I was disappointed in this book. I was hoping to get some backstory to some of the more elusive characters in The Blue Sword and The Hero & The Crown. Two of the stories involved characters from TBS and THTC, but didn't provide much insight. *Sigh.*

I really loved this book! Each story was intriguing and pulled me in. This book reminded me of why I love reading.

OK I got about 1/2 way and it's a short book. (I actually read not just listened) - Even though it was short stories it was just not written well it was hard to read.

I've always loved fairytale retellings, and I really like what McKinley does with fairytales, whether she's making them up or bending them to suit her own stories. This little collection is no different: I'm told the stories are set in the world of some of her novels, Damar, but to be honest I rather preferred them to the Damar novels. I couldn't say why, but...

They're all rather quiet stories, mostly people living in a world with magic where it's really best if that magic doesn't touch them, and when it does, they have to live with it. The first story reminded me of Ursula Le Guin's writing, too, which is always gonna be a good thing. That and the fourth were my favourites, I think.

A classic, if uneven, collection by McKinley. The first four are pure high fantasy, poetic language, beautiful, mysterious imagery, quasi-medieval setting. The last story is also very good, but it's an abrupt transition to contemporary YA -- being the new girl in town, high school social angst, etc. I find McKinley's urban fantasy hit and miss, but this is a sweet story. It just feels a bit tacked on to the end of this collection which is otherwise full of wizards, ancient curses, and high magic.

“The Healer” is set in Daria, presumably around the time of “The Hero and the Crown”, and gives us a chance to see Luthe again, if not to learn anything more about him. Instead the focus is on Sahath, a former mage, and Lily, a healer who was born without a voice, though the peaceful and slightly melancholy mood is almost as important as either character. The ending teases a sequel that I would be glad to read, but though such a thing is almost certainly not forthcoming it’s nonetheless nice to have a chance to meet Luthe again.

Luthe also appears in “The Stagman”, showing his more human side: the princess Ruen, who may not have really wanted the happy ending she receives, is perhaps the most interesting character in the book.

“Touk’s House” may or may not be set in Daria (it doesn’t feature Luthe), but it has a similar theme, of a quiet young woman who prefers a quiet and peaceful life — and, incidentally or not, a non-human lover — to being Queen. McKinley overplays her hand a bit, though, making the royal court that Erana decides against staying in almost entirely unpleasant, while Touk is representative of the life she knows best: Ruen, who was raised to be a Queen, and has a pleasant husband and a not unhappy life at the court where she has always lived, is a better and subtler achievement.

“Buttercups” is also set in generic fantasy-world: the point of a story is that a younger woman marries an older man and everything turns out ok. Since McKinley herself married an older man, it’s hard to avoid seeing this as a form of self-reassurance. (In fact, all the women in the first four stories marry older men, or stagmen or trolls.)

The title story is a sharp contrast, being set in modern-day New York (well, modern-day when the story was written in the early '90s or so). The story is simply about a girl trying to adjust to moving to a new town, and anybody (from the U.S., at least) whose family moved while they were between the ages of 12 and 18 will recognize and empathize with at least some of what Annabelle goes through here. The fantastic aspect is carefully woven in so as not to disturb the fabric of what is, all in all, the best story here.

Robin McKinley is such a great writer. The thing I love about her is that she writes what she knows. Her fantasy stories have a steep feminine slant which is refreshing after years of reading mostly male authors trying to write women characters. Said characters either end up feeling stereotypical of a males view of female priorities or in the case of the female warrior, simply a male character in skirts. McKinley doesn't play to the male audience and I love her for that.

This collection is solid. Every story is unique and interesting. I can't wait to read more of her work.

For me this is McKinley at her best; I read these stories with the same level of enjoyment as Hero and the Crown and Blue Sword. They are also very strong as short fiction, and certain lines are remarkable for their sensitive insight. Only two of the stories are obviously set in Damar, and one seems to take place in modern day N. America, but all were equally enjoyable. One rater described these stories as 'muted' and I agree. This isn't the stuff of high drama, but the tales are wonderfully unpredictable, as is some of the prose.

Lovely set of short stories featuring female characters, several of which are set in Damar. McKinley’s fairytale-like style of writing shines in this format, and upon reaching the end, I could only wish there was more.

Robin McKinley's writing is something that fits with my likes, however I have to admit I enjoy her books more than I do short stories. Her writing style works best, at least for me, if I have time to absorb the story in more than 20-30 pages. I need something more like 200-300 pages.
This was a collection of short stories I hadn't had the chance to read before. They were lovely stories, but I would've wanted more. Of each story.

Beautiful written, nice to meet Luthe again (the mystery mage from Hero and the Crown) in two stories showing a mage still in its land mending into mortal human things.

Well written, beautifully languish and fascinating fairy tale like stories often taking inspiration but going further and showing what-happens-afterwards touch.

Liked especially the last contemporary fantasy story, a knot in the grain, which was full of fantasy references and knowing details of a young persons life.

There is just something about Robin's McKinley's "voice" that is so soothing when you read her books. It's like being told a fairy tale in the comfortable lap of your grandma. Anyway, I really liked this short little book. A book of short stories is my kinda jam. I have to say that my favorites were Erana and Coral, though they were all great.