Prophecy by Ellen Oh

Kira is the daughter of a general and the only female soldier in the kingdom. She's the prince's personal bodyguard and has special abilities that let her see people who have been possessed by demons and the strength to kill them. But she is feared by the people because of her yellow eyes and her reputation, since the king will not make knowledge of demons public. A threat to the royal family sends Kira and the prince out into the wilderness, on a trek to a safe haven, but the plan goes awry almost immediately. Signs are pointing to an ancient prophecy; it may save their kingdom from the Demon Lord...but only if they can stay alive.

This was a really interesting story with rich details for the setting. I was a little frustrated with the main characters on occasion, for not being open-minded or really thinking about what was going on. But other than that, the characters were pretty well developed and the plot moved forward in logical ways with quite a bit of action. I would recommend this to fantasy fans who like "epic" sorts of stories that center around a hero's journey.

This is the first book in the Dragon King Chronicles, followed by Warrior.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Sisters Red, Spirit Fox, the Song of the Lioness quartet, or Sweet Venom

The Watcher in the Shadows by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

After the death of their father, Irene and her younger brother, Dorian move to a small village on the Normandy coast. Their mother, Simone, has taken a job as a housekeeper for a reclusive toymaker, Lazarus Jann, who lives in a mansion above the village. Although the entire family enjoys the change, the area is full of mysteries. Irene meets a fisher boy, Ismael, and the two of them explore a small island and lighthouse that local legend claim are haunted. Meanwhile, it starts to become clear that there is more to Jann than meets the eye. The situation gets more serious when a young girl is found murdered and suddenly everything turns dangerous.

I actually read this for a book discussion group and none of us particularly liked it (or liked it unreservedly, at least). The author does a good job of using imagery and building up the setting, but the characters are a little less developed and the "rules" governing the particular brand of magic in this universe are not clearly defined. More importantly, the story starts out as a mildly-creepy ghost story/mystery and turns into a convoluted series of stories - none of which make sense or are ever clarified by the end. And there are at least half a dozen plot points that are not resolved at all by the time the book ends. The story was definitely interesting, and not predictable, though I found the lack of cohesion frustrating and confusing. If you really like suspense and you're ok with stories that are vague or don't tie up all of the loose pieces by the end, you might enjoy this book, but I would generally not recommend it.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Poison, The Summoning, Swoon, or Flora Segunda

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

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Scarlett and Rosie March have always been close; after a werewolf kills their grandmother and leaves Scarlett with only one eye and extensive scars, they stick together even more. The sisters train to become hunters, spending their time luring and killing wolves to keep other girls safe, along with one of the woodsman's younger sons, Silas. Rosie feels tied to her sister, but she starts to wonder if there is more to life, even though Scarlett is content to devote herself to hunting. When they hear about the possibility that something big is developing in Atlanta, the three of them decide to temporarily move to the city. But each of them may find more there than they realized, including themselves.

This book alternates points of view between Scarlett and Rosie to help give a balanced picture of the events. It is easy to sympathize with both of the girls, even though they are extremely different. Some of the plot elements felt predictable, but the focus is on the character development and I still enjoyed reading it to find out what would happen. This book is a bit dark and bittersweet, but I would definitely recommend it to fantasy fans who enjoy those kinds of stories or retellings in the real world.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Black Pearls, Beauty and the Werewolf, Morganville Vampires, or A Tale Dark and Grimm

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

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

Entwined by Heather Dixon

When their mother dies, Azalea the Princess Royale and her sisters - Bramble, Clover, Delphinium, Evening Primrose (Eve), Flora, Goldenrod, Hollyhock, Ivy, Jessamine, Kale, and newborn Lily - are bereft. Meanwhile, their father is leaving for war and doesn't seem to have any interest in them. The household goes into mourning, which means no dancing, even though the princesses danced every day with their mother. So, when Azalea finds a magical passageway that leads to a silver pavilion, all of the girls are happy to have a place they can dance every night. But Keeper, the mysterious, magical being that presides over the pavilion has his own agenda and the princess' nights of dancing come with a price.

