Good points about the problematics of "Hero and the Crown" being even more hidden. Though the general response to "Blue Sword" as colonialist is usually a rejection of "Blue Sword" as racist, probably because it's a childhood favorite of so many.
I was surprised, reading this thread, to find people who'd read Aerin's family as 'coded white', when there is explicit discussion of the skin colours in the book, although I suppose if one read it before 'The Blue Sword' and one skipped over a few passages, one might very well miss it.
I think I ended up reading Aerin as coded white because of her hair and her eyes, and because I think I read "Hero and Crown" before "Blue Sword." The other part may also be because the culture feels very Eurofantasy-esque.
On the other hand, I think I need to reread to make more notes about skin color and dynamics and whatnot in the books; it's been so long that I'm really doubting my memory.
Re: Please clarify
I was surprised, reading this thread, to find people who'd read Aerin's family as 'coded white', when there is explicit discussion of the skin colours in the book, although I suppose if one read it before 'The Blue Sword' and one skipped over a few passages, one might very well miss it.
I think I ended up reading Aerin as coded white because of her hair and her eyes, and because I think I read "Hero and Crown" before "Blue Sword." The other part may also be because the culture feels very Eurofantasy-esque.
On the other hand, I think I need to reread to make more notes about skin color and dynamics and whatnot in the books; it's been so long that I'm really doubting my memory.