Mortal Coils by Eric Nylund

Eric Nylund’s new novel Mortal Coils is a young adult urban fantasy which is lacking in werewolves and vampires. Thus, Mortal Coils is a wonderful entry into this genre and it doesn’t have to fall back on all things cliché.  Read the rest.

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

…No one walked away unscathed from the events of Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception. James bears physical scars, along with a persistent torch for Deirdre, who only sees him as a friend. Dee, meanwhile, is pining for Luke and spiraling into depression. James and Dee think the faerie folk are through with them, but when they begin classes at Thornking-Ash, a residential fine-arts high school, trouble follows them there. Read the rest.

The Storyteller and Other Tales by K.V. Johansen

The Storyteller and Other Tales is a book of stories, and I mean that as the highest compliment. I felt like I was transported from the 21st century to some Thane’s hall with a roaring fire and a smoke hole instead of a chimney, while K.V. Johansen wove tales that took me to different and wonderful traditions.  Read the rest.

The Alchemaster’s Apprentice by Walter Moers

… I enthusiastically recommend The Alchemaster’s Apprentice for young adults and adults alike. Walter Moers’s talent for taking the mundane and making it magical is reminiscent of some of the early Xanth books by Piers Anthony, but Moers doesn’t rely on puns and other cheap humor to entertain us. He just creates something sublimely interesting and fun.  Read the rest.

Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle

…Bewitching Season was a perfectly bewitching YA book. I sincerely enjoyed Marissa Doyle’s ability to take several different characters who have very different stories and bring all of them together into an exceptionally enjoyable and satisfying end. Essentially Bewitching Season is a love story combined with an “evil magic” plot. Sometimes books that try to combine two very different plots become overwhelmed by one or the other. Doyle, however, has a genius for combining the two… Read the rest.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

… Leviathan is a wonderful mix of the utterly original and the familiar — alternate history layered atop known history, engineering and biology tweaked a bit askew from what we now know and do, fresh portrayal of age-old fantasy/storytelling tropes … It all just works as a compelling story, a fun ride, an exuberantly creative ride, and confirms Scott Westerfeld as one of the best writers going now. Highly recommended. Read the rest.

Weetzie Bat: Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block

Francesca Lia Block writes strange but intoxicating tales; stories that are surreal and yet oddly comforting. To classify her books are nearly impossible. The format is that of fairytales, in which her protagonists face a series of challenges, and learn a valuable life lesson by book’s end. Yet her genre is that of magic realism… Her style is something else altogether, and it’s really not something I can even begin to describe. It has to speak for itself…but I guess it’s kind of like looking through a kaleidoscope whilst eating pink cotton candy and listening to psychedelic music… Read the rest.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

Princess Cimorene is tired of embroidery, etiquette, and protocol classes. She wants to take Latin, fencing, magic, and cooking lessons instead. But, that’s just “not done.” So to avoid a betrothal to a handsome and charming (but not particularly bright) prince, she runs away to become housekeeper for a dragon… Patricia C. Wrede’s Dealing with Dragons is a refreshing change from some of the more recent fantasy epics aimed at teenage girls… Read the rest.

The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson

…  This is without question one of the most moving books I have read in some time. The character of Octavian is one of the most unique and fully realized I have ever encountered in young adult fiction. That The Pox Party won the National Book Award should be no surprise. Read the rest.

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding

If you enjoy the atmosphere and imagination of Philip Pullman, Garth Nix, or Philip Reeve, then you’re sure to like Chris Wooding, a YA fantasy author who does not feel the need to fill his fantasy world with elves, dwarfs, wizards, dragons and every other fantasy cliché that’s been done to death since Tolkien published The Lord of the Rings. Read the rest.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

…I was sad when this book ended. I can’t wait to read the second book and I would totally recommend it to any teen who is having issues with how they look or with society’s idea of what beauty is. Westerfeld’s message is simple, but surprisingly hard to grasp for many youths these days: Embrace diversity and be yourself… Read the rest.

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

… Tally finally has all she ever wanted: She’s pretty, she’s popular, she’s in the coolest clique in New Pretty Town. What could possibly go wrong now? … Once again, Scott Westerfeld has whisked us off to a sci-fi adventure world with more twists and turns that even a Hoverboard can handle. I can’t wait to read the next book!  Read the rest.

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett is one of the funniest writers alive. Who else could leave their readers laughing so hard that their guts are spilling out of their sides over the actions of a piece of luggage? (Earlier Discworld novel.) It’s been many years since I’ve read a Discworld novel, and I’m disappointed that I allowed so much time to elapse. I thought that Pratchett, like Piers Anthony, would have lost the freshness of his work. Boy was I wrong… Read the rest.

The Legends of King Arthur by Rosemary Sutcliff

There are countless retellings and adaptations concerning the life and times of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and I’m not even close to having read all of them. Therefore, it’s impossible for me to say that Rosemary Sutcliff‘s version is the definitive Arthurian retelling. However, it’s certainly one of the best. Told in Sutcliff’s graceful prose that is both epic and intimate when need-be, and the tricky subjects like incest, adultery and bloodshed are conveyed without being either too prudish or overly graphic. Read the rest.

Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones

… Diana Wynne Jones is almost too good at creating the atmosphere and feeling of boarding school for these young people, where even the misfits are at odds with each other rather than banding together to oppose the Theresas and Simons of the school. Each student is a little gem of character study, whether it be the perfect Theresa and her ‘new crazes’ (in this case, it’s knitting), Charles and the complicated code he makes in order to demonstrate how much he hates the school, or Brian’s complete and utter selfishness… Read the rest.

Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones

Sometimes, when you’re rummaging around in the heap that the fantasy shelves can at times be, you find a gem. It’s a small, unassuming little thing, but all the more precious for being so unexpected. Diana Wynne Jones‘ Dark Lord of Derkholm is such a gem… Read the rest.

Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones

… Diana Wynne Jones draws us into her spell with this novel, never letting us put it down. The story gets more and more intricate as is progresses, making less and less sense, and we are captivated, unable to turn away until we know what’s going on. An excellent book, complex and moving. Heaps of stars… Read the rest.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

…. The premise for The Hunger Games is admittedly somewhat derivative and one could come up with dozens of possible Hollywood-pitch-like pairings: “it’s Survivor meets Running Man”, “it’s The Lottery meets The Most Dangerous Game”, “it’s …”. None of it matters. What very often counts in a genre novel, where many of the same old premises, same old tropes, same old formulas, appear and reappear over the years is not the original starting point, but what you do with it. What The Hunger Games is, is good…  Read the rest.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Kristin Cashore’s Graceling is a wonderfully surefooted novel that pleases from start to finish. It is set in the land of the Seven Kingdoms, where some (Gracelings) are born with a particular talent ranging in scope and usefulness: mind-reading, fighting, cooking, climbing trees, etc. The main character, Lady Katsa, has a fighter/killer Grace which she usually employs (rarely happily) in the service of her uncle, King Randa as his “muscle.” The story opens with a bang (actually some flying kicks, savage punches, useless swordplay, and so on) as Katsa uses her Grace for her own purpose, performing a daring rescue of an old man kept prisoner by another king…  Read the rest.

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor

I’m having a hard time reviewing Lips Touch: Three Times. Intelligent language seems to be failing me. I don’t want to write a review so much as I want to jump up and down and squeal like a crazed fangirl. Lips Touch is chocolate in book form. It’s dark, it’s rich, it’s delicious, and it’s precisely to my taste. Read the rest.

Heart of Ice by Louise Cooper

Louise Cooper’s Dark Enchantment books are a series of reasonably short novels, all stand-alone stories, that cater well to the young teenage girl who likes a blend of romance, mystery, mild horror and fairytale. Though I don’t fit into that age group anymore, the books in the Dark Enchantment series are nice, quick reads, perfect for cold wintry nights by the fire, just complex enough to hold my interest… Read the rest.

Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey

… Visceral and dark, Skin Hunger is a National Book Award finalist. It is the first book in a planned trilogy, and ends on a cliffhanger. I am very interested in finding out what happens to Sadima and Hahp in their separate stories, and to see if their plans come to fruition. I would like to believe that a happy ending is possible, but right now I’m not sure how they will accomplish it. I highly recommend this book to any reader, YA or adult, who enjoys dark, character-driven fantasy.  Read the rest.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

….Shiver is written in vivid prose that engages all of the senses. Maggie Stiefvater does a great job of evoking the sight of a single spot of red against a sea of white, the sound of canine nails scratching at the deck outside Grace’s house, and the smell of paper and ink in a bookstore on a warm summer day, making Shiver a fully immersive experience. I nearly forgot it was July here as I read; I could hear the winter winds howling.  Read the rest.

The Rose and the Beast: Nine Fairy Tales by Francesca Lia Block

The Rose and the Beast: Nine Fairy Tales was my first look into the writing of Francesca Lia Block, and I was immediately captivated by both her style and tone and her unsurpassable use of imagery, and her ability to make old fairytales into new, darker and profound creations. It is gradually becoming clear in the general world of literature that fairytales in their original form were not at all intended for children, and the advent of sweet little fairytales, beginning with the Brothers Grimm and accumulating in the works of Enid Blyton, are gradually heading back to what they were originally used for: deep insights into the minds and souls of human beings as a whole. With that in mind, Francesca Lia Block perfectly captures their essence and meaning… Read the rest.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

It could have been maudlin. It’s not. It could have been preachy. It’s not. What Before I Fall is, is awesome… Oliver writes in an authentic teen voice and never breaks character. Some YA authors write characters who talk and think like thirty-year-olds, and some authors try too hard to sound hip. Sam’s voice is spot-on…  By the end of the book, I bet you’ll love Sam, who grows in so many ways as she sees everything she’s been oblivious to all these years. The character development, and all the lovely falling and flight imagery, may bring tears to your eyes. And Kent! Pardon my gushing, but he may well be my favorite YA male lead ever… Before I Fall is a book that will stay with me for a long time. I suspect it’ll become one of my annual rereads… Read the rest.

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Wild Magic was the first book I ever read by fantasy teen writer Tamora Pierce, and continues to be my favourite… Wild Magic is the first book of The Immortals quartet, and in my opinion, the best series of stories that Pierce has to offer, placing her immensely likable heroine Daine amidst a backdrop of magical upheaval, the threat of war and Daine’s own mysterious and tragic past. That Pierce manages to meld this huge range of subjects into a coherent whole is amazing — that it is set in a fantasy world that reads as a realistic place makes it even more remarkable… Read the rest.

The Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce

… The Emperor Mage is a truly excellent read. For the first time we go across the inland sea to Charthak, and Pierce constructs the empire with astonishing detail and color: everything from army regulations to the type of jewelry that the nobles wear is included in such a way that doesn’t feel encyclopedic or boring. The palace is especially beautiful, from the magnificent statues, to the Hall of Bones, to the aviary and menagerie. The characters are equally fascinating… I just couldn’t bring myself to put it down! Read the rest.

The Realms of the Gods by Tamora Pierce

The Realms of the Gods is the final book in Tamora Pierce’s Immortals quartet, and probably the best… Tamora Pierce really outdoes herself in this final installment, and though many may disagree, I feel that this is her best book to date, melding together a range of themes and ideas, with the cosmic battle of the gods contrasted against the human Battle of Port Legann … Moments that feel utterly epic are matched against the everyday necessities of life, and throughout it all Daine remains an immensely likable heroine: trustworthy, courageous, loving, kind and intelligent… Read the rest.

