Claim to Fame by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Lindsay Scott was a famous child actress until she turned eleven and started inexplicably hearing anything that was said about her. She had what appeared to be a public nervous breakdown and left the public eye. Lindsay and her father moved to a small town in Illinois to a house that strangely shields her from the voices. But it's five years later and the fact that she rarely leaves the house has somehow been discovered by the tabloids, which are now reporting that her father is keeping her prisoner. When two well-meaning local teenagers kidnap Lindsay in an effort to save her, Lindsay's life is once again turned upside down and she is forced to reevaluate her options.

This story takes a while to get to the point, and there are parts that feel a little bit slow, but overall, the concept is good and goes in a direction that I didn't expect. The characters are also fairly well developed and I was interested to see what would happen with them; in fact, I was a little disappointed that there doesn't seem to be a sequel since I was curious to find out more about what happens to Lindsay after the conclusion of the book. (However, the story is not left hanging at the end; of the the major plot points are resolved in some way.) I would recommend this book to fantasy fans who enjoy stories about ordinary people with special abilities, or stories in the real world.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, The Seer and the Sword, Fairy Bad Day, or Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

After the Voodoo Wars, life went on, but monsters lurk in corners. Sunshine is happy being the baker at Charlie's, her stepfather's restaurant. It isn't exciting, but she has a comfortable life, and she thought that it would be enough. Everything changes when she is kidnapped by vampires. Though she manages to escape, going back to her ordinary life may be impossible, and her time as a captive continues to haunt her. Slowly, she must learn about her heritage and who she truly wants to be - assuming that she can survive what's coming.

This is told from Sunshine's point of view, which gives it a wry tone even though the story is often a bit dark. It felt a little bit slow to me, particularly since there are often asides with further explanations of how magic functions in that world. However, I did enjoy reading this book and it's an interesting way of approaching a reluctant human-vampire cooperation. I would recommend this book to older fantasy fans who enjoy books with magic in alternate realities or serious, dangerous vampires.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Enthralled, Howl's Moving Castle, Morganville Vampires, or Tantalize

Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Ember McWilliams is having a rough time. After dying in a car crash, her gifted little sister, Olivia, brought her back to life - but now everything that Ember touches dies. Meanwhile, their mother has never quite recovered from the accident, so Ember is trying to keep house and take care of Olivia while still passing high school. Things start to change when she meets Hayden Cromwell, who claims that her new ability is really a gift. But when she and her family are spirited away to a tiny town run by Hayden's adoptive father, she starts to question their motives, and to reevaluate her own life.

This book had some good moments, but the story felt a little stilted - the romance was a little forced and there seemed to be several things going on in the background that we never really find out about. There were also events that seemed implausible, but most of them are explained by the end of the book. However, I did like Ember and seeing her personal growth throughout the book as she learns to deal with her "gift." Overall, this was an interesting book, although it won't make my list of personal favorites. I would suggest it to fantasy fans who enjoy stories about teens with special abilities.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Summoning, Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Immortal Beloved, or Swoon

Rapunzel: The One with All the Hair by Wendy Mass

Rapunzel's twelfth birthday was supposed to be special - and not because a witch kidnapped her and left her in a tower, but that's what happened. She dreams of a way out of the towner and works to find out more about why she has been imprisoned. Meanwhile, Prince Benjamin is starting to feel as though he'll never measure up to the expectations of his parents, or the kingdom. He is desperate to find a way to prove himself, and to start living the life that he wants. Neither of them is happy, but perhaps together they will be able to break free of their prisons.

This was a cute story and a quick read. The plot had some interesting elements, but overall it felt like a fairly straightforward retelling of Rapunzel, told from both Rapunzel's and Benjamin's points of view. Both characters are well developed throughout the book as the story unfolds. I would recommend this book to fantasy fans who enjoy retellings of fairy tales. It is the first in a series of "Twice Told Tales."

