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The Blue Sword
Aug. 22nd, 2010 06:52 pmI just finished reading Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword, and I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. I've read about half a dozen of McKinley's novels, enjoyed them all, and thought that several - Sunshine, The Hero and the Crown, perhaps Deerskin - were excellent. This one, though....
The Blue Sword was one of her first books, and I think it shows. (Wikipedia confusedly identifies it as her first novel and as her third.) The story is uncomplicated; there is only one point where the heroine faces a real challenge, and some plot points are a bit predictable. Nor are the characters particularly nuanced; all of the major characters get along all too well, not allowing a little thing like a kidnapping/drugging stand in the way of their developing friendship. I will admit that there are some good touches; the depiction of Harimad's camp the day and night before the big battle is nicely atmospheric, for instance. But on the whole, I expect more from McKinley (and usually get it).
The Blue Sword was one of her first books, and I think it shows. (Wikipedia confusedly identifies it as her first novel and as her third.) The story is uncomplicated; there is only one point where the heroine faces a real challenge, and some plot points are a bit predictable. Nor are the characters particularly nuanced; all of the major characters get along all too well, not allowing a little thing like a kidnapping/drugging stand in the way of their developing friendship. I will admit that there are some good touches; the depiction of Harimad's camp the day and night before the big battle is nicely atmospheric, for instance. But on the whole, I expect more from McKinley (and usually get it).
