[HZK]≡ Read A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories Robin Mckinley Books

A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories Robin Mckinley Books

Download As PDF : A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories Robin Mckinley Books

A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories Robin Mckinley Books

This book is a short story collection of Middle Grade fantasy stories. I enjoyed Robin McKinley's novels set in Damar ("The Blue Sword" and "The Hero and the Crown") so I bought this book hoping to learn more about Damar. Two of the stories were set in Damar, but you won't know it from any other generic fantasy world if Luthe (a character from the novels) didn't briefly appear in them. We don't learn anything new about him, either.

Most of the stories follow the plot line of: a character has a problem, magic help comes along, the problem is fixed. The heroine generally doesn't have a difficult obstacle to overcome so much as a decision to make.

I felt like needed information was missing in some of the stories. The heroine in "The Stagman" was very passive, and the characters' weren't developed (or their motives really explained). "The Healer" was interesting and had a developed setting and characters, but I felt like too many things were left unresolved at the end. I've never really understood the magic part of "The Knot in the Grain."

"Buttercups" started well, but the conflict resolved too quickly and unrealistically easily, in my opinion. "Touk's House" was the best written of the five: it had some conflict as well as a good setting and character development. And it resolved everything at the end.

There was a minor amount of explicit bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, the stories were a mixed bag. Robin McKinley's fans might enjoy reading these stories, but I wouldn't recommend buying the book.


Tags : Amazon.com: A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories (9780064406048): Robin Mckinley: Books,Robin Mckinley,A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories,Greenwillow Books,0064406040,Fantasy - General,Romance - General,Children's stories, American.,Short stories.,Supernatural;Fiction.,Children's BooksAges 9-12 Fiction,Children's stories, American,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fantasy & magical realism (Children'sYA),Fiction,Juvenile Fiction Fantasy & Magic,Juvenile Fiction Love & Romance,Juvenile Fiction Short Stories,Love & Romance,Mckinley, Robin,Romance & relationships stories (Children'sYA),Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic,Science fiction (Children'sYA),Short Stories,Short Story Collections (Young Adult),Supernatural,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,Young Adult Fiction Fantasy General,Young Adult Fiction Romance General,Young Adult Fiction Short Stories,Children: Grades 4-6

A Knot in the Grain and Other Stories Robin Mckinley Books Reviews

Brilliantly written stories that will engage both adults and teens. I am now in my 30's, and haven't read this book since I was in my early teens, but boy, am I glad that I recently purchased it to read again. These stories have lodged in my memory for fifteen-plus years. What talent Ms. McKinley displays as she weaves her gorgeous prose!
I liked the revisiting of Damar. Robin spins beautiful stories.
My only wish is that there could be more and longer tales about the characters in the first story, Healer.
Usually short stories are too short for me without enough character development to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. These are just long enough to let you get to know the characters, their flaws, motivations, expectations, etc. while still being short enough to retain some mystery and leave a few openings for the reader to fill in. ❤️❤️❤️
3 Stars This collection of short stories was uneven and of mixed themes and styles. A couple of the stories were charming and related. However the last story, the title of the book, didn't match the genre at all and was confusingly bad. I've like Robin McKinley's other work, but this book was just so-so.
In the Blue Sword universe of Luthe there are others. And we get to read their stories, which satisfy without high emotions or controversy. Magical pleasantries.
Great examples of Robin McKinley's gentle brand of domestic fantasy. Some lovely romances. The final story, "A Knot in the Grain," was notable for being set in modern times, and I didn't initially like the narrator but ended up finding the story quite striking for its sense of mystery.
This book is a short story collection of Middle Grade fantasy stories. I enjoyed Robin McKinley's novels set in Damar ("The Blue Sword" and "The Hero and the Crown") so I bought this book hoping to learn more about Damar. Two of the stories were set in Damar, but you won't know it from any other generic fantasy world if Luthe (a character from the novels) didn't briefly appear in them. We don't learn anything new about him, either.

Most of the stories follow the plot line of a character has a problem, magic help comes along, the problem is fixed. The heroine generally doesn't have a difficult obstacle to overcome so much as a decision to make.

I felt like needed information was missing in some of the stories. The heroine in "The Stagman" was very passive, and the characters' weren't developed (or their motives really explained). "The Healer" was interesting and had a developed setting and characters, but I felt like too many things were left unresolved at the end. I've never really understood the magic part of "The Knot in the Grain."

"Buttercups" started well, but the conflict resolved too quickly and unrealistically easily, in my opinion. "Touk's House" was the best written of the five it had some conflict as well as a good setting and character development. And it resolved everything at the end.

There was a minor amount of explicit bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, the stories were a mixed bag. Robin McKinley's fans might enjoy reading these stories, but I wouldn't recommend buying the book.