Reviews

This isn't the greatest read. It was a collection of 5 short stories. In one, a girl falls in love with a half stag-half human; in another, she falls in love with a troll. The stories aren't particularly thoughtful, and the main message seems to be "love can sure crop up in unexpected ways and places." I can think of other books that say the same thing, with greater taste and skill.

pnw_michelle's review against another edition

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4.0

Oh Robin McKinley, how I love you. These stories, no exception. What struck me about these stories was how much kindness I found in the characters who inhabit them. In many cases the kindness of strangers (or strange entities that aren't human) shape the events of the tale, and I was left feeling warmed by each one. Lovely.

elizabethcaneday's review against another edition

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2.0

My rating says it all - I'm pretty sure this is my first two-star rating I've ever given a book on Goodreads.

Healer is my favorite story in this collection. Buttercups wasn't terrible, but not a favorite. A Knot in the Grain was okay, though there was somewhat of a plot hole - where on earth did the box come from? Touk's House and The Stagman tied for last place, as I didn't enjoy either at all.

I love Robin McKinley's style and prose, but sometimes the content, thematic elements, or certain unbiblical aspects force a lower rating, which was the case with this one. Besides, I didn't enjoy it, and I prefer to read books I enjoy.

tamunra's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Short stories aren't my thing; I invest too much in the characters, only to have it end too soon. (Plus, they remind me of literature classes.) However, I really like McKinley's other fantasy works, so I picked this up.

It was satisfying and what I expected. Gentle stories of love and relationships, self-growth and learning to understand others. There's sadness but not anguish. I could read an entire story in an evening, and go to bed with the feeling of completeness that the protagonists find at the end.

I really like Robin McKinley; it's a shame I've come to her works largely as an adult, but I like knowing that I've read things recently that I'll be able to introduce to my daughter in a few years.

In the last story, teenage Annabelle mentions that her boyfriend never pressures her to have sex as boys are supposed to do, and so I'll save this book until my daughter's 10 and we've had a sex and relationships talk.

dana_naylor's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I loved Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword, so it was great fun to revisit Damar in other stories and see Luthe again. McKinley’s writing seems to epitomize “fantasy” for me.

ceridwyn's review against another edition

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3.0

Interesting collection of short stories for young adults. Five different stories, four of which have a distinctly fairy tale flavour and (I think) are set in the Damar of McKinlay's Blue Sword books.

I really loved Buttercups - the subversion of the expected was beautifully done and I liked the way hard work and acceptance were the important aspects of success.

My main issue with the collection was the last (title) story really didn't fit with the other tales. Set in the modern world with a magic realism tinge it clashed with the style of the others for me.

lenka_v's review against another edition

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3.0

3,5 star
A nice collection of fantasy short stories, some of them set in the same world like the Blue Sword.

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