Rating: 
Summary: Very Good, but...
Review: I loved this book! I started it at the beginning of a 5-day week-end, and couldn't put it down! The story is well developed, and very satisfying. I liked the way the author showed the point of view of Harry and of Corlath. But she sort of dropped that near the middle of the book. I think if she had continued that throughout the book, it would have been much more interesting. And I would have liked to know more about Corlath.
Rating: 
Summary: Thou shalt read this book! Now!!
Review: Gods, by my troth, this is absolutly one of the best books I have ever read!! Wit, interesting characters, magic (crucial), animals, ... well, I could go on forever. I don't understand why anyone could read this book and *not* like it. If thou hast not read this book please read it *now*, if not for thyne own good, then for the troubled state of my own mentality. So go and buy/borrow it, and read it at least 14 times weekly!!! Enjoy!! Would also reccomend books by Tamora Pierce, Brian Jacques, Patrica C. Wrede, and anything else in that genre!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful writing, marvelous characters, great plot
Review: I am now in my twenties and this book has been one of my absolute favorites for almost a decade. I have re-read it at least thirty times, and the beautiful writing still causes me to catch my breath occasionally. Harry is a great and sympathetic character. My only complaint is that Corlath is not nearly as well developed as some of the other supporting characters.
Rating: 
Summary: A grueling look back at a woman hero in a man's war.
Review: Harry Crewe is a tall blonde haired girl in her late teens who moved to Istan after her father dies. This area is the last outpost of the Homelander Empire. It is surrounded on three sides by a desert. The Hillfolk live on the remaining side in the mountains. They are the natives of the land, and supposedly have magical powers. One of their powers include being able to have their enemy's guns explode in their own faces. That is helpful because the Hillfolk don't have any guns. Also, they have the power to knock down whole armies on the attack. Their ancestors were able to throw lightning like pebbles. Three nights after Corlath, the leader of the Hillfolk, came to talk peace, he kidnapped Harry. He gave her a sleeping drug while he rode her back to his camp. Corlath and his tribe are the last people remaning from the Darian Empire. When Harry awoke she did not fight her captors. She wanted to learn their ways and live with them. She learned some of the secrets of nature such as how to start a fire four different ways, hunt, and very importantly how to fight for she was their born leader. She bore the name Harimad-sol meaning Harry-hero, and caried Gonturan. That was a sword used by the most famous lady in all of the Kingdom of Darian. Together Harimad-sol and Gonturan lead the Hillfolk (Darians) into battle with the Northerners. I think this book is mostly targeted for young teenage girls since a girl becomes a great leader. If you like adventure books you may not like this one. It is well written but hard to get into. The plot has good intent but it has too wany moments where you could lose interest.
Rating:
Summary: Most Awesome
Review: This was the 1rst of Robin McKinley's books I have read.I'm working on finding more of her books. This story about Harry is really intruiging. I would have picked a different name than Harry had I written this book. That is my only complaint. Otherwise I thuoght it was breath-taking.
Rating:
Summary: I wish I could give it 5 stars...
Review: I was really looking forward to this, but I guess I just didn't see whatever everyone else saw in this book. For one thing, I'm not horse-crazy. The slow pace was a real drawback. The author often writes sentences that are, because she adds long, often uneccessary clauses in the middle, like I'm doing here to show you, difficult to understand. See what I mean? The whole book is written like that. However, the battle scenes are very good, the characters are interesting and the end is satisfying. I loved the giant hunting cats! The world is also very convincing. It did seem a little strange that everything was so easy for Harry, but you could say it was fate and Aerin was guiding her. Some people have compared this to "Arrows of the Queen." Well, I didn't like AOTQ and I assure you that this is much better, so if you liked that, you will probably like this. But you should probably read this anyway: If so many other people enjoyed it this much, you might be one of them. Zohariel, age 15
Rating:
Summary: Love It! I keep going back and re-reading it!
Review: I first read this when I was in Jr High and whenever I become disgusted with the stories that are available I dig this one out and really enjoy myself once again. It never becomes boring or tedious.
Rating:
Summary: It is a thrilling fantasy!
Review: It gave me chills every time I read it. It has everything you'd look for in a book. It's got mystery, magic, and pinch of romance. Everytime I read it it's just like the first time. When I have any free time, and I'm not reading something new, I open this book and escape into the adventure! I used to check it oput of the library, until I got it for Christmas. It was my favorite present! I loved it and I think everyone will.
Rating:
Summary: NL-S Approved book
Review: Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword is the best fantasy and adventure book I've ever read. It's about a young girl's physical and emotional journey through the mythical land of Damar. The book's overall quality was wonderful. McKinley was able to incorporate a number of different emotions that the main character must go through in order to understand who she is and her place in life. The main character, Harry, is someone that I can relate to in some ways but not in others. Her determined spirit is something of which I will probably never accomplish, but her wanting to learn new things is something that I can relate to. It took me a couple of tries to really get into this book because Robin McKinley's books tend to start slow and then build up excitement for the ending climax. Once I got into it though I couldn't put it down. The difficulty level is for people of junior high age who can read it and understand it. While they might not understand all of it because of the confusing sentence structure, they will get the general ideas. The book any way its read is wonderful though. Many people who have read The Blue Sword have read it more than once. I personally have read it at least seven times. The Blue Sword is an adventure and fantasy book that also has a touch of romance to it. The main character has to go through a number of obstacles before finding out who she really is. Along with her adventures is the fantasy that binds the entire book together. Because McKinley is able to combine all these elements into her story it makes the book very intriguing and gives the reader something to anticipate for. The Blue Sword is similar to its sequel The Hero and the Crown in many ways, but it still has a distinct quality of being its own individual story. It's a book that I would recommend to anyone interested in fictional books. So go read it!!!
Rating:
Summary: it is my favorite book!
Review: Robin McKinley is my favorite author. And this is my favorite book. At the very beginning it captured my attention and it held it throughout the entire book. The first time I read it I read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. I have read it about twenty times. I know that sounds odd, but when I don't have anything else that I feel like reading it is the book that I pick up and read again until I find something else. My favorite characters are Mathin and Luthe. I love how they mentored Harry and the humor that McKinley had in their characters. I really liked it.
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