The Blue Sword

The Blue Sword (1982), a young adult fantasy novel by Robin McKinley, was the recipient of a Newberry Honor Award in 1983, indicating it was on the shortlist of contenders for that year’s medal.

Angharad Crewe, a young orphan girl nicknamed Harry, reflects on her lack of purpose and boredom. Lady Amelia and Sir Charles have taken Harry in. Although Harry lives in comfort, she has become depressed and restive with nothing to occupy her time. Sir Charles’s home is located in Istar, a remote colony of the Homeland; Harry refers to the house simply as Home. She has traveled to Istar to be near her brother Richard after the death of their parents.

Soon a group of the hill folk known as the Damar arrive, led by King Corlath. He warns Sir Charles that the tribes of the north, who are demonic and mysterious, have been united under one leader for the first time. This leader, known as Thurra, is a powerful wizard. Corlath warns that the demon tribes intend to invade the south. Sir Charles does not believe Corlath, however, and the king leaves frustrated and angry.



Corlath feels the pull of a magical instinct called his kelar. Part of his royal bloodline, it is a compulsion he cannot refuse. It compels him to return to Home and kidnap Harry, although he feels great shame at treating a young girl so roughly. He tries to mitigate this feeling of shame by ordering his people to treat Harry well.

Harry adapts quickly to her new circumstances. She discovers that she also experiences kelar, even more powerfully than Corlath. She learns the language and customs of the hill people. She feels such a natural connection to these people, she begins dressing like them and riding like them, although she is puzzled by this since she comes from so far away. A warrior named Mathin teaches her the language and culture of the hill folk; she proves to be a very quick study, almost as if she already knows everything. She and Mathin quickly become great friends.

Harry has a vision, thanks to her kelar, and sees Lady Aerin, a legendary warrior known as the Dragon Slayer and the original queen of the hill folk. When she tells Corlath this, he declares it is a sign she should compete in the Laprun Trials, assigning Mathin to train her in the ways of battle. Winning the trials, Harry is named a King’s Rider and given the blue sword known as Gonturan. Corlath and Harry spend a lot of time together and begin to develop feelings for each other; Corlath names her Damalur-sol, which means “lady hero.”



As the demonic tribes move south, Corlath decides that his people will make a doomed stand rather than run away. Selecting a small number of King’s Riders, he visits Luthe, an immortal seer, who tells Harry that she is very like Aerin and that she will soon have a choice to make. As Corlath makes battle plans, Harry notices a pass that would allow the tribes to attack Homeland. She urges Corlath to warn the Homelanders, but he refuses. Harry disobeys his direct orders and rides off to warn her former home. While back in Homeland, Harry learns that she and her brother are, in fact, part Damarian.

Harry puts together a small fighting force composed of Homelanders and Damarians to hold the pass. The northern tribes come in force, surprising Corlath who had assumed they would come a different way; only Harry’s small band stands between the demons and Homeland. Harry duels Thurra, barely surviving; she knows that she will not survive a second time. Harry’s kelar compels her to climb the mountains that overlook the pass. She falls into a trance and speaking in the ancient language of the hill folk, calls on Aerin and Corlath to help her. The blue sword begins giving off waves of energy that cause a landslide that crushes the invading army.

Returning to the Damarians, Harry is nervous. She realizes she is in love with Corlath and fears he will be angry with her for disobeying him. However, Corlath is delighted that she has returned; he had feared her gone forever. They declare their love for each other. Mathin has been mortally wounded in the fighting, but with Corlath’s help, Harry heals him.



Harry and Corlath are married, and Harry’s brother also marries a Damarian. This launches a new era in the relations between the hill folk and the Homelanders, as Harry works tirelessly to improve the connection between the two countries. She and Corlath have four children together and are extremely happy after all of their adventures.