I don't understand why I can't enjoy Robin McKinley's novels more. Somehow, no matter how many I read, none of them really grab me. The same goes for The Blue Sword. Nothing impressed me at all.The characters seem remote, the writing is remote, too many fantastic and unbelievable things happen, there is no real fear that the good guys won't win and there'll be a happy ending; everything about this book disappointed me. Robin McKinely seemed to be very confused, impatient, and distracted when she wrote this one. The plot was pat and the characters, well, I already complained about that.Suffice it to say, this book left me cold. As do, surprisingly and a little strangely, almost all of McKinley's stuff, which is such a shock to everyone, seeing as she is so beloved.