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

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

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

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

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

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

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

The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors

Emmaline Thistle is considered "unnatural" in her village of Root because of her curled foot and the odd relationship she has with the cows that saved her when she was left at the edge of the forest as a newborn. In the Flatlands, everyone works hard to eke out a living, gets married, and starts a family; Emmaline has no prospects. But then her world falls apart. her father and other men in the village are taken by soldiers to fight in a war, right before endless days of rain wash away Root. Emmaline finds herself carried away by the flood waters and is rescued by the Oak family. While staying with them, she discovers that she has the ability to churn cream into chocolate -- a delicacy that has been lost for generations. Suddenly everyone wants to have Emmaline and her talent for themselves. And some of them are willing to do anything to make that happen.

This was definitely an interesting story -- how can you not love magic that creates chocolate? -- but there were a couple of things that bothered me. First, the point of view switches between Emmaline and Owen Oak (the son), but they chapters aren't labeled and don't follow any sort of pattern. It's fairly obvious from the context which person is "speaking" within a few sentences, but I found it mildly distracting. Secondly, the plot is rather convoluted and incredibly coincidental (unless the whole country is the size of a large city). The writing isn't bad and the characterization is decent, but the storyline felt a little haphazard. Overall, the book was ok, but not a favorite. This book could be a good choice if you're looking for something that's a little out of the ordinary and light reading.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Goose Girl, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, or Once Upon a Marigold

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

Knight & Rogue Novels by Hilari Bell

In the first of the Knight and Rogue Novels, The Last Knight, Sir Michael Sevenson is a knight errant in a 'modern' age when knights are a thing of the past. His reluctant squire, Fisk, joins him on his adventures, but often voices his dissent. Things take a turn for the worst when one of their first jobs is to rescue an imprisoned maiden...except that it turns out she was a suspected murderess. Now it is up to Michael and Fisk to track her down and bring her to justice. In a world full of 'magica' and traps laid along the way, they'll have to learn to work together in order to accomplish their mission.


In the second book, Rogue's Home the story focuses on Fisk and his family when he is recalled to his home, Ruesport, by his sister, Anna. Her husband, Max, has been framed as a blackmailer and the family holds out hope that Fisk might be able to clear Max's name once and for all. Along with Michael - who is suffering the consequences of his choices at the end of the first book - the pair will have to work together to solve a very different kind of problem, and try to stay alive doing it.


These books were really fun and I found myself really hoping for a third book once I finished them (it looks like Player's Ruse will be released in January, 2010). The story is told from both characters' points of view in alternating chapters. The different voices add a lot to the story and make the characters very identifiable and more realistic. The plots are also interesting and not entirely predictable - this is not the usual knight-and-squire sort of relationship or story. I would definitely recommend this to fantasy fans, particularly those looking for something amusing or those who really enjoy stories about knights in shining armor.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Heroics for Beginners, Dark Lord of Derkholm, or The Last Apprentice

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

A Posse of Princesses by Sherwood Smith

Rhis, princess of the small mountain country of Nym, has been invited to a gathering of titled peers to meet Prince Lios. She has never been a very "good" princess, as her older sister-in-law continually reminds her; she is far more interested in ballads and music than lessons in history and deportment. Now, she quickly attempts to catch up and finds that she enjoys the company of some, including Shera (her sister by marriage) and the prince's scribe, Dandiar. Some people are far less pleasant - particularly the beautiful lady Iardith. But when Iardith is kidnapped, Rhis and several other princesses band together to rescue her and must rethink many of the lessons they have learned.

It isn't terribly often that a book has multiple princesses - and all together in the same place. I really enjoyed reading this book. Rhis and the other characters seem very real and their story is a little dull in the middle, but picks up before too long. Aside from the number of princesses, the plot isn't too predictable to make up for the bit when they're all getting to know one another. I would recommend this book to fantasy readers who want something that isn't too heavy and a little different, or to those who like the books about girls who figure out how to manage on their own.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Princess Ben, Princess Academy, or Princess Nevermore

Abhorson Trilogy and Across the Wall by Garth Nix

The trilogy includes Sabriel, Lirael, and Abhorsen all of which take place in a universe where the Old Kingdom borders the country of Ancelstierre. In the Old Kingdom, the Charter allows all people to use magic, although some (mostly necromancers) also attempt to use dangerous Free Magic to accomplish what regular magic cannot. On the other side of a spelled wall, the people of Ancelstierre are people of science, much like today's world of technology, and do not believe in the magic of the Old Kingdom.