Briar’s Book by Tamora Pierce

Briar’s Book, the last book in the Circle of Magic quartet (also published as The Healing in the Vine) is perhaps one of Tamora Pierce’s best novels. Unlike her other series, which deal with battles, magic, fantasy creatures, revolution and politics, Briar’s Book centers something very mundane by comparison: a plague. Yet Pierce incorporates within the story all her powerful themes of love and friendship, pain and suffering, grief and hope, and humanity’s capabilities for both good and evil that make her one of the best YA fantasy writers out there… A fantastic read all around.

The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

This, my friends, is how young adult fantasy is done. In The Blue Sword, Robin McKinley has created a world out of whole cloth and polished it until it shines… McKinley is a master of prose, and this book has stood the test of time for almost 25 years now… The slowly evolving relationship between Harry and Corlath is one of the finest I have ever read in young adult fantasy. What could easily have been just another coming of age story in the hands of a lesser author becomes a gem of a tale. The Blue Sword has a permanent place on my shelf of honor. I’ve read this book multiple times over the last two decades and it is as magical the fifth or sixth time as it is the first. It is highly recommended for all readers, not just young adult audiences. The Blue Sword will not disappoint. Read the rest.

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

… Sometimes I read a novel and feel like it was written specifically for me, so perfectly does it hit all my favorite notes. Sisters Red is one of those. Imagine the dark fairy tale world of Angela Carter, with a forbidden yet gentle romance reminiscent of Maggie Stiefvater‘s novels, plus some Buffy-style ass-kicking. (And it is Buffy-style, featuring hatchets and throwing knives rather than the guns more prevalent in adult urban fantasy.) Then put all of this into a tight plot: tiny little details are seeded into the story in the beginning, and by the end, they all matter. Tremendously… Sisters Red works well as a retold fairy tale, and it also works well as a fusion between the action-oriented type of urban fantasy and the angsty-love-story type. Highly recommended… Read the rest.

Magician by Raymond E. Feist

As a teenager, Magician by Raymond E Feist was one of my favourite books. I have recently re-read this book  and, though I didn’t find it as good as I remembered it to be, it’s still a great story… One interesting aspect to Magician is the way it revolves so much around families… To me this adds to the realism… Read the rest.

The Dragon Charmer by Jan Siegel (Amanda Hemingway)

There is no middle ground when it comes to Jan Siegel’s novels: you either love them or hate them. Considering I love them, you might want to take this review with a pinch of salt as you may take my advice to read it and find that it is simply not to your taste. In any case, borrow before you buy and hopefully you’ll enjoy these books as much as I do. They are beautifully written, with intriguing ideas and careful plotting, and (in my humble opinion) are among the best books that the fantasy genre has to offer… Read the rest.

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

If you haven’t read any Ursula Le Guin, you need to put her at the top of your list!… Her writing is beautiful — lyrical and powerful. I love how she makes all of her words count. They are all necessary, there’s no fluff or redundancy — it’s simple, natural, alive, and vivid. Her understanding of different people and cultures (her father was an anthropologist and her mother was a psychologist) enhances her ability to create imaginative, creative, and believable characters and worlds. When you step into Earthsea, you feel like you’re in a real world with real people. It’s deep and engrossing right from the start… Read the rest.

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

… The book succeeds in pretty much all it does. Its world creation is rich and full and three-dimensional. Its characters are sharply detailed, realistic, complex beings. Its plot exciting, its language vivid (sometimes classified as young adult—I’m not sure why—it does not talk down to a perceived younger audience, in terms of complexity of language or philosophy). And in the best test of a good book, it leaves the reader wanting much more; luckily LeGuin provides with several more books in the series. Very highly recommended. Read the rest.

The Farthest Shore by Ursula Le Guin

… The broadening of characters that began in Atuan continues in Shore. Though Ged is once again the main character, he is not the sole focus as Le Guin gives considerable attention to Arren’s growth as well as, though to a lesser extent to the other Masters of Roke. In fact, the small scenes involving the Masters are some of the most exquisite and most moving. Much of the same personal reflection and introspective nature of Atuan is also present in Shore, mixed in nicely with more dramatic, action-oriented scenes. Ged is an old man at this point, and mortality is an issue as it really hasn’t been before. Death and its flip side Life are in fact, the a major subjects of the novel… Read the rest.

Gifts: Le Guin’s usual mastery of story and style

There are lots of reasons to like a good LeGuin novel — her spare prose, her sharpness of description, her ease of storytelling, but in simple terms, when LeGuin writes well (nearly always), it boils down to the fact that reading becomes bare unadorned pleasure. Pleasure at its purest and simplest. And that is the gift of this book… Gifts is a slim story, yet works on many levels. The simple plot is effectively suspenseful and well-paced… The style is typical LeGuin. Spare, poetic, vivid. There isn’t a word out of place and she makes five words do what most need fifteen for… Read the rest.

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

There’s always a danger when you go back and reread a favorite story from childhood. All too often treasured books don’t live up the memories you have of them. A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle is not one of those books… A Wrinkle In Time, originally published in 1962, is a little dated in some of the details (does any YA reader today remember when computers used to fill up a room?) but the themes that the book deals with — good versus evil, conformity versus individualism, and the power of love — are timeless… Read the rest.

Lirael by Garth Nix

Lirael is the sequel to Garth Nix‘s best selling book Sabriel, and the second of his Old Kingdom trilogy… Once more Garth Nix has written an amazing book: a rich, mysterious fantasy world, an intriguing, twisting plot, strong and realistic characterization… Nix really is a master at all of these areas. The Old Kingdom has been added upon, especially in regards to the Clayr, who were just distant allies in Sabriel. Now we get to see deep inside their home and customs, including the huge library that is surely every book-lovers dream: not just a place of endless levels of manuscripts but even deeper chambers of monsters, magic, artifacts, underground gardens, burial chambers… I could have wandered in there with Lirael forever. Read the rest.

Abhorsen by Garth Nix

… The pace doesn’t let up for a moment in Nix’s much anticipated conclusion, and if you’ve already invested a lot into the characters and situations of the first two books then it will be difficult to put down Abhorsen until the last page is read. Where Sabriel was an exciting read, and Lirael was fascinating and meandering, Abhorsen is quite simply explosive. There is barely a page where something drastic isn’t happening, where our heroes aren’t fighting, crawling, sneaking or running for dear life. It is quite simply an exhaustive read… Read the rest.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

I had heard the buzz surrounding Kristin Cashore’s Graceling and my curiosity was piqued. I hoped that it hadn’t been over-hyped, but was pleasantly surprised to find myself reading a fast-paced, intriguing fantasy novel with a wonderfully real and sympathetic female protagonist… Graceling is essentially the story of one young woman’s struggle to assert herself in a world in which she’s treated as an outsider. It is unashamedly feminist, but not in the obnoxious “women are good, men are bad” kind of way; rather Katsa’s journey leads her to connect and form friendships with various men in her life, and come to terms with her fears of love, marriage and commitment before finding her own definition of those terms. It’s a breath of fresh air in the young adult genre, which seems to be increasingly full of passive, insipid heroines who are content to sit back and wait for their love interest to save them… one of the healthiest and most realistic relationships portrayed in a young adult novel since Ella Enchanted, in which love is based on common interests, mutual respect, and friendship. Read the rest.

The Darkangel by Meredith Ann Pierce

I picked up The Darkangel the first time at my school library when I was 13 and I stayed up past three in the morning trying to finish it; It was that captivating. It has all the components of a fairytale, and yet is worked into a fantasy novel that includes vampires, gargoyles and other strange and macabre creatures. Don’t be put off by the word ‘vampire’ though; this book isn’t yet another vampire book of that most over-used genre, but an incredible story with a huge scope and scale that stretches from a small village, to the vampire’s forbidden castle, to a seemingly endless desert… Read the rest.

A Gathering of Gargoyles: A Lost Masterpiece

… A Gathering of Gargoyles is a voyaging novel… The entire story reads like an old, dark fairytale, with traditional elements given new life — an invisibility cloak, magic fruit, a damsel to be sacrificed, a sacrificial stone — all sound like utter clichés, but are deliberately presented here in such originality that it is if you are reading of them for the first time. These books have my highest recommendation — everything about them appealed to me, from the content to the underlying themes to the style of the writing. Why these books remain largely unknown is a mystery to me, as Meredith Ann Pierce’s talent as a storyteller is right up there with the masters of the fantasy genre. Read the rest.

The Pearl of the Soul of the World by Meredith Ann Pierce

As the last installment of the Darkangel trilogy, The Pearl of the Soul of the World had a lot to live up to, as well as a lot to wrap up. In the first book The Darkangel, slavegirl Aerial saved the darkangel Irrylath from the misery of his own existence under the power of the White Witch and returned him to his mother’s house. In A Gathering of Gargoyles she undertook another task, in searching for the lost lons to fight against the White Witch in the coming battle and in doing so discovered her own extraordinary heritage. Now the various countries of Aerial’s world have gathered together in a great army to march against the witch, with her husband Irrylath at its head. But the story begins in the most unexpected way… Read the rest.

Birth of the Firebringer by Meredith Ann Pierce

Meredith Ann Pierce is best known for her wonderful Darkangel trilogy, which sadly is not as renowned as it deserves to be. Even lesser known is Pierce’s Firebringer trilogy, based on stories she wrote and dreams she experienced as a young child, which chronicle the lives and adventures of a tribe of unicorns exiled from their home… Without close reading, the structure of the novel can appear painfully predictable; the young prince is headstrong and reckless, with a devoted sidekick, a strict father, a fiery love interest and a set destiny laid before him — you’ve read all this before, right? Wrong… Read the rest.

The Son of Summer Stars by Meredith Ann Pierce

As usual, Pierce’s strength is in her visual style and world-making techniques. We are treated to a beautiful retelling of the creation of the sun and moon by the goddess Alma, as well as the culture and lifestyles of the plain dwelling unicorns. But Pierce outdoes herself in the creation of the Smoking Mountains and the lives of the dragons that dwell there — it is imaginative writing at its very best… The Firebringer trilogy is a beautifully written fantasy series that transcends the standard expectations of the genre. Especially relevant is Pierce’s treatment of the unicorns themselves; in a world of cutesy portrayals, tacky figurines and various shades of the colour pink, Pierce gives the unicorns back some of their past dignity… Read the rest.

Predator’s Gold by Philip Reeve

… Predator’s Gold is set several years later, where we find that Tom and the horribly-scarred Hester are still together, taking on passengers and cargo to make a living. One such passenger is Professor Pennyroyal, a pompous explorer and adventurer with a penchant for stretching the truth… the action keeps rolling: escapes, intrigue, kidnapping, betrayals, battles… you name it and its here. As an adventure story, I would be hard-pressed to recommend anything more exciting than this. Most interesting is Reeves use of political agendas and intrigue…  the book suddenly takes on a level of depth and allusion that you would never expect in what appears to be a simple adventure story. Read the rest.

