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

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

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

Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey

Isabella Beauchamps spends her time managing her father's household, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and that her stepmother and twin stepsisters are comfortable. Her life changes drastically when she is bitten by a werewolf on her way home from Granny's house. Suddenly she is packed up and moved to the local duke's castle, where she discovers that he's the werewolf and she's required to stay for at least three months, until they can be certain that she won't turn as well. No one lives at the castle except the duke -- a sorcerer who spends his time as a human trying to find a way to break his curse -- and the unfriendly Gamekeeper, as well as the invisible servants summoned to keep house. Bella slowly finds ways to stay occupied during her time at the castle, but she starts to realize that unraveling the mysteries of the duke's castle may be more dangerous than any of them expected.

This book is part of the Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms series; it's helpful to read the first book for context, but most of the books (including this one) stand alone fairly well. I will say that this is not one of the best in the series and the ending feels a bit forced, but it was a good read overall and the melding of Little Red Riding Hood with Beauty and the Beast was particularly interesting. I would recommend this to older teens who enjoy retellings of fairy tales or who want something a little bit light with lots of magic.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Rose Daughter, The Prophecy, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, or The Two Princesses of Bamarre

The Dark Mirror Series by M. J. Putney

In the first book, Dark Mirror, Victoria Mansfield (Tory) discovers that she has a strong magical talent. For a girl in a noble English family in 1804, it means that Tory is suddenly an outcast and her family can be tainted by association. She is immediately sent to Lackland Academy, a school devoted to "curing" students of their magical abilities. Although Tory initially wants nothing more than to lose her talents and return home, she pledges to join a secret society of students who are learning to strengthen their powers instead of suppressing them when she finds out that they are doing it in order to protect England from an invasion by Napoleon. When Tory accidentally stumbles into a time-traveling mirror and ends up in WWII England, her powers are even more important to a modern war that threatens the British coast. Tory becomes friends with a family in 1940s England, and, over the course of the next two books -- Dark Passage and Dark Destiny -- she and some of her classmates team up with teens from the future; deep friendships and romances develop as they engage in a desperate fight to keep England safe during the wars of both time periods.

I really enjoyed this series; the first book started out a little slowly, but once I got about halfway through I had trouble putting them down until I finished all three. Although the books are only loosely based on historical events, the plots are fast-paced and not entirely predictable, with good characterization, as well. I would absolutely recommend this series to fantasy fans who enjoy historical fiction or romance in their books.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Cecelia and Kate (series), The Elemental Masters series, A Kiss in Time, or Bewitching Season

Me, My Elf & I by Heather Swain

Zephyr is excited to start attending The Brooklyn Academy of Performing Arts High School in New York City, but it will be challenging; she's not only a new student, she's an elf. Until now, she has grown up in a secluded elf community in the woods, but her family is moving to the city for a year while her father pursues a music career and it will give Zephyr a chance to see the outside world. Even though Zephyr wants a chance to learn more about acting (and try out for a commercial to sell the ELPH camera), she gets caught up trying to make friends - and keep them - while steering clear of the most popular girl in school. Zephyr starts to feel overwhelmed balancing her elven family and human social life, but when everything she loves is threatened, will she be able to avert disaster?

This book was a fairly light, quick read with realistic characters. Although it's definitely got some fantasy in it, the main plot is more along the lines of dealing with bullies in high school and the magical elements feel a bit incidental. This would be a good read for younger teens and fantasy fans who enjoy reading about life in high school, or who want something a little fluffy. This book is also the first in a series.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Princess Nevermore, The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, or Once Upon a Marigold

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

As You Wish by Jackson Pearce

Viola Cohen feels invisible. She doesn't fit into any of the high school cliques, and her heart was broken by her best friend, Lawrence, who used to be her boyfriend. Even her artwork does not give her any fulfilment. But on an ordinary day in her Shakespeare class, Viola has a real, true wish and is lucky enough to have a genie appear to grant her three wishes. "Jinn" is used to following the rules: grant wishes as quickly as possible and return to Caliban, where life is perfect and no one ages. But Viola refuses to follow the rules and the longer Jinn spends with Viola on Earth, the more both of them start to change as they help each other find out who they really are and who they want to be.

I really enjoyed this book, both because of the interesting fantasy elements, and because the characters are incredibly easy to relate to. The book is told in first-person, but alternates between Viola and Jinn so that readers get an in-depth sense of what drives both of the main characters and their development throughout the story. Although there is a romance element to this story, the focus is on friendships and finding oneself; anyone who has felt "lost" or "invisible" would certainly relate to Viola's feelings. I would definitely recommend this to teens (particularly girls) who enjoy books about magic in the real world, and even non-fantasy fans who like books about life in high school.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Rampant, , The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, or The Wish List

The Plague by Joanne Dahme

Fifteen year-old Nell is the spitting image of Princess Joan. With her parents dead of plague, Nell takes the job of royal body double to feed herself and her younger brother, George. And for a while, everything seems wonderful. The princess is kind, Nell learns how to read, George is happy. And then, on a trip to marry Princess Joan to the prince of Spain, everything goes horribly wrong. Add in an evil Prince, the plague, a crime, and an army of unholy rats and poor Nell and her brother are in for a terrible journey home.

