@gersande She is an American author who was extremely prolific and popular... but not a lot of people seem to know about her nowadays? She's on par with Ursula LeGuin and Peter S. Beagle. I've read seven of her books and there's so much more to read. I'd really recommend her! I can lend you something of hers if you ever want.

@battlepoet Do you have a favourite amongst the ones you've read? Maybe I'll start with that one!

@gersande oh shiiiit tough question. I'm rather partial to the first one I ever read, which was "The Sorceress and the Cygnet". It includes a bog witch! I own it, should you wish to read it.

One thing I'll mention that McKillip does well, is that she often includes love in her books, but it's not overwhelming and adds to the story, rather than detracts. Love is a motivation for her characters, be it romantic, familial, or platonic. Like, yes there is plot, but I find the characters themselves are the deep roots of the tales.

@gersande I agree that love gets hackneyed after awhile, but... man it sounds dumb to say it, but McKillip is different? She makes it interesting. It's not like "ah yes and then the characters made out". She really shows how complex love can get, between lovers, parent/child, friends, etc. And the characters have their own motivations too.

@gersande also the bog witch loves being a witch and her motivation is to learn weird magic shit for the rest of her life. so there's definitely plot beyond romance.