Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez

Daisy comes from a highly-talented family: her mother is a psychic who works with the police, and her older sisters -- Rose and Poppy -- also have psychic and telekinetic powers. Unfortunately, Daisy didn't seem to inherit any of the Giordano family talents, which means that she is often left out of family activities. But she has something of her own to investigate when the head cheerleader, Samantha, shows up for the new school year with a coffin and an unusually "dead" look. When multiple members of the cheerleading squad are attacked and end up in the hospital, Daisy decides that it's her turn to find out what's going on in the town of Nightshade, California, and whether the new fashion trend is more than it appears...

This was a short book with a light, humorous tone that was fun to read. Some parts of the story were a little predictable, but overall, the author does a good job of revealing pieces of the mystery at a reasonable pace so that it isn't too drawn out. I will also say that, even though this book clearly sets up a series -- based on what is revealed about Daisy's family and about the town of Nightshade -- I felt like this book stands fairly well on its own. Even though I enjoyed this installment, I didn't feel the need to immediately read the rest of the series to find out about all of the other hints. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a bit of mystery, some supernatural elements that aren't exceedingly dark, a slightly acerbic narrator and just a little bit of romance.

This book is the start of a series, followed by Dead is a State of Mind, Dead is so Last Year, Dead is Just a Rumor, Dead is not an Option, Dead is a Battlefield, and Dead is a Killer Tune.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Fairy Bad Day, Morganville Vampires, Dark Lord of Derkholm, or The Ghost and the Goth

Steel by Carrie Vaughn

After losing an important fencing competition, Jill starts to rethink her future and what she wants out of life. While her family is on vacation in the Bahamas, she finds an old, corroded spear tip in the sand and puts it in her pocket. But when it sends her back in time, she ends up on an actual pirate ship and has to sign on as a crew member. Pirate life is less glamorous that she expected - and dangerous, as she finds herself holding a live rapier for the first time. But Jill is determined to get home one way or another, if only she can figure out how...

I enjoyed this story and it was a fairly quick read. The characters and settings are very realistic, but not entirely predictable. I would recommend this to fantasy fans of all ages who enjoy stories about pirates, time travel, or strong female characters.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: A Posse of Princesses, Young Warriors, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, or Rampant

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

Fairy Bad Day by Amanda Ashby

Emma is a student at a special high school that trains teenagers with abilities how to slay magical creatures, so that they will no longer menace regular humans who cannot see their real forms. There's no question that Emma is going to be the only dragon slayer from her class, following in the footsteps of her very famous mother, who died years before. Except, then Curtis Green is assigned to be a dragon slayer instead, and Emma gets assigned to...fairies. Not only is it embarrassing, but the fairies like to taunt Emma and evade her at every turn. As if that isn't bad enough, there's a giant, evil fairy on the loose and the only other person who can see it is her nemesis, Curtis. Emma will have to learn to trust her friends - and perhaps even Curtis - to deal with the crisis and survive her "fairy" bad day.

So, I picked this book up expecting it to be very fluffy and likely a bit silly, but I was pleasantly surprised. Although the tone is lighthearted and often amusing, the plot and characterization have much more substance than the title may suggest. It was a quick read, but I enjoyed it very much; I don't know if there will be a sequel, but I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. I would recommend this to fantasy fans who enjoy stories about magical creatures in the real world.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Minds series, Magic Can Be Murder, Dark Lord of Derkholm, or Janitors

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

Hidden by Marianne Curley

Ebony lives with her family on a farm in a small valley; she's happy, but dreams of bigger things. Jordan lives in the same valley, but he has been moving through a series of foster homes and dreams of a happy life, anywhere. One night they meet and the sudden, intense connection is unmistakable. Not long after, both of their lives fall apart. Jordan ends up with the mysterious Nathaneal who wants Jordan's help to convince Ebony of her true birthright. But it won't be easy for any of them...

