Deerskin

by Robin McKinley

Book Overview

"A fierce and beautiful story of rage and compassion, betrayal and loyalty, damage and love...A fairy tale for adults, one you'll never forget."--Alice Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of The Rules of Magic The only daughter of a beloved king and queen, Princess Lissar has grown up in the shadow of her parent's infinite adoration for each other--an infatuation so great that it could only be broken by the queen's unexpected passing. As Lissar...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 044100069X
• ISBN13: 9780441000692
• Release Date: July 1994
• Publisher: Ace Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Loss, Healing and the TRUTH of some life situations. . .

I, like other reviewers, am very put off that someone could criticize this wonderful tale for being "dark". And furthermore, how on earth did this one person accumulate enough impatience to THROW IT AWAY before reading even 100 pages of it??? Hello??!! This is a ROBIN McKINLEY BOOK!!! It deserves to be read all the way through at LEAST once. I did read it all the way through, in fact, I stayed up until 3 o'clock in the morning to finish it. By the end, I had my hands clenched and in the course of reading had yelled things like "NO!" "Oh MY GOD!", etc. several times. It starts out seemingly perfect, as all the old boring fairytales seem to be, with tales of the handsome King and the Queen who is "the most beautiful woman in seven kingdoms". This tale is told to their only child, a daughter Lissla Lissar. She at a young age is enthralled by the tale of how her father completed an impossible quest to win her mother. But, we soon see the reality of the tale in that the King and Queen are so absorbed in each other that Lissar is completely ignored. Then, a tragedy more profound than first appearance enters in. The Queen dies (not that she couldn't have prevented it) and Lissar is given her first friend in the form of Ash, a Fleethound puppy who is a gift from a prince in a neighboring country. Lissar isn't much affected by her vain, self-absorbed mother's death but a certain facial expression her father bestows on her keeps Lissar dreading him for the next two years for reasons she cannot discern. What she does not realize is that she is beginning to look more and more like her exquisite mother. In her maddened father's eyes, she is the only woman in the country who compare to his belovedly beautiful dead wife. On the morning after her hideous 17th birthday, Lissar's fears are confirmed for the worst. Yes, this book does involve rape, incest and abuse. This is the most horribly disturbing part of the book but it is not graphic. McKinley handles it as tastefully as such a situation can be handled. Incest is an unnatural horror but McKinley does her best to keep it from driving her readers completely insane. However, the discription of Lissar's reaction and what happens to Ash is enough to make me cry even as I write this review. This is a topic that should be addressed though and I believe that it may be beneficial to anyone who has suffered such a crime to read this book. Because, as with all books where an major catastrophy occurs, joy and healing and the ability to cope for the most part do factor in. Don't read any more unless you want to know what happens to Lissar and Ash after the end of part one. Wounded in Heart, Spirit and Mind, Lissar and Ash flee and spend the winter in solitude. Lissar then goes through another tragedy brought on by the rape and remembers what happened to her. Then, a mysterious being gives her "the gift of time" and when Lissar comes to, her old wounds are lessened and she is ready to leave her mountai

A dark, haunting and unforgettable reading experience

McKinley's writing is amazing, dreamlike, gutwrenching & heartwarming. This book is *not* for everyone. It has a very dark tone & the first few chapters are very painful to read. Your heart will be ripped to pieces several times before the book ends. BUT despite all of this I found it to be a very uplifting story of triumph & love. I didn't just read this book I lived it. It is the story of Princess Lissar, who at first glance appears to live a charmed life. Actually, once we dig a little deeper we realize Lissar is very alone & isolated in her world. Her parents don't seem to remember she exists, she has no friends only servants. The turning point begins when her Mother dies and she receives a puppy as a gift of condolence from Prince Ossin whom she names Ash. Dear old Dad, crazy with grief over the loss of his Queen, turns into a nutcase & completely forgets he has daughter for several years. During this time Lissar & Ash grow up together & become bonded closer than any two beings can be. Then one day Dad remembers he has a daughter & decides it is time for her to marry & start producing an heir. Once he takes a good look at Lissar he notices how beautiful she has become & how much she resembles her mother. I don't want to give anything else away but this is the beginning of Lissar's transformation into the mystical creature Deerskin & the end of her life as she knows it. Despite the dreary beginning, this story is ultimately a positive one & especially recommended for dog/animal lovers. The scenes with the puppy rearing, Lissar's eventual opening up to Prince Ossin & the magical, mystical qualities of the story make this a must read. Lissar is a heroine to admire & Prince Ossin is a ray of light in a world filled with selfish, spoiled & revolting men. Lissar's dog Ash is the glue that holds her together through good times and bad. So, if you're up for an emotional read that is well worth the pain put a day aside to read this one & make sure you have a box of Kleenex handy. You're guaranteed to cry tears of pain & of joy. This one unquestionably gets 5 out of 5 stars.

