The Hero and the Crown

As short as this was, the first half was often boring with awkward time jumps. I enjoyed the protagonist’s journey but disliked that she was “not like other girls.” The love triangle was disappointing as I didn’t particularly like either of the love interests. I did like the role of the dragons. For a better book, try BEAUTY by the same author, although this is still a good read for those interested in classic fantasy. For more, find me on Instagram, GoodReads, and TikTok @bookswithgraceann

Should be considered mandatory reading for every girl from ages 9-15 (no, make that 4-100). I've read this book every year for the past, oh, ten or so years. Robyn McKinley's characters are incredibly complex for a young adult story (and quite honestly, I didn't realize it was considered young adult until i had to replace my battered and much beloved copy a couple of years ago and couldn't find her in the regular fantasy section). Ok, so it does have a woman with a sword on the cover. For those who aren't immediately interested in the fantasy genre, it's probably off-putting.But for those who can read fantasy, they'll find a young woman who has had to learn self reliance, practically from the first chapter. She actually does face the dragon no one else can. And the story doesn't end with her cataclysmic fight. The perfect prince doesn't exist, rather there are two very real men that both love the main character. McKinley doesn't waste time on creating the fairy tale ending - or rather, she complicates every traditional fantasy assumption. 1. The writing. There are writers who have great content, but use words unimaginatively; there are writers who have a delicate and subtle grasp on language, but have boring or atrocious stories; and there are those, rare and few, who can do both. Create human characters and beautiful prose. McKinley is one of them. She is a true prose writer - some of her writing verges on poetry. Every line is constructed with a particular cadence and measure. That, itself, is worth the reading. Most authors can't keep up that kind of style.2. The story. There's everything right with a story that starts out conventionally wrong. Some critics say this book doesn't get going until the middle. They're totally misguided: the story starts the reader with enough questions to choke a horse (the best way to begin, to challenge interest, to retain a reader). Its structure is well developed and unique. The extended flashback that comprises the first act of the book is masterful. McKinley unfolds a tale, rather than wasting pages and pages on exposition.3. The characters. Don't exist in a vacuum. Aren't archetypes. Have moods. Can hold two thoughts in their head at once. Have consistent personalities. Act impulsively. The good ones are people you'd like to get to know better. And, honestly, in a genre that continues to be dominated by sword toting men and the women who follow them, this is a book about a girl who chooses her own way. Who doesn't shy from the right (but dangerous, scary, and painful) path. As a woman it does get tiring reading the male perspective day in and day out.Oh hell. Go out and buy it. You'll find it absolutely worthwhile.

The first part of a two-part historical fantasy, The Hero and the Crown won Robin McKinley a well-deserved Newbery Award. The land of Damar will captivate you and linger with you long after you close the book. McKinley's writing and style are exceptional. Let's face it, authors do not write like this anymore - even she doesn't anymore. All the more reason to treasure these intoxicating worlds of words.The titular Hero is actually a heroine, Aerin, an shunned princess of Damar. From the beginning, life is not good for Aerin and sets the dark mood of the novel. She's the only royal who is not magical - a very strange occurrence for a Damarian. Additionally, her late mother's dubious reputation has cast a shadow on the daughter. Her only allies are Tor, a cousin, and her maimed horse, Talat.A dragon is tormenting Damarians and Aerin sets out to prove her worth to her people. Her preparations, struggles, and failures are heart-breaking. McKinley's superior descriptive skills are very much in evidence throughout the book. From the moment you begin reading, her words cast a spell, drawing readers into her world like a vortex. It's so easy to empathize with Aerin as she fights every step of the way to finding herself.This journey leads her to a mage, Luthe, and further battles. There is a sense of constant action, when in fact there are not many actual combats. Aerin's search for purpose, identity is so strong every sentence carried the weight of a sword-clashing charge. The final course of the plot and characters weren't quite to my liking as a romantic teen when I first read Hero, but the inevitability and *rightness* of it comes with a realistic sense of bittersweetness and maturity. I hesitated to write this review at all because I was (and am) afraid I may dissuade a reader from trying this excellent author, but I believe other reviews speak just as strongly in its favor as this one is attempting to.The more I consider Robin McKinley, the more I believe she isn't so much a young adult author as simply an adult one. Her text and content are fit for an adolescent age bracket, but to get the most of her best work, a great deal more maturity is helpful. I'm still learning from these "kid's" books well into my twenties. These are the kind of books that grow up with you and continue to enlighten, comfort, and push you. Another favorite is the sequel, The Blue Sword.

For years this book sat on the shelf of my high school's library staring at me while I obstinantly refused to read it. It's not that I didn't like fantasy; it's just that I had had a few bad encounters in the past with "feminist" fantasy (e.g. Marion Zimmer Bradley), and I wasn't interested in reading another grrl power, male-bashing fantasy novel. I must have just assumed it was like that since it had a female heroine. Finally, years later (I'm 22 now) I returned to it with a more open mind and a positive review from my wife. I thought it was one of the most captivating fantasy novels I've read. I couldn't put it down. If you've ever felt like the outcast among your peers or like you just don't fit in you'll be able to identify with the main character. If you're introverted and prefer the company of books to people (and many of the people who will bother to read this book are like this) then you will find a soul mate in Aerin. It doesn't matter if you're a guy or a girl, this book will appeal to anyone who likes a good story and knows what it's like to have to "prove" yourself in order to gain acceptance.

This is, I believe, Robin McKinley's magnum opus. This book is often hard to locate, buried in the young adult section where it only half-belongs. Yes, this tale is about a teenage heroine, but the subject matter, her trials and emotions, are not limited to that audience. (Note to booksellers-By the way, most avid young adult sci-fi and fantasy fans have been reading from the adult section for years-you might do better to rethink the placement of these types of books.) Anyway, this novel tels the story of Aerin, arguably one of the most well-written and believable heroines out there. Her feelings of ineptitude and clumsiness are universal, yet her unknown powers don't develop miraculously, deus ex machina style, but are fought for and gained as a result of this fight. The narrative twists and turns in surprising ways, and the tale doesn't always turn out the way we originally think it will, and yet the turns never feel out of place. This is a novel from a whole other world, and yet it feels real. The characters are true-to-life and honestly drawn by this masterful author. This book would definitely draw someone into the fantasy genre.

I first discovered this work two years ago while hunting for some refreshing fantasy to read in a public library I happened into. While hunting through the sci-fi section this book bumped into me. Swiftly, I was drawn into the world of Damar and I ended up doing something quite unexpected! I bought the book, AFTER having had the chance to read it for free. The reason: this book does something extraordinary, it praises and tributes both the genre of fantasy AND the english language in a unique and special way. A gifted novelist, McKinley has the talent of a excellent literary craftsperson; comparable in her way to a mastercraftman like Louis Comfort Tiffany and his wonderfully inspired stained glass pieces, to be exact. You'll surely be drawn in by each intuitively woven paragraph. Not a word is wasted; each layer reveals the story of a young woman, which at times is so bitter, and at times so joyous, that it might indeed move one to tears (I can't believe I wept during some parts of this book, an occurance which has never happened before or since). It begs to be said again, McKinley's technique is excellent. This book is a must have for any reader who enjoys really fine and imaginative fantasy...happy reading!