New Moon by Midori Snyder

Midori Snyder set out to write a trilogy, because that is what fantasy authors were supposed to do, and she wrote one of the best trilogies I have ever read. This little known gem, in its first printing named The Queen’s Quarter and in its second printing referred to as The Oran Trilogy, is a multi-layered treasure of a story.  It is a story not only about the personal struggles of four young heroines, but of the country’s quest for political freedom, and the land’s fight to find magical stability. Snyder balances all three of these plot threads and weaves an engrossing tale of enduring worth… If you buy New Moon, buy the other two books in the series as well, because you won’t want to stop reading when you get to the last page. I can recommend New Moon for anyone who enjoys excellent fantasy literature. Read the rest.

Sadar’s Keep by Midori Snyder

… Snyder writes very complex characters in Sadar’s Keep. We realize that Zorah had valid reasons for pursuing her course of action. The new queens are acting like teenage girls, which means they are sporadically getting along with each other, and bickering at other times. But we also see them growing and maturing as they are forced into some nasty circumstances, and also as they deal with the consequences of the choices they make. It’s nice to see characters reacting to the world around them, rather than having the world change to suit the characters. Sadar’s Keep keeps up the excellent story from New Moon, and I highly recommend it. Read the rest.

Beldan’s Fire by Midori Snyder

Beldan’s Fire is the final showdown between the new Queens’ Quarter and the Fire Queen Zorah, and the plot races along to its conclusion… it does not end the way you probably think it will. She balances beautiful, lyrical writing with gritty characters from the urban underbelly. The characters continue to develop, and are still flawed human beings doing what they have to do, which I think is what makes them interesting, and possibly even truly heroic… Beldan’s Fire is well enough written to stand on its own, but I recommend that you read the whole trilogy to truly enjoy the story. The Oran Trilogy isn’t well known, but will be enjoyed by anyone who likes good character-driven fantasy. Read the rest.

The Snow Queen by Eileen Kernaghan

… The Snow Queen is a short novel, a single-sitting book if you’re a fast reader like me, yet more enchanting than many longer works. Nothing is superfluous here; Eileen Kernaghan tells the story she has come to tell — a mythic reworking of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale of the same name — and that’s it. The enchantment begins with the lovely cover, graced with an illustration drawn from a 1913 book of fairy tales. Then, in the first paragraph, I was taken back to my childhood storybooks… Read the rest.

A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner

… This fourth book in THE THIEF series by Megan Whalen Turner brings it back to his former brilliance… A Conspiracy of Kings would serve as an acceptable stand-alone book… The story is an intriguing blend of action and philosophy. Political machinations between and within warring nations are balanced against action as gripping as any summer blockbuster thriller… left me breathless from both the action and the emotional investment skillfully drawn out by Megan Whalen Turner’s talented writing… The multi-layered characters and the seriousness of the issues being addressed make this a weightier read than a lot of young adult fantasy I have read, and make me have no qualms about recommending this jewel of a tale to adult readers as well as junior high and older young adult readers. A Conspiracy of Kings will have you spellbound from its opening pages to its last, enigmatic words… Read the rest.

Infernal Devices by Philip Reeve

… Philip Reeve has created one of the most vivid and exciting fantasy worlds in recent fiction, a post-apocalyptic world where massive itinerant cities roam the wastelands, preying on smaller cities and static communities… With its multi-tiered traction cities, deep underwater complexes, floating aerial cities, and plethora of submarines and airships that travel between all three, it’s only a matter of time before someone makes this series into a visually splendid film… Reeve delivers a story that is chocka-block full of action, danger, excitement, mystery and suspense… Depressingly though, THE HUNGRY CITY CHRONICLES seem to be all but unknown among the annals of children’s literature. You honestly don’t know what you’re missing. Read the rest.

The Faery Reel: Tales from the Twilight Realm edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling

The Faery Reel is an indispensable tome for anyone who has a mania for faeries. Aside from the short stories in this anthology, the comprehensive introduction of Terri Windling on the fey and the illustrations by Charles Vess are worth the price of admission in themselves. Moreover, the last few pages feature a Further Reading section on the topic of faeries. The typography of the book is appropriate to the faery theme and makes the text quite readable. In other words, it’s a really pretty book. But The Faery Reel isn’t just about exterior beauty, and I’d still buy the book if only for the story selections and the poetry… I really love this anthology… Read the rest.

A Darkling Plain by Philip Reeve

… this is the last chapter of Tom Natsworthy and Hester Shaw’s adventures in a world filled with airships, traction cities, predator suburbs, static communities and terrifying animated human corpses fitted with robotic parts called Stalkers… the ending comes with a fair amount of satisfaction, bittersweetness and sadness that it was over; even though I know I can read it again, I’ll never be able to read it again for the first time… once you read any book in this series, you will never forget it. It has the raw creativity and rich world-building that only the most consummate storytellers can create and sustain, and this series combines the very best of adventure, romance, suspense, character development, tragedy, pathos and sacrifice into an unforgettable reading experience. Read the rest.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Sometimes it is nice to be wrong. As a general rule when it comes to young adult urban fantasy I try to stay well away from the mainstream authors. The rule for me has been that if my 16-year-old is reading it and loving it, then I will steer clear of it. In the case of The Hunger Games, I was dead wrong. Suzanne Collins‘ take on a post-apocalyptic North America is a cross somewhere between an Orwellian controlled series of city-states and E.E. Knight’s Vampire Earth, minus the vampires… Collins is a brilliant storyteller and The Hunger Games deserves all of the attention and fan support that is has received. From the jaded critics’ corner, I tip my hat in tribute to a great author and a good book about which my initial assumptions were quite wrong… Read the rest.

The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh

Once in a while, a book comes along that surprises you. I picked The Crowfield Curse up on a whim, being attracted to its stark cover art and intriguing title, and it turns out to have been the best book-related choice I’ve made in months. A rich, unsettling atmosphere, imaginative use of old folktales and legends, a sweet, likeable protagonist, a fascinating central conceit — this book has it all. Read more »

The Kiss of Death by Marcus Sedgwick

… The Kiss of Death is a fantastically original and exciting novel, full of blood, danger, thrills, mystery, and legions of the undead. It is sequel of sorts to My Swordhand Is Singing, in that it features Peter and his father’s sword from the previous book, though here the attention turns to two new protagonists. Perhaps it’s better described as a companion piece to its predecessor, as although it’s not necessary to have read My Swordhand is Singing, familiarity with who Peter is and his experiences in his own story will add a certain weight to his doings here… Sedgwick writes in simple but evocative prose, and is a master at gradually accumulating clues and ratcheting up the suspense as each chapter goes by… this book fires on all cylinders, with strong characterization, vivid atmosphere, quirky plot developments and strong, suspenseful storyline… Read the rest.

Aunt Maria by Diana Wynne Jones

Diana Wynne Jones once again combines eccentric characters, moral ambiguity, magic, time-traveling, shapeshifting and an uncanny ability to portray human behaviour in one of her best books: Aunt Maria. With all the twists and turns that we expect from Wynne Jones, Aunt Maria is one of the most re-readable and enjoyable books in her vast collection… I would say that Aunt Maria is my favourite Diana Wynne Jones book, but she has so many great titles that I wouldn’t want to limit myself to just one. In any case, Aunt Maria is an immensely enjoyable book — and if there are any film-makers out there, it would also make a brilliant movie: hint, hint. Read the rest.

Power of Three by Diana Wynne Jones

Combining the atmosphere of Celtic folklore with a plot reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, an intricate plot (including a huge twist halfway through that will completely turn your perception of the story on its head), and likable characters, Power of Three is one of Diana Wynne Jones’ best novels — and so inevitably it is one of her least known… In terms of theme and plot, Power of Three may very well be the deepest and most complicated novel for young readers that Diana Wynne Jones has written. Exploring the definition of humanity, the worth of the individual and the necessity for peace at its core, the book also has plenty of humor, quirky characters and intricate subplots… Diana Wynne Jones is an expert at portraying human behavior… Power of Three definitely has my recommendation, though I should warn you about reading other reviews on the story, as some of them give away the big twist — something that shouldn’t be revealed if you want to truly revel in Diana Wynne Jones’ genius. Read the rest.

East of Midnight by Tanith Lee

Tanith Lee once again proves herself a master of young adult fantasy with this wonderful (but apparently little known) story of the battle of the sexes. Set in a gloriously created world where women ride horned lions and rule over mankind, East of Midnight is a book that is easy to read, yet raises a range of questions on the differences between man and woman and the way in which we interact with each other… The story races along on every page, being continually colourful, fascinating, exciting and nerve-wracking… East of Midnight is a rich, exciting, poignant read that deserves more recognition than it appears to have. With strong and realistic characters, a beautiful visual landscape and a problematic situation that can be overcome only by the two sexes working together, this is in every particular a great book. Read the rest.

The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith

… The Forbidden Game ends up being Smith’s best trilogy since The Secret Circle, a frantic and exciting story, littered throughout with clever riddles and twists, in which the teens must rely on their wits, courage and each other in order to survive the ordeal ahead of them. Smith can make situations truly frightening without veering off into gore or vulgarity, and has a wonderful grasp of these characters and what they’re capable of. The bittersweet ending is handled well, and like many others have admitted, I too was up reading till the early hours of the morning. As far as lightweight YA reading goes, L.J. Smith’s nineties material is still relevant, and a welcome re-addition to the bookstores. Read the rest.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

… Like many people, I was familiar with the 1987 film The Princess Bride long before I read (or even knew about) William Goldman’s original novel, the extensively titled The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure. Like the film, the novel has a framing narrative that introduces the tale itself; unlike the film it is not of a young boy being read the story by his grandfather, but Goldman’s own experiences with the book both as a child and an adult. Working with the conceit that it is a “real” novel written by the (entirely fictional) S. Morgenstern, Goldman discusses how he was introduced to the novel as a boy and then undertook the task of abridging the text in order to make it palatable to modern readers. The “original” text, as it turns out, was a long-winded satire on the culture and society of the novel’s imaginary setting — something that Goldman cuts out in favor of the adventure and romance… Ranging from touching to humorous, adventurous to romantic, tragic to nobly idealistic, it — like the film — is one of those stories that gets under your skin and stays a part of you, no matter how old or young you are when first experiencing it. Read the rest.

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

First published in 1962, Madeleine L’Engle‘s classic book (along with its subsequent sequels) remains one of the greats of children’s literature, and it is a testimony to her skill that she can get away with using the line “it was a dark and stormy night” as her opening sentence. Widely considered the first science fiction novel written for children, A Wrinkle in Time is a must for any serious young reader’s bookshelf… Its time to go get your own copy of A Wrinkle in Time. Read the rest.

Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve

…I loved every second of The Hungry Cities Chronicles, and knowing that there was a prequel in the works helped ease the sorrow that came with concluding the original four-part series… Philip Reeve is a brilliant writer who isn’t afraid to take risks with his style: utilizing point-of-view changes, switches between past and present tense, direct addresses to the reader, made-up adjectives, and even categorizing things right in the middle of sentences, complete with bullet points… and Reeve’s hysterically dry wit always leaves me shaking my head in wonderment that such a dark, gritty story can be told in such a light, casual tone… Fever Crumb is a wonderful example of a prequel done right… The characters, the plot, the world-building — it all comes together in a complex, satisfying, thought-provoking, amazingly good read. Read the rest.

