Synopses & Reviews
A compelling and inventive novel set in a world where science and magic are at odds, by Robin McKinley, the Newbery-winning author of
The Hero and the Crown and
The Blue Sword, as well as the classic titles
Beauty,
Chalice,
Spindles End, Pegasus and
Sunshine
Maggie knows somethings off about Val, her moms new husband. Val is from Oldworld, where they still use magic, and he wont have any tech in his office-shed behind the house. Butmore importantlywhat are the huge, horrible, jagged, jumpy shadows following him around? Magic is illegal in Newworld, which is all about science. The magic-carrying gene was disabled two generations ago, back when Maggies great-grandmother was a notable magician. But that was a long time ago.
Then Maggie meets Casimir, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen. Hes from Oldworld tooand hes heard of Maggies stepfather, and has a guess about Vals shadows. Maggie doesnt want to know . . . until earth-shattering events force her to depend on Val and his shadows. And perhaps on her own heritage.
In this dangerously unstable world, neither science nor magic has the necessary answers, but a truce between them is impossible. And although the two are supposed to be incompatible, Maggies discovering the world will need both to survive.
Review
Robin McKinley knows her geography of fantasy, the nuances of the language, the atmosphere of magic. . . (
The Washington Post)
Review
“McKinleys characters and dialogue make this novel a joy: Maggie is a brash yet vulnerable protagonist, and her family, Val, and two possible boyfriends (both of whom may be magical) are well developed. . . . The culture of Newworld is a fascinating amalgam of the everyday and the strange. All in all, a delightful read.”
Review
“Maggies wry and witty conversational tone is an excellent vehicle for relating her fantastic yet logical adventures.”
Review
“A winning combination of fast action, romance, likable characters and inventive language makes this YA novel hard to put down.”
Review
“This fantasy focuses on the relationships among characters. . . . Exciting action, lovable characters, and witty dialogue.”
Review
“Intricate world building is matched with rich characterization; a bit moody, a bit flighty, and all teenager, Maggie makes a relatable protagonist, and her wisecracks and astute observations help readers gain ground in this eerily familiar but nonetheless complex world of old magic, new science, and breaks in reality.”
Review
“May just be one of her most brilliant books to date. Everything in the story meshes perfectly. The characters are compelling, well-defined people who become real.”
Synopsis
Master storyteller Robin McKinley here spins two new fairy tales and retells two cherished classics. All feature princesses touched with or by magic. There is Linadel, who lives in a kingdom next to Faerieland, where princesses are stolen away on their seventeenth birthdays-and Linadel's seventeenth birthday is tomorrow. And Korah, whose brother is bewitched by the magical Golden Hind; now it is up to her to break the spell. Rana must turn to a talking frog to help save her kingdom from the evil Aliyander. And then there are the twelve princesses, enspelled to dance through the soles of their shoes every night. . . . These are tales to read with delight!
Synopsis
Master storyteller Robin McKinley here spins two new fairy tales and retells two cherished classics. All feature princesses touched with or by magic. There is Linadel, who lives in a kingdom next to Faerieland, where princesses are stolen away on their seventeenth birthdays-and Linadel's seventeenth birthday is tomorrow. And Korah, whose brother is bewitched by the magical Golden Hind; now it is up to her to break the spell. Rana must turn to a talking frog to help save her kingdom from the evil Aliyander. And then there are the twelve princesses, enspelled to dance through the soles of their shoes every night. . . . These are tales to read with delight!
Synopsis
A compelling and inventive novel set in a world where science and magic are at odds, by Robin McKinley, the Newbery-winning author of
The Hero and the Crown and
The Blue Sword, as well as the classic titles
Beauty,
Chalice,
Spindles End, Pegasus and
Sunshine
Maggie knows somethings off about Val, her moms new husband. Val is from Oldworld, where they still use magic, and he wont have any tech in his office-shed behind the house. Butmore importantlywhat are the huge, horrible, jagged, jumpy shadows following him around? Magic is illegal in Newworld, which is all about science. The magic-carrying gene was disabled two generations ago, back when Maggies great-grandmother was a notable magician. But that was a long time ago.
Then Maggie meets Casimir, the most beautiful boy she has ever seen. Hes from Oldworld tooand hes heard of Maggies stepfather, and has a guess about Vals shadows. Maggie doesnt want to know . . . until earth-shattering events force her to depend on Val and his shadows. And perhaps on her own heritage.
In this dangerously unstable world, neither science nor magic has the necessary answers, but a truce between them is impossible. And although the two are supposed to be incompatible, Maggies discovering the world will need both to survive.
About the Author
Robin McKinley (www.robinmckinley.com and robinmckinleysblog.com) has won various awards and citations for her writing, including the Newbery Medal for
The Hero and the Crown and a Newbery Honor for
The Blue Sword, both about the magical country of Damar. Her other books include
Chalice;
Dragonhaven; two novel-length retellings of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast,
Beauty and
Rose Daughter;
Deerskin, which was inspired by the Perrault fairy tale Donkeyskin; a retelling of the Robin Hood legend,
The Outlaws of Sherwood;
Spindles End, a retelling of Sleeping Beauty; and two volumes of Tales of Elemental Spirits,
Fire and
Water (with Peter Dickinson). Her
Imaginary Lands won the World Fantasy Award for best anthology and her novel
Sunshine won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature.
Robin lives in England with her husband, the English writer Peter Dickinson, two hellhounds, a hellterror, an 1897 Steinway upright, and too many rosebushes.
Table of Contents
The stolen princess -- The princess and the frog -- The hunting of the hind -- The twelve dancing princesses.