Originally published in 1975, this book still stands today as a masterfully told tale of a woman who learns that revenge isn't enough. Beware though - if you read this story you may find most of the fantasy being published today to be flavorless nothings.

This is one of those stories that has such a pure truth to the story, but told in the fantasy genre, that it will make your heart ache. On the surface it seems like a typical tale: a hermit witch who takes in an orphan baby who grows to be a man and who must follow his destiny to become king.

Instead of the story following he-who-would-be-king, we follow Sybel and how she gets drawn into the politics, only to be destroyed, and eventually saved, by decisions she makes.

But there is so much more here, because Sybel, powerful witch and mistress of fantastical and dangerous beasts, learns that love cannot be controlled. In the end she learns the greatest wisdom.

Anyone who has read McKillip knows she is a poet. Her words and imagery are her own. There are traces of Tanith Lee's voice here, but changed, softened and twisted to be McKillip's own voice.

I hope you take a chance with this old favorite of mine. It has everything good in it that is fantasy: a witch, magical beasts that talk, kingdoms that need saving, big battles, and in the end, human truth.