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor

… Although it’s been a while since Kelly reviewed Lips Touch: Three Times, her enthusiasm for it obviously made an impact, for whilst I was browsing through the YA section of my local library, I saw a familiar-looking face staring up at me. It was the cover art for Laini Taylor’s book, an image which had clearly been stored away somewhere in the back of my mind, waiting for me to recognize it in the real world. And so, a few years later, I settle down to take Kelly’s recommendation. I’ve ended up with the same bouncy enjoyment, and can’t wait to track down more of Laini Taylor’s work… Read the rest.

Huntress by Malinda Lo

Huntress is a prequel to Malinda Lo’s debut novel, Ash, though the two books can stand independently. Huntress takes place several centuries earlier, in a time when the country’s culture was more analogous to that of feudal China… The best thing about Huntress is that nothing in it is a cop-out. Anytime there’s the possibility of an easy way out, that’s not where Lo takes the story. This lack of cop-outs makes Huntress stand out against a number of books that foreshadow difficult choices but don’t follow through; against any book where the bad guys are made of cardboard; and even against Ash, where the solution was something of a loophole. Don’t think, though, that this is a depressing book. Huntress is filled with noble characters, beautiful imagery, and selfless love; and left me feeling uplifted after I finished it… Read the rest.

City of Masks by Mary Hoffman

I wasn’t sure what to expect with the first book in Mary Hoffman’s Stravaganza series, but what I got was a suspenseful, exciting, imaginative and satisfying tale populated by vivid characters and set in a beautifully realized alternative-world. If you enjoy the world-traversing adventures found in The Chronicles of Narnia, then City of Masks and its sequels will be right up your alley… Mary Hoffman has written a fantastic story that ticks all the boxes of what makes a satisfying read: an interesting premise, a range of likable characters, a rollicking story, and a world that you wish you could explore for yourself. Hoffman’s gift is her wonderfully rich and descriptive writing. Likewise, it’s hard not to fall in love with her characters… To top it all off is an unexpected and bittersweet ending that will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. Much like Philip Reeve and Meredith Anne Pierce, Mary Hoffman is a fantasy writer for young adults who is woefully unrecognized. Read the rest.

A Web of Air by Philip Reeve

The second of the prequel trilogy to Philip Reeve’s wonderful Hungry Cities series continues Reeve’s imaginative, exhilarating, unpredictable story of life in a post-apocalyptic world where seagulls have rudimentary communication skills, people live in houses that can be hoisted up and down hillsides, and an ominous event known as the Downsizing has left technology beyond the understanding of the human population… As always, Reeve’s world-building is incredible… Reeve has always been a master of creating morally ambiguous characters and placing them in a story where the good guys can be ruthless, brutal and oblivious to the pain they cause; and bad guys can be gentle and amiable and genuinely loving to their families. It’s rich, deep, thought-provoking stuff… Reeve is a brilliant writer and it continues to baffle me that there are so few reviews for his work. He manages the perfect balance between likable characters, unpredictable plot and fascinating setting, with a female protagonist that easily stands alongside Garth Nix‘s Sabriel and Philip Pullman‘s Lyra in terms of sheer resourcefulness and competence. Read the rest.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente

… The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland is Catherynne Valente’s first young adult novel and, as Valente fans will expect, it’s gorgeous in every way. The story is fun and the characters and plot will appeal to children, but this book goes far beyond most modern children’s fantasy literature. It’s most comparable to Alice in Wonderland; Like Lewis Carroll’s classic, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland is intelligent, beautifully written, packed with imagination, and full of thoughtful and charming ideas (often pointed out by the delightfully intrusive narrator) that give depth and charisma and make this children’s story more than easily-forgotten entertainment… I listened to The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making on audio. It was read by Ms. Valente herself… My only issue with the audio version is that I missed Ana Juan’s lovely art that introduces each chapter in the print version. Oh, audiobook publishers, why can’t we have the art, too? Read the rest.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

… I first experienced Laini Taylor’s beautiful writing in 2009’s Lips Touch: Three Times, a collection of three original fairy tales (which you should all go read right now, if you haven’t already). It was such a pleasure getting to sink into her prose again as she unfolded Karou’s world. Prague comes to life in all its quirky beauty, and the scenes in Brimstone’s shop are so visual and so detail-rich and so odd that reading them feels like walking into a Brian Froud painting… Daughter of Smoke and Bone is what I wish more paranormal YA novels could be. I may sometimes seem to be down on paranormal YA, but I don’t inherently dislike it. In fact, I like it very much, at least in theory, and so I want it to be good. So often, too often, it’s not. Daughter of Smoke and Bone really is that good. Read the rest.

Scrivener’s Moon by Philip Reeve

Once again I come to review a Philip Reeve book, and once again I’m astounded to find that no one else seems to have anything to say about it. It’s also gotten to the stage where it is getting harder and harder to write coherently about Reeve’s books when all I want to do is squee indiscriminately. Every time I open a book in THE HUNGRY CITY CHRONICLES, I know without a doubt that I’m in for a fantastic read, and I’m running out of words to describe how wonderful I think they all are. Scrivener’s Moon is the third book in the prequel trilogy to the original HUNGRY CITY quartet, following Fever Crumb and Web of Air. Set in a post-apocalyptic world after a mysterious event known as the Downsizing, humankind now lives in a quasi-steampunk world which has lost all understanding of advanced technology and refers to those that once commanded it as the Ancients… Read the rest.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The news that Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games is coming out in movie form in March 2012 finally moved me to read this book, which one of my young nephews has recommended to me with extravagant praise. That nephew is going to be a darned good literary critic when he grows up, because he’s absolutely right: The Hunger Games is an excellent adventure with plenty of depth to it. Suzanne Collins clearly set out to make The Hunger Games a book that older as well as younger readers can enjoy. The setting is a dystopia of the future, in a world where the United States no longer exists… For those who are at all politically minded, this book reminds us of what we have in America, for all her faults, and serves as a cautionary tale of what we could become if we do not solve our problems before they become unsolvable… Read the rest.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Halfway through Beautiful Creatures, I remember thinking, “Hey, this is like The Witching Hour, but for teenagers!” The Witching Hour is probably my favorite Anne Rice book of all time, so this is high praise coming from me. It’s different, of course — Beautiful Creatures is much more PG-rated and unfolds at a faster pace — but both are big, meaty books featuring antebellum mansions, hidden witch families, curses generations in the making, and one pure love to stand against evil… Read the rest.

The Waking: Dreams of the Dead by Thomas Randall

Considering what an awkward foot Dreams of the Dead by Thomas Randall (Christopher Golden) starts off on, I was pretty surprised when, shortly after beginning, I found myself unable to put it down. In spite of my overactive imagination, I like something scary once in a while. Poor Thomas Randall was already up against some stiff competition, since only days ago I wheedled my husband into watching Ringu (the Japanese horror film re-made as The Ring) with me. Fortunately, Dreams of the Dead has a lot of its own strengths to carry it. Read the rest.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

… This is YA fiction that would appeal to a nine year old, but does not lose its appeal for adult readers as well. It is the first book in a trilogy, and I already have the second book on hold at the library so I can continue to follow the adventures of Gen. Read the rest.

ArchEnemy by Frank Beddor

Comparatively, The Looking Glass Wars trilogy may lack the substance, characterization and complexity of such popular children’s series as the Harry Potter books, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials and Garth Nix’s Abhorsen Trilogy, but as a whole is just as fun and entertaining. In the end, ArchEnemy closes out Frank Beddor’s The Looking Glass Wars in exciting fashion and cements the trilogy as one of the best new YA fantasy series currently published. Read the rest.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

….. The Forest of Hands and Teeth may be marketed as a Young Adult title — which is evident by its accessibility and teen sensibilities — but don’t let such labels prevent you from reading this book. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is an astonishing debut, skillfully written by Carrie Ryan, poignantly narrated by Mary, powerfully unforgettable, and better than advertised. The Forest of Hands and Teeth is one of the best debuts of the year. Read the rest.

Poison Ink by Christopher Golden

Poison Ink is the first YA novel that I’ve ever read by Christopher Golden, and from start to finish, I couldn’t be more impressed. As usual, the first thing that stands out is the author’s top-notch writing. Which in this case encompasses his ability to convincingly adopt the personality of a sixteen-year-old female high school student; faithfully capture domestic, social and high school life — including different cliques, lunch ladies, texting, flirting, and peer pressure — and a gift for witty banter. Read the rest.

Enchanted Ivy by Sara Beth Durst

… One problem I often have with contemporary fantasy is its tendency to ignore the magic of the world around us in its longing for something Other. Enchanted Ivy avoids this problem by striking a nice balance. There’s certainly a great deal of otherworldly magic, as evidenced by the dragons and faeries and talking gargoyles and cute were-tiger boys. Yet I got a real sense that all this magic was inspired by the feelings the campus of Princeton genuinely evoked in Durst. I can actually picture the author looking at the great old buildings and the gargoyles and imagining they could come to life at any second. Otherworldly magic inspired by a place that is, to the author, already magical… The plot is a bit predictable and most of the twists I saw coming. But even so, as adventure/quest stories go, Enchanted Ivy is a lot of fun. In particular, a college campus is a rather unusual setting for this sort of book, which really makes it stand out from the crowd… Enchanted Ivy promises magic, adventure, mystery, romance, and humor, and delivers on all accounts. I could easily see Sarah Beth Durst becoming a favorite author, and I look forward to more of her work in the future. Read the rest.

The Poison Eaters and Other Stories by Holly Black

The first collection of short stories by author Holly Black, The Poison Eaters and Other Stories is dark, gorgeous, and emotionally compelling. Ranging from longer stories to short little character sketches, Black has created a handful of settings and characters that will live on in memory long after you close this slim volume. Holly Black manages to evoke an incredibly detailed world with a spare prose that conveys the static crackle of a remote video feed, the smell of a city bus in the summer, and the bitter taste of poison with equal clarity…. Read the rest.

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

I confess, I’ve been put off by YA books a lot lately. The trends seem to lean towards dark and “edgy” books (many of which sound depressing) and Twilight clones and wannabes. I can deal with the former, but the latter isn’t my thing. But while I was browsing one day, the cover of Eyes Likes Stars caught my attention (not surprising, since it’s gorgeous). I read the blurb and decided I had to get it; it sounded fresh, original, and fun. And it very much is. Read the rest.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

… Before I read Fire, I already wanted Kristin Cashore to succeed, because of her choice to ignore the easy path to a sequel and introduce a whole new land and group of characters. Fire — both the book and the eponymous character — certainly succeeds.   Read the rest.

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

… as in reading Alice in Wonderland, the average child might grasp the fact that there’s more going on here than meets the eye. There is meaning in every character, every circumstance, practically every word: ideas that swell up from the pages for the reader’s enjoyment and consideration. And like Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, it may take a couple of years and several more reads to comprehend them all. But since Haroun and the Sea of Stories is so rewarding the first time around, I think it will be revisited by children who were properly intrigued by their first taste of it. As will adults, of course!.. Read the rest.

Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison

Madison Avery is dead, but that won’t stop her from trying to live a normal life for a high school girl. At Prom, Madison’s willful ways lead to her physical death at the hands of a handsome dark angel. The fact that her strong will gives her a chance to survive beyond death seems only fair. But now she has to figure out how to exist and what the rules are. Kim Harrison’s Once Dead, Twice Shy is a well-written entry in the ever-growing and ever-popular young adult urban fantasy genre. Harrison, with her The Hollows series, is a force of nature in the urban fantasy market — she’s one of the best — so her foray into YA work is more intriguing than surprising… Read the rest.

