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The Blue Sword
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The Blue Sword
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The Blue Sword
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The Blue Sword

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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About this ebook

A Newbery Honor Book and a modern classic of young adult fantasy, The Blue Sword introduces the desert kingdom of Damar, where magic weaves through the blood and weaves together destinies. New York Times–bestselling and award-winning author Robin McKinley sets the standard for epic fantasy and compelling, complex heroines. Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, and Rae Carson will delight in discovering the rich world of Damar.

Harry Crewe is a Homelander orphan girl, come to live in Damar from over the seas. She is drawn to the bleak landscape, so unlike the green hills of her Homeland. She wishes she might cross the sands and climb the dark mountains where no Homelander has ever set foot, where the last of the old Damarians, the Free Hillfolk, live.

Corlath is the golden-eyed king of the Free Hillfolk, son of the sons of the legendary Lady Aerin. When he arrives in Harry’s town to ally with the Homelanders against a common enemy, he never expects to set Harry’s destiny in motion: She will ride into battle as a King’s Rider, bearing the Blue Sword, the great mythical treasure, which no one has wielded since Lady Aerin herself.

Legends and myths, no matter how epic, no matter how magical, all begin somewhere.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateApr 26, 2016
ISBN9780062400727
Author

Robin McKinley

Robin McKinley has won various awards and citations for her writing, including the Newbery Medal for The Hero and the Crown, a Newbery Honor for The Blue Sword, and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature for Sunshine. Her other books include the New York Times bestseller Spindle’s End; two novel-length retellings of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Beauty and Rose Daughter; Deerskin, another novel-length fairy-tale retelling, of Charles Perrault’s Donkeyskin; and a retelling of the Robin Hood legend, The Outlaws of Sherwood. She lives with her husband, the English writer Peter Dickinson; three dogs (two hellhounds and one hell terror); an 1897 Steinway upright; and far too many rosebushes.

