Robin McKinley is my favorite author, and The Blue Sword is the book that started it all for me. I was maybe 12 or 13 years old the first time I read it, but it has stuck with me for all these years, and is probably my favorite of McKinley's books (along with Beauty, the first of her two Beauty and the Beast retellings). The Hero and the Crown, the prequel, is also excellent.

For adventure, magic, love, exotic people and places, and one of the greatest heroines in fantasy literature ever, there is no equal to The Blue Sword! I only wish Robin McKinley would treat her readers with just one more Damar novel!

I had a hard time getting through the first couple of chapters in this book, but I plugged through and was happily rewarded. The author provides so much information in this book and much of it (especially Corlath's feelings toward Harry) are so sublte, that you MUST go back and read it a second time. It's definately worth it! I was not so impressed with The Hero and the Crown, I had so many questions after reading it like what happens to Aerin? Does she die or is she living her long life still in the mountains with Luthe? She also assumes you know the meanings of the Damarian words she uses and has no explanations for them. Anyway, read the Blue Sword (twice) and you won't be disappointed.

I also have read this book repeatedly! It is one of my favorites (along with the preceeding novel "The Hero and the Crown" by the same author).

My older sister read this for a seventh grade English class, and reccomended it to me, then in fifth grade. I was drawn into it immidiately and read avildly until the end, then reccomended it to my friends. However, when my friends began to read it they complained of a boring beginning and did not want to go on. Did not want to go on? I quickly re-read the beginning of the book, and though I did not entirely agree, I did see where they were coming from. I asked them to promise me to get through chapter five. (Not TO chapter five, THROUGH chapter five.) If they weren't interested after that, then I would not be offended if they put it down. They did as I asked, and as I knew would happen, once they got through the fifth chapter they simply had to read on, and this book is now one of their favorites as well.

One thing I think is so wonderful about this book is how real the land, the people, and the culture McKinley creates becomes. (In all the books that I have read by McKinley, the world created is extraordinarily real and believeable. It is not a fantasy world, it is reality. She is truly an amazing novelist.) In reading this book (and its Prequel, the Hero and the Crown, another great read, though The Blue Sword is still my favorite of the two) you will come to know and believe in the Hillfolk and the Homelanders (or Outlanders, if you will.) These aren't your typical fantasy worlds. They are completely believeable, kelar invested or no.

This is among my very favorite books and you will not make a mistake in picking it up (and make sure to read through chapter five).

This was one of the best books that I have ever read. While telling us an enchanting and engaging story, McKinley shows us the history of her fictional land Damar. She creates heroic characters without making them seem unreal. They are people that we can relate to. There is a part in the begining that goes something like this, "He wondered if the people she hated had a habit of falling down stairs or choking on fishbones. Or maybe she never hated." I laughed and laughed at that. this book is a roller coaster; you will cry and laugh and smile all at the same time. At the end, there will be a sad frown on your face because it is over and you really don't want it to be. This is a must read. I suggest reading the Hero and the Crown first. Excellent, Robin McKinley. Write more!