Review: Deerskin by Robin McKinley

Good evening! For your enjoyment, I have posted a humble review of the adult fantasy novel Deerskin by Robin McKinley.

Goodreads Summary: As Princess Lissar reaches womanhood, it is clear to all the kingdom that in her breathtaking beauty she is the mirror image of her mother, the queen. But this seeming blessing forces her to flee for safety from her father's wrath. With her loyal dog Ash at her side, Lissar unlocks a door to a world of magic, where she finds the key to her survival - and an adventure beyond her wildest dreams..."

Original reading: Sometime in middle or high school, not sure
Recent reading: 10/5/14-10/9/14

4/5 stars


Consider this a biased review. This is a book I've read before, a long time ago, I don't remember when - sometime in high school, likely, when I was far more deeply in love with books and fantasy in particular. Besides that, Robin McKinley is my favorite author of all time.

So forgive me when I say that I love this book for no other reason than that I do. And yes, it has its good points and its bad points, but I love it either way. I wouldn't say that it's perfect on the re-read, but it's definitely one of my permanent keepers.

First of all, though, let me just say that the description is ridiculous. It leads the reader to believe that the character escapes before anything bad happens, and that is not the case. Very bad things happen. This is a book about trauma, recovery, and dogs, with a magical element that only intrudes when it chooses to do so instead of pervading every moment. It's in the same world as The Blue Sword and Hero and the Crown, though much later in that world. The reference to Aerin and Maur is a brief love note to the denizens of Damar, but doesn't intrude upon Lissar's story.

The imagery (especially of Ash the fleethound and her doggy mannerisms) is so vivid without being overdone (to my taste - your mileage may vary). It's fantasy but not high fantasy, and the language is appropriate to the genre. It's also a very close narrative, which is absolutely vital to the story as you feel the fear of an oncoming violence, the depths of the pain of the character, and the highs of points in her recovery. I knew exactly what would happen, but upon this re-read my heart was still pounding during the final confrontation, and I still found myself crying here and there.

For flaws in the narrative, I tend not to be a fan of third person omniscient because it never seems to be announced early enough. While I was reading, suddenly I would see from the dog's perspective, or the prince's, or one of Lissar's friends, even though the majority of the perspective was Lissar herself. And while I didn't really mind when the camera would, in essence, "zoom out" to show something outside of Lissar, it was a little jarring to be told a narrative that was close to someone else on the same page. But that's a stylistic choice, and one that was far more prevalent at the time of the writing.

The issue I have with this book is mostly with character. I think that all of Lissar's reactions to what happens are very appropriate and believable. The problem is that she doesn't seem to have any faults, or at least none that are apparent to the naked eye. When she is a girl she is a bit standoffish, but that character trait is shown as a good one by the reactions of those around her. People who dislike her personality are vain and superfluous characters, and people who like her are shown as kind and intelligent individuals. She also begins as a bit naive, but that evaporates quickly. Through her recovery and the supernatural gifts she is given, she is transformed from a victim into a pillar of the community, and she's worshiped but doesn't like it - though that just makes her that much better as a person. She becomes defined by her trauma and is just a beautiful suffering victim, never lashing out. She does experience the dynamic change of a true protagonist, and she does make the active decisions that make her a strong character, but there is nothing wrong, mean, or flawed about her. Any flaws are imposed upon her by her suffering.

All in all, I can't really find much to pick apart. I'm not a victim of trauma, so I can't state accurately whether or not it was handled perfectly, but as a reader I felt that the narrative was sensitive where it needed to be sensitive and intense where it needed to be intense, and while it didn't show violence for its own sake (it was not pornographic whatsoever), it didn't shy away from its focus on just how bad the violence was. I can see that it would be very triggering for some, and perhaps (hopefully) healing for others.

In the end, it's a fantasy novel with some very intense content that tries its best to show a woman who goes through something terrible and becomes stronger, not because of it, but despite it, while the reader feels every moment of fear, panic, pain, grief, and finally joy. And in that, I think it succeeds.

Cross-posting of this Review: Goodreads