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Kes
Robin’s blog serial fiction.
In which we meet our heroine, who is on the brink of a major life change...
http://robinmckinleysblog.com/the-sto...
In which we meet our heroine, who is on the brink of a major life change...
http://robinmckinleysblog.com/the-sto...
- GenresFantasy
blog serial
First published January 1, 2013
7 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Robin McKinley
44 books7,286 followersBorn in her mother's hometown of Warren, Ohio, Robin McKinley grew up an only child with a father in the United States Navy. She moved around frequently as a child and read copiously; she credits this background with the inspiration for her stories.
Her passion for reading was one of the most constant things in her childhood, so she began to remember events, places, and time periods by what books she read where. For example, she read Andrew Lang's Blue Fairy Book for the first time in California; The Chronicles of Narnia for the first time in New York; The Lord of the Rings for the first time in Japan; The Once and Future King for the first time in Maine. She still uses books to keep track of her life.
McKinley attended Gould Academy, a preparatory school in Bethel, Maine, and Dickinson College in 1970-1972. In 1975, she was graduated summa cum laude from Bowdoin College. In 1978, her first novel, Beauty, was accepted by the first publisher she sent it to, and she began her writing career, at age 26. At the time she was living in Brunswick, Maine. Since then she has lived in Boston, on a horse farm in Eastern Massachusetts, in New York City, in Blue Hill, Maine, and now in Hampshire, England, with her husband Peter Dickinson (also a writer, and with whom she co-wrote Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits in 2001) and two lurchers (crossbred sighthounds).
Over the years she has worked as an editor and transcriber (1972-73), research assistant (1976-77), bookstore clerk (1978), teacher and counselor (1978-79), editorial assistant (1979-81), barn manager (1981-82), free-lance editor (1982-85), and full-time writer. Other than writing and reading books, she divides her time mainly between walking her "hellhounds," gardening, cooking, playing the piano, homeopathy, change ringing, and keeping her blog.
Her passion for reading was one of the most constant things in her childhood, so she began to remember events, places, and time periods by what books she read where. For example, she read Andrew Lang's Blue Fairy Book for the first time in California; The Chronicles of Narnia for the first time in New York; The Lord of the Rings for the first time in Japan; The Once and Future King for the first time in Maine. She still uses books to keep track of her life.
McKinley attended Gould Academy, a preparatory school in Bethel, Maine, and Dickinson College in 1970-1972. In 1975, she was graduated summa cum laude from Bowdoin College. In 1978, her first novel, Beauty, was accepted by the first publisher she sent it to, and she began her writing career, at age 26. At the time she was living in Brunswick, Maine. Since then she has lived in Boston, on a horse farm in Eastern Massachusetts, in New York City, in Blue Hill, Maine, and now in Hampshire, England, with her husband Peter Dickinson (also a writer, and with whom she co-wrote Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits in 2001) and two lurchers (crossbred sighthounds).
Over the years she has worked as an editor and transcriber (1972-73), research assistant (1976-77), bookstore clerk (1978), teacher and counselor (1978-79), editorial assistant (1979-81), barn manager (1981-82), free-lance editor (1982-85), and full-time writer. Other than writing and reading books, she divides her time mainly between walking her "hellhounds," gardening, cooking, playing the piano, homeopathy, change ringing, and keeping her blog.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 7, 2015
I LOVE Robin McKinley and it hurts my heart to give her less than 4 stars, BUT this story is unfinished (and given that it's been 10 months since the last installment, will likely remain so) and it took a really crazy turn not long before she quit writing. :(
July 8, 2014
Note that the "Date I finished this book" is incorrect because it is an ongoing serial. At this point there are something like 266 full-size pages for this novel? That's at least 450 paperback pages? Something like that. Long enough to merit a review.
So far, I LOVE this story. Kes is a relatable main character, the supporting cast are entertaining and interesting and PLEASE can we go back to New Iceland for more muffins? I follow Robin McKinley's blog but have been "saving" the serial so that I can read a bunch all at once.
"Kes" is different from her other novels in that it is more like a sort-of version of Robin's own self: Kes is an author, wears Converse shoes and loves tea (I could go on, but I'd sound like a stalker). The whole story is fun and Robin McKinley is clearly enjoying writing this. Hopefully we'll get a book (or two?) out of this!
So far, I LOVE this story. Kes is a relatable main character, the supporting cast are entertaining and interesting and PLEASE can we go back to New Iceland for more muffins? I follow Robin McKinley's blog but have been "saving" the serial so that I can read a bunch all at once.
"Kes" is different from her other novels in that it is more like a sort-of version of Robin's own self: Kes is an author, wears Converse shoes and loves tea (I could go on, but I'd sound like a stalker). The whole story is fun and Robin McKinley is clearly enjoying writing this. Hopefully we'll get a book (or two?) out of this!