Shadow Mirror by Richie Tankersley Cusick

… I love a good ghost story…  Despite being a sequel, Shadow Mirror stands on its own really well. Aside from a few small missing details, it was very easy to slip into the story. Cusick’s fantastic characters smooth the way… somehow Cusick depicts very complex relationships and friendships within Miranda’s sphere of friends without ever making them unbelievable… If you’re frustrated with some of the relationship trends in YA these days, you might want to give Shadow Mirror a try just for that. The ghost story plot itself turns out to be pretty simple, and actually I really appreciated that… I enjoyed Shadow Mirror a great deal and hope Cusick writes another story about Miranda. Ghosts aside, I actually really want to know what happens next in the lives of Miranda and her friends… Read the rest.

White Cat by Holly Black

White Cat is quintessential Holly Black. You have intriguing characters, razor sharp dialog, dark and moody settings, and a unique system of magic… While the characters and setting are all well done, the plot is standard teen-angst with a healthy helping of family dysfunction on the side. Some of the plot devices were easy to predict, which led to a lessening of dramatic tension when the big surprises were revealed. While it may not be the most original book, the writing is still exceptionally well done, and I stayed up late one night to finish the story... Holly Black is an incredibly talented writer… she will pick up new fans with this book… Read the rest.

Terrier by Tamora Pierce

… Terrier is a fast-paced rollicking adventure, with both tense moments and times of comedy. Terrier could have been shorter by a few hundred pages than the 563 it clocks in at (Pierce usually writes shorter novels that are all the sharper for it) and some of Beka’s language (such as “peaches” ) doesn’t quite work, but overall this is another fine work by Tamora Pierce. It is rich with detail about the rough side of the capital city Corus, and pays homage to the crime genre in many places. Beka is another plucky heroine in the spirit of Alanna and Daine, and I’m sure she will be quickly taken to the hearts of readers. Definitely one for the girls, although boys will no doubt find much to secretly enjoy… Read the rest.

Trickster’s Choice by Tamora Pierce

The last time we saw Alianne of Pirate’s Swoop was briefly in Wild Magic, as a little girl of about five. Now she’s sixteen, and the true product of her parents: Alanna the King’s Champion and George Cooper, the King’s Spymaster. Although she’s eager to take her place amongst the adults of her world, honing her gifts as a spy, she’s also perfectly content to spend her time relaxing, flirting and mischief-making — much to the disappointment of her mother… Read the rest.

A Wizard of EarthSea by Ursula Le Guin

Ursula Le Guin writes with style and imagination. A Wizard of Earthsea is a wonderful coming of age story that presents a lot of excellent lessons in personal growth and maturation while still being an entertaining story… I enjoyed the philosophical points that Le Guin makes when pointing out some of the flaws (e.g, pride, vanity, overconfidence) that are so common among adolescents and can lead to some very real problems… Read the rest.

Voices by Ursula Le Guin

… I enjoyed Voices much more than Gifts… The pace of Voices is slow and the entire story takes place in approximately a one-mile radius so there’s not much action but, as usual for an Ursula Le Guin novel, the power is in the writing — it’s moving and filled with insight into the human mind and our ideas of art, literature, culture, and patriotism. She doesn’t just tell a story, but she gives us a full emotional experience and a lot to think about… I listened to Voices on audiobook. The reader was flawless and added much energy and emotion to the telling. I recommend this format for Voices… Read the rest.

Powers by Ursula Le Guin

Powers is the third and, in my opinion, the best of the Annals of the Western Shore novels… this is what Ursula Le Guin does so well. She makes us believe in these cultures, perhaps even admire them, and then, without explicitly telling us so, she show us that there are always negative sides to an apparently perfect society. And, without telling us to do it, she makes us think about such constructs as freedom, slavery, justice, leadership, work, trust, loyalty, education, and family. We find ourselves asking some tough questions… Read the rest.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

…Wicked Lovely is adapted from one of my favorite off-the-beaten-path fairy tales, a Scottish tale of the turning seasons… Wicked Lovely would appeal to many of the young girls who love Twilight, and Marr’s book is (in my opinion) superior. Aislinn knows what she wants (it’s not just love) in a way that Bella does not. The machinations of beautiful, manipulative Keenan are presented in a negative light. And while Seth comes off as a bit idealized, he’s a genuinely decent guy who truly loves Aislinn. He doesn’t talk to her like she’s stupid. He doesn’t stalk her. If I had a daughter, I’d much rather have her dreaming of her very own Seth than dreaming of her very own Edward… Read the rest.

Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

First love: it’s scary and confusing enough even when there aren’t homicidal faeries involved. Add in the homicidal faeries, and a girl can get in over her head before she can say “cold iron.” Maggie Stiefvater‘s Lament: The Faerie Queen’s Deception is an excellent YA fantasy that will appeal to anyone who likes stories of the fae as they appear in the oldest legends: dangerous, seductive, and sometimes deadly. Let me say right up front: Lament is downright frightening in places. These are not your fluffy, sparkly faeries. Getting mixed up with them can mean stark terror and heartbreaking choices… Read the rest.

Crypt of the Moaning Diamond by Rosemary Jones

What happens when an writer who works for an opera company turns to writing fantasy? Does the story take on qualities of the epic? Do people take forever to die? Or does everyone just walk around singing loudly and wearing funny costumes? If these are questions you have asked yourself (or even if they aren’t) you ought to turn your attention to Crypt of the Moaning Diamond by Rosemary Jones. An opera writer and first time novelist, Jones has created a dungeon delving story both humorous and out of the ordinary set in the Forgotten Realms mythos… Read the rest.

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

… A beautifully written, lyrical fairy tale, The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley is a prequel to The Blue Sword, and tells the history of one of the progenitors of Harimad-Sol, the heroine of that tale… Robin McKinley is one of my favorite writers for her ability to make reality disappear. Her prose can make entire worlds leap off the page with full detail. The battle scenes are a visceral combination of anguish, despair and resolution that leave the reader engrossed in a magical world of wonder and terror… This Newbery Award winner is a classic YA novel that I have read several times. It has aged well, and is as engaging the eighth time as it is the first. I recommend this short novel for all readers of fantasy, not just the young adults that make up its target audience. Read the rest.

The Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce

…. the thing that brings me back to these stories time and again are the characters. I love watching these children develop into themselves, into their power, and into a family. I cry at the end of the series every time because the love that they feel for each other is palpable as they sacrifice themselves to care for those they love. If I had to choose a series to be a wizard student in, I would choose this over Harry Potter every day of the week, because of the wonderful characters. While the plots may not be complex or hugely innovative, these are great stories for just pure enjoyment. The next time you want to just enjoy what you’re reading, regardless of your age, go visit Winding Circle. I promise your first trip won’t be your last. Read the rest.

Majix by Douglas Rees

Majix: Notes from a Serious Teen Witch is charming in both senses of the word. Told from the point-of-view of a fourteen-year-old Wiccan, Majix is a funny and heartwarming story about family, friends, and finding oneself… Douglas Rees does a terrific job with Kestrel’s voice. Who’d have thought a sixtyish male author could conjure up a 14-year-old girl’s voice so well? Maybe he has some “majix” of his own… Kestrel’s journey is compelling, and her character will be relatable to young adults who feel like they don’t quite fit in — and not-so-young adults who once felt that way… If there’s anything about Majix that I’d complain about, it’s that some of the outcomes for Kestrel and her friends are almost too sunny to be believed. This is, however, a small quibble. After all, there are far worse things than spending a few hours in a world where underdogs can triumph by doing the right thing and being true to themselves. Read the rest.

Thief Eyes by Janni Lee Simner

Thief Eyes begins with a spine-tingling scene of sorcery, in which Hallgerd, a young girl in ancient Iceland, calls upon dangerous powers in order to avoid an unwanted marriage. With this scene, Janni Lee Simner sets an ominous mood, gives us some background information, and provides a few tantalizing hints about what might unfold later… Thief Eyes paints a vivid picture of Iceland and alludes to many of its myths. You may find yourself wanting to travel there or to read the classic sagas. I know I did! This is a well-researched and thoroughly enjoyable young adult novel, not to mention refreshingly original. (No vampires!) Read the rest.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

… When a series becomes this popular and sparks this much speculation among readers, the author’s task is extremely difficult. How to surprise a fanbase, when that fanbase has spent many months trying to guess what will happen in the final installment? Yet Suzanne Collins succeeds admirably. There are plenty of twists in Mockingjay that I simply never saw coming… Like the previous books in this series, Mockingjay works on the level of action/adventure and on the level of social commentary. Here, Collins gives us a chilling look at war, propaganda, and collateral damage. If you’ve enjoyed this series so far, you will almost certainly find Mockingjay a worthy conclusion. If you haven’t tried this series yet, you’re missing out! Read the rest.

Plain Kate by Erin Bow

… Plain Kate is written in the style of a fairy tale and draws heavily on Russian folklore. Erin Bow’s prose, especially when describing nature or Kate’s craft, is lovely and lyrical. The plot is epic in a way, since the fate of a country rests on the outcome, but at the same time it’s a very intimate story. Almost all of the major characters turn out to be connected. The two major threads are Kate’s struggle to stop the villain and to find a place to belong, and the villain’s quest for revenge and the deep hurt at its core. The central events pit love against fear and bitterness in a beautiful, moving way. I say “love,” but I wish to clarify that I don’t mean romantic love. There is, in fact, no romance whatsoever. If you’re sick of romantic YA fantasy, you’ll like Plain Kate. If you prefer books with a prominent romantic element, this may not be the book for you (though I’d recommend trying it anyway, because it’s terrific)… Read the rest.

Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card

As the SF world collectively held its breath for the third Ender novel, Orson Scott Card switched gears and delivered the first volume of an alternate history/fantasy saga that would grow to be as nearly revered as Ender’s. Seventh Son has some of the most heartfelt and emotionally genuine writing of Card’s whole career. The first tale of Alvin Maker is both gentle and comforting, like a parent’s embrace, and foreboding. It’s a story of destiny set in a nation that, like the book’s protagonist, is in its childhood, born in strife, with all of its hard lessons and growing pains yet to come… There’s a texture to the setting that makes the struggles and hopes of all of Card’s characters real — at times, heart-wrenchingly so. In the end, for all its trading in the symbology of religious experience and Campbellian myth, Seventh Son is a humanistic story, revealing a deep love for humanity and its indomitable drive to overcome even the hardest struggles and persevere… Read the rest.

Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld

Behemoth is Scott Westerfeld’s follow-up to Leviathan, the first book in a new steampunk series set in an alternative Europe on the edge of WWI with the Austro-Hungarians and Germans (“Clankers”) using steam-driven machines and the British and their allies (“Darwinists”) using genetic engineering. Leviathan was one of my best reads of 2009, and Behemoth would have been on my list for 2010 had I gotten around to reading it by the time I compiled my list. It has all the usual Westerfeld strengths and it keeps this series rolling along… the plot is fast-paced and rollicking, a tightly constructed adventure story with action scenes coming at the reader regularly, finally building up to a spectacular confrontation, a sequence one would love to see on film… don’t be put off by Behemoth’s YA label — this is a fun, smart series suitable for all ages. Read the rest.

