Repossessed by A. M. Jenkins

This is the story of one of the Fallen (a demon) who steals a human body to take a vacation from his job torturing souls in Hell. He has never experienced physical senses or human emotions, but he has to learn while he tries to fit in as "Shaun" -- the human boy whose life he has usurped. But time is short, so he'll have to find a way to have all of the experiences that he wants before he has to leave again.

I thought this story was interesting in the way that it examined a lot of sensations and small daily experiences from a unique point of view. It was a quick read and I did find some of the general insights about life to be thought-provoking. However, this is a fairly reflective story, without a lot of action and the main character is not terribly sympathetic, so it may not be for readers who like really strong storylines. I would recommend this book to older readers who enjoy stories about the real world or about unlikely characters and perspectives.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Wish List, Kisses From Hell, The Ghost and the Goth, or Immortal Beloved

Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Kira is the daughter of a general and the only female soldier in the kingdom. She's the prince's personal bodyguard and has special abilities that let her see people who have been possessed by demons and the strength to kill them. But she is feared by the people because of her yellow eyes and her reputation, since the king will not make knowledge of demons public. A threat to the royal family sends Kira and the prince out into the wilderness, on a trek to a safe haven, but the plan goes awry almost immediately. Signs are pointing to an ancient prophecy; it may save their kingdom from the Demon Lord...but only if they can stay alive.

This was a really interesting story with rich details for the setting. I was a little frustrated with the main characters on occasion, for not being open-minded or really thinking about what was going on. But other than that, the characters were pretty well developed and the plot moved forward in logical ways with quite a bit of action. I would recommend this to fantasy fans who like "epic" sorts of stories that center around a hero's journey.

This is the first book in the Dragon King Chronicles, followed by Warrior.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Sisters Red, Spirit Fox, the Song of the Lioness quartet, or Sweet Venom

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn

Kay Wyatt lives in a city near the borderlands between human lands and the dragons' country. Although going near the border is strictly forbidden, Kay decides to go rock climbing nearby. When a dragon named Artegal saves her life, they begin a fragile friendship. Artegal wants to practice English and learn more about humans; Kay is curious about the dragons and the history of relations among their kinds. But meanwhile, the truce between the humans and dragons -- maintained by the strict border between their lands -- is starting to crumble from distrust on both sides. Kay and Artegal may be the only ones who can stop an all-out war, but it may already be too late...

I really enjoyed this story. I liked the way that the background was set up so that it was somewhat realistic to have an alternate universe in which dragons and humans live (almost) side-by-side in the modern world. The characters were well developed and the story was a bit predictable, but very realistic. In fact, I was a little disappointed when I got to the end since I wanted to know what happened "next," after learning so much about the main characters. I would definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy stories about the real world, about dragons, and about unlikely alliances.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Dragon Slippers, Fairy Bad Day, Dragonhaven, or The Mermaid's Mirror