The Recurring Cast
Character guide · 8 books · 1978 to 2008

Robin McKinley

RomanceFantasyHorrorYoung adultRomantasyEpic and high fantasyUrban fantasyDark fantasyYA fantasy

Robin McKinley writes fairy-tale retellings and the two Damar novels, about the girl Aerin who becomes a dragon-killer and, generations later, Harry Crewe, who is carried off by a desert king.

Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip.

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Who appears in which book

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LLeadMMajor·MinorHas a note
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Robin McKinley books in order

Each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.

Damar

2 books · Set in invented worlds · story order differsEpic and high fantasyYA fantasy
  1. 1The Blue Sword1982With Harry CreweBuy on Amazon
  2. 2The Hero and the Crown1984With AerinBuy on Amazon

Fairy-tale retellings

4 books · Set in invented worldsYA fantasyRomantasy
  1. 1Beauty1978With BeautyBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Deerskin1993With LissarBuy on Amazon
  3. 3Rose Daughter1997With BeautyBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Spindle's End2000With RosieBuy on Amazon

Standalone

2 books · Set in invented worldsUrban fantasyDark fantasy
  1. 1Sunshine2003With SunshineBuy on Amazon
  2. 2Chalice2008With MirasolBuy on Amazon

Characters

8 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.

Damar

Retellings

Standalone leads