Tithe by Holly Black

Kaye is not your typical 16-year-old… the fairies have come up with a plan to — well, to say they plan to sacrifice Kaye is seemingly a tad strong. But there is no question that they want their freedom from the rule of the Unseelie Court, and that they intend for Kaye to play a dangerous role in their plan to win that freedom… Tithe reads at a fast clip, with engaging characters in complex situations, cast on their own wits to figure out how to deal with some very exotic problems. Traditional motifs are used to great advantage, including the posing of riddles, the binding nature of one’s use of another’s name, and the loss of will in the face of a fairy’s enchantment. Tithe isn’t a horror novel, but some of the scenes are horrifying in their effects… Tithe seems “YA” only by virtue of the fact that her protagonist is a teenager. Adults who enjoy good fantasy with complex problems — those who, say, like to read urban fantasy — are likely to find Black’s novel enjoyable. Read the rest.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

…This is Clare’s second series about the Shadowhunters, human-angel hybrids who hunt down demons and other evil creatures, protecting mundane humanity… Clare’s young adult audience will feel right at home here… Clare’s action sequences are vividly drawn. She renders London with a good blend of sensuous detail. Tess and Will often quote poetry to each other, and Tess compares situations around her to classic Victorian novels such as Jane Eyre, which encourages the curious reader to seek these books out for pleasure, not merely for classroom assignments. The plot is predictable, and things that are revealed as if they are surprises are not surprising at all, but the book maintains tension, and the jeopardy, faced first by Tess and later by her brother Nate, is convincing and dramatic… Fans of The Mortal Instruments will be pleased, and the almost-steampunk setting may draw in an even bigger audience… Read the rest.

The Dark City by Catherine Fisher

The Dark City is the first of a four-book series by Catherine Fisher published years ago in England and now being released (in its entirety rather than year by year) to the US. Classified as young adult, I’d say it skews toward the upper end of YA while also being one of those YA novels that, though it might read a little thin to adults, can absolutely be enjoyed by them… The Dark City is a fast, mostly gripping read. It bleeds tension throughout nearly the entire novel… The characters are well and concisely drawn, for the most part. Carys’ characterization is especially strong and is helped by Fisher’s choice of telling part of Carys’ story in her own voice through a journal. Determined, clever, wry, independent, she is an extremely likable character and the book really comes alive when she is on stage… I sped through The Dark City easily, enjoying it every step of the way, and I’m looking forward quite a bit to reading the next three. And since all four are out, I can do that without waiting years in between each installment — another plus. Highly recommended. Read the rest.

Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede

… Across the Great Barrier, the sequel to Patricia Wrede’s The Thirteenth Child, is a fast-paced adventure of a fantasy tale. Eff has come to terms with her past as an unlucky thirteenth child and has started to make a place for herself in the frontier college town. When she has the opportunity to cross the Great Barrier she jumps at the chance to go explore new territories… The landscape is a major character in this series of books, and watching it deal with the traumas dealt to it in the previous book with an attention to scientific detail is gratifying… This fast reading tale — it doesn’t feel anything close to its 300+ pages — is a great adventure story for young adult readers. Even though the hero is female, the Western setting and original characters will draw in some of the more open-minded boy readers as well. I fully expect Wrede to revisit this setting in the future and look forward to additional adventures with Eff and her family. Read the rest.

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

Goliath is the concluding third book in Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan trilogy and it brings a wonderfully entertaining YA steampunk/alternate WWI series to a suitably strong close… Goliath draws an end to the series in a somewhat predictable fashion, but that doesn’t make the journey any less enjoyable… The Leviathan books are wildly inventive, playfully creative, and intelligently paced, with strong main characters, evocative details that leave you wanting more, books exactly as long as they should be and no more, a great mix of technology and history, and illustrations that enhance rather than distract. Both Goliath and the entire series are highly recommended. Read the rest.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Laini Taylor, author of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, starts us off with a standard urban fantasy look. Her heroine, Karou, has tattoos, bullet wound scars and blue hair. She is trained in martial arts and frequently leaves her art school in Prague to “run errands” that take her all across the globe. Demon hunter, right? In fact, Karou is something very different, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone is one of the freshest fantasies I’ve read in a long time. Taylor confounds expectations at almost every turn… I enjoyed this book so much that it scared me, because Taylor has set the bar very high for book two. The skill level she demonstrates here makes me trust her, though. I recommend this book for any young person you know who enjoys fantasy — and for you, and your friends. Read the rest.

Liar’s Moon by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Digger, a.k.a. Celyn Contrare, is back in the city of Gerse. Following a strange series of events, she learns that her friend Durrel Decath stands accused of murdering his wife, a woman from one of Gerse’s wealthiest merchant families. Digger sets out to clear Durrel’s name… What follows is an exciting whodunit… with magic… Liar’s Moon is an exhilarating read. This is in part because of the suspense and intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat, wanting to know what happens next. It’s also in part because of Digger herself and how much fun it is to follow her through her adventures. A brave and resourceful heroine, she’s always poking into something, always on the edge of danger, and always helping to move the plot along. When I finished the last page of Liar’s Moon, I felt bereft, both because Bunce ends the book with a killer hook and because I wanted to spend a few hundred more pages hanging out in Gerse with Digger. I can’t wait for book three… Read the rest.

A Web of Air by Philip Reeve

I’m a huge fan of Philip Reeve’s HUNGRY CITY CHRONICLES, a series that has always seemed under-hyped and underappreciated to me. The first four books, beginning with Mortal Engines and ending with A Darkling Plain, are simply fantastic, set in a far future after the world has been destroyed by war and where Traction Cities roam the planet consuming all they come across (including smaller cities). More recently, Reeve has plumbed the depths of the world just on the cusp of entering the mobile city era. Fever Crumb, the first of the prequels, was a good start, with rich characters and an interesting multi-stranded plot, but it was not quite as strong as the original series. With the second of the prequels, A Web of Air, Reeve has fully found his touch again… Read the rest.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

… Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card was published in 1985 and was based on a short story that Card wrote in 1977. The novel won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. The focus is on Ender’s psychological drama as he is raised by indifferent parents (they know he’ll be taken away at an early age), tortured by a cruel brother, separated from his beloved sister, and cast without a friend into a highly competitive and often hostile environment where he’s expected to rise to the top. During all of this, Ender wonders if he will be responsible for saving Earth, or destroying it. There’s a lot resting on Ender’s little shoulders and the tension never lets up. At times Ender becomes whiny and emotionally overwrought, but who can blame him?… Read the rest.

The Crowfield Demon by Pat Walsh

In The Crowfield Curse, young William and his friends and allies righted a long-ago wrong at Crowfield Abbey and faced down the terrifying Unseelie King. But now another evil is rising at the abbey — one that has even the Unseelie King running scared.

The Crowfield Demon is even better and spookier than The Crowfield Curse. Read more »

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

I first heard about Robin LaFevers’ new YA release, Grave Mercy, a few months ago and was intrigued by its premise, which involves an order of assassin nuns. Based on that, I thought it was set in a fantasy world. When I learned that it was in fact set in our own world, in medieval France, I was more skeptical. How would LaFevers set assassin nuns in real France without it seeming unrealistic?… It’s not quite realistic, but it’s so much fun that you won’t mind… The heroine is fierce and resourceful, the romance is believable, the world-building is enthralling, and the intrigue is… well, intriguing.  Whenever I wasn’t reading it, I was wishing I was reading it, and couldn’t wait to get back to it. I’m shocked to find that it’s listed at 560 pages. It felt short to me, and I wished it were longer! It ends on a good stopping point but leaves plenty for Ismae’s friends Sybella and Annith to do in the next two HIS FAIR ASSASSIN books. Grave Mercy is aimed at young adult readers, but has plenty to satisfy older readers too, especially if you liked Maria Snyder’s Poison Study, Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Dart, and Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Mists of Avalon. Read the rest.

Silence by Michelle Sagara

Michelle Sagara makes her young adult debut with Silence, a spooky and emotionally moving urban fantasy. The heroine, Emma, is mourning her boyfriend Nathan, who died in a car accident. She feels most at peace when she visits the cemetery in the evenings — until one night she has an uncanny encounter on the grounds. And the weirdness doesn’t end there. Now Emma can see and touch the dead, and may be able to affect these spirits in other ways as well… Emma is a well-rounded character with both good qualities and flaws… She is likable in the beginning and grows during the novel’s events to become an even more compelling heroine… Silence distinguishes itself in a glutted field of YA paranormal fiction. Sagara starts with some of the popular plot tropes, but doesn’t take them in the directions you might expect, and the lovable characters and authentic emotion help set the book apart too. It’s a story of loss, grief, and the way life goes on after tragedy, sad at times but hopeful rather than depressing. I highly recommend it to YA urban fantasy fans. Read the rest.

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Back in 2008 I read and thoroughly enjoyed Kristin Cashore’s Graceling, particularly for its protagonist Katsa and her struggle to find agency and freedom in a world that seemed determined to deny her both things. It’s quite a common trait in fantasy fiction for authors to believe that they’ve written a “strong female character” by giving her a sword and an attitude problem — but Cashore really seemed to understand what readers want in a heroine: real strengths, real flaws, real character development, and a growing sense of assurance in herself. As such, I ranked Cashore alongside Tamora Pierce and Garth Nix in delivering truly worthwhile female protagonists to a YA readership… Read the rest.

Gatty’s Tale by Kevin Crossley-Holland

… Gatty makes for a lovely young heroine. Although only a field-girl, she is impulsive, bright, compassionate, and possesses an innate sense of wisdom and openness to the world around her that makes for several thought-provoking moments. She compares her journey to a story that contains several forever-unknown stories within it, referring to the people she meets or sees on her way, and on returning from her great pilgrimage and attempting to share her experiences with a friend, she realizes that “no one is really quite as interested in us as we are in ourselves.” Read the rest.

The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers

… The City of Dreaming Books is clearly a Young Adult fantasy, but it holds enough compelling and interesting content to readily draw in a more mature reader. It’s just very fun. I didn’t coast through the story in a day, but worked through it over a month; Moers’s descriptive prose is best savored slowly.  Read the rest.

Sphinx’s Princess by Esther Friesner

… I fell in love with Esther Friesner’s ability to bring ancient Egypt to life before my very eyes. Friesner certainly has a gift to bring the ancient world into the present for her readers. Her descriptions of the temples, the great Nile River, and the characters’ reverence for the Gods and Goddesses are so vivid and clear it’s as if she’s recalling something in a diary as opposed to writing a work of fiction. The only limits of this story were the ones put up by my own imagination. Read the rest.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

One of last year’s best, most compelling reads was Suzanne Collins’ dystopic The Hunger Games, in which a group of young boys and girls are sent into a large geographic area for a kill-or-be-killed TV spectacle — a sort of Running Man meets Lord of the Flies meets Survivor meets The Lottery. The book, carried along winningly by the strong main character Katniss, was suspenseful, poignant, and often breathless, ending with a clear resolution but with an obvious nod toward a sequel. That sequel is Catching Fire… Read the rest.

My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

… Overall, Rachel Vincent’s My Soul to Take is a solid YA fantasy featuring an original mythology and a strong heroine. If you liked Amber Kizer‘s Meridian, you will probably like My Soul to Take, and vice versa… Read the rest.

