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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We have a copy of this at school but so far I have no takers. This is my favorite Robin McKinley book and a well deserved medal winner. It’s about a girl who ends up befriending her father’s old war horse and experimenting with making kenet, a fire proof substance. After perfecting it, she hunts dragons.
This was one of the first fantasy books I ever read, and I still have the copy I bought at the Scholastic book fair in the 1980s. It made me fall in love with the fantasy genre.
The Hero and the Crown (Damar, #2) by Robin McKinley – Robin McKinley is one of my favorite humans on the planet ever. Every book I’ve ever read of hers has been amazing. Though there are some moments in this one where you are definitely left wondering what just happened, and she doesn’t always let you have the HEA you want, but you have to give her all the credit for the drama! If you didn’t have dreams of riding a white horse into battle wielding a magic sword when you were little, you will after you finish this book! Happy Reading!
This is one of my favorites that I first read when I was about 12 and have gone back to many times since. It’s a little different take on the fairly-tale world of dragons and princesses; it’s a bit darker and a bit deeper, but I’m never disappointed to reread it.
Not just for YA. One of the few books I have read and re-read over the years.
This is a fantasy and appropriate for young adult readers. I love it because of the storyline of overcoming adversity, making that leap to break free, to take chances, and then find the strength within themselves and some help from magic. I must admit I love that there is magic. Don’t we all want some magic in our lives?
Robin McKinley never writes a straightforward fairytale that ends in a happily ever after even if it does have a (finally!) happy for now. So much heartache in this YA tale of a stubborn, unwanted princess who slays the dragon and nearly dies from it, then saves the kingdom from the wicked wizard and nearly dies from it, then STILL has to save the kingdom again. She does win in the end and becomes the mythical hero of The Blue Sword and a few short stories.
Such a wonderful story this book takes you on. Great depth in the characters and the world building.
Beautiful, amazing, brilliant! A longtime favorite I reread over and over.
I read this when it first came out years ago. Robin McKinley is a master of fantasy, and a master of the prose that tells the story. I buy any McKinley book I don’t already have.
I know this is not a review, but is supposed to be a very strong recommendation.
One of my favorite novels as a young adult, and still long into adulthood. It’s like the ultimate fairy tale. Aerin is a wonderful, realistic heroine for any young woman! And the follow up novel, the Blue Sword, is possibly my favorite book of all time.
One of the top fantasy writers. I don’t know anybody who can take a well know fairy tale and make it a great novel. Robin can. Her original books are just as good.
A childhood favorite that I never get tired of re-reading.
I thought it was fun, different.
AA just plain fun read.
You are reading epic poetry intricately wrought into a narrative for young adults readers. A classic!
While this is an older book, it is still current. Younger YA readers will be drawn to the characters and their plight.
Great adventure and a story that stuck with me for years and years. Some of the imagery really put images that stuck in my head. I must admit, I didn’t find it quite so amazing when I re-read it as an adult.
Overall a good story but sometimes I found it a little vague. With the main character (Aerin) falling ill a few times, it lent a dream-like, unreal quality to the action. I wished several times that the author would just spit out what she really meant instead of dealing in ambiguous descriptions especially concerning plot details. I wanted to like Aerin but a lot of times I just couldn’t relate to her. I did find it interesting that a love triangle was introduced in the story which reminded me a lot of the tragic Guinevere love triangle from Arthurian legend except in this case, Aerin was able to love both men without losing one.
Brillant and lovely–all that is good and right in an adult fairytale. A courageous heroine, insurmontable odds that are surmonted, and a great happy ending.