Stork by Wendy Delsol

Katla Leblanc is a California girl. Unfortunately, after divorcing Kat's father, her mother has decided to move them to her childhood home, a tiny town in Minnesota. Kat finds herself called to be a member of the Icelandic Stork Society, a secret group of women with special powers; she is unprecedentedly young, but is immediately given special privileges, and not everyone is happy about it. Meanwhile, fashion-conscious Kat feels out of place in the town and her social status is not helped by an unfortunate date before school started with Wade -- a creepy guy with an on-again-off-again girlfriend. When she gets recruited for the school newspaper, she discovers that Jack, the editor, seems to be constantly arguing with her and, when they touch, she feels things she can't explain. Kat is discovering that adjusting to life in a new place is more complicated than she expected...

This was a really interesting story and I enjoyed the way that the series ties in Nordic myths and traditions, which are a little less common than some others. The characters are fairly realistic, although some personality changes were a bit predictable and too perfect too quickly, in my opinion. However, the plot was engaging and moved in some unexpected directions. The rest of the series is also more robust in terms of the complexity of the storyline, and bring in more of the Icelandic mythology and a retelling of The Snow Queen. I would recommend this book to fantasy fans who looking for stories about magic in the real world and that tie in historic myths to the current day, with plenty of romance.

This is the first book in a trilogy, followed by Frost and Flock.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, Water Steps, Rampant, or the Trylle trilogy

Cupid: A Tale of Love and Desire by Julius Lester

Psyche was the youngest princess of a kingdom a long time ago. She was so beautiful that everyone who saw her instantly fell in love, causing problems throughout the land. When Venus (the goddess of love) discovers that the people have stopped worshiping her to spend their time looking upon Psyche's beauty, she sends her son, Cupid, to find a way to turn Psyche into a laughingstock. But when Cupid sees Psyche, he falls in love, as well - with her personality as well as her beauty. Even though Cupid has inflicted love (and discord) among unsuspecting people for decades, he discovers that actually being in love is complicated.

This retelling is narrated by a modern storyteller, lending a new voice to the Greek/Roman mythology and adding some interesting asides. I really enjoyed reading this story, which has beautiful, lyrical descriptions and characters with depth. I would recommend this to fantasy fans who enjoy retellings of Greek myths and stories that have some romance.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Radiant Darkness, A Kiss in Time, A Tale Dark and Grimm, or Once Upon a Winter's Night

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Nikki Beckett has returned home after mysteriously disappearing for six months. What she can't tell her family and friends is that during that time, she spent 100 years in the Everneath, allowing Cole - an Everliving - to feed off her so that he can continue his immortal lifestyle. The humans in the Feed were not expected to survive, but thoughts of her mortal boyfriend, Jack, kept Nikki sane. Now she's trying to regain some semblance of her previous life and reestablish relationships with her family, and with Jack for six months...before she has to go back.

Although this book is not really a retelling, it does make allusions suggest an alternate interpretation to Greek myths, particularly the stories of Orpheus and Eurydice, and of Persephone. The plot and characters are compelling and gain quite a bit of depth in the second book; Nikki turns out to be a surprisingly strong heroine. I would recommend this to older fantasy fans who enjoy stories in the real world that have a darker edge.

This book is followed by Everbound and Evertrue (will be released in January 2014).

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Ever, Radiant Darkness, or Trylle trilogy

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Grace's family has just moved to San Francisco and she is excited to start attending a new private school. Life seems good until she sees a minotaur walk into a restaurant. No one else seems to notice, but Grace starts to wonder why she is seeing monsters. Meanwhile, Gretchen spends all of her spare time hunting down monsters and sending them out of the human world with her venomous fangs. It's tricky enough keeping up with monsters and homework, but then Grace and Gretchen meet and discover that they look exactly alike. And they're not alone - their third sister, Greer, is not happy to see Grace and Gretchen when they turn up on her doorstep. Her life is in order and she wants nothing to do with them. But as triplets descended from the mythological Gorgon, Medusa, "normal" life may be out of their reach.

This was definitely an interesting way to bring ancient Greek myths into the modern world. The characters were well developed, and realistic. The only thing that I disliked about this story is that it's very introductory. Although it isn't clearly labeled, this is the first in a series and this book doesn't get very far. Greer doesn't appear until two-thirds through the book and by the end, I felt as though almost everything in the book had already been summarized on the book jacket, which was a little disappointing. Keep in mind that you may want to have book two handy when you finish this one. But I would recommend it to fantasy readers who enjoy Greek myths, stories set in the real world, or strong, female characters who fight monsters.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Rampant, Half-Human, Radiant Darkness, or Ever

The Lost Voices Trilogy by Sarah Porter

In Lost Voices, the first book, Lucette's father was lost at sea, leaving her orphaned and living with her abusive uncle. But when her uncle tries to rape her on her fourteenth birthday, Luce feels trapped and tired of the cruelty, finally deciding to throw herself off a cliff. But instead of dying she changes into a mermaid and discovers a whole new life with a nearby tribe. Suddenly, Luce has friends and magical abilities. But the relationships in the tribe are complex and she struggles with the fact that their magic is used to lead humans to their deaths.