Although the premise for this story was interesting, I didn't enjoy the book very much. The characters did not always seem realistic and many of the major plot points seemed predictable. However, it is possible that the next books in the Avena series will improve. Also, I would mention that the author is Australian, so it has some British English in it - I don't have anything against it, but it is occasionally disconcerting for readers that primarily read American books. Overall, I would not highly recommend this book; however, fantasy fans may consider this series if it sounds interesting, particularly those who enjoy paranormal romances and stories about teens who discover that they have abilities or non-human heritage.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Fairy Path, As You Wish, Wings, or How to Ditch Your Fairy

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

The Other Book by Philip Womack

Edward Pollock lives at Oldstone Manor, a boarding school for boys. Every day is predictable...until Edward finds an odd book in the library and strange things start happening to him. He discovers that he has been chosen to protect the Other Book, a magical object which has enough power to cause horrible destruction in the wrong hands. But then a new substitute teacher takes a peculiar interest in Edward and he must fight for his life -- and for other things that he isn't sure he even understands.

This was an interesting concept, although I had difficulty getting into this book at first. It's definitely not a light-and-fluffy read; it actually has a similar feel to some of the old medieval romances (e.g., stories about King Arthur's court and other books written in that time period). The plot felt a little bit haphazard to me and didn't have a fully satisfying ending, but it was a decent read if you prefer serious books. I would recommend this to fantasy fans who would prefer something set in the real world that is a little darker or less fluffy.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Abhorson Trilogy, Storm Thief, Erec Rex: The Dragon Eye, or Swoon

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

Sunday is the youngest child of Jack and Seven Woodcutter and the seventh daughter (named in order for the days of the week). With so many siblings, Sunday particularly enjoys spending alone time in the Wood writing in her journal. When she meets a talking frog named Grumble, she's happy to have a friend all her own. One night she kisses him goodbye and leaves, without realizing that she has turned him back into Prince Rumbold - the crown prince who is hated by her family for an altercation with one of her older brothers, now shrouded in secrecy. Rumbold realizes that it will be challenging to convince Sunday to fall in love with him as a human, but he's sure that it will be worthwhile...

This book was a lot of fun and a fairly quick read, though that was mostly because I had trouble putting it down once I started it. Although it first appears to be a retelling of The Frog Prince (and it kind-of is), this book actually references quite a few fairy tales and nursery rhymes. One of my favorite things is that even though the fairy tale elements make parts of the book predictable (it's fairly obvious what will happen when one of Sunday's brothers is sent to the market to sell a cow), how the story turns out in the end is always a surprise. I would absolutely recommend this to fantasy fans of all ages who are looking for something light and fun to read, particularly readers who love retellings of fairy tales and stories with a bit of romance.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Black Pearls, The Frog Princess, Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, or Cloaked

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

This story is actually a series of retellings of the original Grimm fairy tales with commentary by a narrator. The stories are all connected by the main characters, Hansel and Gretel, who leave home after their father cuts off their heads (and their mother is ok with it) and then find a witch in a house made of cake. But it doesn't end there; Hansel and Gretel travel far and wide, staying with several families, going on adventures, and even going to Hell and back. But all they really want to find are parents that love them and a home where they can be happy...

Although I generally prefer lighter versions of fairy tales, this was certainly an interesting retelling of Hansel and Gretel as well as several lesser-known stories. As retellings of the original Grimm stories, this book is quite a bit more violent and bloody than most fairy tales, though the author doesn't focus significantly on gore and it's a fairly quick read. The narrator has a strong presence, so if you're bothered by frequent interruptions of the plot or editorial interjections, you may want to pass on this book. I would recommend this to younger teens and fantasy fans who are looking for more unusual retellings of fairy tales or stories that are a little less fluffy.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Poison, The Wish List, The Last Apprentice,or Black Pearls

The Plague by Joanne Dahme

Fifteen year-old Nell is the spitting image of Princess Joan. With her parents dead of plague, Nell takes the job of royal body double to feed herself and her younger brother, George. And for a while, everything seems wonderful. The princess is kind, Nell learns how to read, George is happy. And then, on a trip to marry Princess Joan to the prince of Spain, everything goes horribly wrong. Add in an evil Prince, the plague, a crime, and an army of unholy rats and poor Nell and her brother are in for a terrible journey home.