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Reviews for The Blue Sword

Rating: 4.323943661971831 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I probably would have given this young woman with something extra saves everyone she cares about from vast evils a higher rating if I had read it when it first came out. It does stand out from the background still, and avoids some of the worst excesses of that sub-genre of fantasy, but hill people are not usually horse people as well while inhuman enemies aren't my favorite fantasy opposition.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    {First of 2: Damar series. Children's, fantasy, adventure}(Re-read)This Newbery Honour children's book, although published in 1983, is set in a parallel universe in what could be Queen Victoria's empire in our world. The writing is a little formal and gives it the feel of having been written in colonial times, although it is still extremely readable.I was always predisposed to like this book because (although crippled by inordinate shyness) I always wanted to ride a horse and wield a sword and have adventures and Harry gets to do all these. And then when I first read it, it was so well written that it's been on my favourites list ever since.Harry (Angharad) Crewe has had to move from Home (England) to Istan/ Ihistan (Afghanistan?) which is at the northern boundary of Daria (India). (McKinley based the landscape of the Damar books on Kipling's British India.) She doesn't fit in although she tries to and it's not because McKinley takes the modern/ easy route of other people being mean to her; everyone is welcoming and the two most popular girls are the admitted beauties of the station; the entire 4th Cavalry, stationed at the General Mundy, were in love with them. But they were also cheerful and open-hearted, and she was fond of them. It's just that she is out of her element; she's always been a little bit more adventurous at home than is quite acceptable by society and now she has to be on her best behaviour and she has the added handicap of being too tall for most men to dance with. Though the local natives are friendly and adapt to the conquering Homelanders, the Hill-folk who live in the mountains just to the north of Istan have a certain mystique and it may be there that Harry finds her place.I like the way McKinley outlines people's emotions and also gives the animals personalities without using anthropomorphism. For example, Tsornin (translated to Sungold in Homelander speech), her warhorse took her lessons afoot very badly, and would lace back his years and stamp, and circle her and Mathin till they had to yell at him to go away.Or (Narknon is the large hunting-cat that has adopted Harry) There was a friendship between the horse and the hunting-cat now, and they would chase one another around the obstacles of the practice field, Narknon's tail lashing and Sungold with his ears back in mock fury. Once the big cat had hidden behind one of the grassy banks, where Harry and Sungold could not see her; and as they rode by she leaped out at them, sailing clean over Sungold and Harry on his back. Harry ducked and Sungold swerved; and Narknon circled and came back to them with her ears back and her whiskers trembling in what was obviously a cat laugh.I love the little touches in the last chapter, the way it wraps up all the loose ends into a happy ending, especially Lady Amelia and Sir Charles. she was astonished when little Lady Amelia climbed or fell off her horse just in front of her, said, ‘Harry, my dear why did you never send us any word?’ burst into tears, and threw her arms around her former houseguest Describing a small girl visiting the City for the first time:- including Rilly, who was beside herself with excitement, and her mother, who was beside herself with Rilly - Although I identified with Harry when I first read The Blue Sword however many decades ago, I now think she's awkward rather than shy and a lot more resilient than me. Of course, this is a children's book and she has youth on her side. Other reviews remind me that some events may move a bit faster than they would for you or me but given the richness of the writing, the magic of Damar and that this book is less than 300 pages long, I am more than inclined to overlook a minor niggle.Still, and always, a five star book.5*****
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    When Harry's father dies, she is sent from her home (an England-like country) to a colonial army outpost on the outskirts of Daria where her brother is stationed. She actually kind of loves the desert and the hills beyond, but they make her feel restless, as well. When the king of the free hillfolk appears at the fort one day, little does Harry know that her entire life is about to change...I've loved this book since I was a teenager, though not as much as I love the prequel, The Hero and the Crown. Harry's journey is written with such a deft hand, and the setting is so beautifully realized, that reading it makes me feel as if I've been there, and I'm always reluctant to leave. If you haven't read these two books, they can be read in any order, and I highly recommend both.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I fell in love with The Blue Sword and Beauty as a young child, and they were both favorites of mine while growing up and have read them more times than I can count. To this day they are both still my all-time favorites.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I’m glad I read Hero and the Crown first, though it seems to me you can read this duology in either order. For me, understanding the history of Damar, Aerin and the sword, helped me understand Harry’s world. Magic has changed since Aerin’s day, becoming rarer and seemingly only gifting those who wield it with destructive powers.Harry is likable, though I wasn’t as invested in this story as I was Hero. Maybe because I read Hero first? But there’s a lot of depth and feeling here, like in Hero (which just made me want to re-read Hero) and I was happy to see Harry had a feline friend and a smart horse, much like Aerin.McKinley has such a way with words. Yet again, we get a YA book with the ‘chosen one’ trope, but I loved it! Harry is sensible and calm, dealing with her struggles to find a place that feels like home in a way that made me feel for her. She’s tough and powerful, yes, but she has to learn to develop her powers properly, ride a horse, wield a sword. We get to see her become badass and self-aware, rather than just be told she is.If, like me, you struggle with finding enjoyable YA fantasy, I highly recommend this duology!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I bought this as a second hand book from the library MANY years ago, and really liked it. Must find the rest of the series to see how the story progresses...
