A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

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

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

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

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

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

It's 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia and things aren't great; the economy is bad, metal is stolen of the street for money, school classes meet in abandoned buildings, and demons are popping up everywhere. Riley Blackthorne is the only female apprentice in the demon Trapper's Guild, following in her father's footsteps. When a straightforward job trapping a Level One demon goes horribly wrong, it is only the start of a series of problems. After tragedy strikes, Riley will be forced to make decisions about what she truly wants, how she can make it happen, and whom she can trust.

The Demon Trapper's Daughter is the first book in the Demon Trapper's quartet, followed by Soul Thief, Forgiven, and Foretold.

This was a really interesting urban fantasy story that crosses just a bit into the futuristic/sci-fi world (though it isn't quite dark enough to be a true dystopia or post-apocalyptic story). The only thing that bothered me a bit is that, even though there is quite a bit of action, the overall story arc felt a little bit slow and a lot of the plot points were left open for the sequels (in the first book). The rest of the series does tie up most of the loose ends and keep the action moving. Although it's written in third person, the story alternates between following Riley and following Beck (a fellow trapper and Riley's father's apprentice), and the "voice" telling the story is amusing and compelling. I would recommend this series to older fantasy fans who like urban fantasy stories and strong female heroines.

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

Slayed by Amanda Marronne

Daphne Van Helsing comes from a long line of slayers, but she isn't happy about the family business. She'd much prefer a real home and an ordinary life to traveling around the country with her parents killing vampires. But something is different when they get to South Bristol, Maine; not only do the vampires seem stronger than usual, strange occurrences are plaguing the town. Meanwhile, her family is forced to work with the Harkers, a rival slayer father and son team. Between the bad blood between the families, the problems facing all of the slayers, and Daphne's inconvenient crush on Tyler Harker - among other complications - this job is shaping up to be anything but straightforward.

This book was a quick read and I enjoyed the story. The point of view provided a realistic aspect to the "romantic" profession of vampire slaying; the characters were relatable and had quite a bit of depth. Even though a lot of elements were introduced throughout the book, they were balanced well. I would recommend this book to older fantasy fans who enjoy stories about vampires and magic in the real world and who like a bit of romance.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Fairy Bad Day, the Dark Mirror series, Sweet Venom, or Young Warriors

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

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

Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

Astrid hates her mother's obsession with unicorns. According to Lilith, unicorns are nasty, man-eating monsters and Astrid herself is descended from a long line of women warriors who hunt them. But Astrid has never bought into the stores - until her boyfriend, Brandt is gored by one and nearly dies. Suddenly Astrid finds herself packed off to Rome where the cloisters of the Order of the Lioness (a.k.a. unicorn hunters) is being revived. But when she arrives, nothing is what she expected. Surrounded by expectations of what she's "supposed" to be and hating every minute of it, Astrid must discover whether she has what it takes to embrace her birthright and lead her fellow warriors against an enemy that once again threatens mankind.


This story, told from Astrid's point of view, is definitely an interesting twist on fairy tales about fluffy versions of unicorns. I felt as though it was a little slow getting started, but once I got into it, there was plenty of action and side stories to keep it going. It was also a bit difficult to keep track of all of the characters, but I didn't feel as though it detracted from the story. By the end, I was wondering if there would be a sequel - and hoping that we would find out more about what happens to Astrid and her friends. I would definitely recommend this book to older teens, particularly those who like stories that take place in the 'real world' or about women warriors.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: A Posse of Princesses, Song of the Lioness Quartet, The Lightning Thief, or The Abhorsen Trilogy

Anatopsis by Chris Abouzeid

Princess Anatopsis and Prince Barnaby come from rival Magical families. In the last year before the final wizard tests, a demigod tutor, Mr. Pound, insists that the two study together - a traditional requirement that has been enforced for generations. Ana and her human companion, Clarissa, and Barnaby with his dog, Uno, get off to a rocky start. Complicating matters is that neither Ana nor Barnaby wishes to inherit their family corporations. But, more importantly, they discover that Mr. Pound's requirements are part of a larger plan and hidden agenda which threatens the world as they know it. Resentments, personal preferences, and frustrations must all be put aside if everything is to be set to rights - and there are no guarantees for a happy ending.


