Robin McKinley's second novel, The Blue Sword, fits within the sword-and-sorcery fantasy genre, yet finds a voice all its own. The Blue Sword tells the story of Harry Crewe, a young woman from the Homeland (something akin to Victorian England), who, after the death of her parents, goes to live with her brother in a border military outpost in the colonized land of Daria. Harry is drawn to the desert and to the legends of the mysterious and magical people of the Hills. When Corlath, king of the Hill kingdom of Damar, receives visions of Harry's importance to his people, he abducts her and makes her a person of honor within his tribe. It is only then that Harry begins to fulfill her true destiny, becoming a warrior, expert horsewoman, and wielder of the immortal sword Gonturan. Harry's transformation to Harimad-sol is beautifully described, and her rise to a leader and uniter of the peoples is inspiring. The Blue Sword is reminiscent in many ways of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but is not at all stale or derivative. Robin McKinley has created a brave, imperfect heroine, and The Blue Sword is a joy to read