Marta Randall's Sword of Winter is a gem, low-key fantasy in a world just about to reach the industrial revolution. For some reason I can't think of Elizabeth Lynn without thinking of Randall.
John Crowley's Little, Big is probably my favorite story about fairies ever. It's fractal, told in a series of vignettes. Sort of a family chronicle meets Midsummer Night's Dream. Some people can't get into it because of the way it's constructed, but it's no Tam Lin; it has a measurable plot.
Second to that is C.J. Cherryh's Arafel's Saga. More Welsh than you can shake a stick at and some insanely lovely images. I can imagine Ars Magica's idea of faerie regio coming straight from here.
Re: How do you correct opinions?
John Crowley's Little, Big is probably my favorite story about fairies ever. It's fractal, told in a series of vignettes. Sort of a family chronicle meets Midsummer Night's Dream. Some people can't get into it because of the way it's constructed, but it's no Tam Lin; it has a measurable plot.
Second to that is C.J. Cherryh's Arafel's Saga. More Welsh than you can shake a stick at and some insanely lovely images. I can imagine Ars Magica's idea of faerie regio coming straight from here.