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clevermird's review
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I've really grown to appreciate short story collections over the past year and a half. They offer authors a chance to explore new ideas without the need to pull a whole novel out of them and give readers a handful of stories that can be consumed in one or two sittings, perfect for a light break in between longer or more challenging works.
A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories is the second anthology that Robin McKinley has put out (although she has contributed to several multi-author collections as well) and unlike The Door in the Hedge, this one is entirely original stories:
"The Healer" - A mysterious stranger arrives in town and might be able to help the town healer's apprentice, who is unable to speak.
"The Stagman" - As the day she is to ascend her parents' throne approaches, everyone around young Ruen grows increasingly nervous about her ability to rule and her regent uncle resorts to drastic measures to keep his power.
"Touk's House" - A witch takes a man's youngest daughter in exchange for saving the life of one of his other children and raises her as her own.
"Buttercups" - An old widower finds love again, but his young wife's interest in a hill at the edge of the farm unleashes something magical.
"A Knot in the Grain" - Teenage Annabelle moves to a new town and finds a mysterious box in the attic of her new house.
Like most of McKinley's work, this book was cozy and comforting. There's no dramatic final battles or bloodstained showdowns, but it doesn't really need them. "Knot in the Grain" especially was very down-to-earth, the magic of adolescence mixed with the sweet sadness of having to move that was very relatable and warm. The descriptions of landscapes and scenery in the stories was lush and inviting as always and most of the stories have a light sprinkling of romance to them.
Not everything works here, however. The main romantic couple of "Touk's House" has a dynamic that makes me very uncomfortable and while the book makes a token effort to acknowledge the strangeness of their situation, it's quickly handwaved away and I'm left with serious doubts as to whether it's actually a healthy situation for the heroine to be in. Not that I require all my couples to be happy and wholesome, of course - far from it! - but it fits in oddly with the rest of the stories, most of which are fluffy and lighthearted and the one that isn't ("Stagman") having a much clearer grasp on the fact that it's not a healthy dynamic between the two main characters, leaving me to wonder if McKinley even realized what she was doing in "Touk's House".
Apart from that, though, (and the common McKinley sin of rushed endings on a few of them) this collection was enjoyable and relaxing, bringing a new sense of wonder with each new story and a great way to unwind for a few hours.
A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories is the second anthology that Robin McKinley has put out (although she has contributed to several multi-author collections as well) and unlike The Door in the Hedge, this one is entirely original stories:
"The Healer" - A mysterious stranger arrives in town and might be able to help the town healer's apprentice, who is unable to speak.
"The Stagman" - As the day she is to ascend her parents' throne approaches, everyone around young Ruen grows increasingly nervous about her ability to rule and her regent uncle resorts to drastic measures to keep his power.
"Touk's House" - A witch takes a man's youngest daughter in exchange for saving the life of one of his other children and raises her as her own.
"Buttercups" - An old widower finds love again, but his young wife's interest in a hill at the edge of the farm unleashes something magical.
"A Knot in the Grain" - Teenage Annabelle moves to a new town and finds a mysterious box in the attic of her new house.
Like most of McKinley's work, this book was cozy and comforting. There's no dramatic final battles or bloodstained showdowns, but it doesn't really need them. "Knot in the Grain" especially was very down-to-earth, the magic of adolescence mixed with the sweet sadness of having to move that was very relatable and warm. The descriptions of landscapes and scenery in the stories was lush and inviting as always and most of the stories have a light sprinkling of romance to them.
Not everything works here, however. The main romantic couple of "Touk's House" has a dynamic that makes me very uncomfortable and while the book makes a token effort to acknowledge the strangeness of their situation, it's quickly handwaved away and I'm left with serious doubts as to whether it's actually a healthy situation for the heroine to be in. Not that I require all my couples to be happy and wholesome, of course - far from it! - but it fits in oddly with the rest of the stories, most of which are fluffy and lighthearted and the one that isn't ("Stagman") having a much clearer grasp on the fact that it's not a healthy dynamic between the two main characters, leaving me to wonder if McKinley even realized what she was doing in "Touk's House".
Apart from that, though, (and the common McKinley sin of rushed endings on a few of them) this collection was enjoyable and relaxing, bringing a new sense of wonder with each new story and a great way to unwind for a few hours.
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, and Emotional abuse
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