Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey

Hunter Wild comes from a long line of vampire hunters and she's a star student at the Helios-Ra Academy, which trains students to kill evil (Hel-Blar) vampires. Politics are more complicated, though, now that the Helios-Ra have made peace with the local Drake vampire clan. After Hunter gets a special invitation to a vampire coronation, she starts to feel conflicted about how her conscience aligns with her loyalties to her family and her colleagues. Meanwhile, students at the school start to get mysteriously ill and Hunter starts to work with Quinn Drake in an attempt to discover the cause.

I didn't realize at first that this is actually the third in the Drake Chronicles series; each book follows different main characters, so I thought that they might stand alone, but I'm fairly certain I missed out on some critical story lines by starting in the middle. However, the story was interesting and the characters were believable. This was a quick read that was relatively light, while dealing with some complex issues. I would recommend it to fantasy readers who enjoy stories set in the real world that deal with the supernatural, or who like strong female characters and a bit of action. This book reminded me of the Vampire Academy series - the world building and writing style were similar - so if you liked those, you may also enjoy the Drake Chronicles.

The Drake Chronicles books: Hearts at Stake, Blood Feud, Out for Blood, Bleeding Hearts, Blood Moon, Blood Prophecy.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Bloodlines, Sisters Red, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, or Fairy Bad Day

Demon Princess: Reign or Shine by Michelle Rowan

Nikki has just moved to a new town with her mother and her mother's new - fourth - husband. As if that isn't enough, she's just found out that her father is a demon, which makes her a Halfling. Suddenly life is complicated as Nikki tries to balance the human world and the demon world (the Shadowlands), and each of them is problematic in different ways. In particular, she finds herself developing a crush on Michael, the boy that her father sent after her, even though a relationship would be forbidden. Also, Nikki is discovering that many things are different and more dangerous than they appear to be.

Overall, I liked this book; it was a quick read and the characters are fairly realistic. Some parts of the story are a little predictable, and occasionally the dialogue felt a little awkward to me, but it may get more interesting as the series continues. I would recommend this to fantasy fans who enjoy stories that take place in the real world and deal with relationships and romance.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: the Trylle trilogy, Entwined, The Mermaid's Mirror, or The World Above

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

Heroes' Reward by Moira J. Moore

This is an update about a series that I've reviewed before. For those of you who have been following the The Source and Shield series by Moira J. Moore, the final book has been self-published by Moore. It is currently available in multiple formats, both free and for a fee. More information is available on her post, here.

The books in order are:

• Resenting the Hero
• The Hero Strikes Back
• Heroes Adrift
• Heroes at Risk
• Heroes Return
• Heroes at Odds
• Heroes' Reward

I do recommend reading this series and I'm so happy that it has been concluded, even though the publisher dropped it. After the early books (which I reviewed some years ago), there is actually quite a bit more magic in the story rather than just special abilities. I would suggest this series to older fantasy fans who enjoy interesting character relationships and other worlds.

The Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking

In the first book, Switched, Wendy Everly has had a complicated life -- her mother tried to kill her on her sixth birthday, claiming that Wendy was not her child -- but now she is seventeen and has just moved to a new town with her aunt and brother. Just when she starts to think that she could settle in to an ordinary senior year of high school, she meets Finn Holmes, an odd boy who spends most of his time staring at her. Finn tells Wendy that she is actually a changeling, switched at birth, and now he's going to take her home to meet her real family.

The series continues in Torn and Ascend. Wendy learns more about her family and the world of the Trylle.

Overall, this series was engaging and a fairly quick read. It started a little slow and I found some of the love-triangle drama in the second and third books to be a bit tedious. However, the characters are well developed and the concept of changelings in the modern world is certainly an interesting twist. I would recommend this to older fantasy who enjoy stories in the real world with a bit of romance.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Wicked Lovely, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, Me, My Elf, and I, or Radiant Darkness

The World Above by Cameron Dokey

Gentian (Gen) and her brother Jack live with their mother on a farm, but times are hard. When Jack goes to the market to sell their cow and comes back with a handful of magic beans, everything changes. The twins have grown up hearing bedtime stories about the "World Above," the place from which their mother fled when their father was murdered. But finally they have a way to restore their birthright, except that once Jack climbs up the beanstalk to set their plan in motion, everything starts to go wrong.

This was a really fun retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk (with a little bit of Robin Hood, as well). It's told in first person by Gen, so the perspective is different than the traditional story. This is a really quick read and I would absolutely recommend it to fantasy fans who enjoy retellings of fairy tales and a little bit of romance.

