The Hero and the Crown

By: Robin McKinley

Narrated by: Roslyn Alexander

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

Newbery Medal Winner, 1985

Uncertain of the past, Aerin-sol, daughter of King Arlbeth, decides to forge her own future by challenging the lashing tongues of the dragon’s fire. Aerin’s proficiency as "the Dragon-slayer" sets her on a quest for the stolen Crown of Damar, believed to be in the hands of rebellious northerners who threaten to destroy the Damarian people and their home forever.

©1984 Robin McKinley (P)1992 Recorded Books

Second only to Blue Sword

The prequel to Blue Sword, it matters not which book you read first. The story is fabulous, and the readers of both books do a wonderful job. I had been requesting these books from Audible for years as they were only available from the publisher at about $80 or so. I finally broke down and purchased Blue Sword a couple of years ago, and was about to buy this book too when Audible released it! Thanks a million! These two books can be listened to again and again.

Love this story. Not a fan of the narrator .

Loved this story for years. Just listened to it for the first time and had a hard time staying with it. The narrator's voice kept pulling me out of the story, She didn't sound like a young woman. The protagonist starts out at 18, goes to about 15 then up to 20. There's a creaky quality to the performers voice that his r wasn't suited for this story.

Disappointed by the narrator

I love this book, so I was really excited to hear the audiobook. But I just had trouble getting into the story - I felt like the narrator was just reading SO. SLOWLY. AND. WITHOUT. ENTHUSIASM. The heroine is young and impulsive and her reading style just did not convey that at all. If I didn't know I love the book, I would think the story just drags. And I know that the story is wonderful, so I was really disappointed in this performance.

ok, not a fan of the narratoe

I've loved this story since childhood. However, the narrator made it harder to get through than reading it myself. sometimes the words were hard to hear as the narrator spoke softly and trailed off the sentences. other times the narrator was unwontedly loud.

Favorite enough to ignore narrator

The narrator on this performance is horrible. But I love the story and the characters so much that I was able to ignore her voice and performance to at least enjoy the story. Aerin is a young woman in this story - it should be performed by a younger-sounding narrator. Alexander has a voice that I associate with my creaky aunt who read stories like a robot. Not an enjoyable listen, but still a good story and character. I much prefer to read the novel myself.

longtime favorite

Any additional comments?

I've had a paperback copy of this since the 80's. I love this book - it's the sort you can re-read and revisit. I was excited to see it in audible format - because hearing the book often gives a different perspective.I'm not sure I would have chosen the narrator. She was great - but didn't quite match the story. Aerin is a young woman and the narrator is an adult. I think I would have preferred a younger voice to match the protagonist.Again, the narrator did a lovely job - but I had a little disconnect between the voice and the tale. I'd still recommend the book - in any format - to lovers of fairy tales.

hello old friend

Any additional comments?

the hero and the crown is an old favorite of mine from my child hood, along with redwall and a wrinkle in time. i was over joyed to find it in this digital form and even happier that it was the same recording i'd grown up with. on the whole Robin Mckinley is a hit or miss writer her books are ether really good or just ma, hero and the crown and it's sequel blue sward are definitely hits and examples of some of her best work

Great story, annoying editing

I enjoy this prequel to The Blue Sword. The narration is good (though often sounds as if the narrator is telling a story to young children), but the editing managed to cut off the final “s” of a plural word at the end of a sentence so often that is was terribly distracting and jerked me out of the story countless times.

My favorite book!!!

I have read many books and this is still one I come back to every year since I was 15. Anyone that knows and understands horses can’t help but to enjoy the relationship between this young women and her horse. Just a great book!

This is one of my favorite fantasy stories!

Strong female protagonist. Decent world-building. Exciting plot. Some romance. It is well worth listening to!