In the Hero and the Crown, Robin McKinley returns to Damar, the stomping ground of the endearing heroine of The Blue Sword, Harry Crewe. There is a twist, however. The Damar of The Hero and the Crown predates that of The Blue Sword by several hundreds of years. McKinley intended for folks to read The Blue Sword first, then leap back in time and read The Hero and the Crown. Got that? Don't worry if you're a bit confused. Whether you've read The Blue Sword or not, The Hero and the Crown is a wonderful story quite capable of standing on its own, which is probably why it won the Newbury Medal for distinguished contribution to children's literature.
The main character is Aerin, daughter of King Arlbeth. She is princess of the land, and woefully unsuited for the job. Possessed of red hair and above average height in a kingdom of short, brown skinned people, she stands out. Completely lacking in grace and social skills, she stands out. Riding an ancient, limping horse while the other ladies of her father's court trot around on cute little ponies, she stands out. It doesn't help matters that her mother was rumored to be a witch who seduced Arlbeth. It is equally unhelpful that she appears to be inadequate in the kelar department, kelar being the magic that runs through the veins of all the members of the royal family. Except Aerin.
Even when Aerin discovers something at which she excels, it doesn't help her standing with her father's court. Killing dragons is simply not something at which the ideal princess should succeed. Aerin is continually singled out and ridiculed by members of the court, especially the snide Perlith and the cruel (and sometimes dangerous) Galanna. They do their level best to make Aerin miserable.
Aerin does have her allies, however. Talat, her father's old horse and Aerin's dragon-hunting companion, is her best friend. She is comforted ( and bullied) by her nursemaid, Teka, and her cousin, Tor-who incidentally is rumored to be in love with Aerin. Luthe, the secretive mage from The Blue Sword, tries to save Aerin when it seems all hope is lost. And there is Gonturan, the famous Blue Sword itself-er, herself.
With the help of these friends, Aerin struggles to rise above her unsuitableness and help her beloved country. A horrifying discovery about her mother-and Aerin's destiny-figures large in the story. Also standing in Aerin's way are a rather large, unpleasant dragon, an army of misshapen demons, and a vine that turns-urk--into a spider.
The Hero and the Crown is, simply, an excellent book. McKinley's crisp, clever prose draws you deeply into the land of Damar. You sympathize with and root for Aerin because she is so completely normal and real that you can't help it. Like many people, Aerin struggles with her place in life. She carries a sword, and a fate, that might be a little too much for her, and you don't want to put the book down until you find out if she succeeds.
It might even inspire you to go out and hunt a few dragons of your own!
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Woohoo! It's another girl with a sword!