This is part of the Once Upon a Time series.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Black Pearls, Princess Nevermore, Water Steps, or Enchanted

Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley

When Isabel's mother dies in childbirth, she is sent to a nearby village to live with a wet nurse in the family of a blacksmith. She grows up as a peasant girl, although she is friends with Prince Julian who lives at the village castle since Beatrice, Bella's adoptive mother, was his wet nurse as well. Meanwhile, their country has been at war with a neighboring country for nearly one hundred years, wreaking havoc on the lives of all the citizens. But when Bella is thirteen, everything falls apart: she finds out that her father is a knight in the city who has just remarried and decided to bring her home, away from the only family she has ever known. Unfortunately, her "new" family is not any more excited to see her and life is complicated for everyone. It will take courage, ingenuity, and a little bit of magic to make everything come out right again.

Although this is an unusual retelling of Cinderella, it felt a little dry to me, and not much like a fairy tale at the end (though several Cinderella elements were there). The story is told from several different points of view, which helps to understand all of the characters involved and the plot is unpredictable enough to stay interesting. I would recommend this book to fantasy fans that enjoy books that are a little serious.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Aurelie, Beauty, The Other Book, or Warbreaker

Janitors by Tyler Whitesides

Spencer Zumbro wants his life to be clean and well-ordered, which is difficult in his large, disordered family and at a new elementary school. But things get even worse when he starts to see strange creatures around the school and no one believes him. When Spencer sees a janitor attack one of the creatures with a vacuum, he realizes that he isn't the only one who can see them. He and his new friend, Daisy, set out to find the truth, but the situation is far more complicated than they realize...

Honestly, this isn't the sort of book that I usually pick up, but I did enjoy it. The story is a little bit fluffy, but there is enough characterization to really get to know Spencer and Daisy, and several serious topics are broached as well. I would recommend this book to fantasy fans of all ages, particularly those who enjoy stories about fighting monsters and magical creatures in the real world.

Note: This book is also the first in a series, continued by Janitors: Secrets of New Forest Academy.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Lightning Thief, Now You See It..., The Prophecy, or fablehaven

Princess for Hire Trilogy by Lindsey Leavitt

Desi Bascomb is thirteen and not terribly happy with her life. She works at a local pet store (Pets Charming) as part of an apprenticeship program; it mostly involves dressing as a groundhog and enduring ridicule. But when she makes a wish on some "magic" fish, her life changes drastically. Desi discovers that has an unusual ability to tap her magic potential (MP), which means that she's a candidate for a position to substitute for royalty. When she puts on the magical Royal Rouge, her appearance is temporarily transformed into that of a royal family member, who use the service to go on anonymous vacations. Throughout the trilogy - Princess for Hire, The Royal Treatment, and A Farewell to Charms - Desi learns how difficult it is to fill someone else's shoes without losing herself. But she's determined to find out who she really is, and stand up for what she believes in...no matter what it costs her.

These books were really quick reads and I enjoyed the series a lot. The first book felt very fluffy, although there are some more serious issues later in the series. The plot was interesting and I kept reading to find out where it was going to head next. Since it's told in first-person point-of-view, it has an informal feel that's similar to The Princess Diaries or Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging (neither of which are fantasy books, but they have the same kind of tone), and readers really get to know Desi and how she grows. I would definitely recommend this series to fantasy fans looking for something light that's a little out of the ordinary, or stories set in the real world.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Cloaked, Wings, Me, My Elf, and I, or Fairest

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

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

Moon Flights by Elizabeth Moon

This is a collection of 15 sci fi/fantasy short stories:

