Customer Reviews

The Stone Fey

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

McKinley again manages to weave a beautiful story about Maddy and the Stone Fey that captivates her. This book was a real treat to me because of the gorgeous illustrations. And it was nice, as always, to find a reference to Aerin in the story. Any story about Damar is great.

I do wish that there had been more to the story. It's very cool that she did a picture-book, but this is a story I wish she would have turned into a full-blown novel, with the depth of Aerin, or Harry. The story was haunting and lyrical in a way that only McKinley could do, but as always, her books leave us craving more.

For any precocious child or wondering adult...

...I wanted more depth, more meat to the story. Ms. McKinley's writing is always superb, but there just wasn't enough of it. I agree with the reviewer below - this would have been a great full-length novel. I'm ready for another novel about Damar! I wouldn't say this book is not for children - I would have enjoyed reading it as a 10 year old - but I think the format is a little too juvenile to appeal to a pre-teen or YA.

Like Orson Scott Card (particularly in Ender's Game), Robin McKinley here made my perspective/attitude/understanding expand, as this story included elements that I didn't want and certainly didn't expect, but ended up appreciating. The cussing probly wasn't necessary, but it did make Maddy seem more real and less idealized. McKinley never quite explains what a fey is (or yerig or folstza) but readers familiar with her other books will understand at least vaguely, and the way she leaves so much to the imagination is a skill too many fantasy writers have forgotten. The fey's actions are surprising and yet believable, and Maddy's responses are unexpected yet extraordinarily real. The result is a story that avoids predictability but feels neither cheap nor deceptive (as the film The Village does). Because of the cussing and sensual undercurrent I wouldn't recommend this book for children despite its format and apparent fairy-tale appeal, but mature young people (especially girls) should both appreciate and benefit from McKinley's intelligent, personal treatment of the classic human-falls-in-love-with-otherworldly-being idea. As a young adult (age 21) fond of McKinley's other books despite a few criticisms, I found this story passionate, haunting, riveting, puzzling, beautiful, and immensely satisfying in an unsettling sort of way.

Really, they should have a separate scale for Robin McKinley. _The Stone Fey_ is vividly written and illustrated, capturing one's imagination in the first page. It's particularly well suited for reading aloud &/or for a "coffee table book" -- eye catching, ear enthralling, and a dang good story.

I would have to say this is one of my all-time favority fantasy stories... I read it in a collection probably something like 5 or 6 years ago, of which it was definitely one of the highlights. I always wanted more, but possibly more would dilute the haunting quality this tale has. I don't know if fantasy has as much call for evoking that 'sense of wonder' as science fiction does, maybe it's assumed, but-- it's there, throughout, the song of the hills, the sigh of twilight, the breath of the fey. This sense of lost longing, yearning for connection with the other World, the loss that comes with living in this one. I was sad because it was my dream too, which I could never quite touch. Probably the story by McKinley that touched me deepest :)

First off, this book is not for children. As another reviewer stated, it *is* convoluted, but I think McKinley wrote that way to give the book a slow, thoughtful pace appropriate to the plot and setting. The inside cover of the book called it "passionate" and "haunting". Those two words describe it better than any review I have seen up here.

Probably sounds like a bit of a cop-out, review-wise, when I say that you can't go wrong with Robin McKinley, but seriously, you can't go wrong with Robin McKinley. Her stories don't always end up just where you think they might, but they always seem to end up in the right place, which is difficult enough to accomplish. 'The Stone Fey' is no exception; strong characters, beautiful scenery, and the most graceful prose make this story a small marvel.

And I mustn't forget the illustrations, which are pretty darn unforgettable. I won't waste a thousand words failing to describe them; let's just say that they are worth seeing, and that John Clapp's talent ranks up there with McKinley's.

This book is worth every penny I paid.

Robin McKinley is my favorite author, and I was very disappointed in this book. I bought it not only for myself, but for my kids, and let them read it first. Neither said much about it, and I was surprised until I read it myself. The story is disturbing and of sufficiently adult content that I would not categorize this as a children's book. It is also not as well-written as her other books. There were even some sentences that I had to read a few times just to get the correct meaning. I loved the illustrations, but didn't like the story. Not too many nine to twelve-year-olds will get the point of this story -- I'm not so sure I did myself.

I have been devouring everything this by author and could not find this locally. For
quite a while the only on-line offers were collectible editions at eye-popping, high prices. I was thrilled to find a reasonably-priced, reading copy at last. I guess I glossed over the page count because I was shocked when a thin picture book arrived. Then I read it. It is almost poetic in what it leaves out and preserves to pare itself down to the core essence of a good story. It stimulates the imagination and encourages you to pause and wonder. In that respect it is well worth reading more than once. Take a little time to savor the excellent illustrations as well. This is a keeper, which neatly explains the occasional difficulty in finding it.

Robin McKinley is one of my favorite authors. Her prose, her characters, her worlds are all terrific. From her retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast to her highly original vampire novel Sunshine, I've adored everything she's written. Until now. Somehow, McKinley completely missed out on having a real story with the Stone Fey. Despite the childish format (with wonderful drawings) it's too adult for children yet not long enough or deep enough for adults. Try one of her other wonderful books but skip this one.