With both of her parents now deceased and her brother stationed at a military outpost on the outskirts of Homelander conquered territory, Harry Crewe struggles to find her place in a new land with new guardians who have agreed to take her in as they have no children of their own. Yet though her new life provides her with everything a young girl could need or want, she cannot help but feel as though something is missing, something that draws her to gaze out at the dessert and the hills beyond. It isn’t until she is mysteriously kidnapped by the king of the Hillfolk that she begins to discover the heritage that has, in a way, haunted her all her life, and the people that she has never met and yet cannot help but feel as though she knows.

Unlike most adventures, Robin McKinley’s story of Harry and the Blue Sword passed down from the queen of the Golden Age of Damar is not so much about action as it is about the unique culture and lifestyle of the Hillfolk. It takes a while to really get into the story, but does a wonderful job once it does on generating atmosphere and bringing readers into a different kind of society from the one in which we live, with different customs and legends, guided by the kelar that is the magical gift infusing both Damar’s land and royal bloodline. Though the opening setting may sound rather typical, the way the story unfolds is different from any other fantasy novel I have ever read.

This book has a bit of everything—life, adventure, a little bit of politics, great character development, and even a bit of romance. A few scenes feel almost fairytale-like in the characters’ manners of speech, but they fit in well with the way the story is told as a whole. And the author does an excellent job at weaving all the elements together into an unforgettable read.