• If Nudity Offends You -- Louanne discovers that someone in the trailer park has been stealing her electricity and they're going to pay...
• Gifts -- Dall Drop-hand leaves home to search for adventure; before he leaves, his sister gives him a bit of wood shaped like a knife and her gift could make all the difference
• Politics -- Gunny Vargas is a member of a marine company charged with keeping a landing site safe from hostile aliens, but the real enemy might be closer to home
• And Ladies of the Club -- When the king decides to charge taxes on women's breastplates, the lady warriors of the Ladies' Aid & Armor Society (LA & AS) will need to find a creative solution
• Accidents Don't Just Happen--They're Caused -- Peka is a consulting engineer assigned to a space station to improve the design and prevent accidents, but she's living under the shadow of her mother, who literally wrote the book(s) in the field
• New World Symphony -- Georges Mantenon is a specially-trained musician on his first assignment; his job is to musically represent a newly-discovered world, but it may be more challenging than he dreamed
• No Pain, No Gain -- Girls and women all over the kingdom wake up one morning to discover that their toned arms, legs, and stomachs have been replaced with flabby ones by magic; the members of the LA & AS will have to track down the people responsible and put things to rights
• Hand to Hand -- Ezera comes home after being at war to see her twin sister play in the symphony, but she isn't prepared for what she will hear
• Tradition -- A naval story from World War I
• Fool's Gold -- Cavernous Dire has accidentally been turned into a dragon, and he isn't happy about it; Mirabel Stonefist and the LA & AS decide to rescue him, but they aren't happy about it, either
• Judgment -- When Ker finds some egg-shaped rocks filled with crystals, he starts to feel uneasy, but he can't stop his soon-to-be father-in-law from taking them home
• Gravesite Revisited -- When the clanspeople discover that witches from the future are digging up their graves, they must rethink their traditions
• Sweet Charity -- The annual LA & AS Charity Ball is coming up and this year, Krystal Winterborn is determined to be named Queen of the Ball - no matter what
• Welcome to Wheel Days -- Planning a planet-wide festival is a massive undertaking, particularly since you never know what's going to go wrong...
• Say Cheese -- The Vatta brothers are on their first run, determined that they deserve a place in the family business of space merchants, but one of them may have ruined everything with an ill-fated purchase of cheese to sell

This is a very diverse collection of short stories, although it is definitely weighted toward war and fighters. I enjoyed most of the stories which range from relatively fluffy fantasy tales (such as the stories about the Ladies Aid & Armor Society) to deep, introspective science fiction. If you like both science fiction and fantasy - or if you've thought about branching out a bit - short stories can be a good way to go. I would recommend this to fantasy fans looking for short stories, particularly those who like darker, serious stories in addition to lighter ones.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: A Posse of Princesses, Rampant, The Abhorsen Trilogy, or Half Human

The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley

When Princess Torina is nine years old, her father returns from conquering their neighbor, Bellandra to gain their magical sword; the king brings her Torina two gifts: a crystal that shows her the future, and Landen, the former prince of Bellandra, to be her slave. The princess frees Landen and they secretly become friends over shared interests, but as they get older they slowly grow apart. One day years later, Torina's world falls apart and Landen is accused of plotting against the kingdom. The two of them are the only ones who know the truth - but will it be enough to save the kingdom?

Overall, this book was a good read with an interesting plot; there were some points that seemed a little too convoluted or coincidental, but I enjoyed it anyhow. The characters are realistic and likeable, and everything is tied up well at the end of the story. I would recommend this book to fantasy fans who want something a little different, or who enjoy stories that have some romance and happy endings.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Princess Ben, , The Two Princesses of Bamarre, or The Goose Girl

No One Noticed the Cat by Anne McCaffrey

When Mangan Tighe, Regent to Prince Jamas of Esphania dies, the prince is suddenly immersed in a world of politics that he has to navigate alone. At the time, no one noticed Tighe's cat, Niffy, however, when she adopts Jamas, everyone is amused when he starts asking for her opinion as Tighe used to. The political situation heats up when the neighboring country of Mauritia starts looking toward Esphania to expand their holdings, and it soon becomes clear that their queen, Yasmin, has even bigger plans toward gaining power than anyone realized.

This story is a short novella, so it's a fairly quick read. Although it falls into the fantasy genre, there isn't much magic and the core of the story is more about politics. However, it was certainly an interesting story, and I would recommend it to fantasy fans who enjoy political intrigue or fantasy stories centering around cats as magical creatures.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Reserved for the Cat, The Prophecy, Magic in the Mirrorstone: Tales of Fantasy, or Daughter of the Flames

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

When a royal messenger unexpectedly arrives in fourteen-year-old Miri’s isolated mountain village and announces that the nation’s crown prince will marry one of the village girls, a “princess academy” is established outside the village to train every possible future princess—even though the mountain peopleare frequently thought of as uneducated and generally not as cultured as “lowlanders.” Attendance is mandatory for all girls of marrying age and at the end of the year, the prince himself will come to the academy to choose his wife.

For Miri, a delicate girl who has never been permitted to work in the stone quarry that provides the town with its yearly income, this is a chance make her father proud. At the academy, Miri makes new friends and together, the girls weather the hardships of prejudice and feelings of isolation.

Give me a book by Shannon Hale and I’ll devour it cover to cover. As expected, I really enjoyed this story. While you will not find as many magical or fantastic elements in Princess Academy the story is engaging and the reader will easily find herself empathizing with Miri and her classmates.

I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy a strong female lead or stories about oppressed peoples gaining respect in society. Though Princess Academy is based in a rugged, cold mountain setting, Hale has created a world that left me wanting to discover more about the cultures and people she has imagined.

