Customer Reviews
exceptional - By: Foroyar, 25 Mar 2008 
I was a little wary of the book even as it arrived on my doorstep. I had decided, not very long ago, that it was a book that I was going to "need" to read. I knew it wasn't always going to be wonderful, but I felt that it would be rewardingin the end. It was.
Here is a true heroine, someone who it is possible to look uponin wonder. How many wispy, misfit adventuress heroines glaze the pages of modern fantasy & how many of them have really gone through something as horrific as Lissar has & survived? This is a wonderful book. McKinley's prose is exquisite & her sense of character is perfect. Never once does she linger on a point, & her treatment of the subject matter is both sensitive & reassuring - you are,in short,in the hands of a master storyteller. Lissar's journey is gritty, heavy & awful, & yet there is never too much despair or pity, & above all - it is not crippling. This is a journey of healing & hope - always there is hope. An essential read.
Something you'll never forget! - By: Vittani, 02 Jan 2008 Whether you love this book or hate it you wont be able to deny that it touched youin some way. Whether it made you cry, made you feel ill, laugh or smile there is no doubt that you'll remember it.
Deerskin is one of those unforgettable books. Not just because the characters are so well written that they feel real to you. Or because the subject matter is totally repelant to you. You may remember it for these reason but you are more likely to remember how both these things fit so well together & really made it an experience.
Deerskin is not for the faint hearted, it is graphic & disturbingin places but has many moments of normality which make everything that happens bearable. I am not a person who enjoys angst or horror but neither am i easily disgusted but i must admit that i love this book as well as loathe it. Or at least i dislike immensely the events inside it. It is not pleasant reading. If that is what you want a beautifully renderred fairytale then look elsewhere. For though you will find beautiful writing, believable characters & a good story, you will not find a tale about a hero slaying a dragon & saving the princess.
Noin this book its the princesses own job to save herself. The other thing that makes this book stand out is the portrayal of the relationshipsin the book. I.e. Lissars relationship with her parents, the prince but most importantly with her dog Ash. For it is that relationship that ultimately saves herin the end.
No one can accurately sum up this book. You will either devour every page as i did hoping for a happy ending for the heroine. Or you will close it & will likely not pick it up again.
Again no matter which way you go, you will remember this. And that is one of the marks of a great book whether you like the direction the story goes or not.
Deerskin - By: , 03 Jun 2005 I was cautious when buying Deerskin after reaqding others reviews & noticing that people described the events as horrible & worrying. Whilst there is description of the event it is not graphic, but may disturb some people. Deerskin is an excellent book, I couldn't put it down. The description is quite legnthly but it is written so well you can almost see the placesin your mind.
It's about princesses, princes, magic & castles, a fairy tale for older readers!
There is romance, action & passion, so it's well worth a read.
warning - By: , 22 Dec 2003 
I just wanted to warn readers who enjoyed McKinley's other books, that this is much more disturbing than any of her other novels.
It contains unpleasant scenes of a sexual nature which younger readers wopuld be likely to find disturbing - at 24 i found them disturbing! So be aware of this if you read it.
Excellent plot- but rather dulling at some points - By: , 07 Oct 2001 don't get me wrong- this is an excellent book. But I find that it is too slow for my liking. I have read nurmerous other of Ms. McKinley's books & enjoyed them alot- but I find I have to bein the mood for slow books to read Ms. McKinleys' books. If you are looking for something fast paced & heart pounding- then this is not the book for you. But if you arein the mood for a slow story, with lots of details & little happenings, then this is teh book for you.
I feel that the main character- Deerskin- is too stiff & protective of her feelings. And when she does tell of her feelings, it goes on & on.
