Pegasus Book Review *Robin McKinley*

Can I just say, I love the opening line?

"BECAUSE SHE WAS A PRINCESS SHE HAD A PEGASUS." So simple, yet so perfect....

Sylvi is a princess, the fourth child of the king, who when she turns twelve years old, will be bonded with a pegasus. This is a tradition that the royal family follows even after one thousand years from when the first human soldiers came upon the pegasi and ended up forming a treaty that both still follow. The pegasi were important in helping the humans defeat the deadly creatures that have overrun their land. In turn, the humans helped protect the pegasi, where all would live in harmony together forever.

Even though these two races can barely communicate, they continue to work together to keep the peace, and eliminate any threats against their safety. Sylvi thinks the pegasi are very strange, yet beautiful. She doesn’t necessarily want to be attached to one and finds it all very invasive. But when she has her binding ceremony with the Ebon, the son of the Pegasus king, both she and Ebon are shocked that they can understand one another by using telepathy. Ebon is overjoyed that he and Sylvi can talk this way, while Sylvi is concerned because her father’s chief magician Fthoom feels this is an abnormality that may shake the very foundation of what the humans and the pegasi have together.

Soon Ebon and Sylvi secretly go flying and become very close, even though there is an unwritten rule that humans shouldn’t touch the pegasi. And then when Sylvi is on the verge of her sixteenth birthday, something truly wonderful occurs. She’s invited to come to the land of the pegasi that no human has ventured to in hundreds of years. Sylvi is frightened of what she’ll find there, and if she’ll be able to be comfortable around these four legged creatures, who may have a secret plan for her.

Pegasus is glorious, with a lovely fairy tale like feel to it. This book is perfect for all ages, where Robin McKinley shows how wonderful friendship and family is, mainly from Sylvi’s point of view. Sylvi is a delightful storyteller who hates playing the part of a princess because she longs to play with Ebon, her best friend and confidant. Ebon is a wonderful character as well, and the love they both share for one another may bring a tear to your eye.

The language and history is rich and so well thought out. The beauty is in the words; the explanation of the world Sylvi and Ebon live in is so alive where you can’t help but become a part of it.

Some may be confused by the amount of flashbacks and long paragraphs that are more telling than showing. But this didn’t take away my enjoyment while reading and it may just be a personal preference on the part of the reader who has an issue with this. There’s an impending sense of danger, and the ending is quite the cliffhanger where many things are left unresolved.

Pegasus is a masterful story with engaging characters and a melodic setting that’s not to be missed. This is my first book by Robin and won’t be my last. A very much recommended read. (Putnam)

Final Grade: B+

A few other Pegasus reviews:
Book Faery
Bookalcious
Graeme's Fantasy Book Review