I expected this book to be rather fluffy, but instead, this book is fairly serious, creating a fantastical alternate reality that explores human nature, dreams, discrimination, and sacrifice. Some of the plot points seemed a little more convoluted than necessary and a bit confusing at times, but overall, the issues within the story definitely come through. The main characters are well-developed and identifiable, though I did not always find it easy to sympathize with them. In general = if you're looking for a light-hearted book with a satisfying ending, this is not the one to pick up. Fantasy fans - particularly older teens - who are looking for something more thought-provoking or serious may consider trying this one out.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Princess Academy, Poison, Fablehaven, or The Abhorson Trilogy

The Guardians of Time Trilogy by Marianne Curley

In the first book of the trilogy, the named, Ethan has a secret; although he works hard to fit in as an ordinary high school boy, in his spare time, he is a member of the Guardians of Time. Lathenia, the goddess of Chaos, and her followers are constantly attempting to change history so that she can take over the universe; her brother, Lorian, supports the efforts of the Guard to keep the balance of power - and history - as it is. Ethan has been a member of the Guard from a young age and has done well enough that he has advanced rapidly in the rankes. Now he faces his greatest challeng: training his new apprentice, Isabel. Time is short as the agents of Chaos step up their attacks. Ethan, Isabel, and all of the Guard must reach deep within and learn to use their talents and work together if they have any hope of maintaining history.

The story continues in the dark; the Guard has managed to hold their own and thwart Lathenia's plans, but now she strikes back by banishing Arkarian (Ethan's mentor) to an underworld lost in darkness and full of soulless creatures. Ethan, Isabel, and the others want to do whatever is necessary to rescue him, but Lorian has forbidden in. The race is on to find a way to reach Arkarian before it is too late and without losing all that they have worked for.

In the final book, the key, the Guard is scrambling to keep ahead of Lethenia's plans. The battle against Chaos is more desperate than ever but matters are made worse by the suspicions and distrust within the midst of the Guard. The time of the Prophecy regarding the Named and the final battle between dark and light is finally coming to pass.


Each book is told by a different pair of characters which gives it an interesting depth of perspective. The basic premise is fairly common - good vs. evil - but the story does a good job of giving it a unique edge by affecting history as a way of affecting the outcome. Overall, I enjoyed the characters and plots, although some bits were rather predictable. There were only two things that bothered me; the writing seemed a little off occasionally, as if there were inconsistencies in the tenses (but for the most part, this was fairly minor). The second issue was that the ending is really abrupt. I was actually confused at first when I turned the page and realized that there was no more text. The finale is somewhat artistic, but not satisfying at all. I would still recommend this series to readers who enjoy reading about time travel, but with the caveat that anyone who needs a really complete and happy ending probably out to skip this one.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Lightning Theif, The "Minds" series, or Dark Lord of Derkholm

The Last Apprentice by Joseph Delaney

The first book in this series The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch introduces Tom Ward, a twelve year old boy who has just been apprenticed to the Spook. As the seventh son of a seventh son, Tom has a special awareness for creatures of the dark - which are what spooks fight against, keeping the County safe for ordinary people. The work is not for the faint hearted - he must quickly learn about ghosts, ghasts, and how to bind the different sorts of boggarts. Perhaps most importantly, Tom will have to learn who to trust and how to get himself out of some particularly difficult situations...

In the second book, Curse of the Bane, several months of Tom's apprenticeship have passed and he has learned a lot. But now he and his master have set out to rid Priestown of a particularly old and malevolent spirit called the Bane. Although the Bane is trapped in the catacombs beneath the main temple of Priestown, it has the ability to convince those outside to do its will. Tom is worried because the last time the Spook faced the Bane, he nearly died. To make matters worse, the Quisitor, a ranking official who will burn them both at the stake as 'warlocks' if he finds them, has just come to Priestown too. Taking care of the Bane and getting out of Priestown alive will require work and some particularly good luck.

