I’ve said in a few places recently that fantasy featuring royals isn’t doing it for me lately. Robin McKinley’s DEERSKIN is an exception. I’m not too far through it yet, and I will admit it took me a few chapters to really get its hooks in — a few pages before this, there’s a bit of run-up to a tragedy where the fairy-tale tone of the story shades just noticeably toward horror, just creepy enough to communicate that real shit might happen and probably will. And then you have bits like this, three sentences conveying the interests of three different court constituencies in language that’s both economical and charming.
Currently reading: DEERSKIN, Robin McKinley.
If you’re enjoying my writing, you can get some of my short fiction on your e-reader for the low, low cost of $0. Remembered Air is a collection of six poems and short stories not available anywhere else. Download it here.