April 25, 2021
A fresh take on the contemporary female lead falling through the interface to a fantasy world... I loved the imagination, the humor, the way she keeps it real... I wish I’d printed out all the blog-by-blog episodes because I want to re-read it.... too late, now the blog’s disappeared.
August 12, 2013
The oddball heroine of this story is just recovering from the breakup of her 18 year marriage. Through a random twist of fate she ends up leaving the familiarity of the city she has lived in all her life for the unknown country to start her new life. Here she faces such sinister forces as whooshing pine trees, teeth gnashing crickets, and cows. But at least there are no cockroaches in the country. Right?
Luckily she is welcomed by a host of friendly, helpful, quirky characters who help her relocate to Cold Valley near New Iceland. Read her adventures as she aquires an oversized house, oversized vehicle and oversized pet. None of these compare to her gargantuan oversized imagination. But that's good because she IS a fantasy writer.
Join Kes as she stuggles with Yggdrasil in the backyard, Yog-Sothoth in the cellar, deinonychus under the porch and sinister men in black shadowing her. Of course those are all just a product of an overactive imagination. Aren't they? Our heroine couldn't be more out of place. Or perhaps she will finally find where she always belonged.
Once I got started reading this story series I read all 91 Episodes (so far) in one day. It is funny and charming with touches of fantasy. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because I would like to see more action and fantasy. Oh yah I like romance too. I can't wait to see where Ms. McKinley takes this serial in the future.
Luckily she is welcomed by a host of friendly, helpful, quirky characters who help her relocate to Cold Valley near New Iceland. Read her adventures as she aquires an oversized house, oversized vehicle and oversized pet. None of these compare to her gargantuan oversized imagination. But that's good because she IS a fantasy writer.
Join Kes as she stuggles with Yggdrasil in the backyard, Yog-Sothoth in the cellar, deinonychus under the porch and sinister men in black shadowing her. Of course those are all just a product of an overactive imagination. Aren't they? Our heroine couldn't be more out of place. Or perhaps she will finally find where she always belonged.
Once I got started reading this story series I read all 91 Episodes (so far) in one day. It is funny and charming with touches of fantasy. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because I would like to see more action and fantasy. Oh yah I like romance too. I can't wait to see where Ms. McKinley takes this serial in the future.
December 23, 2015
This story is currently up to part 91 and I enjoyed every paragraph. I love Robin McKinley's work, but I don't normally read much other than fantasy and science fiction, so I wasn't sure how I would like something so contemporary. I was pleasantly surprised. The story is about a divorced writer moving to a small town, but there are hints of magic and whimsy, along with a lot of nerdy references. It's hard to tell in which direction this story is going, but I'm looking forward to the next update!
August 12, 2013
Okay, I love Robin McKinley and I hope she doesn't kill me dead for my presumption in adding her book...ish-thing to goodreads but I LOVE. THIS. and I read it all the time so I want to add it to my currently reading. She's such an amazing writer that I gobble up everything she does and this Kes thing does not disappoint!!! So very, very, very amazing, go check it out!!!
September 8, 2013
The hardest part about this is having to wait a week for the next few paragraphs. I want to buy this book today, so I can see what happens next! This ranks up there as one of my favorite McKinley books so far. I love the way she takes an ordinary, realistic story, and you turn the corner and smack into fantasy. And Kes is awesome!
May 10, 2014
I'm all caught up with the updates, and I have to say I'm loving it so far. The opening chapters feel so true to a person having to confront (and occasionally run from) a major life change that I was drawn in instantly wanting to know what happens next. And I still want to know, but from now on I will be one of those eagerly checking the blog for new updates.
May 3, 2016
3.5 for being unfinished, otherwise a really solid four. I really enjoyed this, and I wish it had been finished/published, but it's very fun for what it is. I really liked Kes, and wish we got to know her more and spend more time with her, but she's such a great character that I'm happy we got the 146 little chapters that we did!
March 18, 2014
I had another migraine today, and was looking for something to distract me, so I read Kes. McKinley is up to #122, so I had about 6 hours of awesome distraction. I look forward to this continuing story.
April 18, 2015
Each new chapter is posted on Robin McKinley's blog as it is written, which means waiting... I am really enjoying it, particularly the idea of a main character who is able to write about strong heroines, yet is bewildered and extremely reluctant when that role is thrust upon her
October 24, 2014
This is an ongoing serial on McKinley's blog. It is well written, and though it is not the type of story that I would usually get absorbed in, I find that I really am liking it. McKinley has written some great novels, and it is interesting to see some of her writing process in a serial novel.
February 15, 2016
As nothing has been added in over a year, I'm going to have to assume this is as far as we'll follow Kes.
http://robinmckinleysblog.com/categor...
http://robinmckinleysblog.com/categor...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews