A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

Tiffany Aching is leaving home for the first time to be an apprentice learn how to be a witch. Although she is excited to do something new, she soon discovers that witches spend much of their time doing chores and tending people, rather than spells and charms. What Tiffany doesn't realize is that a hiver -- a malicious entity -- is pursuing her because it needs to take over other creatures in order to have a body. She will have to find the will within herself to fight the hiver and to find a way to defeat it, before it destroys her or those she holds dear.

This is the second book in the Discworld series about Tiffany Aching, preceded by The Wee Free Men.

This book was light and amusing, but also had an interesting plot and world-building. The characters were believable, and well developed throughout the story. I have not read the first book about Tiffany Aching, and there are quite a few references to the events from that book, however, I did not feel as though my understanding of the story or my ability to enjoy it were affected by reading this book alone. The book also has some explanatory notes, mainly about the Feegles (the small, fae creatures from the previous book), but not enough to disrupt the story. I would recommend this book to fantasy fans looking for a less-serious read or who want a book about using magic and magical creatures.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Dark Lord of Derkholm, The Last Apprentice, Unfamiliar Magic, or Howl's Moving Castle

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Evie works for the semi-secret International Paranormal Containment Agency, tracking down creatures of legend and myth, to keep humans unaware and safe from vampires, trolls, hags, and other paranormals. She has lived and worked at IPCA since she was young because she has a special talent - she's the only one who can see through the glamours of every paranormal. Evie longs for regular, teenage experiences, but she's happy to have her mermaid best friend and to help keep the world safe. But then paranormals start to die mysteriously and pieces of a strange faerie prophecy may point toward Evie as the source. Now it's up to her to find a way to save all of the paranormal creatures she's been tracking down. The story continues in Supernaturally and Endlessly

These books are surprisingly serious, even though the tone is fairly light and humorous (told from Evie's point of view). Evie's character is well developed and it's easy to sympathize with her and some of the difficult choices she has to make. I will mention that this series ends rather abruptly; if you like to have all of the loose ends tied up or a "happily ever after" ending, you won't get it from these books. However, I did enjoy the books and I would recommend them to fantasy fans who enjoy stories of magical creatures and the paranormal in real life.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Wicked Lovely, Sisters Red, or Princess for Hire

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

Faery Tales & Nightmares by Melissa Marr

This is a collection of short stories by Melissa Marr that includes:

• Where Nightmares Walk, Winter's Kiss
• Transition
• Love Struck
• Old Habits
• Stopping Time
• The Art of Waiting
• Flesh for Comfort
• The Sleeping Girl and the Summer King
• Cotton Candy Skies
• Unexpected Family
• Merely Mortal (This story is also included in Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong)

I really enjoyed this collection. The stories discuss a variety of topics, though many of them are a bit dark, and range in length from a couple of pages to a novella that takes up around a third of the book. I will mention that about half of the stories (including the novella) are about characters from Marr's Wicked Lovely series. Readers who are unfamiliar with the series may not recognize all of the context; also, there are spoilers for the series for readers who have not read all of the books or who are thinking about reading the series. However, I would recommend this book to older fantasy fans who enjoy stories about fairies in the real world and the darker edges of fantasy.

An aside: if you are interested in reading the Wicked Lovely series, it is now complete -- Wicked Lovely, Ink Exchange, Fragile Eternity, Radiant Darkness, and Darkest Mercy.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Black Pearls: A Faery Strand, Sweet Venom, or Sisters Red

The Fairy Bell Sisters by Margaret McNamara

In the first book, Sylva and the Fairy Ball, Tinker Bell's younger fairy sisters are getting ready for the annual Fairy Ball on Sheepskerry Island. Clara, Rosy, and Goldie have been planning their outfits; baby Squeak is still too young, but Sylva Bell is excited that she will finally be old enough to attend her very first ball. When the invitations come, the ball will be held one day before Sylva's birthday, which means she'll have to wait an entire year to go to the ball! But despite her disappointment, Sylva decides that she can still make a contribution.