Princess Academy has earned several awards including a 2006 Newberry Honor Award.

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

Hallandren and Idris are two countries on the brink of war. As a means of promoting peace, young princess Siri is sent to marry the God King who rules Hallandren. Siri must learn to deal with the radical change in belief and culture as her people eschew the magic used by Hallandrens. Her sister Vivenna (previously betrothed to the God King) has to come to terms with her own purpose in life and becomes entangled in politics as she attempts to work for the good of the Idrian people. Meanwhile, other characters are caught up in the social and political maneuverings including Lightsong, one of the reborn gods that live in T'Telir, and Vasher, a mysterious figure who carries a bloodthirsty, sentient sword (Nightblood) and who wields magical Breath in his own pursuits. With hostilities becoming more and more of a potential reality, all of the characters will have to find a way to save those they love.


I thought this book started a little slowly, but once I got into the story, it was very interesting. The concept and world-building in this story are certainly novel and well-done and the characters are all well-developed also. The plot is fairly complex and includes quite a bit of political intrigue and secrets, for readers who enjoy that kind of storyline. The ending does a great job of wrapping up all of the salient points, although I was curious about what happens to some of the characters afterwards (so far as I know, this book is a stand-alone without sequels). I would recommend this to fantasy readers who are looking for something with a lot of depth and development rather than a quick, fluffy read, or who enjoy books with a lot of characters and complexity.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Abhorsen Trilogy, Lady in Gil, The Soprano Sorceress, or Spirit Fox

Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott

Badly burned and orphaned by fires when she was young, Zira has been raised in a temple where she has been training to become a warrior priestess and protect the faith of her people, the Ruan. The invading forces of the Sedorne people have oppressed and terrorized the Ruan people since the day of the fires, and Zira longs to fight back and free her country. But now, as she turns sixteen, Zira finds that she may get her wish, but that it will be a long and difficult road as she discovers who she truly is and looks for the strength to work with her enemy to end the oppression for all.

This was an interesting book and the plot takes several turns as Zira learns what it means to grow up and to become a leader. I enjoyed finding out where the story would go and the characters were written very realistically. I would recommend this to fantasy readers who like books with strong female characters.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: A Posse of Princesses, Rampant, or Song of the Lioness Quartet

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

Morganville Vampires Series by Rachel Caine

Claire Danvers really wanted to go to MIT, but since she's only sixteen, her parents have decided that it would be better for her to go to a small, local college instead. Unfortunately, Texas Prairie University in Morganville, Texas leaves a lot to be desired. A bad experience in the dorms leads Claire to look at off-campus housing, ending up with roommates Michael, Eve, and Shane. But that's when things get even more complicated: Morganville is run by vampires. Claire isn't willing to stand idly by, which means that soon she is in the thick of vampire-human relationship issues, dragging her new friends along with her.

The current books in the series are: Glass Houses, The Dead Girls' Dance, Midnight Alley, Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule, Carpe Corpus, and Fade Out. (The first two books were also published in a single volume titled The Morganville Vampires.)


These books were fast-paced and highly addicted. They're slightly more fluffy than some vampire books, but less fluffy than I expected. The main characters are well-developed and the plot is not entirely predictable. One of the things that I like best about these books is that the characters and dialogue feel very realistic. I would definitely recommend this series to older teens who are looking for books about vampires or something set in the real world full of life-or-death fantasy situations.


**Note: Book 8, Kiss of Death, is supposed to be released April 27, 2010; Book 9, Ghost Town is set to come out in November.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Wicked Lovely, Fablehaven, or Tantalize

Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle


Twins Persephone (Perse) and Penelope (Pen) Leland live in England in 1837. They have received an uncommon education, learning math and other subjects not generally taught to girls - and they've been tutored in magic. Now that their eighteenth birthday is approaching, it's time for them to go to London, join the Season, and find eligible husbands. Keeping their magic a secret and dealing with the ton would be difficult enough, but they also discover that their governess has been kidnapped as part of a magical plot. Time grows short as they try to find Miss Allardyce (not to mention husbands) amid the many complications of the social whirl.

This was an enjoyable story, and a fairly quick read. There are quite a few characters, but they are all well-developed and easy to keep track of. The story is certainly interesting and adds a bit of fantastical mystery to the historical plot. I would definitely recommend this to teens interested in stories about Regency England, magic in the "real world", or those looking for a bit of light fantasy with a little mystery.


Note: This book focuses on Persephone's story; Penelope's story is continued in the second book, Betraying Season.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Cecelia and Kate, Magic Can Be Murder, A Posse of Princesses, or The Elemental Master Series