| Plot Summary of The Blue Sword |
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"Harry leaves her homeland to come live with her brother's rich friends when her father dies and leaves her destitute. Her new home is vastly different from her old one and she feels out of place, but she is drawn towards the desert and takes an interest in learning about the hill people, the native inhabitants, who, according to rumor, possess mysterious powers. A major war with the northerners is on the brink and Harry's people, the outlanders, must work with the hill people to prevent an invasion, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen, as the outlanders look down on the hill people they conquered, and the hill people are prideful and still resentful about being conquered. A visit from the king of the hill people, Corlath, is a major flop and the king starts off in a huff, but there's something about Harry that compells him to kidnap her and carry her off through the desert to the hill country. Harry adapts to her situation and discovers that she shares the same "gift" as the hill people and is trained to fight on horseback with a magical sword that once belonged to Lady Aerin, Corlath's ancester who first possessed the gift and saved everybody from dragons and the first invasion of the northerners. The Blue Sword narrates how Harry becomes a great warrior and helps save the day."
sayruh, Resident Scholar
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"Harry Crewe is a Homelander orphan girl who has been sent to live with her brother at an outpost in the desert. Corlath, the king of the Free Hillfolk, visits the outpost to discuss a possible alliance against the Northerners. He leaves, but his magic pulls him back to the outpost and forces him to kidnap Harry for reasons unknown to him. While living with the Free Hillfolk, Harry's magic becomes apparent and she is taught to ride a warhorse and fight with a sword. She will be needed in the coming war against the Northerners, because both the Free Hillfolk and the Homelanders will die if the Northerners win."
Melissa Cookson, Resident Scholar
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"The main character, Aerin, grows up as the daughter of the king of Damar, yet she is shunned by her city and some of her cousins. Aerin learns horsemanship, swordsmanship, and how to use the Kelar, (magic) that runs throughout the royal family. She does not seem to have any Kelar, until she almost dies, attempting to kill Maur, the huge, threatening dragon that trys to rampage Damar. She goes through the mountains, attempting to find the blonde mage, Luthe. She falls in love, and fights many battles for the freedom of all Damarians. "
Kate, Resident Scholar
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" Harry Crewe is an orphan girl who comes to live a desert country called Damar. The Hillfolk, a magical race, shares the land with the Homelanders, who are troubled by the rumors of the terrifying Northern army.
When Corlath the Hillfolk king comes to visit the Homelander town, he sees Harry, a tall, yellow-haired girl. But he senses something about her, a hidden power that has become rare in his race. His mind constantly returning to her, he finally makes a shocking decision to take her along with his folk by kidnapping her at night. Completely bewildered by the sudden turn of events, Harry undergoes intense riding and sword training because of the destiny she must hold, the Blue Sword."
Mai Tsuji, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Blue Sword |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 30%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Coming of age
Yes
Youngster becomes
- great warrior
Romance
Yes
Romance plotlets:
- love forbidden by society
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- unemployed
Age:
- a teen
- 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- can see into the future
- healing
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an entire race
Profession/status:
- mage/magician
Has magical powers?
Yes
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Desert
- Mountains
Earth setting:
- during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue?
- significantly more descript than dialog
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