Beastly by Alex Flinn

Kyle Kingsbury is a golden boy - he has the looks, the girls, and a father with the money to send him to the best school and get him whatever he wants. But having everything turns out not to be terribly wonderful when his shallowness convinces a witch to turn him into a beast. Suddenly, Kyle discovers that life isn't so wonderful when you're different. His father abandons him to a secluded house and Kyle attempts to make sense of what has happened to him. The only chance he has is to find a girl who can love him as he is - and whom he can love in return - and time is running out.


I really enjoyed this modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. For the most part, it sticks pretty closely to the Disney and traditional versions of the story. It is told in first-person, giving a direct view into the character and struggles of a popular boy-turned-beast. Each section also has a portion written as if it takes place in a chatroom, amongst other 'fairy tale' characters; I enjoyed the actual story more, but it does add another, modern dimension. I would definitely recommend this book to fantasy fans - particularly those who enjoy retellings of fairy tales or modern fantasy stories.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Black Pearls, Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, , Once Upon a Marigold, or Now You See It

Knight & Rogue Novels by Hilari Bell

In the first of the Knight and Rogue Novels, The Last Knight, Sir Michael Sevenson is a knight errant in a 'modern' age when knights are a thing of the past. His reluctant squire, Fisk, joins him on his adventures, but often voices his dissent. Things take a turn for the worst when one of their first jobs is to rescue an imprisoned maiden...except that it turns out she was a suspected murderess. Now it is up to Michael and Fisk to track her down and bring her to justice. In a world full of 'magica' and traps laid along the way, they'll have to learn to work together in order to accomplish their mission.


In the second book, Rogue's Home the story focuses on Fisk and his family when he is recalled to his home, Ruesport, by his sister, Anna. Her husband, Max, has been framed as a blackmailer and the family holds out hope that Fisk might be able to clear Max's name once and for all. Along with Michael - who is suffering the consequences of his choices at the end of the first book - the pair will have to work together to solve a very different kind of problem, and try to stay alive doing it.


These books were really fun and I found myself really hoping for a third book once I finished them (it looks like Player's Ruse will be released in January, 2010). The story is told from both characters' points of view in alternating chapters. The different voices add a lot to the story and make the characters very identifiable and more realistic. The plots are also interesting and not entirely predictable - this is not the usual knight-and-squire sort of relationship or story. I would definitely recommend this to fantasy fans, particularly those looking for something amusing or those who really enjoy stories about knights in shining armor.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Heroics for Beginners, Dark Lord of Derkholm, or The Last Apprentice

Radiant Darkness by Emily Whitman

In this retelling of Greek mythology, Persephone feels trapped by her mother, Demeter. Although she feels that she has reached an age of maturity, her mother continues to treat her as a young girl and refuses to allow her to 'grow up.' Then a mysterious stranger appears in a nearby meadow. When Hades offers to take her away and make her his queen, Persephone must choose between becoming a woman or staying her mother's little girl forever. But every choice has a consequence...


I really enjoyed this retelling. The characters and plot are all very well developed with just enough imagery to give it a realistic feeling. The story is told in first person, giving readers a view into Persephone's perceptions and feelings and making it easy to sympathize with her character and the challenges that she faces. From a 'fantasy' perspective, this book reads more like a novel than a typical fantasy story, but I would still recommend it to readers who enjoy Greek myths and coming-of-age stories.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Ever, Princess Ben, Firebird, or A Posse of Princesses

Aurelie: A Faerie Tale by Heather Tomlinson

In this story, three humans - Princess Aurelie, Garin, and Netta - are childhood friends with Loic, a river dragon. But then a promise is accidentally broken and their friendship is no longer enough to bind them all together. Years after they have gone their separate ways, Aurelie's path starts to cross with the others'. Political unrest is threatening to destroy their lives and destroy more than one country. Soon it seems that the only way to solve all of the problems is to come together and renew their friendship.


This was a cute story - it's a very short, quick read. Although Aurelie is definitely the most prominent and well-developed character, each of the others plays a significant role in the way that the tale plays out. Parts of the plot are a bit predictable, and the ending is almost too neat, but it's nice for a slightly fluffy, upbeat fantasy tale. I would definitely recommend this for fantasy fans who are looking for a quick read or something that's a little fluffy; those who enjoy fairy tales will probably like this story as well.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Swan Kingdom, The Fairy's Return, or Dragon Slippers

Poison by Chris Wooding

In this 'phaerie' tale, Poison lives in a little village called "Gull" in the middle of the Black Marshes - it's a harsh life, but there's rarely a reason to leave. When Poison's little sister is stolen from her by a malicious faerie, however, she decides that, rather than accept it as fate, she will find the Phaerie Lord herself and force him to return her sister. Along the way, she collects various allies including a soul-catcher named Bram, a girl named Peppercorn (who Poison thinks is fairly useless), and a strangely intelligent cat named Andersen. Drawing on the stories that she has read and heard from her mentor, Fleet, Poison bravely sets herself at every problem. What she doesn't realize at first is that not everything is as it seems. Something is awry in her world and she becomes convinced that it has to do with the Heirophant - he's been writing again and everyone seems upset about it. Now Poison must figure out what's going on and find a way to make everything right again, no matter how much it costs her in the end.


This book was rather gruesome - it has that 'original Grimms' sort of feel with horrible things happening and graphic descriptions of them. (I am personally not a huge fan of gruesome). The story itself was good overall, although somewhere near the end it takes a somewhat bizarre, existential twist and turns into a very philosophical piece questioning life, the universe, and everything, essentially. All in all, it wasn't bad - but I did find it incredibly surprising and unpredictable in the sense that the way it ended up was entirely unlike the way that it started. The characters were well-developed and most of the plot followed a general fantasy vein with predictable elements that were often just a little 'off-kilter'. This is definitely not a light, fluffy book - I would only recommend this book to fantasy fans who are really looking for a darker book with some horror and gore in it, and those who want something really out of the ordinary that inspires deeper thought and reflection.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Wicked Lovely, Lady in Gil, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, or Fly by Night

Anatopsis by Chris Abouzeid

Princess Anatopsis and Prince Barnaby come from rival Magical families. In the last year before the final wizard tests, a demigod tutor, Mr. Pound, insists that the two study together - a traditional requirement that has been enforced for generations. Ana and her human companion, Clarissa, and Barnaby with his dog, Uno, get off to a rocky start. Complicating matters is that neither Ana nor Barnaby wishes to inherit their family corporations. But, more importantly, they discover that Mr. Pound's requirements are part of a larger plan and hidden agenda which threatens the world as they know it. Resentments, personal preferences, and frustrations must all be put aside if everything is to be set to rights - and there are no guarantees for a happy ending.


I expected this book to be rather fluffy, but instead, this book is fairly serious, creating a fantastical alternate reality that explores human nature, dreams, discrimination, and sacrifice. Some of the plot points seemed a little more convoluted than necessary and a bit confusing at times, but overall, the issues within the story definitely come through. The main characters are well-developed and identifiable, though I did not always find it easy to sympathize with them. In general = if you're looking for a light-hearted book with a satisfying ending, this is not the one to pick up. Fantasy fans - particularly older teens - who are looking for something more thought-provoking or serious may consider trying this one out.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Princess Academy, Poison, Fablehaven, or The Abhorson Trilogy