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Fairy's Return and Other Princess Stories, The Prophecy, or The Two Princesses of Bamarre

Twelve Dancing Princesses Trilogy by Jessica Day George

The first book, Princess of the Midnight Ball, is a retelling of Twelve Dancing Princesses. Rose and her sisters -- Lily, Jonquil, Hyacinth, Violet, Iris, Poppy, Daisy, Lilac, Orchid, Pansy, and Petunia -- are cursed to dance at night for the King Under Stone, an evil wizard who lives in an underworld and wants brides for his twelve sons. Galen is an orphaned soldier who has come to live with his relatives and goes to work with his uncle in the royal gardens. When he happens upon Princess Rose, he immediately feels a connection. As the problem grows worse and the king brings in foreign princes to discover the secret of where the princesses go every night that cause their shoes to wear out, Galen becomes intrigued by their plight and starts to look for a way to help. But as the situation becomes critical, both in the underworld and in the kingdom, it's going to take ingenuity and luck to save the situation.

In the second book, Princess of Glass, the curse on the sisters has been broken, but the political problems that it caused still pose a serious threat. The nations all agree to do an exchange program for their children -- including all but the oldest princesses -- and Princess Poppy (one of the middle siblings) is sent to Breton. She soon makes friends with Marianne, the daughter in the family that she is staying with, and Prince Christian, another participant in the exchange program. Although she finds it interesting, there's a slight problem with one of the maids, Eleanora, who cannot seem to get anything right. But odd circumstances suggest that the maid might be under a curse and Poppy sets out to find out what she can do to help, assuming that she can find the answers before it's too late.

In the final book, Princess of the Silver Woods, the youngest sister (Petunia), is traveling to visit Grand Duchess Volenskaya, the elderly woman that she lived with during the fostering program years earlier. When highwaymen wearing wolf masks attack the carriage, Petunia is inadvertently kidnapped. Oliver has a noble title, but his land was taken away during the confusion at the end of the war and has left him, his family, and his tenants living in a rundown castle in the woods. But when the sons of the King Under Stone start to torment Petunia and her sisters again, Oliver is willing to go to great lengths to help make sure that the princesses are finally safe from the threat.

Overall, this was a great series; the books were quick reads and had interesting twists on the traditional fairy tales (Twelve Dancing Princesses, Cinderella, and Little Red Riding Hood). The romance in the third book seemed a little weaker than the others, but the plot did a good job of tying up the loose ends and it was still enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this to fantasy fans who enjoy retellings of fairy tales and a bit of romance -- and knitting, since there are patterns at the end of every book!

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Cecilia and Kate, Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Princess Nevermore, or Firebird

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Dashti is a "mucker" from the steppes, but after her mother dies, she looks for work in the nearest city. When she lands a position as a maid to Lady Saren, she doesn't realize quite what it will mean - Lady Saren's father has decided to seal her into a tower for seven years and now Dashti will go with her. Their fate is punishment for Lady Saren's refusal to marry the man that her father has chosen, claiming to love a different lord instead. Life in the tower quickly grows old, though both of Lady Saren's suitors show up to talk to her. However, the situation grows more desperate as food stores run low and Dashti must find a way to deal with the difficulties regardless of what might be waiting outside the tower.

This is a retelling of the Grimm fairy tale "Maid Maleen," which is not a story with which I was familiar. It was definitely an interesting premise, however, and the whole story is told in first person by Dashti, as if it is her journal, even including illustrations. The story is engaging and unpredictable. I would recommend this to fantasy fans who enjoy fairy tales and stories that have an Asian flavor.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Princess Ben, Bound, or the Abhorsen trilogy

Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions Edited by Melissa Marr & Kelley Armstrong

This is a collection of stories from 16 different YA authors:

• Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray: Ravenna's twin brother, Cairo, has been suffering from odd attacks that have caused them to drift apart; during a trip to Rome, Italy Ravenna meets a boy named Giovanni who shifts her perspective in a way that only her brother can understand
• Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan: Margie and her little sister, Sally, have built a hideaway in a remote cabin - away from an unsafe world - but they're about to be discovered by someone from outside
• Red Run by Kami Garcia: Everyone avoids the "Red Run" road in rural Louisiana at night because it's haunted by a killer ghost, but tonight Edie has decided that it's time to stop him
• Things About Love by Jackson Pearce: Lawrence's best friend, Viola, has fallen in love with a jinn which means that now he's regularly watched by the jinni for "security" reasons; however, Juliet isn't an ordinary jinn and she's determined to use her time with Lawrence to learn about the concept of love
  [Sequel to As You Wish]
• Niederwald by Rachel Vincent: Sabine has come to Niederwald, Texas to get answers; but consulting a seer is always tricky, even when she isn't guarded by a town full of harpies...
• Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr: Keenan and his girlfriend, Donia - who happens to be the Winter Queen - decide to take an ordinary, human vacation away from the world of faerie
  [Related to the Wicked Lovely series (the story contains spoilers if you are intending to read the whole series)]
• Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong: Chloe and her friends (all teens who have abilities from genetically-modified DNA) are living on a country farm and keeping a low profile; but when Tori runs away, they could all be in danger
  [Related to the Darkest Powers series, which starts with The Summoning]
• Let's Get This Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan: Christian is the vampire bass player in the hottest new boy band "4 the One," which is going on tour; but not everyone is comfortable about having a vampire around
• Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready: Logan may be dead, but he still has something he needs to tell his brother
• Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting: Rafe is in the middle of nowhere, trying to find something he has seen in a dream - and he's scared that he'll find it
• Leaving by Ally Condie: Everything changes for Sora when her father mysteriously leaves the safety of the city and she is tainted by association, but now she has a plan to change everything
• At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday: Jane is the "bait" in a family of hunters who chase down supernatural monsters; tonight she has gone out on her own to find a troop of cannibal Girl Scouts...but then everything starts to go wrong...
• IV League by Margaret Stohl: Wren and Hopper are "Drinkers" from a remote town in the South who are on a school trip to interview at colleges where they'll have a convenient supply of "blood donors," if only they can get in
• Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson: Giselle is a gargouille - an angel of the night - but a man has captured her and stripped her wings in the hope of making money, but his hope has destroyed life as she knows it forever
• The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: Jess is used to her sister, Kissy, having strange impulses that force her to do things, so when Kissy wakes her up and says they have to go to San Antonio, they go - but the trip is far more complicated than either of them realize
• Automatic by Rachel Caine: As the youngest vampire in Morganville, Texas (a community primarily composed of vampires), Michael is chosen to demonstrate the new vending machine that dispenses cans of blood
  [Related to the Morganville Vampires series that starts with Glass House]

This was a really great collection of stories that I enjoyed a lot. As the title suggest, they tend more toward the paranormal/supernatural, but these stories represent a large spectrum, including fantasy. I would absolutely recommend this collection to fantasy fans looking for a good collection of short stories, particularly those who enjoy paranormal tales or who have enjoyed some of the other books written by these authors.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Last Apprentice series, The Magic and the Healing, Swoon, or Rampant

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Now that Ella has landed Prince Charming, left her stepmother and stepsisters behind, and moved into the palace, she's just waiting for the "happily ever after" to begin. Unfortunately, the time before the wedding is filled with days of tedium and tutors to help her learn religion, history, etiquette, and even "how to interact with servants." But it will all be worth it once she and Charming get married and start their life together...won't it?

This was an interesting retelling about what happens after the "end" of the fairy tale. It was a quick read and not too predictable, with good characterization. The only thing I found disappointing was that there isn't much of a resolution at the end (somewhat understandable given the premise of the story); if you're bothered by book endings that are not conclusive, you may want to skip this one. However, I would recommend this to fantasy fans who enjoy slightly odd retellings of fairy tales or books about strong female characters.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Princess Academy, Black Pearls, A Kiss in Time, or The Seer and the Sword

Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey

Isabella Beauchamps spends her time managing her father's household, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and that her stepmother and twin stepsisters are comfortable. Her life changes drastically when she is bitten by a werewolf on her way home from Granny's house. Suddenly she is packed up and moved to the local duke's castle, where she discovers that he's the werewolf and she's required to stay for at least three months, until they can be certain that she won't turn as well. No one lives at the castle except the duke -- a sorcerer who spends his time as a human trying to find a way to break his curse -- and the unfriendly Gamekeeper, as well as the invisible servants summoned to keep house. Bella slowly finds ways to stay occupied during her time at the castle, but she starts to realize that unraveling the mysteries of the duke's castle may be more dangerous than any of them expected.

