What is the author's style in The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley?

The point of view in the novel is third person. This point of view tends to be reliable and omniscient, as is shown through the ability of the narrator to know actions and events occurring in several different places at once. Additionally, this point of view allows the narrator to convey the emotions of several characters in the novel. This is important, since one of the themes of the novel is the coming of age of Harry, the main character, as well as her relationships with those around her, as she attempts to bridge the relationships between the Homelanders and the Hillfolk. These relationships could not be as easily described without the emotional insight into the characters the narrator is able to give.

The story is told with a blend of dialog and highly descriptive, detailed passages that provide vivid images of Harry's world. This method is useful, in that the reader is able to focus on several important areas in the novel, without confusion. Harry travels between Home, rich with vegetation, to Damar, which is desert, to the Hills, which is a blend of desert and rocky outcrops, to the City, made of majestic stone, to Luthe's home, which is again lush vegetation. These important transitions would be difficult to follow were it not for the vast differences in their landscapes. Further, as the novel follows Harry through her transition from young girl to Lady Hero, her thoughts and relationships are vital to the progression of the novel. Without the narration blend of description and dialog, these aspects of the novel would be lost.