Sabriel is just finishing school in Ancelstierre where she has lived for years, while her father, Abhorsen, travels around the Old Kingdom, using the skills of a necromancer and the magic of the Charter to undo the damage of actual necromancers and put souls back to rest. Now, however, Sabriel discovers that her father is missing and that strange and terrible things roam the Old Kingdom in his absence. As she sets out to find him, she gathers companions along the way - a cat named Mogget who is not at all what he seems, and Touchstone, a man who has been ensorceled for two hundred years. Together they must help Sabriel find her father, learn to use her powers, and stop the evil before the entire kingdom is lost.

The other two books take place back-to-back, more than a decade after the end of Sabriel. Lirael is a daughter of the Clayr who are distant cousins of the royal line and who all come into their peculiar power of seeing the future. But Lirael is different - she does not look like the other Clayr and does not know who her father was since her mother died when she was young; worst of all, Lirael is quickly becoming the oldest Clayr who has not yet come into the Sight. In desperation, Lirael finally gains permission to work in the library and devotes herself to learning and the use of complicated Charter magic. Along with the companion she creates, the Disreputable Dog, she stumbles upon her fate, different from all of the other Clayr.

Meanwhile, Sam, the prince, encounters terrible magic on the other side of the wall where he has been sent to school. Although he escapes, he has been wounded both physically and emotionally. He is sent home to recuperate, but he cannot seem to bring himself to do what his parents expect of him. Even worse, his friend (Nick) came out of the experience even more damaged although no one realized it. Now, Sam has decided to sneak out on his own and find Nick, not understanding the depth of the problem awaiting him. When his path crosses Lirael's, they must join forces (along with Mogget and the Dog) and race to save the kingdom from the evil threatening to destroy them all.

I really enjoyed this trilogy (and not only because Lirael was a librarian, although that was a fun part of the story); the characters are all very well developed and easy to relate to. There were a few parts of the world-building that were confusing when they were first introduce (for example, the Clayr are mentioned in the first book, but there is no real explanation of who they are until the second book), but I did not feel as though they really detracted significantly from the story. Although Nix's style can be a little tedious, I did not feel that these books were as slow as the Keys to the Kingdom series that I reviewed previously. Aside from all of that, these books are rather unique although they are a bit darker than some fantasy - particularly since the central plot revolves around necromancy and Raised Dead. I would definitely recommend these books to fantasy readers who are looking for something a little different or a little more serious than some of the lighter books.


Also, Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories includes a story about what happens to Nick following the end of the trilogy, although the other short stories are not related in any way. The story about Nick was a nice 'postscript' to the books although I was a little disappointed by the ending (I would have liked to know more about what happened and what had happened to all of the other characters who are not mentioned). I did not read all of the other stories in the book, although several of them were very interesting and readers who are looking for short stories that are a little different may want to pick this book up for some quick reads.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Last Apprentice, The Protector of the Small series, or Annals of the Western Shore

Stravaganza: City of Masks by Mary Hoffman

Lucien is a young boy with cancer, struggling through his most recent treatment. His father gives him a blank book with a strange design on the cover so that he'll have someplace to write his thoughts. Something strange happens when Lucien falls asleep holding it, though - he finds himself in a place called 'Belleza' which seems very like old Venice but with important differences. Lucien discovers from the people there that he is a 'Stravagante,' meaning that he can travel between his world and that of Belleza. Although it starts as a fun adventure, his trips begin to cause complications at home, and things become more dangerous in Belleza; will Lucien be able to keep up his double life without everything falling apart?

