Deerskin
Deerskin book cover

Deerskin

Hardcover – June 1, 1993

by
Price
$10.00
Format
Hardcover
Pages
309
Publisher
Ace
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0441142262
Dimensions
6.28 x 1.09 x 9.28 inches
Weight
13.4 ounces

Description

From Library Journal Heir to her late mother's legendary beauty, Princess Lissar becomes the victim of her grief-maddened father's desire. Fleeing her home, she seeks solace and solitude in a great forest--and discovers a magic that leads her toward healing and justice. Loosely based on "Donkeyskin," an obscure fairy tale by Charles Perrault, this story of a young woman's survival and recovery is both a classic hero's journey-tale and a parable for modern times. Award-winning YA author McKinley turns her storytelling acumen and stylistic grace toward an adult audience, handling incest and rape with unflinching honesty while at the same time building a case for hope and renewal. A good choice for fantasy collections.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Kirkus Reviews A first foray into adult fantasy for the author of such well- received children's books as The Outlaws of Sherwood (1988), etc. In an unnamed, standard fantasy kingdom, an unnamed queen dies after bequeathing to her unnamed king a portrait capturing her surpassing beauty. Their daughter, the princess Lissla Lissar, is the very image of her mother, even to her black-red hair. On Lissar's 17th birthday, the king announces that he will marry his daughter! Horrified, Lissar locks herself away, but the king breaks in to beat and rape her. Barely alive, Lissar escapes with her dog Ash to find sanctuary in the mountains. The moon goddess, the ``Lady,'' heals Lissar--suppressing the dreadful memories, changing her hair to white, giving her a stainless white deerskin dress--and four years pass in what seems a day. Now Lissar enters a neighboring kingdom, where she meets the dog-fancying prince Ossin. As she slowly regains her memory, so she falls in love with Ossin, who proposes. Unable to tell him of her past, Lissar again flees into the mountains, returning the following year ready to denounce her father, regain her black-red hair, and marry Ossin. Turgid, lurid, soporific fluff. Might have made an adequate fairy tale at a twentieth of the bulk. McKinley will have to do much better than this to capture an adult audience. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Features & Highlights

  • When her growing beauty begins to resemble her mother's too closely, Princess Lissar must flee from her father's wrath, and, in doing so, she unlocks a door into a world of magic. By the author of The Hero and the Crown.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(1.3K)
★★★★
25%
(543)
★★★
15%
(326)
★★
7%
(152)
★
-7%
(-152)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

But what of the child of a "true love" story?

I just finished rereading "Deerskin", which was part of the origins of my alias "Ash" on various music message board (like ChrisCaffery dot com - of the group "Savatage") Great book.
Good font, easy one the eyes for anyone with less than perfect vision.
Smooth writing style, great rewrite and update of the fairy tale "Donkeyskin", which I now wish to find!
Recommeded for anyone that has a fondness for animals, primarily dogs. If you have a greyhound ("Fleethounds" in this story) or know of one, you can see that the perspective is excellent. Please e-mail me if you are interested in rescuing a greyhound - in real life, October is the Killing Month, since that is when the racing season is over. Perhaps having had a greyhound makes this story even better, closer to the heart, for me.
Good characters (a few slips in the logic area) with a touch of mythology. (the Lady, Moonwoman etc)
The premise starts with a "true love" story of the 'most beautiful woman in seven kingdoms', and the man that wins her heart ... these two people, royals at that, are so in love to the exclusion of every one else ... they make an excellent team as King and Queen ... what is left for their daughter?
She is smart, but one really cares or notices until after the Queen dies. Lissar, the princess, and her true friend, the fleethound "Ash", stumble through the king's dementia over the loss of his queen, giving Lissar memories that she dares not remember. She takes the name of "Deerskin" after being gifted "the gift of time" as well as a few other things (such as a white deerskin dress that never needs cleaning - oh I wish!)
Some sexually explicit scenes., so it isn't suitable for young children, but reads as easily as a YA book.
Definately a 4.5 star book, one I recommend, and is a reread and a keeper.
For anyone grieving a loss, the truth is often that the only true thing that will help is that gift of time.
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Read. Breathe. Repeat.

I've adored this book from first reading. I recently purchased the book, somehow managed to forget it at a bus stop, and was then overjoyed when my girlfriend purchased a replacement for me. I will never tire of it. Deerskin has a place of honor on our shelf.
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Had to send it back

Ordered this book for my Daughter, she loves the book and wanted it in hardcover. I looked all over and couldn't find it in hardcover, so I had to go to Amazon. Well I found it, NEW for $33.00, so Ok, I buy it. When I get it I open the box to find an old library book! it was written in and dirty, with a silly little inventory sticker that said 'new' on it. The edges of the pages had 'Texas school library' stamped on them!

I was able to send it back, and I did receive a timely refund, but I am still out postage and my Daughters birthday went by without this book for her. So it cost me about ten bucks and about an hours time for nothing. Thanks Amazon!
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Captivating

Loads of fun! Fairy tale made real. I would recommend for a wintry Sunday! Sunshine is another fave book by this author!!
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Deerskin transforms a tiny fairytale into horror and mystery

Deerskin by Robin McKinley (Ace, 1993) was initially inspired by the tiny fairytale published in 1694 by Charles Perraut (of Cinderella fame) called Donkeytale or in French Peau d'Âne. But the only elements in common was the creepy attention of the King for his beautiful princess daughter, Lissla Lissar, and the timely intervention of her Fairy Godmother.

Transformed by the pen of Ms. McKinley, the fairytale takes on elements of horror and mystery. Horror presents itself as a sexual assault on the princess. The mystery is how a cloistered once-upon-a-time princess Lissla can survive in the wild frozen winter after suffering amnesia and whether she can ever recall her royal origins. Accompanied by her dog Ash, the adventures of finding one's own talents has the flavor of a rebirth into her new identity of a dog-trainer, Deerskin. The story brings in characters that you will find loveable and detestable, but the characters are vividly real. Readers will fall in love with demanding job of raising orphaned puppies. You will stay in love with the beautiful Deerskin, who may be an enchanted moonwoman who can find lost children or read the minds of animals.
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Amazing story

I'm so excited I bought this book. It was a wonderful writing style and a unique story. As soon as I finished reading it, I purchased more books from the author. Totally worth it if you enjoy dark fairytale style stories.
✓ Verified Purchase

Grew up with this book, loved this book, found it once more

It's a lovely book. Not for everyone, as it;s based off Donkeyskin, a fairytale remembered for the king trying to marry his own daughter. But I grew up with Deerskin around, and I loved it. Then during some upheaval, we lost our copy. This edition is as gorgeous as I remember, and in excellent condition.
✓ Verified Purchase

Excellent story.

Donkey Skin redone. Excellent story.
✓ Verified Purchase

A fairy tale for thinking readers

Escapist reading should have no less a mandate than literature just because it is escapist! For this reason I'm giving this book five stars. That, and when I closed the last page I did it with a sigh and a smile.

Related Books