The second book, Rosy and the Secret Friend, tells about how Rosy makes friends with one of the Summer Children visiting Sheepskerry Island. Even though the fairies are not supposed to reveal themselves to the Summer People, Rosy feels bad for Louisa and soon they are helping one another. But Rosy feels guilty about keeping the secret from her sisters and she'll have to figure out what to do when they find out about it...

These books are short, quick reads and they're cute stories. They're definitely written for younger readers, so they're a little bit predictable, but still a good choice for fantasy fans who want something light. There are also "fairy secrets" at the end of each book; the first has a recipe for Sylva's Blueberry Birthday Cake and the second has instructions to build a fairy house.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Fairy's Return, Once Upon a Marigold, The Dragon Princess, or Me, My Elf, and I

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

The Moorchild by Eloise McGraw

Saaski is a changeling. Her adopted human parents, Anwara and Yanno love her but find her (as most of the village does) a little bit odd. Saaski's appearance is unusual, she does not act as a human child should and she has a love for the wild lands of the moor above the sleepy village; a place described by villagers as filled with "eldritch" happenings and mischief.

Tormented daily by the other village children and feeling just as "freaky-odd" as they call her, Saaski belongs neither with the human villagers or with the elves that swapped her for Anwara's true human child. As the story progresses, Saaski struggles to find some measure of peace with her human family. When a traveling tinkerer and his young ward stumble into town, Saaski begins to discover who she truly is and where she came from.

I love this book and believe all young readers should give it a try. It is one of the few books that I have had to purchase because I reread and reread this story. This is a story about a young girl who feels very alone in a world that she finds incredibly dull. I was emotionally vested in this story and even found some parts of this story hard to read as McGraw describes the terrible injustices done to Saaski through fear of the unknown. This book is at times, heartwarming and at others, heartbreaking but always enthralling. The story is heavily steeped in Irish folklore about fairies and changelings for the reader interested in European mythology.

The Moorchild was awarded the Newbery Honor in 1997.

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

In New Avalon, everyone has tiny, invisible fairies. Charlie's friend, Rochelle has a shopping fairy (one of the more useful sorts) and their hated enemy, Fiorenze has an all-the-boys-like-you fairy. Either of these would be better than Charlie's parking fairy. Since she is only fourteen and can't drive, Charlie's fairy is only good for turning her into everyone's favorite passenger and she's tired of it. But Charlie has a Plan to get rid of her fairy and get a better one. Unfortunately, things aren't going so well and it might require some unexpected allies (and dangerous situations) to get rid of the parking fairy for good.


This book was amusing and somewhat unpredictable. It took a few chapters for me to get used to the slang (which seems to be a mix of American and Australian words, and possibly some that are only used in the world of New Avalon), but once I got oriented, the story was very easy to follow. Even though this story isn't set in the "real world" it would appeal to readers who enjoy books like Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging since it has that same kind of tone and story. Generally, I would recommend this to fantasy fans looking for something a little bit fluffy with a "chick lit" feel.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Beastly, or Magic Can Be Murder

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

Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr

In this sequel to Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange, each of the characters is struggling to discover how to live with their roles. Keenan (the Summer King) and Donia (the Winter Queen) are in love, but being together is hurting both of their courts, especially since Keenan desperately wants Aislinn by his side so that they can rebuild after the former Winter Queen's reign. Meanwhile, Aislinn is trying to juggle her life a s a "normal" teenager with her new responsibilities as a queen of Faery. Perhaps the most complicated of all, Seth cannot reconcile that his best friend is king of the Dark Court and the girl he loves has become immortal - he knows that someday he'll grow old and die while she'll continue to rule by Keenan's side. The struggle causes all of them to make difficult choices to further their own aims - the question is whether or not they'll all be able to live with the consequences.

This sequel definitely keeps up the energy of the previous two books. It was a look into the character's lives that gave another piece of the puzzle, although it definitely left me wanting more (I'm hoping another sequel is in the works). The characters and their situations are complex, but the story was engaging and definitely shows the "human" side of Faery. These books do need to be read in order, but I would recommend this series to older teens and fantasy fans who prefer the slightly darker stories and the 'real life' fairy stories.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Fablehaven, Black Pearls, or Howl's Moving Castle

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Laurel's life has changed a lot - her family has moved to the city even though she's always lived in the country and she's going to a public school for the first time. But more changes are in store. When she suddenly sprouts wing-like petals from between her shoulder blades, she'll have to discover who her friends are and confront the reality of who she is before it's too late to prevent disaster.

This book takes a different approach than most 'fairy' stories. It was enjoyable and only occasionally predictable. Overall, I liked the characters and the story although it was a little fluffy - and the ending definitely set up a sequel, so if you're looking for a stand-alone book or don't want to wait for the next one, this may not be the book for you. I would recommend this to fantasy fans looking for some light reading, especially younger teens or people who enjoy the 'real life' fairy stories.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Fablehaven, The Fairy Path Series, or Princess Nevermore

The Immortal Realm by Frewin Jones

This is a continuation of The Faerie Path series.

In this fourth book, Tania has finally started to make peace with her magical heritage and has shown the world of Faerie to her mortal parents. Life finally seems to be setting down, except that not all is well in Faerie; first children start to get sick and die. Then the illness spreads. In a place where disease is unheard of and death rarely happens, panic grips the entire realm. Soon Tania is on a quest to find the cause - and cure - before the Plague destroys her family, friends, and the place she has grown to love.

This book continues the series very well, bringing in some new characters while maintaining the ones from the previous volumes. Some of the plot felt overly complicated, but it may just be that it's been too long since I read the first three books. In fact, I was a little surprised to discover that there was a fourth book - the end of the third was a bit abrupt, but all of the loose ends that had carried through the first three books were pretty much tied up - and this book introduces another plot that will span at least one additional book. I would recommend this book to readers who really enjoyed the first three and are looking for more.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Wicked Lovely, or The Elemental Masters series

The Faerie Path Series by Frewin Jones

Anita Palmer is an average high school student in London until she turns sixteen and a series of events causes her to end up in Faerie. Suddenly, she finds out that she is Tania, the youngest daughter of Oberon and Titania, and that she has been lost for 500 years. Faerie has been in mourning since her disappearance but now it starts to come alive again. Anita wants to believe that what she is being told is true, but she is having trouble reconciling the life she knows with the life everyone in Faerie wants her to have. Meanwhile, a plot threatens all of them and Anita may be the only one who can stop it.

In the second book, The Lost Queen, Tania and Edric return to the Mortal Realm to see if they can find Titania and bring her home. Their simple plans are disrupted, however, by enemies still attempting to thwart them. It will come down to a race against time and a healthy dose of luck to save the lost queen and all of Faerie.

In the third book, The Sorcerer King, Tania has found Titania, but an ancient evil has been unleashed on the land of Faerie. None of the problems thy have faced thus far have prepared them for the Sorcerer King of Lyonesse. Now that Titania has discovered her new life, she may not be able to save her land and family in time to live 'happily ever after.'

This series is fun and overall a great read. I enjoyed the characters and the story even though the plot was somewhat predictable. This series introduces several long story arcs, so the endings are a little unsatisfying unless you continue reading; probably not a great choice for readers who don't want to invest in a series. However, I would recommend these books to readers looking for light reading or, in particular, those who enjoy stories about the Faerie Realm.


