Tanith Lee writes rich fantasies, ornamented with decadence, chased with magic. I prefer her 'juvenile' fiction to her adult, and her early stuff to her most recent writings, but that's me. She also wrote one of the best "Blake's 7" episodes (Sarcophagus) which transcended much of the other writing in that BBC TV series.
In The Winter Players published in 1976 a young priestess must go on a quest after a stolen relic. But it is a quest as much into the past as into the future - a quest that will remake the present. Young adult fiction - a magical romance or romantic magic?
In Volkhavaar published in 1977 Lee demonstrates how to write about magic in a believable way. The dialogue of the old witch with the sword is a masterpiece. A young girl seeks to free a young man trapped in a sorcerer's troupe of travelling players.
In Dark Castle published in 1978 a young girl flees imprisonment in the Dark Castle but the dark shadow over her is not easily escaped. There is a strong dualism in the book reflected in how the chapters alternate between hero and heroine. Lee weaves existing fantasy elements into her own special style.
In Shon The Taken published in 1979 Shon's encounter with Crow's children changes him forever. His tribe becomes his would-be killers. He must seek the city of Crow to find himself again. There is a cyclic theme here of primitives being in touch with magic powers, but then civilisation occluding or replacing those powers. Magic only returns after a return to primitivism. For magic and civilisation one could read faith and religion, but this is going beyond what's written.
The title of Day By Night published in 1980 hints at the dualism of the book as a whole. A single world with light and dark sides, each side thinking the other is legend. On one side Vel Thaidis's world falls apart as she goes from aristocrat to pauper. On the other side fabulast Vitra's world falls apart as she spins the tale of Vel Thaidis - or is it spinning her?
Sabella, published in 1980, is a vampire(ss) novel set on Mars. Like most of the Tanith Lee books I cherish a young adult novel. An imaginative use of a vampire theme coupled with a believable heroine. Strong fitting ending.