Authors: Robin McKinley
Series: one other - The Blue Sword
Genres: fantasy, young adult on, adventure, dragons
Short summary of the story: Aerin is the daughter of the king but is someone who isn't quite fitting into the accepted role or model of a first sol. Her magic hasn't shown up; she gets into trouble with the person(s) who fit into the role (but who aren't first sol) and she anguishes over her perceived lacks.In the meantime, said 'proper' person manages to almost kill Aerin. Life goes on in Damar (her country) and Aerin begins to heal and while doing so befriends the terribly injured warhorse of her father -- and they heal together. She discovers a partial recipe for an ancient ointment (for fireproofing) and decides to try to recreate it. When she is successful, she goes out to hunt dragons -- small (size of a small or medium sized dog), but fierce creatures of extreme malice. Then she encounters Maur (a 'great' dragon), learns that what she had learned about dragons was like a straw in a huge haystack. ... and the adventure continues. Even under spoilers I'm not going to write more! Go read the story - it's awesome.
Good points: Reading this book is like enjoying a dark soft chocolate filled croissant. What an absolutely great story. Of the comments in Goodreads, one that stands out is that this story could be twice as long and, if it was, it would only be better. Here is a story written about someone who I'd love to meet, in a world which is incredibly 'real' and I didn't like that it ended so soon.
Goodreads writeup
Aerin could not remember a time when she had not known the story; she had grown up knowing it.
It was the story of her mother, the witchwoman who enspelled the king into marrying her, to get an heir that would rule Damar; and it was told that she turned her face to the wall and died of despair when she found she had borne a daughter instead of a son.
Aerin was that daughter.
But there was more of the story yet to be told; Aerin's destiny was greater than even she had dreamed--for she was to be the true hero who would wield the power of the Blue Sword...
