between hostile Northerners and closed-minded Homelanders, and his premonitions about Harry – the first person to ever meet his eyes while his magic is active – are too powerful to ignore. Once Harry is in his camp, he makes every effort to show her she’s safe and help her adapt … but on the other hand, if he’s going to invite her to strategy meetings, he shouldn’t be surprised when she has an opinion. Those are some very mixed messages, Corlath-sola. You can’t blame the young lady for being confused.
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
My younger self would have given Harry and Corlath’s relationship a much higher rating, but these days, it’s a little harder to suspend my disbelief over the whole abduction issue. Also, glowing yellow eyes that give you a headache if you look into them too long are only attractive in fiction.
Talky Talk: Austen of Arabia
One of my favorite things about this book is McKinley’s polite, ironic, meticulous British prose, and how it contrasts with the swords-and-sorcery setting. It not only makes you feel how out of place Harry is among the Hillfolk, but also grounds you in the details of the story.
Bonus Factor: Supporting Characters
If it weren’t for my mixed feelings about Corlath, I would have given out a Make It Rain charm for all Harry’s allies on both sides of the border: anxious well-meaning Richard, sweet Lady Amelia, sardonic Colonel Dedham, fatherly Mathin, eager warrior girl Senay and mysterious archer Kentarre. Also, Aerin, Luthe and Gonturan (the titular Blue Sword, who is definitely a character) from The Hero and the Crown all reappear in this novel. I’m delighted to see them every time.
Bonus Factor: Loyal Pets
The descendants of Aerin’s horses, cats and dogs are still taking care of the Hillfolk. Several of them adopt Harry, including a hunting cat who eats porridge, brings back enough game to share with her travel companions, and is described as a “champion purrer.”
Bonus Factor: Mystery
One of the marks of a great fantasy author is that they can leave unanswered questions in a story, and instead of lazy writing, it only feels like their world is deeper beyond the page. “Luthe is himself, and who his parents are even he has forgotten,” is all the explanation we get about our favorite immortal wizard, and the only one we need.
Anti-Bonus Factor: Racism
The Northerners are evil. No one, not even the narrator, ever questions this. While the Homelanders and Hillfolk are portrayed as two distinct and realistic cultures learning to respect each other as equals (and they still have their share of prejudice on both sides), the Northerners are only ever a faceless threat to them both.
For some readers, Harry’s rapid success as a Homelander learning the Hillfolk language and traditions might be problematic as well. I don’t agree, given what we learn about her past and the consequences she deals with, but that’s a matter of opinion.
Relationship Status: Rider
I would follow “Harimad-sol”, as the Hillfolk call Harry, into (fictional) battle any day.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review. The Blue Sword is available now.
I loved this book so much as a kid, but the kidnapping of it all is definitely more upsetting to me now.
I loved this book and The Hero and the Crown as a kid and am a bit afraid to revisit them now. As an aside, I followed the link for the review for The Hero and the Crown from 2011 and the reviewer uses the phrase “fantasy-romance (fromance?)” little did they know then that this would be a huge future genre of romantasy…