This book was certainly interesting at the story's start. Real world historical events are twisted and warped with sorcery to make a nasty villain. While reading, I did find myself wishing that the author had chosen to make such and such happen or that parts of the story were changed. The beginning of the book is really interesting and effectively captivates the reader but then, it falls flat. My attention wavered and in a book with just over 250 pages, this is not a good thing. Sometimes, I even lost what was happening in the story. I was saying "Wait...when did THAT happen?!"a lot. I did finish the book and the ending was hugely unsatisfying for me. I felt a little bit irritated that after 200 pages, nothing happened.

As I said, the beginning was really interesting; the book started with a great idea and I think this book could have been fascinating but as it was, it was not a book I was really glad I had read.

Nevertheless, if this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Magic and the Healing or Bewitching Season.

Cloaked by Alex Flinn

Johnny works at a shoe repair shop in an upscale Florida hotel, where he knows all of the staff and is best friends with Meg, who works at the hotel's cafe. He works as many hours as possible to help his mom pay the bills but his fondest wish is that he could have enough money to create the shoes that he designs in his spare time. When he catches the attention of an idiosyncratic princess staying at the hotel, he agrees to help her, even though has no idea that he'll end up on a fairy-tale adventure, complete with talking animals, magical objects, and quest-like tasks - not to mention witches and plenty of danger. Assuming that Johnny can keep his promise (and survive to tell about it), he just might discover things about his life and himself.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. The characters are well-developed and the plot takes a couple of interesting twists even though parts of it are easy to predict - particularly for fans of fairy tale re-tellings. Despite that, this book actually draws on a wide range of fairy tale traditions (including quite a few lesser-known stories that I was unfamiliar with) and weaves them all together into an almost-believable modern-day story. This is definitely a book to pick up if you're looking for something fun, a little off the norm, or if you love reading re-tellings of fairy tales.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Dragon Princess, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, or The Prophecy

Magic in the Mirrorstone: Tales of Fantasy edited by Steve Berman

This collection contains fifteen different fantasy stories. Many of the short stories are about high school students or characters of a similar age, although several are more 'fantastical.' A short breakdown of the stories:

• Princess Bufo marinus, Also Known As Amy by Eugie Foster - A story similar to 'the princess and the frog' but set in a modern-day high school


• Lights, Camera, Action by Cecil Castellucci - A young actress discovers that one movie can change her entire life


• Ten Thousand Waves by Ann Zeddies - Jun Ho is not proud of his Asian heritage, but he soon learns that he cannot embrace his own power without it


• Mauve's Quilt by Craig Laurance Gidney - Quentin and his father move into an old house and he finds a quilt in the attic that seems to be more than just a quilt


• Have You Ever Seen a Shoggoth by Cassandra Clare - Sometimes the 'weird' kids in high school are hiding more than it seems


• The Amulet of Winter by Lawrence M. Schoen - Aleks, a skilled thief, is sent to steal a magical amulet but finds himself trapped in a magical library


• Veronica Brown by Sean Manseau - Veronica knows there's a sea monster in Lake Champlain but she's tired of letting it ruin her summer


• The Jewel of Abandon by Nina Kiriki Hoffman - Sometimes ignorance really is bliss...


• School Spirit by Jim C. Hines - An evil wizard's curse haunts a magical school, but a new goblin student is determined to take him down once and for all


• Blackwater Baby by Tiffany Trent - Father Joseph rescues the Marsh King's daughter from unsuspecting humans but the Fey want her back...(this story is about characters from a separate fantasy series)


• Old Crimes by J. D. Everyhope - While on vacation, a girl has a chat with an ancient Toltec god


• The Fortunate Dream by Gregory Frost - A young man finds that fairy tales are sometimes more useful than they seem


• Out of Her Element by E. Sedia - Leticia, a young girl dying of consumption in England, befriends a salamander and faces a difficult choice


• Virgin by Holly Black - Jen, a runaway foster teen meets Zachary, another runaway with a secret