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is an excellent, short fantasy novel. The world it is set in parallels ours very closely, but it is not quite the same as ours. A young lady from 'Home' (England) ends up on a far away island on the edge of a hilly desert region after her parents pass away. She is fostered by a lord and lady there and reunited with her brother. It isn't long before she meets the native inhabitants that live nearby and the story goes on from there. This book is essentially a young-adult fantasy tale, not an epic and is missing all of the judgments of Colonialism, racism or other -isms, it is just a fantasy story about a young girl that becomes a hero. It is well written and enjoyable, though quite predictable. For its intended audience, which would be younger people not quite so jaded by decades of reading fantasy, this could be a lifetime favorite.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Four stars for what it is meant to be, and three stars for my particular situation. For what it is, it is a beautifully written story about fate and friendship. The horses are beautiful, and it has magic, mystery, battles, and splintered societies. For me, I think I am too old for this book. If I had read it when it was gifted to me (15 years ago or more - it's been sitting on my shelf for a while), I would have loved it more. Otherwise, all the focus on horses took me out of the story and reminded me of being a horse-loving tween. Reading this book right after reading Left Hand of Darkness dulled the story's culture clash. I enjoyed the story, and read it quickly, but I am not as sympathetic to the tomboy-ish heroine - even a twist on that motif - as I once was. A saving grace, though, is that she wasn't very tomboyish, just unsettled by something deep inside called fate.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is one of those books I wish teenage me would have read as I know I would have absolutely loved it back then. The story features a strong female protagonist who survives a kidnapping and turns her circumstances around when she learns she's the chosen one and proceeds to save the world. She gets a special horse, a magic sword, has a jaguar-type cat as a companion and in general kicks ass. Yeah, teenage me would have been in heaven. 30-something me was charmed and sees the foundation of what will become many modern YA fantasy tropes. 80s fantasy can have that feel sometimes.This book is beautifully written. You do have to watch out though as the story sometimes switches POV mid-chapter without any warning. I wasn't expecting it the first time and had to reread the section. It is easy to get used to though. I enjoyed the descriptive passages quite a lot and the world building gave just enough detail without being overwhelming. I greatly enjoyed the action scenes, especially Harry's training. While technically The Blue Sword is the first in the Damar duology it works just fine as a standalone book. The adventure is fully resolved by the end and all loose ends are wrapped up. This was a fun read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Loved this book. Great characters. Terrific world building. One of the best books I've read recently. Really something bewyond just a swords and sorcery book. I'm going to read some of her other books.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Angharad is left an orphan and goes to live in a desert country where she discovers her destiny. Not your ordinary coming of age story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It was wonderful.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    McKinley describes a world based on old british colonialism. The characters are likable and the story interesting, but even though I loved the later part of the story I still didn't really feel engaged in the main character's fate until I had read more than half the book. It was a fairly quick read, and I wouldn't mind reading more books in the series, but I'm not going to seek them out.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It has been decades since I read this book. I wanted it to be as magical as I remembered it being and it was! Harry is such a strong character and finds she is stronger and more capable than she suspected. Damar is also a complex and interesting world with a deeper history that is hinted at. I loved exploring that world with Harry. The book kept drawing me in.Anyone who likes fantasy would most likely enjoy this book. As for me, onward to The Hero and the Crown!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In my reviews of Robin McKinley's other books, I have described her writing as gentle, pleasant, charming, graceful, cozy. In this, her third publication, she abandons the fairytale roots and lush woodland settings of Beauty and The Door in the Hedge for windswept deserts and invading demon armies, yet somehow she manages to retain that sense of coziness and domesticity, so that it is not surprising to hear people refer to The Blue Sword as a comfort read.Our heroine, Angharad or—as she prefers to be called—Harry Crewe, is an orphan who has left the Homeland to live with Sir Charles and Lady Amelia at an outpost in Daria, a colony of the Homelander empire where her brother Richard is stationed with the army. Unlike most of her countrymen, Harry is drawn to this barren and strange land. But all is not well there. The Hillfolk, last remnants of the ancient kingdom of Damar, come to warn the Homelanders of a great army of Northerners marching on their border. The well-meaning Homelanders cannot help, and most (like Sir Charles) are skeptical of this so-called threat, but the meeting has another fated but unexpected outcome. For when the golden-eyed king of the Hillfolk, Corlath, sees Harry, his kelar—the magic in his Hill blood—directs him to steal her away. So Harry finds herself swept off and burdened with a destiny she never expected.One doesn't really read Robin McKinley for fast-moving plots, and it took about half the book before I really became involved, even though I'd read it before, as a preteen. Those who dislike lengthy descriptions would best look elsewhere as well. Where she excels is in her creation of imaginary cultures, her soothing narrative voice, and the little touches that make her worlds come to life. There is not a person, a landscape, a building, an animal in this book that I could not see as clearly as if I were there myself.Harry is, refreshingly, not conventionally beautiful or "sexy," nor does she have the trademark clumsiness that has become such a hallmark of YA heroines. (I'm looking at you, Bella Swan.) Instead, she is oversized, lanky, sensible, and dreamy. She is far more unique and memorable than all the women of Spindle's End put together, which is the last McKinley book I read. Corlath is fascinating too, both as a person and as a ruler, but their romance is so subtle as to be almost nonexistent—and certainly not racy, which I remembered it being for some reason. Ha. Luthe plays a much smaller part than I recalled as well, to the point where one questions why he's in the book in the first place. He dispenses a little wisdom but doesn't advance the plot really. My favorite characters weren't actually human: Aerin's faithful Hill horse Tsornin, or Sungold, and the hunting cat Narknon. McKinley's animals are always winning.The clash of cultures is what really makes the book live and breathe, mostly because they parallel our own history. The expanding Homelander empire is clearly modeled after Imperialist Great Britain, while Damar distinctly resembles North Africa. It's fun to have a world where guns and Edwardian manners meet ancient traditions and magic.The book really begins to heat up as Harry disobeys orders and goes her own way, and the Northerners approach. The final face-off is thrilling, but Thurra, the sorcerer-king of the North, is built up as so powerful (while remaining veiled in mystery) that it's hard to accept he'd be so easily defeated. And when I turned the last page, I felt strangely empty. The book takes us to a fascinating new world, but very little happens; it could easily be half its length and still retain all the major plot points and character development. When I first read it, years ago, I had just finished its Newbery Medal-winning prequel, The Hero and the Crown, and I found it disappointing in comparison. Though I did enjoy The Blue Sword, I now see why. Luckily I read the books in publication order this time, and thus still have Hero to look forward to.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I wish I loved this, but I don't. I love Robin Mickinley's stuff don't get me wrong, but this was not enough on the right side of good that I could enjoy.

