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Summary: Depressing, but it works.
Review: I thought that the Hero and The Crown is Mckinely's best book. It was depressing at times, such as when she goes to face her uncle, or is traveling to Luthe's, but still, Mckinely wrote a wonderful book, woven with the threads of aventure.
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Summary: A classic for all ages
Review: I first read this book as a young girl and was fascinated by a rousing adventure story. As an uncertain teen, I was heartened by the courage of Aerin, who also felt out of place amid her peers. I had stopped reading it in high school due to my mistaken belief that it is a children's book; lucky for me I found an old copy at the library and picked it up out of boredom. As an adult, I am struck by the moving themes of alienation and inner strength that I can only now appreciate. In short, I love this book for a different reason every time I read it. I am reminded once more why I have read all of Robin McKinley's work. Anyone, male or female, adult or child, who loves fantasy and Good vs. Evil should read this book.
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Summary: You know a book is a favorite when.....
Review: You know a book is a favorite when you suddenly sit down and realize that you have bought 3 copies....and wore them all out re-reading them. Well balanced story, characters and settings along with a wonderful story. How can you do better?
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Summary: review
Review: " I can't remember the story of the dragons." This is the beginning of my book. The hero and the Crown. A girl named Aerin is a dragon slayer for the king. Her and her horse Talat. Will they survive the slaying dragon for the king? This story mainly takes place in late England, when kings ruled and knights fought. The story is mainly about someone slaying dragons. The book is in great detail on how she slayed dragons. So if you like action, dragons and knights, then this book is for you. So pick up The Hero and the Crown by Robinson Mckinley. This book has great action!
Rating: 
Summary: Fair for a Fairy Tale
Review: An enjoyable read, great characterization, perhaps too skimpy with the plot, but a great summer read. Light and breezy, perhaps too much so for the serious die hard sci-fi fan, most young adults will probably find it enjoyable.
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Summary: I could read it over and over again! :0)
Review: I read this book in sixth grade and then just recently and I still feel the same way about it as I did when i was in sixth grade. It is one of the best books I have ever read and is definately one of my favorites! I like the books where the girl is the heroine instead of being helpless and needing to be saved. Hey we are equals ya know! I would recomend this book from ages 10 to 100, as long as you like romance/fantasy/adventure then this is definately the perfect book for you. You know I think I'll read it again!Also recomended: The Blue Sword (next book) Robin McKinley
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Summary: Beautiful Prose, Great Story
Review: This book has been one of my favorites since I first read it at the age of 12--over a decade ago! I reread it often and it never fails to draw me in, regardless of--or perhaps because of--my familiarity with the characters and story. The story is not told chronologically, which can at times be a bit confusing, but in the end the way the events are recounted enhances the story. The characters are very believable; by the end of the book one feels that one knows them well and is sorry to have to say goodbye. The author's style of prose is positively poetic; this is an excellent read-aloud book as well, after the style of The Chronicles of Narnia. (I know, because I've done it!)
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Summary: ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS IN THE WORLD!
Review: When my school librarian gave me this book to read over summer two years ago, I just couldn't think I would be able to read it... it was fantasy... it had dragons, magic, wizards... I was definitely not going to like it. But when I started reading it I just couldn't put it down, and read it in 1 day! It brought me into the marvelous world of fantasy, and it is for me one of the best books in the whole world. Now I'm 14, and I still re-read it whenever I'm bored or disspirited... it somehow has the power to cheer me up!
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Summary: Blows you away!
Review: That's my first impression of this book. Once I picked up The Hero and the Crown, I couldn't put it down! Robin McKinley created the perfect suspense, action and strong characters that held me tight until the last word, and if you are a fanatasy or fiction fan, you should definitely gives this book a try! When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure what to think, but within the first few pages I knew I had found a treasure. Aerin's struggles to earn her family's respect go beyond the obvious and touch anyone who reads it, I promise! Have fun reading it, I know I'll be reading this many more times to come!
Rating:
Summary: Unsatisfactory
Review: Hello. I have read this book only recently after hearing much about its excellence - and I find that the whole thing was unsatisfying. It is extremely well written; the formal language creates successfully a legend-like atmosphere, with a bit of underlying sadness. The characters were very likeable; Aerin was well portrayed as the shy, awkward girl who discovers herself more and more as she grow into womanhood. Tor, ever at the side of Aerin, is the perfect image of the protecting young man -- "the perfect older brother," as he remarks to himself. Luthe annoyed me a bit; his confident air was almost to an extreme. I found that his language was not consistent to the formal style of words that the author had seemed to establish. Although this book had a lot of good points, like the ones mentioned above, I found the second half of the book very much slow paced, sometimes even to the point that it seemed to drag. Aerin's stay with Luthe(I don't seem to like Luthe very much. ^^) seemed too vague for my likes; too much was not explained and just assumed that the reader would comprehend (Luthe,the evil uncle -I forget his name- and Aerin's sudden gain of immortality- is a bit of a crash entry. This makes the plot and characters, expecially the uncle, who appears so suddenly that he failed to intimidate me much, seem less 3D -vague altogether. (This section is also extremely reminiscent of a part in McKinley's Deerskin; Lissar seeks help from Moonwoman who appears suddenly and solves her problems for her. This kind of thing - a goddess or mage healing people and everything being all right - gets dull after a while.) McKinley captures mood extremely well with her skill with language. I hope I find a book of hers that retains this quality as well as being more beefed up in plot.
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