The Night World: Volume 3

…… in which Smith introduces the idea of the Wild Powers and the apocalypse. It is prophesied that at the turn of the millennium (hmm, since that’s come and gone without a hitch, I think we can assume that the good guys were successful) the world will be plunged into chaos and darkness, and only four individuals known as the Wild Powers have any chance of stopping it. But since the prophesied “chaos and darkness” is of the unspecified sort, many Night World inhabitants believe that this is their chance to take back control of the world and see the Wild Powers as a threat.  Read the rest.

Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede

… I understand why people might think that excluding Native Americans contributes to the “white-washing” of American history, but I encourage readers to give Wrede the benefit of the doubt. In the Thirteenth Child, Wrede informs us that the First Peoples never crossed the Bering Land Bridge because they were too busy fighting dragons in Asia. She has thoughtfully considered the changes to European (and in this novel, African) colonization of the American continents that might have occurred if the Native Americans had not been here — and those changes make a very different American West than existed historically.  Read the rest.

Sorcery and Cecelia (The Enchanted Chocolate Pot) by Patricia C. Wrede

…. Sorcery and Cecelia … is a funny, witty, exciting read, filled with magic, interfering aunts, enchanted chocolate pots, romance, adventure and a certain tone that reminds us continually that it is real letters that we are reading … Read the rest.

The Grand Tour by Patricia C. Wrede

…  I personally enjoyed The Grand Tour more than its predecessor Sorcery and Cecelia. Because the story isn’t switching back and forth between two separate situations of the two heroines, it’s more fluid and organized; as well as much less confusing (it was hard to keep track of events when constantly switching between the two letters). In any case, whatever your preference, all Wrede and Stevermer collaborations are highly recommended. If you enjoy Jane Austen or Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, then you’ll love these collaborations too (though they are obviously written for a slightly younger audience). Read the rest.

Poison by Chris Wooding

The fantasy genre owes Chris Wooding a huge favour. In a genre awash with sad Tolkien knock-offs filled with magic swords, plucky heroes, wise wizards, princesses-in-distress and other tired clichés, Wooding continues to churn out exciting and intriguing stories that contain a rare force of imagination. Even though Poison is not quite as successful as some of his earlier efforts (especially The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray) it certainly deserves credit for its skill, style, fast-pace and clever ideas… Read the rest.

Storm Thief by Chris Wooding

From the get go, Storm Thief has you on the edge of your seat. Chris Wooding once again creates a very vivid and realistic world full of danger and suspense, and the characters to go along with it. We meet stone-hearted villains, a frightened and bewildered half-machine-half-man creation, a day-dreaming thief, and many more. This is not for the faint of heart, or the full of stomach… Read the rest.

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

… Cassie is a fierce heroine who practically jumps off the page. She’s smart, brave, and resourceful. She isn’t always likable, but she’s always dynamic. She strikes bargains, takes death-defying risks, tells lies, tricks people, and never gives up. In YA fantasy, there have been a lot of passive heroines lately. This is NOT one of them.  Read the rest.

Cart and Cwidder by Diana Wynne Jones

… No book by Diana Wynne Jones could ever be truly bad, but Cart and Cwidder is certainly not the top of her game. Though it contains the same thoughtful commentary on human behaviour and clever twists, but it lacks the sparkle and wit of her many other books. The characters are not quite as vivid and interesting as the likes of Chrestomanci and Howl, and the story not quite as intriguing as those found in The Power of Three and Black Maria… Read the rest.

Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones

… Touches of Diana Wynne Jones’s wonderful humour are sprinkled throughout, from the soldier’s near-worship of the two cats, to Flower-in-the-Night’s insistence that Abdullah is a female. The climax is a little rushed, and I’m not exactly sure how the genie discovered where Hasruel’s life was, but over all Castle in the Air is a great sequel, and a great book. But read Howl’s Moving Castle first! Read the rest.

Bitterblue  by Kristin Cashore

Bitterblue is the third book in Kristin Cashore’s series that began with Graceling and continued with Fire, both excellent novels (I gave them 5 stars and 4.5 stars respectively). Bitterblue is not quite as good, but the drop-off is slight, resulting in another strong read and a more than satisfying continuation… I thoroughly enjoyed Bitterblue from the beginning, but the novel really finds its power in the final 100 pages. From here, the novel packs an emotional and philosophical wallop. I’d say the first 450 pages is well deserving of a four-star rating, but I’d give its final 100 five. It leaves you satisfied, moved, disturbed, and uncomfortable. That’s my kind of book. Read the rest.

The Night World: Volume 2 by L.J. Smith

…. The Night World series shouldn’t be mistaken for anything other than light reading for young teenagers, but there is a certain weight and gravitas to Smith’s stories that lift them above your standard vampire/supernatural/romance fare (or maybe that’s just the nostalgia talking). In either case, the series goes from strength to strength, as by the next omnibus, things get even darker for our assorted heroes. The female characters are intelligent, self-sufficient, and never wait around for their boyfriends to come save them, and the stories themselves are brisk, interesting, and build on a solid-gold premise of mystery and danger. Read the rest.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip

As one of Patricia McKillip’s earlier works, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld provides an interesting comparison to her first publication Riddle-Master, a dense trilogy that made the most of her trademark poetic-prose. On the other hand, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is a relatively slim volume with a clear concise style and a straightforward story. Since then, McKillip has managed to successfully merge the aspects of both works in her later works, but The Forgotten Beasts of Eld is by no means an example of a new writer still trying to find her voice. Far from it: The Forgotten Beasts of Eld has a fascinating premise, intriguing character interactions and a rewarding conclusion.  Read the rest.

Abarat by Clive Barker

… I was swept away by the brilliance of the dark and powerful artwork that Clive Barker created. The interior art gave the book a texture and feeling that it would have lacked otherwise, much like John R. Neill’s artwork added layers to Baum’s Oz books… Read the rest.

Hannah by Kathryn Lasky

The other orphan girls at the Boston Home for Little Wanderers fantasize that they are secretly the long-lost daughters of wealthy families, or even of royalty. Hannah harbors no such dreams. What she doesn’t know, however, is that her heritage is the strangest of all. When she is packed off to live in dry landlocked Kansas and falls deathly ill, she begins to realize that she’s not like other girls.  Read the rest.

Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey

…This is a common problem for second volumes in trilogies — the action can’t be resolved yet, but the author needs to get the story from the introduction set forth in the first volume to the conclusion in the third. While Sacred Scars does suffer slightly from that affliction, the quality of the writing is high enough that it is still a pleasure to read if you are willing to shift from the character-driven first novel to the politically-driven second. I was willing, and I am eagerly anticipating the conclusion to this dark and gripping trilogy. Read the rest.

The Red Queen’s Daughter by Jacqueline Kolosov

…as soon as I saw that The Red Queen’s Daughter was about Mary Seymour, and included magic to boot, I knew I had to have this book. Mary Seymour is, historically, a question mark. The daughter of former queen Catherine Parr and her fourth husband, Thomas Seymour, Mary was orphaned and taken in by the Duchess of Suffolk. There are no records of Mary’s existence after the age of about two. Most historians believe she died in infancy, though rumors to the contrary have circulated. Here, Jacqueline Kolosov envisions a happier fate for Mary… Read the rest.

Primavera by Francesca Lia Block

… The best feature of Primavera is the use of Greek mythology and other fantasy elements to create a world totally unlike our own, and yet resonating in our minds; a world made up of carnival-cities, humid desert gardens and glass towers in the desert and filled with hybrid creatures: mermaids, giants, fauns, centaurs and bird-women. Block’s world is one that we could never really go to save in our imaginations, and yet it feels real. So Primavera comes recommended, especially if preceded with Ecstasia, as do Block’s other novels. If you enjoy the fairytale ambiance of Primavera, then Block’s anthology of re-imagined fairytales The Rose and the Beast should be your next stop. Read the rest.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

The Iron King is just plain fun. Julie Kagawa takes sixteen-year-old Meghan Chase on a heroic journey through the lands of Faerie, where she meets a host of vivid characters and crosses unearthly landscapes in search of her missing kid brother. Along the way, she learns a dangerous secret about her parentage, gets caught up in a Faerie political struggle, and finds herself torn between two very different fey boys… The Iron King is a solid debut, and a real pleasure to read. I recommend it to teen and adult readers alike. Read the rest.

Wolf Speaker by Tamora Pierce

…In the overall context of the The Immortals Quartet, Wolf Speaker is the least important — in fact you might be able to get away with not reading it with only minor confusion. But it is a great adventure, despite the somewhat clichéd environmental issue at the heart of the book… The Immortals Quartet are the best books that Tamora Pierce has to offer, so make sure The Emperor Mage is on hand to continue Daine’s journey… Read the rest.

Trickster’s Queen by Tamora Pierce

… Trickster’s Queen is Tamora Pierce’s longest and most complicated book … But for the first time we have a protagonist that is easy-going and laid back rather than focused and driven, and Aly is a loveable, enjoyable heroine… The story once again proves that Pierce is one of the masters of both YA and fantasy… this is an essential read for the Pierce fan… Trickster’s Queen may very well be considered her most sophisticated and complex novel… Read the rest.

First Test by Tamora Pierce

Throughout Tamora Pierce’s range of fantasy books, the Protector of the Small quartet is unique, mainly because it is not primary a fantasy series, but a school story… also different due to the nature of Kel herself. Unlike all of Pierce’s previous heroines, Kel does not have any magical gifts that can aid her in her struggles. Unlike Alanna (and other heroines in similar stories) Kel cannot fall back on magical powers or disguises to ease her toils, but must instead work for all that she accomplishes. Pierce is extremely successful in capturing this physicality to Kel’s journey: we share every aching muscle, every black eye, every saddle-sore backside… Read the rest.

Page by Tamora Pierce

… Page is thicker, deeper and altogether better than its predecessor First Test. Kel seems a bit more relaxed this time around, but still has her trademark qualities of calmness, loyalty, stoicism and her fear of heights — as I share this phobia I could certainly relate to her terror. There are some components of the book that make it more appropriate for slightly older readers; such as Kel’s developing body and some allusions to sex which are mostly used in rather negative ways (Kel’s virtue is questioned and Lalasa is assaulted), as well as some blood and gore on the battle field. Tamora Pierce is perhaps the only YA writer I know that openly discusses a woman’s period in the context of a fantasy novel, and in this case Kel’s monthlies are placed alongside her growing crush on Neal — all of which create a sense of realism that works wonderfully well compared to the magical elements of the story…. Read the rest.

Squire by Tamora Pierce

… This third installment in Protector of the Small is an interesting enough read, but there are some problems with the structure of the overall series. Though you could argue that Tamora Pierce is simply following a real-life scenario (and is therefore to be recommended), it feels that often certain plot threads and intrigues are forgotten, or brought to empty conclusions… these could all be taken as natural and realistic conclusions (after all, real life doesn’t work out as neatly as books usually do), but there was a sense of things building up in the previous books that make it seem as if Pierce has lost direction… Squire ends on a note of both hope and foreboding… Read the rest.