    So Harry, who seems cool, interesting spunky character gets kidnapped and thrown in to the world of Hill-folk & its master Corlath. (Corlath seems hunky when he flashes his golden eyes..)
    She takes this a bit too easily. No struggles, just 'OK, yeah cool, I've been kidnapped, must stay stoic...oh I love this place...yeah Im great at dealing with this stuff...wow...'yeah..
    There is not realistic growth, she just seems to swim perfectly into the mold that is expected of her from a prophecy via kelar and float until suddenly whoom she fells some mountains and beats a giant army easy peasy (after all that bloodshed..) Totally fine with that -_-

    The whole story was so solemn, though I loved the descriptions and customs and reading about her experiences in the new world, I couldn't really connect with anything. McKinley seems like she was delving deep into the world of Hill-folk and showing how much Harry absorbed but it felt like we were just skimming the surface.

    I enjoyed the characters until she got kidnapped then somehow everyone was behind this glass wall I couldn't touch, acting on their best behaviour, even their outbursts too solemn to be taken seriously.

    That romance, where the HECK was that romance? It was like the elephant in the room, no scrap that, the elephant that ran away leaving a hole in the wall T_T
    I almost flew through the chapters trying to get a glimpse of more than the overly subtle barely there hints that they MIGHT have feelings for each other. And then wham bam they declare their SOLEMN feelings for each other in front of everybody. Ugh the proposal...was..SOOO...solemn.
    I'm overusing that word -_-

    I liked Jack. Yep Jack was a cool guy. Btw the brother was pretty non existent. But when he did appear he suddenly did a 180 turn no hard feelings. Everyone was totes on her side, no questions asked.

