First published 1994
In five interconnected stories, magic bleeds through the ordinary walls of human experience. Each tale reveals supernatural encounters that transform seemingly powerless characters: a mute healer whose silent gift challenges a young mage's understanding, a princess surrendered to a misunderstood monster, a troll negotiating marriage with radical gentleness, a farmer battling landscape-deep curses through devotion, and a girl uncovering secrets hidden in domestic shadows. McKinley crafts worlds where supernatural forces aren't conquerable through strength, but through compassion, consent, and intimate understanding.
Genres: short-stories, fantasy, magical-realism
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: consent, found-family
195 pages · Hardcover · Greenwillow Books