Pegasus

By: Robin McKinley

Narrated by: Catherine Ho, Kristen Atherton

Because she was a princess, she had a Pegasus....

Princess Sylviianel has always known that on her 12th birthday she too would be bound to her own Pegasus. All members of the royal family have been thus bound since the Alliance was made almost a thousand years ago; the binding system was created to strengthen the Alliance, because humans and pegasi can only communicate formally, through specially trained Speaker magicians. Sylvi is accustomed to seeing pegasi every day at the palace, but she still finds the idea of her binding very daunting. The official phrase is that your pegasus is your “Excellent Friend”. But how can you be friends with someone you can’t talk to?

But everything is different for Sylvi and Ebon from the moment they meet at her binding - when they discover they can talk to each other. They form so close a bond that it becomes a threat to the status quo - and possibly to the future safety of their two nations. For some of the magicians believe there is a reason humans and pegasi should not fully understand each other....

©2010 Robin McKinley (P)2021 Recorded Books

Not her best work

I've been a huge Robin McKinley fan since I read The Blue Sword and saw my first strong female protagonist in a fantasy setting. For me, this book just didn't live up to that standard, even setting aside the dramatic cliffhanger ending. She keeps mentioning so many names of things that I cannot keep track of because they were never properly introduced in the first place - there are multiple evil races at war with the kingdom, but there is no description of what they are like. So much of the character development is left until far too late in the story to be useful. It also in general doesn't follow the principle of "show, don't tell", so a lot of the action is just going on inside of the protagonist's head, instead of being played out in a concrete way within the world around her. Despite this, I love the character of Ebon, and found the events during the visit to the Pegasus country fascinating. I feel like even if this book was intended as part of a trilogy, it should have also been able to stand better on its own, and releasing it before it was able to do that was a disservice to her writing and her vision.

Half a book

The story was great, until it ended just as the inevitable existential battle was about to begin. It’s clear there was meant to be a sequel and equally clear, after eleven years, that it will likely never be written. I wish I’d paid more attention to the reviews before purchasing it.

I need part two

This is an absolutely wonderful story but definitely not complete. Please make part 2 ASAP

Beautiful story but half a book!!

I got completely immersed in this story quickly and needed a day to think before starting a new one. So book 2 is in the works as of a note from the author in 2018 but haven’t heard a peep from her since!! Just be forewarned that it does end abruptly but our dear author has not had a stroke as Anne rice did in the middle of writing book 3 of her wolf gift series!!!!

This story trots; could have flown

A cross-species love story; it used to be horse stories, but now with wings and the addition of gender awareness and the process of building social acceptance. Other than a social visit to Pegasus land, the most exciting thing seems to be that sneaking out at night to meet your guy for “risky” behavior is good for 12 year olds.

Volume variation forced constant adjustments. Male voices are annoying.

The story highlights the blindness of arbitrary cultural patterns. It also underscores why medieval settings are so popular in YA novels (the young protagonists can skip junior high school before assuming leading roles in society).

Cliff hanger

Very engaging story, interesting characters, well described society with characters working toward common goal while not always getting along (the pegasi, not the humans). But it ends very suddenly on a dramatic point without resolution, and the expected sequel has apparently been delayed for at least a decade so unlikely to drop imminently.

Pegawhat???????

I was completely enthralled with this story, biting my nails and then it just ENDED. I don’t think it would have been possible to leave more loose strings dangling! It’s like they just decided “ok, tired of it, done, we’ll stop here.” Such a disappointment. How about a part 2, please??????

Where is the sequel?

I thought the world created by Robin McKinley was magical and captivating. I think it unforgivable that she has not yet written a sequel. No author who cares about her devoted readers would leave a void where closure should have been.

Hated the ending

The story was easy to listen to and fun throughout. I loved the fantasy of living with Pegasi and just the idea of being around them. But the ending left the reader with no satisfaction of a rue ending. Too many things are left unresolved. It is too sad, and I would not listen again. I would not have listened had I known that the writer gave up on the characters and the story at the end of the book.

Cliff Hanger

The book is amazing. If you expect a sequel, frankly 11 years later don't. If you want a great narrator and good book with cliff hanger ending....well then it's a great listen. The narrator is amazing! Totally loved her reading. Amazing. But, the story starts, but the ending is left to your imagination. I doubt the sequels will ever happen.