    I think there are great aspects to this books, it had potential to be written better.
    Overall didn't leave me satisfied.
    3.5/5 for me.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a little different than Robin McKinley's typical fairy tale rewrites, but in my opinion much more captivating and enjoyable. McKinley easily creates a world that you want to join. The first couple of chapters can be a bit slow, but if you hang in there, I promise you won't regret it. There is plenty of action, wonderful characters, and a love story that isn't overdone or cliche.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Listed as YA but not really in my opinion. Well written, with lots of non-stop action and surprises. Character development was nicely done, and the world building and descriptions were gripping.I could barely put the book down, I was so eager to see what was happening next.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    [Re-read 2013]

    Things I discovered re-reading this beloved favorite of my childhood:

    I really love Harry and she is a much more distinctive and specific character than I remembered (my recollection had been of her being more of a cipher/everywoman but that must have been just part of the way I read this as a kid)

    She lives in a world where they celebrate Christmas (there is a reference to Richard's letters sent Home at Christmas). And she compares something to a "mark of Cain" at one point. I had completely missed this, or forgotten it.

    There is not a lot that actually *happens* (externally) in this book (compared to The Hero and the Crown, for example) yet I was still absorbed by Harry's internal struggles as she finds her place between two worlds, all the details of Damarian life, and just spending time with the characters.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    "The Blue Sword" is light, fun, and adventuresome escapist young-adult fantasy. It presents a simple coming-of-age story with all the old elements: black and white good and evil, a battle against the odds, destiny, an orphan in an unfamiliar country, a magic sword, a brooding tall dark and handsome male lead, and faceless sub-human monsters.

    In this story the good guys are almost unswervingly good, and the villains are unquestionably evil. There are no great surprises or shocking plot twists, but the world of the story is presented quickly and competently.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    No huge love plot, no rape, racism, interesting world building.

    I love the characters in this book. They have motivations and limitations, they have thoughts and agendas and plots. The one thing that I'd have appreciated is a bit more detail on the fancy swordfighting the main character so effortlessly learns, I didn't quite buy that anyone would get so effortlessly good at something as intricate, but this is only a minor gripe.

    What I loved especially is the complete absence of sexual violence and the fact that this fantasy book manages to get by without graphic sexual violence, you so rarely see that, and mostly without a love plot, though the main character is female.

