An outcast princess must earn her birthright as a hero of the realm—in this “utterly engrossing” Newbery Medal–winning fantasy (The New York Times). Aerin is an outcast in her own father’s court, daughter of the foreign woman who, it was rumored, was a witch, and enchanted the king to marry her. She makes friends with her father’s lame, retired warhorse, Talat, and discovers an old, overlooked, … and discovers an old, overlooked, and dangerously imprecise recipe for dragon-fire-proof ointment in a dusty corner of her father’s library. Two years, many canter circles to the left to strengthen Talat’s weak leg, and many burnt twigs (and a few fingers) secretly experimenting with the ointment recipe later, Aerin is present when someone comes from an outlying village to report a marauding dragon to the king. Aerin slips off alone to fetch her horse, her sword, and her fireproof ointment . . .
But modern dragons, while formidable opponents fully capable of killing a human being, are small and accounted vermin. There is no honor in killing dragons. The great dragons are a tale out of ancient history.
That is, until the day that the king is riding out at the head of an army. A weary man on an exhausted horse staggers into the courtyard where the king’s troop is assembled: “The Black Dragon has come . . . Maur, who has not been seen for generations, the last of the great dragons, great as a mountain. Maur has awakened.”
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I loved the book and the author. I have read most of her books. If you like fantasy she is one of the best. Her characters are very believable and the plot lines are great.
One of my favorite young adult books ever.
One of my first favorite books. I recently reread it to see if it lived up to my memory, and it did. I thoroughly enjoyed returning to the world, and reliving everything my pre-teen aged self loved, and discovering stuff only my adult self would recognize.
This is one of my favorite books ever. Love the author and love the main character.
Awesome teen book! I have reread many times since first reading it 30 years ago!
This is one of my all time favorite fantasy books right beside The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings!
McKinley never disappoints. I always read everything she writes. This author makes all of her books believable, even the fantasy.
A Prequel to the Blue Sword, though they can be read in any order. I love the world she has built for these novels.
I’ve had this book in paperback for years and absolutely loved it, so I was tickled to see it also available for my Kindle and immediately bought it. I just finished it and I have to say it is still just as good as the first time I read it. Although, now that I think about it, it was actually more enjoyable to read this time because I didn’t get so anxious and tense about what would happen next and was able to concentrate on the story better. And yes, it really is that good!
I highly recommend this book, and I definitely recommend reading it a second (..or third or fourth..) time so you can relax and enjoy it even more. Now I need to buy more of McKinley’s books to see if I like them as much as this one.
Great book; have reread several times.
a favorite
I bought these hardback ( the blue sword also) years ago. Just purchased ebooks. Great reads
Very mixed feelings about this book. I just couldn’t love it the way I loved the Blue Sword. While I appreciated that Aerin was a strong female character who sought her own way, I struggled with the love stories involved. It didn’t even close to what I was expecting from the introduction of Aerin and Tor in The Blue Sword.
Love all her books. Have loved this one for years
As always, ms. McKinley delivers the goods. She is one of the best and no more need be said.
Not a bad take. I read this in a day, I was not fond of the direction the story took at the end of the book, but it was still entertaining.
I read this book years ago, and have read it several times since. Its a great nomads and dragons story. Its the prequel to the blue sword, another book worth reading!!!!
Good young adult story with nothing controversial for young readers. The final battle was a little hokey and could have been explained better, but that’s usually how YA stories go.
Mckinley at her best, combining fantasy the somber view of the ace of wanting acceptance and a purpose driven life makes the reader feel the heroine.
I have loved this book and even more, The Blue Sword which is set in the same world, for a very long time! I re-read these books nearly once a year. Something about Robin McKinley’s imagination parallels my own. Strong women, but also romance. Good, intelligent, though often stubborn, men… our favorite!