• Pig, Crane, Fox: Three Hearts Unfolding by Beth Bernobich - An Asian story similar to the Princess on the Glass Hill

I enjoyed this collection of short stories - some more than others, but overall, this is a collection I would recommend to fantasy fans looking for short reads with plenty of variety.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Frog Princess, Now You See It, Aurelie: A Fairie Tale, or The Wish List

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn


Talia is a princess of the tiny European country Euphrasia. Like most princesses, she is watched every moment of the day, but unlike others, she is also reminded constantly to never touch a spindle. Despite the warnings, Talia accidentally pricks her finger on her sixteenth birthday, fulfilling the well-known curse placed on her at her christening. Three hundred years later, Jack - a bored U.S. high school student - breaks away from his tour group looking for adventure and stumbles on the sleeping country. Though he doesn't know why, he kisses Talia and breaks the spell. Suddenly, Talia is yanked into a world she doesn't understand, Jack is stuck with a 'spoiled' princess, and the witch who cast the curse is not happy. Now everyone is wondering - did Jack make a mistake, or is it really true love?


This retelling of Sleeping Beauty is rather interesting since it drops characters from the past into the twenty-first century. It is less realistic than some other retellings, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The story switches back and forth between Talia's and Jack's point of view which helps to develop all of the characters very well and also give the plot some unique perspective. I would recommend this to fantasy fans looking for something to read that's just a little bit fluffy - particularly fans of retellings and time travel-type stories.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Beauty Sleep, Princess Nevermore, Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, or The Elemental Masters Series

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

The Prophecy by Hilari Bell

Prince Perryn's land is being attacked by a dragon and all of his father's armies are barely keeping it from overrunning the land. Perryn is supposed to be training to be the next warrior-king, but he'd rather be a scholar. His interest in books is scorned by his father, even when he finally finds what he's been searching for - a prophecy to destroy the dragon. When no one will listen, Perryn sets out on his own; he's on the run from his father's army and the traitor in the court who wants him dead...but he's determined to prove once and for all that he has what it takes, even if it isn't the traditional sort of strength.


This was a cute book. The story was somewhat predictable, but just different enough from the 'norm' that it was entertaining and engaging. I also enjoyed the characters and variety of personalities (and not just of the humans). I would definitely recommend this book to fantasy fans - particularly younger teens or anyone looking for a story that's light-hearted without being terribly fluffy.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Once Upon a Marigold, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Dark Lord of Derkholm, or The Last Apprentice

Alyzon Whitestarr by Isobelle Carmody

Alyzon Whitestarr does not come from an ordinary family: her father is a musician, her mother is a pinter, and her siblings have all inherited similar artistic talents; in fact, Alyzon is the only ordinary one among them. After an accident puts her in a coma, however, everything changes. When she wakes up, all of her senses are heightened, making the world seem to be a new and fascinating place. But most importantly, she can now smell things no one else can sense - including the emotions of those around her. This new ability will be invaluable when Alyzon discovers that something terrible threatens her family and friends - and she's the only one who can tell that it's there.


There were several things that I really enjoyed about this book - the characters, in particular, are well-developed and interesting people. The story was also a bit different from the ordinary and moved at a good pace. The only thing that I had trouble with is that I couldn't quite buy in to the central premise of the story regarding the 'evil' in the world that they were trying to stop; I was actually a bit disappointed because I liked reading the book, but it seemed a little dubious to me. (Also, I couldn't figure out where it was supposed to take place, which doesn't really matter, but I prefer to know.) That being said, I would suggest that critical fantasy readers who want everything explained should probably let this one go - if you're just looking for something fun and a little different (or if you're a fan of conspiracy theories), this book might be worth it for you.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Now You See It, Wicked Lovely, or Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind

The Guardians of Time Trilogy by Marianne Curley

In the first book of the trilogy, the named, Ethan has a secret; although he works hard to fit in as an ordinary high school boy, in his spare time, he is a member of the Guardians of Time. Lathenia, the goddess of Chaos, and her followers are constantly attempting to change history so that she can take over the universe; her brother, Lorian, supports the efforts of the Guard to keep the balance of power - and history - as it is. Ethan has been a member of the Guard from a young age and has done well enough that he has advanced rapidly in the rankes. Now he faces his greatest challeng: training his new apprentice, Isabel. Time is short as the agents of Chaos step up their attacks. Ethan, Isabel, and all of the Guard must reach deep within and learn to use their talents and work together if they have any hope of maintaining history.