I originally thought this book was a trilogy, but it actually continues; see this posting for the fourth book, The Immortal Realm

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Wicked Lovely, The Fairy Godmother, Cecelia and Kate, or Princess Nevermore

Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull


This sequel to the first two Fablehaven books begins immediately following the end of the second book, while Kendra and Seth are still staying with their grandparents during the summer. Seth stumbles onto the fact that something is turning light creatures dark; this problem quickly becomes severe when they realize that the condition is spreading. Meanwhile, Kendra gets inducted into the order of the Knights of the Dawn and is sent on a secret mission to another preserve to hopefully retrieve a second artifact. Additionally, all of the questions regarding the loyalties of the Sphinx and the trustworthiness of Vanessa complicate the predicament that all of the characters face as they race, once again, to save Fablehaven from falling and the world from the release of powerful demons.


This is a really great series overall. I enjoyed rereading the first two books (which is something I would recommend before starting the third to keep up with everything) and the third was just as good. Seth finally seems to grow out of his antics a bit in this one, which was a relief, and the newer characters all became more defined and more central to the story than they have in the first ones. The story is sophisticated enough to keep these books interesting for teens of all ages, and I definitely recommend them to fantasy fans. As a side note, according to the website, the fourth book, Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary, ought to be out by April 2009.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Last Apprentice, Dragonhaven, or Wicked Lovely

Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr


In Wicked Lovely, Aislinn has had the Sight since birth - she has always seen faeries even though she'd rather not. Her grandmother has taught her to act as though she cannot see them to keep from attracting their attention. Faeries are dangerous creatures. Suddenly, however, the faeries have taken a particular interest in her and she can't seem to get away from them. What she doesn't know is that Keenan, the Summer King has been searching for centuries to find his Summer Queen because without her, summer will disappear. Ash clings to her friends and 'normal' life, but Keenan has chosen her to be the next mortal he tests and will not be ignored. With each of them fighting for what they want, it's possible that neither of them will win...

The second book, Ink Exchange is a sequel, picking up a bit after Wicked Lovely, but the main character is Aislinn's friend, Leslie. Leslie is having a difficult time since her mother left - her father spends his time gambling and drinking and her brother deals drugs. She is desperate to make changes in her life and has decided that the first step is to get a tattoo. Leslie knows nothing of the Faery Courts or the complications for Irial and his Dark Court since the changes in the Winter and Summer Courts. When Leslie gets her tattoo, it changes her in more ways that she intended and forces her to discover things about herself and the world around her that she has never seen before.


I really enjoyed these books and I was really looking forward to the sequel when I finished the first one. The characters and the way that the faeries are constructed within the 'real world' are all very believable and the plots are interesting and relatively unpredictable. These books are easy to read and the tone of each one really fits the characters that they focus on (lighter for Wicked Lovely and the Summer Court, darker for Ink Exchange and the Dark Court). I would definitely recommend these books to fantasy fans - especially if you enjoy books about magic in the real world or books about faeries.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Summoning, Poison Study, Fablehaven, or Twilight

Fablehaven and Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull

Kendra and Seth are unhappy about spending time with their grandparents while their mother and father go on a cruise. Once they arrive, however, they discover all sorts of activities to occupy them. It gets even more interesting when they find out that they're actually staying at Fablehaven, a preserve for magical creatures, and that their grandfather is the current caretaker. Although the siblings are enchanted by this discovery, they soon find out that magic isn't all fun and games - some magical creatures are dangerous and they must attempt to help save Fablehaven from dark plots which threaten it.

This book is a lot of fun. It's aimed toward young teens, so it's a quick, light read, but the plot is sophisticated enough to be interesting and engaging. I did notice that some of the dialog didn't seem to fit the characters, but otherwise they were fairly well developed. I would definitely recommend this book to fantasy readers looking for something a bit out of the ordinary.