This book was certainly interesting at the story's start. Real world historical events are twisted and warped with sorcery to make a nasty villain. While reading, I did find myself wishing that the author had chosen to make such and such happen or that parts of the story were changed. The beginning of the book is really interesting and effectively captivates the reader but then, it falls flat. My attention wavered and in a book with just over 250 pages, this is not a good thing. Sometimes, I even lost what was happening in the story. I was saying "Wait...when did THAT happen?!"a lot. I did finish the book and the ending was hugely unsatisfying for me. I felt a little bit irritated that after 200 pages, nothing happened.

As I said, the beginning was really interesting; the book started with a great idea and I think this book could have been fascinating but as it was, it was not a book I was really glad I had read.

Nevertheless, if this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Magic and the Healing or Bewitching Season.

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

You know you've got your hands on a great book when you just mean to read the first page at the library and end up cross-legged in the stacks, intent on finishing it. This is one of those can't-put-it-down kind of books.

Keturah is the village beauty and a great storyteller. One day she follows a magical hart into the forest. She gets lost for three days. She is supposed to die. When Lord Death meets the lovely girl, however, he finds himself making a bargain with her. She may keep her life if she finds her one true love within the time allowed.

This is a romance, no way around it. And generally, I'm not super crazy about romances. But this book is engrossing. Keturah is interesting to follow and the character of Lord Death is mysterious and alluring. The story is full of fantasy, character interaction and displays the fears of dying any fifteen year old girl likely possess. Additionally, the story is not long by any means; at barely 200 pages most readers can finish the book in an afternoon. Of course, most readers will know what the ending is within the first twenty pages, but I found that knowing this made the story no less enjoyable to me.

If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Ella Enchanted, The Fairy Godmother or Magic Under Glass.

Cloaked by Alex Flinn

Johnny works at a shoe repair shop in an upscale Florida hotel, where he knows all of the staff and is best friends with Meg, who works at the hotel's cafe. He works as many hours as possible to help his mom pay the bills but his fondest wish is that he could have enough money to create the shoes that he designs in his spare time. When he catches the attention of an idiosyncratic princess staying at the hotel, he agrees to help her, even though has no idea that he'll end up on a fairy-tale adventure, complete with talking animals, magical objects, and quest-like tasks - not to mention witches and plenty of danger. Assuming that Johnny can keep his promise (and survive to tell about it), he just might discover things about his life and himself.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. The characters are well-developed and the plot takes a couple of interesting twists even though parts of it are easy to predict - particularly for fans of fairy tale re-tellings. Despite that, this book actually draws on a wide range of fairy tale traditions (including quite a few lesser-known stories that I was unfamiliar with) and weaves them all together into an almost-believable modern-day story. This is definitely a book to pick up if you're looking for something fun, a little off the norm, or if you love reading re-tellings of fairy tales.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Dragon Princess, The Two Princesses of Bamarre, or The Prophecy

The Moorchild by Eloise McGraw

Saaski is a changeling. Her adopted human parents, Anwara and Yanno love her but find her (as most of the village does) a little bit odd. Saaski's appearance is unusual, she does not act as a human child should and she has a love for the wild lands of the moor above the sleepy village; a place described by villagers as filled with "eldritch" happenings and mischief.

Tormented daily by the other village children and feeling just as "freaky-odd" as they call her, Saaski belongs neither with the human villagers or with the elves that swapped her for Anwara's true human child. As the story progresses, Saaski struggles to find some measure of peace with her human family. When a traveling tinkerer and his young ward stumble into town, Saaski begins to discover who she truly is and where she came from.

I love this book and believe all young readers should give it a try. It is one of the few books that I have had to purchase because I reread and reread this story. This is a story about a young girl who feels very alone in a world that she finds incredibly dull. I was emotionally vested in this story and even found some parts of this story hard to read as McGraw describes the terrible injustices done to Saaski through fear of the unknown. This book is at times, heartwarming and at others, heartbreaking but always enthralling. The story is heavily steeped in Irish folklore about fairies and changelings for the reader interested in European mythology.

The Moorchild was awarded the Newbery Honor in 1997.

