Good recent McKinley books?

[steuard]

I've been a fan of Robin McKinley for years; her Damar books were some of my very favorites when I was a kid and I still come back to them from time to time. More recently, I thought that Sunshine was absolutely fantastic. I'm not usually much of a fan of vampire stories, but these vampires fit into such a richly imagined world that it works beautifully.

Over the past year or two, I've been very slowly catching up on the rest of her books. The biggies that I haven't read yet are Dragonhaven and Chalice (Spindle's End, too, but I'm only so-so on her fairytale retellings). Has anyone out there read them? I've heard some mixed reviews, and they aren't at my local library. I've been trying to be more willing to occasionally buy things for myself (even if I'm not 100% sure that I'll like them), but I figure some encouragement could help. Which one should I try first?

Comments

[ricevermicelli.livejournal.com]

I've read Chalice, and eh. It has a dreamy quality that worked for me the weekend I read it and has been too annoying to reread at any time since.

I haven't read Dragonhaven, but I hear reasonably good things about it.

[donaithnen.livejournal.com]

I remember reading the Damar books when i was a kid and liking them, but don't remember what it is i liked or really much of anything about them at this point.

I really liked Sunshine too, and Beauty. I thought The Outlaws of Sherwood was so-so. Unfortunately that's all i've read of hers so far, so i can't comment on Dragonhaven or Chalice =/ I probably ought to check those out though. Or wait to see if you read them first and can comment ;)

[zellandyne.livejournal.com]

Read Chalice. It's not worth it. Nothing I've heard about Dragonhaven has tempted me to read it at all.