The third book, Night of the Soul Stealer, explains what happens when they move to the Spook's winter home in Anglezarke. The 'dark' is closer there and Tom and his master have more than enough work. Their biggest problem, however, is the possibility that someone will try to release an ancient god of winter, Golgoth, and bring about the destruction of everything. Tom will need everything he's learned so far to make it through the winter alive.

These are great books. I'm not usually a fan of 'horror', but these novels venture into the 'dark' without getting too caught up in the suspense and attempts to startle readers. They seem to be geared more toward younger teens, but I think they're definitely at a level that older readers can appreciate as well - the plots are fairly complex and have a level of sophistication that make them unpredictable. There's quite a bit of good characterization in these books, although some characters still have unresolved issues/motives so that readers are not entirely sure what to make of them. I enjoyed reading them and I would absolutely recommend them to fantasy readers, particularly those who prefer the books that are more about the dark aspects of fantasy, but also anyone looking for an interesting series that isn't fluffy.


Notes:

Books 4 (Attack of the Fiend) and 5 (Wrath of the Bloodeye) are also published now, but I have not yet read them.

Since Delaney is a British author, these books were also published in the UK as the "Wardstone Chronicles" with the titles The Spook's Apprentice, The Spook's Curse, The Spook's Secret, The Spook's Battle, and The Spook's Mistake.

• If these books sound interesting, consider these: Keys to the Kingdom, Dark Lord of Derkholm, or Fablehaven

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Sophie Hatter lives in a world where magic is real. Unfortunately, she has read enough fairy tales to realize that, as the oldest of three daughters, she's the least likely to have any great luck or grand adventures. When her father dies, she resigns herself to running their hat shop and turning into a timid spinster while her sisters have more exciting futures. Her life changes in an instant when the Witch of the Waste casts a spell to make her an old woman and she realizes that she cannot stay with her family any longer. Sophie decides that her only hope is to seek out the Wizard Howl (the evil wizard who eats the souls of young girls and lives in a moving castle). What she finds, of course, is entirely different from her expectations and suddenly Sophie is in the middle of an adventure of her own.

This is definitely an interesting story with well-written characters and a unique plot. It has a rather odd blend of 'real world' versus 'magical world;' it comes across fairly well since the two are linked in several ways, although I have to admit that there didn't seem to be much reason for it. Other than that, I enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to fantasy readers - particularly those looking for something out of the the ordinary.

As a side note, I happened to see the movie first and I have to say that while it's cute, the book makes far more sense; I was confused by several points in the movie (most of which aren't in the book and the rest of which are clarified in the text). The movie is a nice bit of fluffy fantasy anime, but reading the book helps a lot.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Now You See It, or Cecilia and Kate

The Saint of the Dragons by Jason Hightman

Dragons were feared and hunted in the time of St. George, but are believed to be extinct. Instead, they have merely adapted to the new, modern environment and continue to spread their evil amongst humans. Simon St. George is a thirteen-year-old boy who has no memory of his parents and has lived at an elite private boys school since he was very young. Suddenly, a ragged-looking man appears out of nowhere, claiming to be his father and spirits him away, plunging him head-first into the family dragon hunting business. Due to unusual circumstances, Simon and his father are the last dragon hunters of their lineage; unfortunately, things are about to get even more unusual and no one else can stop the dragons' plot. Along with Alaythia Moore, an artist who gets swept up in their adventures, they travel across the seas looking for clues and a way to save the world.

I have to admit that I'm personally not a huge fan of the 'evil dragon' plot, but the author builds an intriguingly plausible scenario in this book. The characterization is fairly good although the relationships between the characters are a bit forced. Additionally, the author relies on the relationships to drive much of the plot which makes it a bit repetitive; the constant fighting between father and son, in particular, tends to get old. Overall, this book has an interesting premise, but the story is somewhat lacking. It is definitely geared toward younger teens and those readers may enjoy it more. It isn't a bad book if you're looking for something with a real-life 'modern' storyline, but readers who want a more sophisticated writing style (or who are easily annoyed by characters who keep making the same mistakes) should probably pass this one over.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Dragonhaven, Fablehaven, or Now You See It