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

Once Upon a Time Series

• Belle: A Retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" by Cameron Dokey - Belle (Annabelle Evangeline Delaurier) is the youngest of three daughters; her sisters are named Celestial Heavens (Celeste) and April Dawn. Belle often feels as though she cannot quite live up to the expectations of her name the way that her sisters have been able to, and takes solace in non-feminine pursuits, like wood carving. When the family fortune turns south, they pack up and move to a small country cottage on the other side of "the Wood." According to stories, a unique tree, the Heartwood Tree, is at the heart of the Wood, waiting for someone with the skill to carve its wood and reveal the face of true love. When Belle's father meets a fierce Beast at the heart of the Wood, he realizes that the story may not be all fable - and now Belle will have to use her skills to unlock the secrets before time runs out.
  
  
  
• The Crimson Thread: A Retelling of "Rumpelstiltskin" by Suzanne Weyn - Bridget O'Malley and her family have just moved to New York in 1880 to escape the famine in Ireland and find a better life. But it turns out that life is just as difficult in New York, forcing them to change their names and take whatever they can get to remain afloat. Bridget (now Bertie) gets a job as a seamstress working for a textile tycoon thanks to her father's over-inflated description of her skills. When an ordering glitch threatens the entire company, Bertie recklessly claims that she can salvage it - and she manages to do it with the help of Ray Stalls, a mysterious neighbor who spins straw into the cloth to make it look as though it is spun from gold. As a joke, Bertie offers her firstborn child to him, since she has no other payment, but then it looks as though he might have taken her at her word...
  
  
  
• The Storyteller's Daughter by Cameron Dokey - In this retelling of The Arabian Nights, two brothers (both kings) are betrayed by those they love, leaving them bitter and searching for vengeance. When one of the kings threatens to kill the young women one-by-one unless someone agrees to marry him, everyone is relieved when Shahrazad chooses to risk her own life and wed the king. Now she has a plan to save herself, the other women of the kingdom, and the king himself but other plots threaten to ruin her hard work. Now she will need to use all of her storytelling skills, and her wisdom to save the kingdom which she has come to love as much as the king.
  
  

Generally, I'm a fan of retellings. The books in this series are always quick reads that give a new and interesting voice to the fairy tales. Belle is similar to some other retellings of Beauty and the Beast, but gives a different twist to the story, even as often as it's been re-written. The Crimson Thread gives a realistic, real-world interpretation of Rumpelstiltskin similar to other historic stories told about this time period. The Storyteller's Daughter takes the story of Shahrazad and adds a touch of magic and romance. Overall, I would recommend The Crimson Thread to fans of historic fantasy, and any of these books to fantasy fans looking for something quick or who love reading old tales retold in new ways.


Other titles in the Once Upon a Time series include:

• Beauty Sleep; Before Midnight; Golden; Sunlight and Shandow; Wild Orchid; and Winter's Child by Cameron Dokey


• The Rose Bride by Nancy Holder


• Snow by Tracy Lynn


• Midnight Pearls and Violet Eyes by Debbie Viguié


• The Diamond Secret; The Night Dance; and Water Song by Suzanne Weyn

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Cecelia and Kate, The Prophecy, or Once Upon a Marigold

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

In this sequel to The Summoning, Chloe finds herself locked up by the Edison Group with several others of her housemates from Lyle House (a group home for "troubled" teens). Chloe (a necromancer who can summon ghosts) is finding out new things about herself and the Group's experiments every day, but unfortunately, she doesn't have many options. When she and Tori (a witch) manage to escape and meet up with some other friends (Simon, a sorcerer, and Derek, a werewolf), they realized that their adventures - and problems - have just begun.


I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one. Once the story picked up, it was much more engaging and there was more character development than the first book really addressed. Honestly, I would suggest skipping The Summoning (you only miss a few minor details) or making sure that you have both of them so that you can go straight on to the second. I would recommend this series to fantasy fans who enjoy books that take place in the real world and are less about "magic" and more about the supernatural elements.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Wicked Lovely, Swoon, Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, or Dragonhaven

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

In New Avalon, everyone has tiny, invisible fairies. Charlie's friend, Rochelle has a shopping fairy (one of the more useful sorts) and their hated enemy, Fiorenze has an all-the-boys-like-you fairy. Either of these would be better than Charlie's parking fairy. Since she is only fourteen and can't drive, Charlie's fairy is only good for turning her into everyone's favorite passenger and she's tired of it. But Charlie has a Plan to get rid of her fairy and get a better one. Unfortunately, things aren't going so well and it might require some unexpected allies (and dangerous situations) to get rid of the parking fairy for good.


This book was amusing and somewhat unpredictable. It took a few chapters for me to get used to the slang (which seems to be a mix of American and Australian words, and possibly some that are only used in the world of New Avalon), but once I got oriented, the story was very easy to follow. Even though this story isn't set in the "real world" it would appeal to readers who enjoy books like Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging since it has that same kind of tone and story. Generally, I would recommend this to fantasy fans looking for something a little bit fluffy with a "chick lit" feel.

• If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Gifted: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Beastly, or Magic Can Be Murder