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The Blue Sword Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Blue Sword


    Harry Crewe is an orphan girl who comes to live a desert country called Damar. The Hillfolk, a magical race, shares the land with the Homelanders, who are troubled by the rumors of the terrifying Northern army.
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    When Corlath the Hillfolk king comes to visit the Homelander town, he sees Harry, a tall, yellow-haired girl. But he senses something about her, a hidden power that has become rare in his race. His mind constantly returning to her, he finally makes a shocking decision to take her along with his folk by kidnapping her at night. Completely bewildered by the sudden turn of events, Harry undergoes intense riding and sword training because of the destiny she must hold, the Blue Sword.
The review of this Book prepared by Mai Tsuji




The main character, Aerin, grows up as the daughter of the king of Damar, yet she is shunned by her city and some of her cousins. Aerin learns horsemanship, swordsmanship, and how to use the Kelar, (magic) that runs throughout the royal family. She does not seem to have any Kelar, until she almost dies, attempting to kill Maur, the huge, threatening dragon that trys to rampage Damar. She goes through the mountains, attempting to find the blonde mage, Luthe. She falls in love, and fights many battles for the freedom of all Damarians.
The review of this Book prepared by Kate




Harry Crewe is a Homelander orphan girl who has been sent to live with her brother at an outpost in the desert. Corlath, the king of the Free Hillfolk, visits the outpost to discuss a possible alliance against the Northerners. He leaves, but his magic pulls him back to the outpost and forces him to kidnap Harry for reasons unknown to him. While living with the Free Hillfolk, Harry's magic becomes apparent and she is taught to ride a warhorse and fight with a sword. She will be needed in the coming war against the Northerners, because both the Free Hillfolk and the Homelanders will die if the Northerners win.
The review of this Book prepared by Melissa Cookson




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.
The review of this Book prepared by sayruh



Chapter Analysis of The Blue Sword

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Plot & Themes

Composition of 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% 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

Main Character

Identity:    -   Female Profession/status:    -   unemployed Age:    -   a teen    -   20's-30's If magical mental powers:    -   can see into the future    -   healing

Setting

Terrain    -   Desert    -   Mountains Earth setting:    -   during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:    -   humans in a primitive/fantasy society Takes place on Earth?    -   Yes 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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Robin McKinley Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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