The story continues in the dark; the Guard has managed to hold their own and thwart Lathenia's plans, but now she strikes back by banishing Arkarian (Ethan's mentor) to an underworld lost in darkness and full of soulless creatures. Ethan, Isabel, and the others want to do whatever is necessary to rescue him, but Lorian has forbidden in. The race is on to find a way to reach Arkarian before it is too late and without losing all that they have worked for.

In the final book, the key, the Guard is scrambling to keep ahead of Lethenia's plans. The battle against Chaos is more desperate than ever but matters are made worse by the suspicions and distrust within the midst of the Guard. The time of the Prophecy regarding the Named and the final battle between dark and light is finally coming to pass.


Each book is told by a different pair of characters which gives it an interesting depth of perspective. The basic premise is fairly common - good vs. evil - but the story does a good job of giving it a unique edge by affecting history as a way of affecting the outcome. Overall, I enjoyed the characters and plots, although some bits were rather predictable. There were only two things that bothered me; the writing seemed a little off occasionally, as if there were inconsistencies in the tenses (but for the most part, this was fairly minor). The second issue was that the ending is really abrupt. I was actually confused at first when I turned the page and realized that there was no more text. The finale is somewhat artistic, but not satisfying at all. I would still recommend this series to readers who enjoy reading about time travel, but with the caveat that anyone who needs a really complete and happy ending probably out to skip this one.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Lightning Theif, The "Minds" series, or Dark Lord of Derkholm

"Minds" Series by Carol Matas and Perry Nodelman

The first book, Of Two Minds, describes a world in which extraordinary things happen. Princess Lenora lives in Gepeth, where all of the people have the ability to make whatever they imagine come true; they choose not to imagine things, however, because of the Balance that has been decided upon. Her father has decided that it is time she married and has chosen Prince Coren of neighboring Andilla. In Andilla, the people have a different ability: they can all read one another's minds and have decided to live within their imaginations, seeing the world in their heads rather than the world that surrounds them. Lenora is so upset when she discovers that their parents want them to wed that she ends up jumping into another world - to realize that Coren has somehow tagged along. But it will take both of them to set things to rights and get back home, if they can ever learn to work together.

In More Minds, a giant is attacking the countryside in Gepeth. Lenora decides that she can best solve the problem and rushes off to find him, leaving a double of herself to take her place and then accidentally creating a double of Coren when she finds that the giant may be more than she can handle. Meanwhile, Coren realizes what Lenora has done and goes to find her; together they discover that the problem is bigger than anyone realized and that the Balance itself is falling apart. (Not to mention that the doubles Lenora created are making their own decisions and causing headaches for the real Lenora and Coren.) They're going to have to find a way to fix things - fast.

By the third book, Out of Their Minds, Lenora and Coren are finally getting married, but when they reach Andilla for the ceremony, they discover that none of the Andillans' powers are working. The wedding has to be put on hold while Lenora and Coren try to discover what has gone wrong and restore the Balance yet again. At the same time, Lenora is haunted by dreams about Hevak, the tyrant she faced in the first book, and Coren worries that it might be changing her. The two of them have their hands full with this newest challenge.

Note: There is also a fourth book, A Meeting of Minds, but I have not read it.


These books are a lot of fun. They're a little fluffy but there's enough plot that they have some substance. To some extent, all of the books feel about the same, but the characters are amusing and well developed and the universe created for the story is certainly intriguing. These are definitely great books for some light reading and I would recommend them to fantasy fans who are looking for something a little different.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Princess Nevermore, Resenting the Hero, or The Two Princesses of Bamarre