The hero and the crown

I love this book. I enjoyed it just as much rereading it again as an adult as I did in middle school more than a decade ago. Aerin is a loveable heroine. She's never quite fit into her world, and has horrible growing pains flowering into a strong, interesting warrior and woman. I had such a crush on Tor and Luthe.

McKinley's writing is strong, her worldbuilding is immersive, and her characters are complex and loveable. It's a joy to read.