Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by ricksilva
The Door in the Hedge by Robin McKinley
4.0
This is a collection of four faerie tales, focusing on the themes of princesses and enchantments. The first is an original tale of a mortal kingdom that borders Faerieland, and what happens when the parents of a stolen princess go looking for her.
The remaining three stories are the author's interpretations of the Golden Hind, the Princess and the Frog, and the Twelve Dancing Princesses.
The detail and description is lavish in all the stories, with gorgeous scenery and images. There are some effective moments of horror too, especially the villain in the Princess and the Frog.
Overall I liked the Golden Hind and the Princess and the Frog best, as these put the princess in the heroic role. The Twelve Dancing Princesses has a great heroic lead character, but the princesses in that story are more plot device and scenery than characters. None of them are even given names.
These stories share a distinctive faerie tale flavor that is more descriptive and symbolic than other fantasy writing that I've read. I enjoyed the flavor and mythical feel that the stories evoked.
The remaining three stories are the author's interpretations of the Golden Hind, the Princess and the Frog, and the Twelve Dancing Princesses.
The detail and description is lavish in all the stories, with gorgeous scenery and images. There are some effective moments of horror too, especially the villain in the Princess and the Frog.
Overall I liked the Golden Hind and the Princess and the Frog best, as these put the princess in the heroic role. The Twelve Dancing Princesses has a great heroic lead character, but the princesses in that story are more plot device and scenery than characters. None of them are even given names.
These stories share a distinctive faerie tale flavor that is more descriptive and symbolic than other fantasy writing that I've read. I enjoyed the flavor and mythical feel that the stories evoked.