The Blue Sword

The Damar series by Robin McKinley is a fantasy duology set in the titular Damar, a desert land filled with magic and political tension. The series includes The Blue Sword (1982) and its prequel, The Hero and the Crown (1984). Though set in the same world and sharing cultural and magical systems, each novel stands alone and can be read independently.

The Hero and the Crown serves as a prequel to The Blue Sword and tells the story of Aerin, a legendary queen from Damar’s past and the original wielder of Gonturan, the Blue Sword. Aerin is the daughter of the Damarian king and his second wife, a foreign woman rumored to be a witch. She is mocked and ostracized, especially by her cousin, who tricks Aerin into consuming surka leaves that cause her to become gravely ill. As she recovers, Aerin finds solace in an old book about the history of Damar, and in the companionship of her father’s old warhorse, Talat. Over time, Aerin discovers an old recipe for a fireproof salve and begins secretly training herself to fight a minor dragon threatening a nearby village. Her success earns her some recognition as a dragon-slayer.