I think I read this in middle school, but it might have been the sequel, The Blue Sword. In any case, it bored me to death when I was 13. So why did I pick it up again? A few years ago, my best friend read us "Beauty", also by this author, and I found I really enjoyed it. So I decided to give Robin McKinley another chance. I can very much see why I had a hard time with this book before. Compared to a lot of the book I enjoy, the writing style is dry, the characters flat, and there is very little humour to be found. I didn't feel any special fondness for Aerin, the main character, though I did rather like her two love interests (and the fact that there were two of them, without conflict). The romantic subplot was the only thing that kept me reading in places. Aerin is a bit of a MarySue, especially in terms of extreme good luck being on her side. A lot of things seem to "just happen", without sufficient reason being given, and she never really seems to fail at anything. The most important scenes in the book seem to be the shortest, and I was left with a feeling of, "that's it?" I may try to read The Blue Sword as well, since I have it, but maybe not right away.