Reread 10/17/2020 - first reread since I was a teenager and this book really held up to my memories! Admittedly there was some suspension of disbelief needed (ex. at how quickly Harry adapts to Damar) and the kidnapping is a little eyebrow-raising, but McKinley swept me away into this world and story. I think I related to Harry as an outsider better now that I've had experiences living outside my home and I better appreciated McKinley's evenhandedness in portraying both the Homelander and Damarian cultures while still condemning the worst instincts of colonialism. The characters felt real, even the fierce and loyal cat Narknon, who I dream of owning! Definitely one of the best fantasy stories of all time.