The second book, Waking Storms, is told from the point of view of both Luce and Dorian, the human boy that Luce saved. After leaving the tribe, Luce is living alone and trying to figure out how to become more comfortable with her life as a mermaid. But larger problems may be on the horizon for Luce and all of the mermaids in the area as they face the possibility of exposure.

The final book in the trilogy (The Twice Lost) will be released June 2, 2013.

This story was very compelling and definitely drew me in; I was a little disappointed when I realized that the final book isn't out yet and I would have to wait to finish reading the trilogy. Even though a lot of the plot is fairly light, there is still an underlying serious tone. The focus of these books is really on character development and the social interaction of the mermaids, since they are all "lost girls" who have given up on humanity because of their own horrific experiences. I would recommend these books to older fantasy fans who enjoy stories about magic in the real world, or stories that are a little more serious.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Half-Human, Rampant, Wicked Lovely, or Morganvill Vampires series

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

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

Ever by Gail Carson Levine

In Ever, Olus, the Akkan god of the wind, is used to getting his way. As he travels the world, learning about humanity, he discovers a girl named Kezi. Although she has caught his notice like none before, the people of Kezi's country worship Admat, the One God, and, due to their beliefs, Kezi is meant to die n a few short weeks. Kezi's faith and Olus' love with both be tested as they search for a way to avoid her death and find a life together.

This book really is unlike any of the other books I have read by Gail Carson Levine. It feels very much like a Greek myth rather than a fairy tale, but it is just as enjoyable. The characters are interesting and the plot is unpredictable; the tests are truly difficult, but they don't always end up as neatly as they do in the tellings of Greek myths. I would definitely recommend this book to fantasy readers, particularly those who enjoy myths or who are looking for something a little different.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Lightning Thief, The Immortals Series, or Spirit Fox

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

This book tells the story of Perseus Jackson (who goes by Percy), an ordinary twelve-year-old who has been kicked out of many schools when strange things happen. Soon, his life is going to become even stranger when he and his mother have to run from monsters in the middle of the night. Suddenly, Percy is at Half-Blood Hill, a summer camp for the (half-)children of Greek gods. Although he knows nothing about his real father, he's going to have to catch up quickly, because the gods are on the brink of war and his father has a quest for him...

I enjoyed this book for the most part - the plot is interesting and different although parts of it are a bit predictable, and the characters are likable. This book is definitely geared toward somewhat younger readers, but it's a good, light read. I would recommend this to fantasy fans looking for a quick read and those who prefer fantasy in the 'real world.'


Note: This is the first book in the series Percy Jackson & the Olympians, followed by The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and the final book (expected to be released in May 2009), The Last Olympian.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Fablehaven, Troll Fell, Now You See It, or The Last Apprentice

The Fairy's Return and Other Princess Stories by Gail Carson Levine & Half-Human edited by Bruce Coville


The Fairy's Return and other Princess Stories is actually a collection of novellas which are all published separately as The Princess Tales: The Fairy's Mistake, The Princess Test, Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep, Cinderellis and the Glass Hill, For Biddle's Sake, and The Fairy's Return. All of these stories are retellings or reminiscent of fairy tales set in a fictional kingdom. I enjoyed this book; the stories are short enough to read quickly and then put down, but longer than most 'short stories.' The plots are definitely creative and interesting takes on fairytale elements although the stories do seem to be geared toward younger readers and are not very sophisticated or complex. I would recommend this book to fantasy readers who enjoy fairy tales or who are looking for short, quick reads.


Half-Human is a collection of short stories about 'half-humans' including gorgons, mermaids, selkies, and even a tree that becomes a man by authors including Bruce Coville, Tamora Pierce, Gregory Maguire and Jane Yolen. I really love this book; the stories are all short enough to read in a few minutes, but they are interesting and well-written. I would absolutely recommend this book to fantasy fans - particularly if you're short on time and need something that you can read in snippets of time. Almost all of them are about half-human children living in the 'real world' so readers who enjoy books about fantasy in the midst of today's world should definitely pick this one up.

• If these books sound interesting, consider these: Black Pearls, The Immortals series, Once Upon a Marigold, or The Frog Princess

Firebird by Mercedes Lackey

Ilya is the middle son of a boyar (although he claims to be a tsar). While his brothers spend all of their time beating one another up in an attempt to become their father's heir, Ilya spends his time hiding out and learning religion and mythology from the priest and the shaman who live on the land. When someone starts stealing the tsar's prized cherries, Ilya sneaks out and discovers that they are being taken by a magical bird-woman called the Firebird. But, as he soon realizes, seeing the Firebird has changed his life forever - suddenly, his life gets far more interesting.

This is a great Russian fairy tale. Even though it's very different from Western tales, the Russian culture really comes through, and anyone who has been exposed to Eastern fairy tales will recognize plot points. The story starts a little slow, I thought - and Ilya wasn't really one of my favorite characters. But overall, the book is definitely worth reading - particularly for readers who enjoy fairy tales or fantasy stories set in 'real life'.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Fablehaven, Spindle's End, Bound, or East