First of all, I should point out that this book is written by a British author and takes a little getting used to for anyone who reads primarily American English books. Otherwise, the story is interesting and the characters are fairly well-crafted, but I definitely felt that there were some issues. Parts of the book made little sense and, in some cases the logic was explained after the fact, but I really could not accept some of the claims that were central to the plot. Also, the whole story seemed unsophisticated and the ending of the book appears to reconcile all of the loose ends, but I didn't think that it worked quite as well as it is meant to. This book is actually the first of three: Stravaganza: City of Stars, and Stravaganza: City of Flowers but I was not impressed enough with the first to continue reading the series. In general, I would say that this book wasn't bad for a light, 'fluffy' read if the subject sounds appealing, but I don't recommend it as one that I really enjoyed; consider these instead:

• The Keys to the Kingdom, Fablehaven, Once Upon a Marigold, or The Last Apprentice

Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge

Mosca Mye lives in a precarious world full of political and religious complications. There are dozens of candidates to be the next monarch (although the appointed committee is taking so long to decide that some of the candidates have died and been replaced by children or grandchildren) and there are even more deities presiding over every facet of life. Meanwhile Guilds maintain order amidst the chaos including the Stationer's Guild which must approve any written publications. Although her scholarly father died when she was very young, he taught Mosca to read (a rare skill) and infected her with a love of language. When Mosca ends up tagging along with an odd fellow who has many secrets and uses interesting words, she and her goose, Saracen, discover that they've ended up in the middle of an adventure.

This was an interesting story. The plot is somewhat complex and full of political intrigue. The characters are fairly realistic, although the world is just odd enough that it takes some getting used to. I had a few issues with this story: for one thing, it's supposed to be horribly strange that Mosca can read (and people have strange reactions to any written word not approved by the Guild) but it's surprisingly easy for her to buy written tracts and no one seems to question it; it seems to attempt a commentary on censorship, but it's all rather heavy-handed or vague enough to be confusing and a little annoying. Also, the story tends to plod; although it's clear that the author loves language and likes to play with it (which is refreshing), the writing is not pretty, mostly just tedious. Overall, I'm not a huge fan - this wasn't a bad book, but I didn't enjoy it very much. To be fair, however, I don't usually enjoy 'political intrigue' stories, but fantasy readers who do might want to give this book a chance.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Spirit Fox, Lady in Gil, or Howl's Moving Castle

The Soprano Sorceress by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

Anna is a music instructor from Iowa - she aspired to be a singer, but didn't quite make the cut before she had children and quit trying. Unfortunately, nothing in her life is going quite right - her oldest daughter has died, her marriage has ended, and her career is at a standstill. The same moment she wishes she were anywhere else, a sorceress in Erde is casting a spell to summon a sorceress from another world. Anna suddenly finds herself in a foreign world where music causes magic to happen - her training means that she is a formidable sorceress. But trouble is brewing - a neighboring country is destroying the land and planning to invade. The defenders hope Anna will help them and she reluctantly realizes that people will be out to kill her whether she fights or not and steps up to build a life in the midst of the chaos.

I have to admit that the premise of the book was interesting. I kept reading because I was curious about how things were going to wrap up. But other than that...it was kind of boring. There was a sort of pattern because every time Anna meets someone new, they don't believe that she's a sorceress, so she does a spell; they comment on how young and pretty she looks, she explains that she's much older than she looks and has grown children; the youngsters and servants are suspicious, she wins them over; she doesn't like things so she forces them to change... Perhaps part of it was just my mood, but as 'realistic' as it was (assuming it could happen in the first place), it was kind of repetitive and, for some reason, I couldn't even bring myself to be sympathetic with Anna. Honestly, I think that if it sounds interesting, you're going to have to decide for yourself - if you like it, great, but if you think it's too slow to start, just know that it doesn't get any better.

A note: this is the first in The Songspell Cycle, followed by The Spellsong War, Darksong Rising, The Shadow Sorceress, and Shadow Singer.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Princess Nevermore, The Harper Hall Trilogy, or The Keys to the Kingdom