REVIEW: Pegasus by Robin McKinley

Pegasus by Robin McKinley


Publisher: Penguin Group, 2010.
Format: eBook, 586 KB
ISBN 10: 0399246777
ISBN 13: 978-0399246777
ASIN: 0399246770
Copy: Purchased on-line
Reviewer: Victoria


From the publisher. . .


Because of a thousand-year-old alliance between humans and pegasi, Princess Sylviianel is ceremonially bound to Ebon, her own pegasus, on her twelfth birthday. The two species coexist peacefully, despite the language barriers separating them. Humans and pegasi both rely on specially trained Speaker magicians as the only means of real communication.

But it's different for Sylvi and Ebon. They can understand each other. They quickly grow close-so close that their bond becomes a threat to the status quo-and possibly to the future safety of their two nations.

New York Times bestselling author Robin McKinley weaves an unforgettable tale of unbreakable friendship, mythical creatures and courtly drama destined to become a classic.

As I have stated on far more than one occasion on this blog: I love Robin McKinley's work.  I have been reading her novels for almost twenty years.  Her work brings me back to my childhood.  It reminds me to suspend my disbelief once and a while and rejoice in the simple pleasures of a good story.  Forget about grittiness or realism, or strong language and maturity.  If you're looking for that, than this young adult novel is not going to be your cup of tea.  In fact, this book is probably more for the girl who enjoyed setting tea for her friends and menagerie of stuffed animals.


Oh, and beware, it ends at a complete cliffhanger.  There's still more to come.  


Pegasus is McKinley's newest novel, set in a far away land where humans share their space with monsters and the noble Pegasi.  Through the course of the story we learn that the alliance between the Pegasi and the humans is a fragile one and mainly one sided.  While the Pegasi know much about humans, humans do not know much about the Pegasi.  That is until the princess Sylvi is bonded with her pegasus, Ebon, but not everyone is as accepting.  Not everyone likes what they find out.


The story begins with the bonding of Sylvi and the young pegasus, Ebon.  The majority of Pegasus is about their growing friendship and how their lives become intertwined in more than they, or their kingdoms, ever bargained for.  This isn't a novel packed with action scenes, but a story that revolves around friendship and what it is made up of.  It is about understanding and respecting other cultures. All fabulous things for girls to read about (or those adults who're open enough to rekindle their inner child).


I do, however, have one small criticism that falls under the category of style: the narrative rambles.  It's a cute ramble.  It reminds me of a little brook tripping and trickling over and under stones, curling around rocks and plants, but it does ramble on a bit.  This novel is not the strongest of McKinley's work, stylistically.


Pegasus is a little gem of a story about friendship and courage.  While I thoroughly enjoyed it, I think a young girl between the ages of ten and fourteen would be best suited for it.  Stylistically, it is not McKinley's strongest, but the story and the message are absoloutely wonderful.


Plot: 8.5
Characters: 8
Style: 6.5


Overall Rating: 7/10