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Deerskin is a dark fantasy novel by Robin McKinley. It is based on an old French fairy tale by Charles Perrault called Donkeyskin.
Plot Summary Princess Lissar grew up as the daughter of the most beautiful queen and most handsome king in the land. Lissar was a lonely child whose only true companion was her dog, Ash. After her mother's death, the king decided to marry Lissar. When she refused him, the king raped Lissar and severly injured Ash. Lissar and Ash escaped from the king and found their way to a cabin in the mountains. Lissar and the king's child died. Lissar was saved by the moon goddess. The moon goddess gave Lissar a white deerskin outfit and changed both Lissar and Ash so that they were unrecognizable. Lissar was thereafter known as Deerskin. Deerskin went to a diferent kingdom and offered to work for the king. The prince, Ossin, found her a job working with the king's hounds. There she saved numerous puppies. The changes by the moon goddess were more than physical. Deerskin also found she had the ability to find lost items. While with Ossin, she discovered she was in love with him and he with her. However, because of her past, she left Ossin and returned to the cabin in the mountains with Ash and the puppies. Eventually, Deerskin had to determine if she would continue as Deerskin or again become Lissar. The king, her father, was about to marry Ossin's sister. Deerskin told everyone the horrible thing her father had done to her. Through magic, Lissar could choose if she would become Deerskin or Lissar. Because of Ossin's love, Deerskin became Lissar. Te story ends with Lissar tentatively coming back to be Ossin's love and wife. | ||||||||
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