| Harry leaves her homeland to come live with her brother's rich friends when her father dies and leaves her destitute. Her new home is vastly different from her old one and she feels out of place, but she is drawn towards the desert and takes an interest in learning about the hill people, the native inhabitants, who, according to rumor, possess mysterious powers. A major war with the northerners is on the brink and Harry's people, the outlanders, must work with the hill people to prevent an invasion, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen, as the outlanders look down on the hill people they conquered, and the hill people are prideful and still resentful about being conquered. A visit from the king of the hill people, Corlath, is a major flop and the king starts off in a huff, but there's something about Harry that compells him to kidnap her and carry her off through the desert to the hill country. Harry adapts to her situation and discovers that she shares the same "gift" as the hill people and is trained to fight on horseback with a magical sword that once belonged to Lady Aerin, Corlath's ancester who first possessed the gift and saved everybody from dragons and the first invasion of the northerners. The Blue Sword narrates how Harry becomes a great warrior and helps save the day. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Coming of age Yes Youngster becomes - great warrior Romance Yes Romance plotlets: - love forbidden by society Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Descript. of chases or violence - 30 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20 % Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's If magical mental powers: - can see into the future Main Adversary Identity: - an entire race Profession/status: Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can see into the future Eccentric: Yes How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Setting Terrain A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society Planet outside solar system? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog |
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