Solstice Wood

This is a peculiar work in McKillip's bibliography.

It's not purely fantastical, set in a different world, like most of her works are. Most of it is rooted in the mundane, a modern world, and this is also noticeable in her writing: not so lyrical as always, more accessible, less mystical.
Another thing that's strikingly different compared to her other books is how it has multiple points of view. At first I wasn't entirely sure of this choice but the more I read, the more it made sense to me- it's an essential part of the book. The entire story, in the end, is about some misunderstanding, and the POVs allow us to see how the many different parties involved see their version of the story.

It's a much “easier” read than most of her other books, but it still manages to contain her usual magic. It's a sequel to another book by her, Winter Rose (which was almost the opposite of this, a hard-to-understand feast of the mystic), but it can easily be read as a standalone. Would rec for people who haven't read much McKillip/fantasy and are looking for a more modern/magical realist book!