This was a really great retelling of Twelve Dancing Princesses and I enjoyed it a lot. There's quite a bit of characterization of the girls, even though there are so many of them, and also of their relationship with their father there are several twists in the plot that made it difficult to put the book down once I started it. I would definitely recommend this to fantasy fans, particularly anyone who enjoys retellings of fairy tales or a bit of romance.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Black Pearls, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Princess Ben, or East

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

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

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

The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott

Alexandra is a princess in the Kingdom. Her father rules well and her mother keeps the Old Ways, maintaining the health of the people and the land; Alexandra's brothers are just as talented in their own ways, destined to keep the Kingdom on its path. But everything changes when Alexandra's mother dies in a mysterious attack and the king brings home a new wife. When Alexandra is banished and her brothers disappear, she must learn to look within and find a way to use her own gifts and save everyone - including herself.


This is a really great retelling of The Wild Swans. It's told from Alexandra's point of view and the characters are so well developed that it adds an extra depth to the story. The progression of the plot actually seemed a little random at times, but I didn't think that it detracted from the story overall. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of re-tellings or fantasy readers who like strong female characters.

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

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

Bound by Donna Jo Napoli

In this Chinese retelling of Cinderella, Xing Xing lives with her Stepmother and step sister, Wei Ping. She does most of the work around the house because her sister's feet are bound to make them smaller (an old tradition in many parts of China) and cause her great pain. Although Xing Xing has been educated to read and write, she rarely gets to practice her poetry or calligraphy; she has learned to take pleasure in small things - like the beautiful carp that visits her when she goes to the stream to get water. Unless her sister can make a good marriage, their whole family will be in trouble, so Xing Xing does all that she can to help her Stepmother and sister, hoping that perhaps she will find happiness herself, one day.

This is a beautiful story - very close to the Western Cinderella tale despite being set in China. Although written in third person, Xing Xing is definitely the main character and readers see everything through her eyes - and shaded with her sense of poetry and artistic vision. One thing that is different about this retelling is that, although there is a sense of mysticism and Chinese traditions (which feel a bit 'foreign'), there is no real 'magic' in the story; everything that happens is fairly realistic. The ending feels a little unfinished, but overall I enjoyed this book and it's a quick read with short chapters, which is nice when there is only time to read in short bits. I would recommend this book, particularly to fans who enjoy retellings and those who prefer more realism.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: East, The Fire Rose, or Protector of the Small series

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

Medalon by Jennifer Fallon

R'shiel and Tarja Tenragen are half-siblings who live in Medalon, a nation run by the Sisters of the Blade and built on the eradication of religion. R'shiel is a novice in the Sisterhood, although she can't seem to live up to the rigorous standards of her mother who aspires to run the Order. Tarja is a Captain of the Defenders: Medalon's military force. Meanwhile, a belief in the Harshini (a fabled, god-like race thought to be extinct), rumors, and religious tensions cause a break in the peace amongst Medalon and her neighboring countries. R'shiel and Tarja are forced to rethink their loyalties and face hard realities.

I'm not a huge fan of this book, honestly. The issue with the 'Demon Child' (a half-human, half-Harshini child) seemed ridiculously obvious and the rest of the plot was no more surprising. It also seemed as if the plot was simply a series of recurring events which made for a rather tedious story. I have to admit that the characterization was good, but undermined by the storyline. This is the first book of the Demon Child Trilogy (Medalon, Treason Keep, Harshini), a part of the Hythrun Chronicles, so it is possible that the series improves once a reader gets past the 'introductory' first book. In general, I don't think I would recommend this book to most readers. If it appeals to you, or you enjoy the religion-based fantasy books, you might want to check it out and give it a try, but otherwise, I would suggest that readers look elsewhere; consider these:

• Spirit Fox, Poison Study, or Before Midnight

The Two Princesses of Bamarre

By another of my favorite authors, Gail Carson Levine, The Two Princesses of Bamarre tells the story of Meryl - the adventurous older sister - and 12-year-old Addie, the younger, more timid and reserved sister. The two are best friends, although Meryl wants to save the kingdom from all of the nasty critters (like ogres) and also from the strange disease, called the Gray Death that strikes without warning or regard to rank, while Addie wants to stay safe at home. When the Gray Death strikes Meryl, however, Addie must face her fears and find her own answers. With the help of a sorcerer, Rhys, Addie embarks on the adventure of a lifetime in an effort to save her sister and, perhaps, find herself.

This is a wonderful story. Pure fantasy, this story gives readers well-developed characters and an intriguing plot. It's a quick and easy book to read, but definitely worth it. This is one of those fun stories that you'll find yourself going back to time and again. I definitely recommend it!

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Princess Academy, Dark Lord of Derkholm, Black Pearls, or Princess Nevermore