Lady Knight by Tamora Pierce

… As a character, Kel is an interesting specimen — an ordinary girl who does extraordinary things. Unlike Pierce’s previous heroines, Kel has no magical powers at her disposal — only her own wit, intelligence and physique. She’s not beautiful, nor is she interested in anything beyond performing her duty… However, it is in this utter ordinariness that Kel finds her greatness as a role model and female heroine… Lady Knight is a fitting end to the Protector of the Small quartet, with Kel meeting all her goals for the future, becoming a hero in her own right, and realizing that the only person she had to prove herself to was herself… Read the rest.

Tris’s Book by Tamora Pierce

This volume is the second in a four-part series called Circle of Magic and is also titled The Power in the Storm. Set in a fantasy realm over a one-year period, Tamora Pierce tells the story of four young mages who are brought together to live at the temple community of Winding Circle, to control and properly use their various powers… the human element is something that Pierce is great at capturing and she does so here extremely well. Tris is a wonderful character, and perhaps the most vivid and interesting of all four of the children… Read the rest.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

After finishing the unputdownable The Hunger Games, I couldn’t wait to see what was in store for Katniss Everdeen and her friends in Catching Fire. As it turns out, quite a lot… Catching Fire ends with a cliffhanger, and a chilling final sentence. There’s a little bit of middle-book syndrome created by the cliffhanger… while Catching Fire doesn’t quite clear the bar set by book one, it was a high bar to begin with. I am looking forward to seeing where Collins takes this series next… Read the rest.

Sir Stalwart by Dave Duncan

Dave Duncan delivers a fun, sword & sorcery romp in a short book that you don’t need to invest hours slogging through. Too often there are books out there that simply can’t stand on their own without being 800-900 pages in length and Duncan seems to avoid this… I really enjoy the way that Dave Duncan creates new main characters for each installment in the series. He doesn’t just write the same guy with a different name, and that makes it fun to explore. It’s not epic fantasy, but it’s fun when you are taking a break between the Erikson and Wurts’ series that demand so much concentration… Read the rest.

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

…The Silver Kiss is a beautiful, poetic and ephemeral little book… I am glad that in the wake of the Twilight phenomenon The Silver Kiss is seeing a wider audience, because it deserves to be read. It has two strong central characters with genuine motivations who affect each other’s lives and learn from the other. The girl does not depend solely on the vampire for succour and support; although lonely and scared, she can stand on her own two feet. The vampire is not emasculated by his love for a human girl… I would recommend it to anyone who does not like the cloying nature and poor writing of the Twilight books and their carbon copies on the market. This is the thinking girl’s Twilight… Read the rest.

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

While Kelley Armstrong is best known for her Women of the Otherworld series, which I have read and mostly enjoyed, I personally prefer her YA-geared Darkest Powers series… I particularly enjoy the protagonist, Chloe Saunders. While she is a powerful necromancer, she is also refreshingly vulnerable, realistically insecure, and just plain nice. Overall, this third novel in Armstrong’s Darkest Powers series is filled with suspense, intrigue, and danger and relies less on high school drama and sexual references than other popular YA-geared urban fantasy series, though there is a nicely done romantic subplot. I have been actively encouraging my own daughter to read this series. Read the rest.

The Greenstone Grail by Amanda Hemingway

If one has to accept the fact that almost all fantasy books are now the beginning of a series (and we’re just about to that point), then at least Amanda Hemingway’s The Greenstone Grail is a compelling enough beginning to leave the reader wanting more while still resolving at least this portion of the story… All in all, The Greenstone Grail stands out as one of the best of the many, many offering in young adult fantasy — better written, better plotted than most… Highly recommended. Read the rest.

Goblin Quest by Jim C. Hines

Joining the ranks of comic fantasy authors like Terry Pratchett, Robert Asprin, Esther Freisner, and Piers Anthony is relative newcomer Jim C. Hines. His dungeon delving novel, Goblin Quest, brings a jovial and ironic spirit to the ranks of fantasy fiction… Goblin Quest is a funny novel, but not in a ha-ha sense. It’s an adventure quest which takes place entirely within one dungeon. It has the feel of a role-playing game or early computer game. In order to create adventure and humor at the same time, Hines blends pessimism and irony… Read the rest.

Goblin Hero by Jim C. Hines

… Jim C. Hines uses his unique brand of humor to tell this funny adventure tale. Jig is his old self: a reluctant but effective hero. Yet Hines has also branched out and given the reader some new characters to enjoy… Each of these characters will pluck a chord with readers of fantasy, and once again Hines has played with the usual tropes to create a humorous look at what it means to be a hero… The Goblin Series is a fun interweaving of a Dungeon and Dragons setting, Mark Twain’s wit, and Steve Martin’s slapstick all from one gifted author. Read the rest.

Wild Talent by Eileen Kernaghan

… a gently feminist coming-of-age tale with a strong sense of place and time… The greatest strength of Wild Talent is its vivid portrayal of the tumultuous times in which Jeannie lives. The drudgery of rural poverty, the decadence of absinthe-soaked artists, the glamour of the Paris world’s fair, and the spiritual debates among London’s occult circles are all handled with skill. When I finished Wild Talent I felt that I’d paid a visit to the late 19th century, that I’d been right there with Jeannie all along. Also well-handled were the questions of what is “real” and what is not. The book is teeming with the supernatural… Read the rest.

A Wizard of EarthSea by Ursula Le Guin

In the realm of fantasy there are several names that stand out… Ursula Le Guin also belongs in this category, contributing to the world of fantasy literature her beloved Earthsea novels, chronicling the life and times of the wizard Ged. The strength of the storytelling comes in the unashamed use of archetypes and symbolism. The story as a whole could be easily aligned with Carl Jung’s theories or Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” complete with Departure, Initiation and Return, and archetypes such as the wise mentor, the female temptress and the shadow. It’s practically a textbook case, but rather than being predictable and dull, le Guin’s skill as a writer means that the series is densely packed with meaning and intrigue… Read the rest.

The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula Le Guin

The Tombs of Atuan… is a near complete shift of character, setting, and style. Ged, the protagonist of Earthsea, is present, but mostly off-stage for much of the book, giving way to a young girl called Tenar. The setting, rather than an episodic tour of the Earthsea archipelago, is much more narrow, taking place on a single island, and the pace is much slower, with less action and magic, with more of a focus on introspective analysis of character… The Tombs of Atuan is a much quieter book, a more slowly paced book than A Wizard of Earthsea, with less action, much less overt magic, few characters, fewer peaks and valleys… it should still please in a different way… Read the rest.

The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula Le Guin

This is the second book in Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea series… The loss of faith, the shock of freedom, the loneliness of power, the terror of being responsible for another’s death — these are the hefty issues at the forefront of The Tombs of Atuan, and ones that are handled brilliantly by the author. It’s not an easy book to get through, and perhaps not even a re-readable one; but for anyone claiming to be a fantasy-fan, or even someone who claims to be a reader of all the classics, it is essential… Read the rest.

The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula Le Guin

The Tombs of Atuan focuses on a young woman who has spent her life cloistered in the tombs of gods who she serves but doesn’t know. Just as the reader feels completely miserable at the state of this disillusioned young lady, Ged (who nobody would describe as particularly cheerful or up-beat), arrives and brings with him a much-needed ray of sunshine, even though he spends most of the book under the earth… This is a slow-paced book… Ursula Le Guin is always a pleasure to read and this audiobook version is very good. Read the rest.

The Farthest Shore by Ursula Le Guin

… I cannot bring to mind any other fantasy series that follows our protagonist from youth to old age (the great percentage stop when the hero reaches maturity, leaving the aging process as part of the “happily ever after”) and it is for that reason I find the Earthsea cycle so unique. This is a person’s entire lifetime we are experiencing, not just their youth; making it a much richer and deeper reading experience. Anyone who considers themselves a fantasy connoisseur should pick up The Farthest Shore, as well as A Wizard of Earthsea and The Tombs of Atuan. Though not my favourite of all the fantasy series ever written, it is refreshingly unique and beautifully told. Read the rest.

Gifts by Ursula Le Guin

Usually I love an Ursula Le Guin novel… but I just couldn’t get into Gifts. The writing is beautiful, as we expect from Le Guin (therefore 4 stars), but I found this novel too dull for me. Most of the story is told by Orrec as it happened in the past (a technique I just couldn’t appreciate), and he relates several stories that his mother told him. Orrec and his best friend Gry live in a culture where magical gifts are used for destructive purposes and they are pressured by their parents to develop these powers. They refuse, and Orrec even blindfolds himself so he won’t be able to destroy anything. This makes for a lovely philosophy, but not much action, and even fewer happy moments… Read the rest.

The Water Mirror by Kai Meyer

The Water Mirror is a strong start to a series that gives a small sense of resolution at the end but really ends mid-adventure. Before it ends though it has introduced enough characters, plots, and teasing hints that the reader is left wanting much more. It’s certainly one of the better beginnings out there… The setting is nicely detailed and atmospheric. The history is concisely but credibly conveyed. The characters are well-constructed and developed… The plot is swift-moving, suspenseful, and engaging and Meyer does an excellent job of revealing just enough to pique the reader’s interest… The Water Mirror is a rich read, with much to like and almost nothing to complain about… Read the rest.

The Magic Circle by Donna Jo Napoli

Donna Jo Napoli’s stories often reveal motivations behind some of the action that takes place in the traditional fairytales, reasoning out some of the fantastic elements and explaining the behaviour of the familiar characters; which usually results in the villain becoming more sympathetic and understandable. Such is certainly the case in The Magic Circle, in which she explores the background of Hansel and Gretel’s wicked witch… Napoli’s story is poignant and thought-provoking, as she raises questions concerning the nature of evil, the will of God and the strength of the individual against temptation… Read the rest.

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli

… For those who take the time to read more luxuriously and deeply, they will find layer upon layer of meaning, symbolism, motivations and psychological breakdown that is simply intoxicating to discover. Underlying all of this is the concept of deep and powerful love, and its conflicting abilities to both nourish and destroy… Donna Jo Napoli is a remarkable author, enriching and illuminating this particular fairytale, making each fantasy element seem not quite as impossible as one might think. The glimpses into the nature of love, the abuse of children, the gift of free spirit and the reality of faith are thought-provoking and set off all kinds of discussions… Read the rest.

Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli

… It’s hard to imagine any fans of Donna Jo Napoli not enjoying this accompaniment to her collection of re-told tales. Calling on Greek mythology that she adds in throughout the story, and much of her own ideas, such as the gaining of mermaid mortality, Napoli creates a familiar yet fresh presentation of old ideas. Her language, told in first-person narrative through Sirena’s eyes is vivid and atmospheric — her creation of life in the sea, and Sirena’s explorations up in the rivers of the island are especially enjoyable… this is a powerful, beautiful, tragic story about the giving and receiving of love, life and sacrifice. Read the rest.

Knights of the Sea by Paul Marlowe

I was first drawn to Knights of the Sea by the hilarious cover art. Now, having read the book, I can say two things: First, the art is accurate! Every element of the cover design — wolf, capsized boat, ghostly damsel, and lemon — is present in the plot. Second, the book is just as funny as the cover, and in a very good way… Paul Marlowe’s style of humor is reminiscent of Neil Gaiman’s lighter works… if you enjoy dry wit, Victoriana/steampunk elements, and plucky teenagers saving the world, you’ll probably like Knights of the Sea. It’s an tale of high adventure that takes a humorous look at… well, pretty much everything, from politics to romance to lycanthropy. Give it a shot if you liked Stardust or Good Omens. Read the rest.