controversial books are almost always good

I really don't understand the reviews which talk of the "darkness" of this book as though it were a fault. The strongest books depict events in lives which resound familiarly against our own, and that includes the occurence of pain. In my opinion this is Robin McKinley's best book, partly because of the portrayal of such pain (and the d word, "darkness") and the survival of her character.As for the writing style, I could see as I was reading that some might find it tedious. But I found it positively enchanting, enveloping me completely in Lissar's world. There were three times I cried aloud "No!" at the events in Deerskin, they were so powerful. It was with great reluctance I pulled myself away to bathe, and I cut as short as possible a lovely hot shower so that I could finish it! Once I did finish it, it left me stunned for hours.So, if you read books, particularly fantasy, to drop into a pleasant fairy-world and escape from the miseries and stress of life, this book is not for you. Otherwise, look it over and give it a try. And just a note: I am fourteen and survived this book with no trauma whatsoever, thank you; however, do use caution. This book is very strong. It all depends who can handle what in books.

A griping fantasy firmly planted in reality.

I was searching for a book when the cover of Deerskin caught my eye, whoever designed it has a true gift for art. After reading the book I believe the artist to have a great talent for capturing a characters soul. Although many of the previous reviewer do not recommend this book for young readers I feel I must. I read this book at about 13 and it opened my eyes to the painful world many of my friend have had to live through. I love the way McKinley allows our heroine, Lissar, time to heal herself and come to terms to what has happened to her. It is refreshing to read a book that shows an acurate portrayal of a young woman in pain. McKinley's simple yet strong writing style only adds to the drama that is naturally engrained in the storyline. Ash is the perfect character for the necessary comic relief, subtle yet so true one can picture ones own dog acting the same way. It was a refreshing change to have an animal companion as the balance in Lissar's upside down world. Ossin is the perfect romantic lead for this story. He's not macho or overbearing he is only concerned for Lissars happiness and the wellbeing of his dogs, an interest they both share. In the end the reader is pleased to see the obligatory romance occur. It's like watching an old friend finally get the happiness they deserve. That is what this book is to me and I hope is to many people, an old friend. After reading Deerskin i ran out and bought every McKinley book I could find and have been emmensely pleased with every one. I would reccomend this book to any one who has suffered in any way or to anyone who loves a good read. Like many other of the reviewers of this book I have read this book many times and I will continue to do so in the future.

Dense, dark, and beautiful.

This is, in my opinion, Robin McKinley's best book -- and I've read every one from "Beauty" to "Rose Daughter". Deerskin reminded me of a dream, one that starts out quiet and detached, grows into a nightmare, and then changes into a somewhat-happy ending. It isn't just a "fairy tale" or an adventure story like The Hero and the Crown. It's a story about going through a horrifying experience and living, not just to tell about it, but to make yourself whole again. McKinley's writing style is wonderful -- she writes some of the most beautiful English I've ever read. Lissar's world drew me in, and I finished the book completely exhausted. "Deerskin" was one of the very few books I've read -- along with Madeline L'Engle's "A Ring of Endless Light" and Patricia McKillip's "The Changeling Sea" -- that totally changed me. I will admit, however, that the subject matter is disturbing. I would not recommend this book to anyone under the age of fifteen. Even some older readers expecting a "nice" book like "Beauty" may be upset by "Deerskin". I read it as a fairly mature seventeen-year-old and was still disturbed in places. An enormously powerful book.