    What I'm no a big fan of is the colonialism and racism. I'm not sure why we need a saviour with a white background from the coloniser's country.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of the first fantasy novels I ever read, and with a female heroine. Angel lent me this story, and I am forever grateful. I'm always trying to find a copy of my own to add to my collection
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I first read this in middle school, and loved it for years. I finally got around to rereading it something like 10 years later, and was happily reminded of just how good this book is. Harry is real and likeable, the worldbuilding is amazing, and the prose sparkles. Definitely a classic, and recommended for all fantasy lovers.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When Harry Crewe's (don't ask her real first name) parents die, she has to move closer to her brother Richard, which means becoming the ward of Lady Amelia and Sir Charles. She falls in love with this wild Hill country and becomes embroiled in the political climate when Corlath, king of the Damarians, comes to parley with Sir Charles. Corlath's magic won't let him forget her, however, so he kidnaps her knowing she has some sort of part to play in the coming war with the Northerners.I have no real complaints: the characters were interesting (especially Corlath), the story well told. But I never felt fully invested in the story, nor did I feel compelled to read if the book were not already in my hands.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Sweeping and romantic in the best sense of the word. The world of Damar is utterly real, and so are the people who inhabit it. I admire Harry's inner strength, determination, and self-confidence, and Corlath is one of the sexiest heroes I've ever come across; I've been in love with him for years.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A noble woman is kidnapped by a strange people but comes to understand and champion them. I had a hard time engaging with Harry because she was so withdrawn; however, I think this was appropriate given the plot. I prefer The Hero and the Crown to this which is a bit more straight forward narrative.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I read this one after reading (and falling in love with!) The Hero and the Crown. I just didn't like this one as much - I didn't find Harry or the other characters to be as likeable as the characters in The Hero and the Crown, and the story really didn't grab me like that one did. I don't think it's bad, but compared with The Hero and the Crown, this one falls rather flat.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I know this is a young adult story, but I really enjoy it. I reread it recently and as I get older it becomes more and more obvious that it is a young adult novel. But still I read it and keep it on my favorites shelf, along with THE HERO AND THE CROWN.The plot is good and the pace of the story keeps moving, which is important. The writing is simple and some of the elements of the plot are too convenient and predictable, but I don't always want my books to be mentally challenging. Sometimes I just like a good story with a happy ending. And this book definitely has that. It also has a SMIDGE of romance, just enough for a young girl's fancy without taking place of the action. Highly recommended.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Angharad, or Harry as she is known by most, is sent to live with her brother on the Damarian continent, after her father's death. Even though she is being treated very well by a childless family, she feels out of place. Then, out of the blue, she is kidnapped by the Damarian king, who had come to warn the Homelanders of the pending invasion of the evil Northerners. Harry must learn to live in their society and fight an evil enemy that she has never seen before. She also must make a choice to betray the man she loves in order to save him and his country from the invaders. This is an obvious fantasy novel, however it does contain some more modern elements along with the magic, magic swords, and castles. The Homelanders have guns, which we find out don't work around Damarians. The story is linear, following Harry through her short stay in the Homelander Fort, to her life and training as a Damarian Warrior, to finally her battle to save Damar from the Northerns. Like Aerin from The Hero and the Crown, Harry doesn't fit in with normal society (Homelander) and sometimes even feels out of place at Damar. Like Aerin, she must find her own place. The story has overlying themes of loyal, honor, and betrayal which are evident in almost all fantasy books... and again, good triumphs over evil. I would recommend this book to 4th graders and up.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Blue Sword is one of my ultimate comfort reads, the rare sort of novel that you first encounter in your teens that only gets better every time you revisit it. Of Robin McKinley's fine body of work, this novel is arguably one of the best, and proves her place as one of the best fantasy authors writing today. A young woman named Harry — short for her hated name, Angharad — has come to the border town of Istan in Damar, a possession of the Homeland crown, as a charity case. Her brother is a subaltern in Her Majesty's army, and when their father died he was left with an entailed estate and an unmarried sister on his hands. Harry is extremely tall and awkward, lacking the beauty that might have made her position easier. Though Lady Amelia and Sir Charles are kindness itself to Harry, her real comfort in her new life is derived from a secret joy in the harsh, beautiful desert. Little does she know that she is about to involuntarily make its acquaintance on much closer terms — and join a desperate attempt to save Damar from the onrush of the demonic Northern army.What a brilliant idea, to model a fantasy world from life during historical British imperialist rule. "Homeland" is very similar to England, and its characters are properly British in their ideas and manners. Damar's desert culture provides a lovely backdrop for the action of the story, and becomes more than that over the course of the story. It is almost a character in its own right, and forms a large part of the characters' motivations. This is definitely a fantasy novel to read for its world-building.The characters are wonderful. Harry is fascinating because she is very observant and stubborn, though she tries to meet the expectations of those around her. Her wry sense of humor makes the events of the story feel believable, and she is a good judge of character. But we also get to see her insecurities and fears, which make her accessible and well rounded. I love the snippets of magic and history that we get, that are later explained in The Hero and the Crown. Corlath is also well written, and of course Tsornin and Mathin and the others all have distinct personalities conveyed well in a few words. McKinley's economy of language is so precise and tight. Every word adds something meaningful to the story, lets us in a little closer to what is happening both externally and within the characters. This isn't always the case with her work — the denouéments of several of her novels are so wildly descriptive and powerful that they are sometimes unclear as to what is actually taking place — but this doesn't happen here. The end of the story is as satisfying as the language in which it is told. And as I was rereading this time, I couldn't help but wish for a really faithful film adaptation of this story. It would be amazing onscreen if it were done well, if the actors could convey all the unspoken undercurrents in the relationships. With its tight plot, compelling characters, authentic cultures, and deft writing, The Blue Sword is a wonderful example of top-notch fantasy writing. It's one of my all-time favorite books, and I can't recommend it highly enough.