Daggerspell.

I think it is fair to say the setting is inspired both by Tolkien and the Celtic (e.g. Mary Stewart) take on the King Arthur/Merlin myth.

There are some interesting plot twists that also serve as character development.

As someone who grew up around the time the book was written, I found the "New-agey" take on magic a bit jarring. Reincarnation plays a big role, as do things like "the astral plane" and "auras". It might be just me, but it feels like that terminology ties the book to the 1980s a bit.

Full credit to Kerr for giving her female protagonists agency and complexity in a way that works in a traditionally patriarchal setting.

I liked this book. It was some classic, cheesy 1970's fantasy fun. If you don't expect there to be much more to it, and if you like that sort of stuff, you will definitely enjoy Daggerspell.

It's got romance for the boys, sword fights for the girls, new-agey magic for all of us, and a plot so complicated you will need a spreadsheet to keep track of it! What more could one possible ask for?