This book is part of the Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms series; it's helpful to read the first book for context, but most of the books (including this one) stand alone fairly well. I will say that this is not one of the best in the series and the ending feels a bit forced, but it was a good read overall and the melding of Little Red Riding Hood with Beauty and the Beast was particularly interesting. I would recommend this to older teens who enjoy retellings of fairy tales or who want something a little bit light with lots of magic.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Rose Daughter, The Prophecy, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, or The Two Princesses of Bamarre

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

In this sequel to The Summoning, Chloe finds herself locked up by the Edison Group with several others of her housemates from Lyle House (a group home for "troubled" teens). Chloe (a necromancer who can summon ghosts) is finding out new things about herself and the Group's experiments every day, but unfortunately, she doesn't have many options. When she and Tori (a witch) manage to escape and meet up with some other friends (Simon, a sorcerer, and Derek, a werewolf), they realized that their adventures - and problems - have just begun.


I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one. Once the story picked up, it was much more engaging and there was more character development than the first book really addressed. Honestly, I would suggest skipping The Summoning (you only miss a few minor details) or making sure that you have both of them so that you can go straight on to the second. I would recommend this series to fantasy fans who enjoy books that take place in the real world and are less about "magic" and more about the supernatural elements.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Wicked Lovely, Swoon, Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, or Dragonhaven

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Nimira is a "trouser girl" who works as a singer in a music hall for little money and even less respect. When Hollin Parry, a mysterious sorcerer, offers her a position singing to accompany a piano-playing automaton, Nimira decides to take a chance for better luck. When Nimira gets to Parry's country estate, however, nothing is quite what it seems. Parry attempts to build a tentative romance with Nimira even though he has never gotten over the death of his wife - who may not actually be dead, after all. The automaton is rumored to be "haunted" and Nimira begins to suspect that there may be some truth to the gossip. Meanwhile, all of the rumors are part of larger political problems and Nimira wonders if she'll be able to find happiness after all.


This story was interesting and engaging although it did feel rather familiar. The main plot is almost identical to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, retold in a fantasy world, although it does take a completely different direction somewhere around the middle. Nimira's character is fairly well developed and it's easy to sympathize with her, even though some of the other characters did not seem quite as deep. I was definitely curious to see what direction the story would take at the end of the book, and there did seem to be a definite set up for a sequel, though nothing has been said about one yet that I know of. I would recommend this to fantasy fans looking for something quick and slightly less fluffy, particularly if you want a story about romance.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Cecilia and Kate, Bewitching Season, A Posse of Princesses, or Reserved for the Cat

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

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

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Fifteen-year-old Chloe Saunders is a relatively ordinary student at a high school for the arts. Her life changes on the day that she starts seeing ghosts chasing her and ends up locked away in Lyle House - a group home for mentally ill teenagers. Life in Lyle House is not particularly terrible, but the relationships amongst the house-mates are complicated and they all have their own ways of coping with the adults in charge who are working to 'cure' them. Unfortunately, the situation is more complicated than Chloe realizes and getting out of the house and back to a 'normal' life may not be as simple as she had hoped.

This was an interesting book with well-developed characters and an intriguing plot. Although I enjoyed the book for the most part, my main complaint is that the book is rather slow in getting to the point and then rushes everything to a hanging ending (to be continued in the sequel, The Awakening) - anyone who particularly hates waiting for a resolution should probably pass this one up, at least until the other(s) are published. Generally, however, I would recommend this book, particularly to fantasy fans who prefer based in the 'real world' and in the 'supernatural beings/occurrences' aspect rather than myths.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Fablehaven, The Wish List, or Wicked Lovely

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Although Ben (short for Benevolence) has always been a princess by virtue of being her uncle's heir, her parents have chosen to raise her as a fairly ordinary child. Unfortunately, at fifteen Ben's parents are both killed by a neighboring kingdom's assassins (though they deny responsibility) and Ben is immediately moved into the castle to be 'properly' trained at last. Unused to the demands and unwilling to cooperate, Ben suffers the unreasonable expectations of her aunt, Queen Sophia who finally moves her to a bare tower room and locks her in every night. But the tower room ends up to be a benefit when Ben discovers that it leads to a magic room, full of magical implements and a spell book. Now her time is spent learning spells whenever she can get away, but she'll have to learn quickly because she will soon need everything that she can remember.

This was a fairly good book. I enjoyed the characters and the relative unpredictability of the plot, although I felt as though the story seemed slow, particularly in the begin. I was amused by the random allusions to fairy tales that were spread throughout the book, although they seemed almost unrelated since they had no actual bearing on the plot or universe construction. I would have to say that, while this was not an incredible book, it was a good read, and worth picking up for some fairly light fantasy reading.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Heroics for Beginners, or Spirit Fox