Hero and the Crown

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: The story of Aerin follows the life of a half witch born into a royal family but she seeks something more, she then becomes a Royal Knight and creates a chemical that can withstand flames and dragonbreath, so she goes dragon hunting. But her true quest begins much later. I would reccomend this to anyone who likes fantasy stories or games.

Rating:
Summary: Historic-Fantasy
Review: May I suggest that this book not be considered Fantasy, but Historic-Fantasy, Fantasy that is set in a world steeped in legend, myth and it's own unique history. This puts it on a level with Tolkein etc.
Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: Magic, Legend and History
Review: This story is refreshingly traditional, surreal and complicated in a way that, unlike many other fantasy writers, does not present a ridiculous amount of characters and twists that necessitate returning to an earlier page to find out exactly who is who.

It describes legends, histories, battles, magic, beauty and love with a depth no usually visited in fantasy. The characters are believable and achingly wonderful, with talents and gifts that seem perfectly natural. There is no doubt that the residents of Damar belong there, and with belong there forever.

This is a challenging book, in the first section, a memory mixes now and then, and they are difficult to seperate. The Hero and the Crown is written as a prequel to The Blue Sword and I recommend that it be read after, not before, The Blue Sword. Many of the legends descibed in The Blue Sword are explained and expanded on in the Hero and the Crown, which makes it a very satisfying read.

This story is rare for it's type; many modern fantasies contain love scenes which often border on the tasteless and obscene, the traditional and historic feel of this book is a change from todays near-gritty sci-fi and fantasy.

The Hero and the Crown combines Magic, Legend and History in an incredible story that will take you beyong your wildest dreams.

Rating:
Summary: Great but grew into it
Review: I bought the book at a book fair in 5th grade because of the cover. I tried several times to read it over the years. Finally, in junior high I made it all the way through the tiny book. I read Jane Eyre before I got through this book. BUT.......IT IS MY FAVORITE BOOK. I have reread it so many times that the covers fell off. Read both books. They are great. Everytime I read it I wish someone would make it into a movie and that more chapters would miraculously appear. One can hope. I was so entranced with this book I looked up Damar on the atlas.

Rating:
Summary: A True knack for understanding
Review: Robin McKinley has a true knack for understanding the average young person. With her stunning characterization of Aerin, she takes a young woman who believes herself below ordinary and learns that she is soooo much more.

As with all her stories, McKinley wraps the readers in fantasy and gives them characters they can relate to and love.

Rating:
Summary: A Story of "Old Magic"
Review: The Hero and the Crown is a book for people who are tired of the same old "happy ending". For a fact, Robin McKinley's books all have some sort of twist in them. Surely all magic/fantasy lovers will bask in the excitement and love that comes with it. Full of thrills and unsuspecting twists, you won't want to put The Hero and the Crown down until you've read the whole book. After that, you'll read it two times over again!

Rating:
Summary: Adventure in a "Real" Fantasy
Review: Damar is the type of fantasy world that feels very real. It is rich with traditions that make the place jump out of the book. Aerin is a wonderful hero, believable but very courageous and her horse, Talat, is one of those loveable animal sidekicks many people enjoy. This book is not just for teenagers, it is a fantastic book for all ages. I bought this novel from Amazon due to it's excellent reviews and I have never regretted my choice.

Rating:
Summary: An all-over great book!
Review: I actually discovered this book 4 years ago at my school's library. I thought it looked interesting, but at the time it was a little thick, and quite frankly, I didn't understand any of it. Now, that I'm a little older I decided to read it again, and OHMYGOD! It's a great book that really gives your imagination a good ride. Aerin is the ultimate in female heros, and Talat, her horse, well, he's just cool. If you liked Tamora Pierce's "Alanna," then you should enjoy Aerin, because they're a lot alike. So settle in on a weekend, buckle your seatbelts, and get ready to go to Damar.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful fantasy
Review: I just finished Robin McKinley's book "The Hero And The Crown"and it was good. One event that is good is when Aerin becomes a knight and slays her first dragon. Another event is when Aerin learns to use a sword,spear,and ride a horse. If you are looking for a good fantasy try Robin McKinley's "The Hero And The Crown".

Rating:
Summary: A Struggle
Review: My daughter and I struggled through this book. I write this not to imply that it is a bad book. The story is a good one and it is very well written, but it strikes me as a story written for young people but in a very adult style. Technically, Ms. McKinley is a very proficient writer, but she uses lots of long, complex sentences that can even be difficult for an adult with above-average reading skills to wade through. My nearly eleven-year-old daughter was frequently lost. Beyond that, the book takes place very much on an emotional, impressionistic, sometimes surreal plane. There are only three action sequences in the entire book: the battle with the great dragon, the battle with the evil northern lord, and the battle before the gates of Damar's capitol city. Each of these is vivid, but brief. For example, Aerin, our heroine, spends more time climbing the stairs of the tower to find the evil Lord Agsded than she does actually fighting him. Her feelings and thoughts as she climbs the stairs are explored at length, but it all culminates in a brief and anti-climactic confrontation.

I'm sure there are young readers out there who love this book. Some of the other reviews here bear witness to that. I think, however, that these are exceptional young readers. The average kid will have a difficult time. The 9 to 12 year-old who takes on this book will need to be both a very good reader and a very patient one. My daughter frequently found other things she preferred to do when it came time to sit down and read "The Hero And The Crown". For that reason, we've held our rating on it to just three stars.