The Blue Sword
Cover of first edition
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| Author | Robin McKinley |
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| Cover artist | David McCall Johnston |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Greenwillow Books |
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Publication date
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1982 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 320 |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 8243141 |
| LC Class | PZ7.M1988 Bl 1982k |
The Blue Sword is a fantasy novel written by American author Robin McKinley and published by Greenwillow Books in 1982. The novel The Hero and the Crown serves as a prequel. The Blue Sword has received several awards, including: Newbery Honor Award, ALA Best Book for Young Adults and the ALA Notable Children's Book. The story, told in the third-person omniscient perspective, is of a young woman named Angharad Crewe, called Harry, who becomes a warrior in her adopted homeland of Damar.
This is the story of Harry Crewe, the Homelander orphan girl who became Harimad-sol, King's Rider, and heir to the Blue Sword, Gonturan, that no woman had wielded since the Lady Aerin herself bore it into battle.
The story introduces Angharad Crewe, usually referred to as Harry, the daughter of a recently deceased nobleman from the Homeland. The orphaned Harry crosses the ocean to join her brother Richard in Istan, the Homeland's remotest colonial town and military outpost in the Royal Province of Daria. Soon after her arrival, the outpost receives a visit from Corlath, king of the native hill-folk who still view the land as their own, the ancient country they have always called Damar. Corlath has come to warn the "Outlanders" of an impending invasion from the North, a land full of demonic tribes that has recently and uncharacteristically united under the leadership of Thurra, a powerful demon-wizard. But Corlath's warning fails to influence Sir Charles, the Homeland's District Commissioner, and Corlath leaves angry that he tried reasoning with the Outlanders.
Corlath and his men ride away into the desert; however his "kelar," a magical element of the royal bloodline, incites him to return and kidnap Harry. Corlath knows he has to comply with the kelar's compulsion, but he is nonetheless ashamed that he must abduct a young woman, and an Outlander. He commands his people to treat Harry as an honored guest.
Harry's confusion and fear soon give way to wonder when she discovers, to her surprise, that she, too, has abnormally strong kelar. Harry, called Harimad by the Damarians, adjusts quickly and well to life with the king and his people, as Corlath and Mathin help her learn their customs and history. She is learning the language and feel at home by her kelar, and soon adopts the customary dress and horseback-riding skills of a born Damarian. Despite this, Harry is somewhat puzzled at her connection with the people of Damar, as she had been born and raised in the Homeland.
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