Another great fantasy by Patricia McKillip.

The sea has taken a lot of people that Peri loves this year: her father disappeared earlier this year while fishing; her mother now sits, just staring out the window at the sea, neglecting to care for herself or her daughter; and the old woman who lived in the driftwood house at the base of the sea cliffs and taught Peri little charms, also disappeared one night and never returned.

During the day, Peri works at the local inn, mopping up after those who follow the king’s retinue during the summer and, during the winter when the king returns to his inland court, after the local fishermen who haunt the bar. At night, she takes refuge in her old friend’s driftwood home, throwing her rage into the sea. One night, she is appalled to find that, in response to her latest hexes, the sea has sent an enormous red sea dragon, chained to the bottom of the sea with enormous links of gold.

Meanwhile, the king’s son takes to haunting the beach outside Peri’s shack at night, unable to cross the boundary between land and sea, and return to a home beneath the waves that he has never seen. Taking refuge at Peri’s hearth, he captures her heart even while his father is trying to arrange marriage for him with princesses of neighboring kingdoms.

The fishing fleet, with gold in their eyes, sends for a sorcerer to unchain the dragon so they can claim the chain and turn the village’s fortune. The mage who shows up doesn’t look like a magician in his stained cloak and muddy shoes but his skill is proved when he unchains the dragon – by turning the gold into periwinkle flowers. And then inconveniently vanishes.

That night, the dragon comes out of the sea.

And turns into another prince, as blonde as the king’s son is dark, who also takes refuge at Peri’s hearth for a few hours every night before being reclaimed by the sea.

What binds these two young men to the kingdoms where they were raised and seek to escape?

It isn’t until Peri realizes what she has to let go of that the world can be set right again.

This is a simple book, with a story that impacts this island kingdom but doesn’t threaten the world. Sometimes you need a book like this when it seems every decision affects the future of democracy and the rising of the oceans, when every superhero movie depends on saving the universe, a book with a local story is enough.

And, of course, I’m a sucker for McKillip’s romantic and poetic literary style. You may have to look around for this one, as you won’t find it on the shelf of most bookstores.