In the sequel, Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star, strange things start happening at home so that Kendra and Seth must go back to their grandparent's house for safety. The Society of the Evening Star - an ancient organization that believes all magical creatures should be loose in the world regardless of the danger - has started growing more powerful and deliberate in their actions. Grandpa Sorensen has gathered together three experts (a potion master, a magical relics collector, and a mystical creature trapper) to help keep Fablehaven safe. Their job is to find the hidden relic before the Society can get into the preserve and take it themselves. Meanwhile, Kendra is still discovering new abilities as a side effect of the fairy kisses she received the summer before and Seth is still getting himself into trouble. Now, the stakes are high and everyone must pull together to find answers or the fate of the entire world could be in jeopardy.

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first one. The plot is far more sophisticated, so it really builds on the first installment. Seth bothered me because he cannot seem to get a clue and quit causing more problems for everyone else to deal with, but the rest of the characters are good. Also, just a heads-up, this book has a lot less closure at the end than the first one did because this one seems to be a more blatant lead-in to the next book in the series. Overall, I definitely liked this book and would recommend it to fantasy fans.

For more information, check out the official website - Note: the site is all illustrated/animated and takes a while to load.

Also see the posting for the third book in the series, Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Wicked Lovely, Flora Segunda, The Saint of the Dragons, or The Harper Hall Trilogy

Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms

I am definitely a fan of Mercedes Lackey in general, but I truly enjoy her Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms series. The premise is that all of the stories take place in a world where magic is ruled by the Tradition - which refers to common fairy tales. Daily life tends to take the shape of the fairy tales that the people tell. Note that although all of the stories are linked in some way, each one is written to be stand-alone. In fact, each story looks at different kingdoms which have different stories so every book has a unique voice, despite the fact that they are all in the same series.

The first, The Fairy Godmother tells the story of Elena Klovis, who was supposed to be a Cinderella. Unfortunately, however, her prince was still a child and so the Cinderella story could not be fulfilled. Instead, Elena gets the chance to become a fairy godmother and carry on the work of 'herding' the magic of the Tradition to keep evil from creeping in. As a godmother, Elena faces many challenges, most notably, a prince needing to be reformed. Godmothers always have something going on! I love this story because it's a unique look at fairy tales, and also because the story and characters are richly developed.

In the next story, One Good Knight, Princess Andromeda lives in a kingdom reminiscent of Greece. Her mother, Queen Andromeda has enough ambition for the whole of the kingdom, while Andromeda is rather bookish wishes that she could measure up to her mother's standards. Andromeda's life changes drastically, however, when her name is drawn in a lottery forcing her to be sacrificed to the dragon that has invaded their kingdom. I have to admit that this book doesn't feel quite as 'deep' and engaging as the first. However, the story and characters are just as unique and interesting. I would definitely recommend this book, particularly to book lovers who will empathize with the bibliophiles in the story.

The third, and newest installment, Fortune's Fool, looks at the Russian tradition. This story follows two characters: Prince Sasha Pieterovich, the seventh son in the kingdom of Led Belarus and Princess Ekaterina, the seventh daughter of the Sea King. As a Songweaver, Sasha keeps his kingdom safe by creating songs that reflect pleasant ways of life, and also by drawing on his extraordinary 'luck' by virtue of being the seventh son. Although few know it, Katya serves as her father's spy: as someone who can come and go as easily on land as in the sea, she is uniquely suited to scout out problems on land before they reach the sea kingdom. The two meet and fall in love, only to be separated when Katya is captured by a Jinn, leaving Sasha to find some way to get her back. This book definitely has the feel of the first - any lack of depth in the second is not present here. Once again, the book has a unique style reflecting the 'Tradition' of the kingdoms, and the characters and story are well developed and fun to read.

These are some of the most creative books I have read - drawing on 'traditions' and fairy tales, but also turning them around to make completely different stories. Mercedes Lackey creates life-like characters and intriguing story lines. I definitely recommend all of these books to fantasy readers.

For more information about the author and her books, check out her website.

• If these books sound interesting, consider these: Cecelia and Kate, Wicked Lovely, or Black Pearls