This is the perfect “old fantasy” book, for me. It uses tropes like magic crowns, hero’s quests, and snooty court ladies to the stories advantage, never seeming tired or formulaic. The pacing feels like the tide coming in - waves of interest and action that recede for a bit of exposition and then continue to build for the final battle. Definitely something that I will reread, and also cements Robin McKinley as one of my must-buy authors.