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Thirsty by M.T. Andersen About a boy who discovers he is turning into a vampire and he does everything in his power (ultimately —nothing at all) to stop it. Also hilarious. The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry There is a superb romance on the side. I like romance where the question isn't--which man does she go for--but is-- can these two really get together and how? Plus the goat is so much fun you will almost want to have one as a pet. The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley The "folk" in this book aren't nice. They have teeth! So why would anyone volunteer to keep them? There are reasons, gradually unfolded as this story about identity and love unfolds. Tithe by Holly Black A dark urban fantasy about the "real" fairy world and what it would be like to find out you belonged to it. I liked it because it made hard choices, but didn’t break my heart. Ironside by Holly Black Another great, great book! I love Holly Black's vision of the fairy world, a dark place tht mirrors the worst reality of our own world--and maybe a bit of the best, too. I loved the romances in this book. I find that I can't love a romance if that is all the book is about, but when the romance is wrapped around real-life choices, around betrayal and courage, self-sacrifice and self-knowledge, then I want to stand up and cheer. White Cat by Holly Black I loved this story of Cassel. He lives in a world where magic workers are forced to wear gloves to protect others from magic. He has a secret, but it isn't the one he thinks he has. And the surprises keep coming. I also loved the romance here, understated and dark as it is. Such sexy covers! Unicorns Vs. Zombies edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbelestier I used to read a lot of anthologies when I was a beginning writer, and then I didn't for a long time. I tend to want to stay in a world for a while if I invest time in it, and to be honest, a lot of the stories in themed anthologies felt as though they were written hastily and without much thought. This is not that kind of anthology. I don't know if it's because Justine and Holly asked the right people or that they edited the hell out of their stories. But every story here is a great story. Some are terrifying and some are tender. I went in thinking I was Team Unicorn and I don't know what I am now. Graceling by Kristin Cashore My daughter and I fought over this one. She read it once. Then I read it. Then she read it again. Then it got loaned out to various friends. I'm not sure either of us knows where it is now. A great story, strong female heroine, and interesting magic. That makes it sound like so many other books, but this is not a book like any others. I loved the intrigue and I didn't anticipate the surprise at the end, which is a hard thing for another author to pull off. If I tell you more, I'm afraid I will ruin it, so I won't. Sword by Da Chen This was such a short book, but it packs a great story in its pages. It feels like one of those romantic stories with layers upon layers of storytellers, but it also is a story about--well, a sword. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins This is a brutal story of the future, where children are used in a kind of reality game where only one survives. One girl is an unlikely hero who changes the games forever. But her own life does not look as good. I'm looking forward to the sequel to this one. The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan This is a story of two brothers who are trying to love each other. It's a romance about a girl who falls in love with the right boy, and then struggles with falling in love with the wrong boy. It's a mystery about the past and who did what to whom. You may guess the first part of the mystery, but there are so many twists and turns, you will never guess them all. I can't tell you much about the plot without runining it. But there are demons in the world and people can call them, and those people are magicians. But this isn't Harry Potter and the magicians aren't the good guys. And it turns out that no one is who they seem. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare Yeah, so Cassandra Clare probably doesn't need me to recommend her books to anyone. But there are times when commercial books are shrugged aside by people who want something well written, and you shouldn't do this with Clockwork Angel. It has all the heart-pumping action anyone could want, plus hot romance, but it is put together finely without cheap tricks. I loved it and want to go back to that world again. Mistwood by Leah Cypress I started reading this book, thinking it would be a fairly standard paranormal romance. And then I read chapter two. This definitely has romance in it, but it is actually a clever fantasy about figuring out who you are and what that means. It is also the story of a king who has been dethroned and another king who is waiting for his crown. And about those who battle on the side of the pretender, and the true king. You'll be surprised which side you take. The Explosionist by Jenny Davidson How could I not like a book written by a fellow triathlete and academic (though she isn't yet in recovery)? I read this book a year or so ago and somehow it got forgotten in my list until I read the new book Invisible Things. Such carefully drawn research. It never bogs the book down, but makes it feel as if you are there, and this is the way it must have happened. What if England was losing WWII, there were magic of certain kinds, and a young girl knew secrets that could stop Hitler? Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore There was a bit of a controversy over the original cover, but no trace of that on the new one. And nothing to do with the author or the book, really. I enjoyed the interesting romance here. I also enjoyed the magic system and the main character, who isn't the typical sassy, anachronistic one you sometimes find in period pieces. She grew on me slowly as she grew into her own character. I can't say too much more without giving everything away. It's a delicate story. take. Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey This is a book about two different heroes in two different times, both dealing with what it is to have magic that is extremely powerful. A finalist for the National Book Award in 2007, and richly deserved! These Bones by Clare B. Dunkle This is a fun fantasy romance, but that’s not what it is primarily. It’s also a were-wolf story and a story about a choice. A very hard choice that one person has to make for herself, and for the one she loves. Does she love him enough? Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia Set in the south, this felt at first like a contemporary story, but the magic slowly leaks in. I loved the main characters and their dilemma. There are a lot of urban fantasies with high fantasy elements, but this is one of my favorite. I liked the magic system and I liked the tentative relationship between the two romantic leads. Also, mean girls in high school never got it back so good. Jessica Day George I was utterly sucked into this book, and I must say that I thought it was the best retelling of "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" that I have ever read. I felt like everything made sense at last, and I felt like the plot didn't get so complicated I wondered what had happened. I loved the lass's relationship with her brother, and the tension between her and her mother. Half World by Hiromi Goto This is a fantasy adventure that has some comic book elements, but also is very different from anything you've probably read before. It's based on Chinese mythology rather than Western, and there are times when characters assume certain things are good that maybe we wouldn't. I loved how that made me work mentally as I tried to keep up with the story. And the ending is superb. Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins I love this new genre mixing magic and old elements of fantasy with modern-day teenage life. Charles de Lint does it so well, but he's a little dark for my tastes. This is just good, plain fun. I thought the things that interested a demon about life as a human felt very real and meaningful to me. It made me rethink my own life and what matters. I loved how the demon tried to get sex. Not so different from a regular teenage boy, it turns out. And the little brother--awesome! devilish by Maureen Johnson How do you save your best friend from herself, when she keeps selling your soul to the devil to save her own? This is funny, fast-paced and meaningful, too. I plan to read more from the same author. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause This is a book with feeling. It evokes the passion the young girl is experiencing throughout and afterwards, you will never think of humans the same again. Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox This is one of the most original books I have read in a long time. I don't know where she came up with the idea or the structure. For those reasons, it is hard to read. It just isn't based on the American fantasy novel template. I loved the main character, though, and I loved the magic of the dreams. Oh, how glad I am that I don't have that magic, however. The Agency 1: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee I found myself gradually drawn into this story, and then surprised again and again as the truth unfolded. It always made perfect sense, but I never guessed it ahead of time. That happens so rarely to me these days, it is refreshing. But it wasn't just the surprises I loved. I loved the main character's spunk and action. She knew what she wanted, and though she is in a Victorian world, she knows how to get it, too. Black Juice Margo Lanagan The whole price of this book is worth it for the first story, "Singing My Sister Down." And for a bonus, you get all of the others. I don't want to spoil it by telling you any of the great details, but I will say that this is a dark book, and that there is something dark inside of me that revels in it. Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan This is published as YA, but I wouldn't recommend it for any but the very oldest group. Still, it is the most amazing book. At first you can hardly bear how terrible the world is. Then you can't believe how wonderful the fantasy world is. Then the two come together, and it feels just right, like a fairy tale come to life. Gifts by Ursula K. LeGuin This is the first book in a series I discovered recently that is amazing in its breadth and depth. Each book in the series is so different, yet they tell a story that spans different cultures and many changes. I loved this first story about a boy whose gift is not what it is assumed. And I was chilled to read about a father who would go so far to ensure his power. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey Loved this story with a main character who isn't beautiful and thin. She sees herself as rather painfully fat, but she still has adventure and falls in love. I truly admire Karen for her courage in telling a story with Maori mythology and by all accounts, getting it right. But it's not just a book about a PC world. This is fun stuff and the joy of it is, the different tradition means you won't guess where it is going. But Karen's genius means it will all make sense. Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link This is a collection of the most hilarious, odd-ball fantasy stories ever. I loved "The Fairy's Handbag," but I also loved just about every funny, unpredictable, stream-of-consciousness line in the book. A must read. Keturah and Lord Death Martine Leavitt An incredible story that engaged me all the way through. I wanted one ending so much at first, and then gradually found myself wanting a different ending instead. About a girl who is caught in the forest by death and has to tell a story each day to stay alive. Also about a lot more than that. Ash by Malinda Lo This is a book about Cinderella finding her Prince--ess. So, if that bothers you right there, don't pick it up. I loved the richness of the language and the world. It isn't a big, end of the world story. It doesn't have to be. The personal stakes are plenty high. I loved the twists of the fairy tale that felt just right. I loved how the ending went. I loved the fay of this story, used traditionally, but still new. Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride I didn't notice this book until it was recognized by the ALA this year, but I really liked it. You don't hear many heroic tales about necromancers, but this has all the stuff of fun urban fantasy, plus a main character who is deliciously flawed and sexy and trying to do his best. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley A classic, with romance, otherworldy magic, girl power, and the discovery of "the truth." I don’t think there is another YA fantasy that compares with this one. What else is there to say? Robin McKinley I'm partial to fairy tale retellings, and I love this one, with the fresh voice of Beauty speaking for herself. My style has been compared to Robin McKinley's, and I can't think of a nicer compliment. Pegasus by Robin McKinley I think I love everything Robin McKinley writes, each in a different way. But I do know that some readers wish that she was still writing in the style of Beauty or The Hero and the Crown. Well, Pegasus is just the book for you. I've used it as an example of the perfect fantasy in the way that it constructs metaphors that only make sense in the fantasy world. I love this book! Queen of Camelot Nancy McKenzie McKenzie sets herself a challenge from the beginning: to make Mordred a hero, to make Guinevere and Lancelot’s love true but spotless, and to recreate a king no one would ever betray. She does it well, and she does it all without changing the hallmarks of the traditional story. Stephenie Meyer This is the book that will get people reading. I can't say how many times I've recommended it to parents who think their teens (boys and girls) won't read anything. It works! They become addicted. Yes, I know there are flaws in the writing and I am annoyed at how long she is drawing it out, but read! Rhymes with Witches by Lauren Myracle This is one of those books I wish I'd written. And if I were as good a writer as Lauren I would have. It’s about the worst side of high school, the girls who seem so high above everyone else in all realms, and the secret of how they got there. You can, too, so long as you’re willing to pay the price. Think it can’t be that bad? It is. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer I devoured this book in a few hours, and I think the most telling thing I can say about it was that every time I looked up or had to go to the bathroom or get food for the kids I had to remind myself that I wasn't still living inside the book. I felt like I was as cold as the main character was. I kept checking the cupboards to see how many cans of food we had in them. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest Steampunk is the new vampires! But it's being done better than vampires. Smarter characters, more interesting dilemmas, better worldbuilding. This is the first in the wave, and it's got an adult viewpoint along with the young adult one, so it's not published as YA, but YA's love it. Also, adults love it. Zombies are usually totally uninteresting to me, but I liked these. They were scary, but also had a sciency background to explain them. Not so much it took away the fear, but enough to make it feel less like cardboard. And dirigibles! I love them! Lirael by Garth Nix A very different fantasy, where a world of magic and non-magic live side by side. Until . . . Also the story of a girl with the power to hold back the dead. And the price she has to pay to keep the world in balance. My second daughter’s favorite series currently. She is ten. Garth Nix I love this dystopian science fiction look at what happens when kids trust adults too much. Airborn by Kenneth Oppel I wish I had written this book. Towards the end of the book, there is a scene where Matt tells Kate to take off her shoes so they can walk silently through the airship towards the pirates. It is a long, tense section of the book where the stakes are raised every page and some of the people you really like don't make it through. But at this moment, Kate takes off her shoes and says that she hopes her feet don't stink everyone out. I loved it! Perfect way to cut tension, but also the perfect characterization from Kate. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson This is one of those books I wish I had written. The parents are so creepy and so real, and the problems that this girl faces in the future are not so distant from today. About a girl who wakes up and discovers that she has been dead. The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer This is the sequel/companion book to Life As We Knew It, which is a family favorite. It is, if possible, more devastating. About when the moon gets struck by an asteroid and moved closer to Earth, a minor disaster strikes. Not the end of the world, just the end of the world as we know it. Sherwood Smith I loved her spunky heroine and her hero, too. She made old things a little newer and a little truer. General Winston's Daughter by Sharon Shinn This is a romance with all the right elements, plus a bit of fantasy thrown in. Not every fantasy book has to be about high stakes, the end of the world, the worst evil in the universe. This is just a book about revolution and freedom and love and finding yourself. Just that. I love Sharon Shinn. I found her through a short story collection and she is one of the reasons I keep reading them; to find great novel writers. The Shape-Changer's Wife by Sharon Shinn I have become a huge fan of Sharon Shinn, but this is an earlier, very tight novel that is part romance, part fantasy, and all over supberly done. You won't expect the ending, but you won't be disappointed. Sharon Shinn I love almost everything Sharon Shinn has written, but this book is so easy to fall into. It is probably the most commercial of her books, and it works for both adults and teens. It's about a young noblewoman who becomes caught up in court intrigue, and the romances that swirl around it. But it is also a great sister story with a fine twist. No one who reads this book will dislike it. Thief Eyes by Janni Lee Simner I will admit that I met Janni and heard her talk about this book before I read it. Janni is so interesting and kind that it would be difficult not to be favorably disposed to a book she had written. But it has happened to me before, and it didn't this time. Because this book is freaking fantastic! Also, I wish I had written. In fact, I think I may write it anyway, in German style, just to show that I can. It's a book that twists an old Icelandic myth into a present day contemporary fantasy and it does it well. I am obviously in favor of the project of retelling old forgotten myths from cultures that do not match our own but have lessons for us anyway. This one has some surprisingly strong female characters in it, and it turns out that is not as unusual as you might think, if you go back far enough. There are waves of female archetypes, and these are some kick-butt ones. I don't want to say more for fear of ruining it, but it is a must read for girls and anyone interested in myths of old Europe. Lips Touch by Laini Taylor This is a book of loosely connected fantasy short stories that all center on the image of a kiss. It is also loads of fun to try to figure out how it is going to work. I couldn't do it, but in that way, it feels like a mystery reading it. It is also a great lesson on how to do everything that people say doesn't work, and make it work anyway. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner Megan Whalen Turner's series beginning with The Thief is one of my all-time favorite fantasies. I buy it and give it as gifts. I do NOT loan it out. I have reread this series many times. It is about a very clever thief who can steal anything, even the Queen of Attolia. The twists and turns and intricacies of plot are amazing. Vivian Vande Velde About a girl who gets stuck in a video game set in medieval England. She's the king's heir, only she has no idea what's going on or who her real allies are. Until she finds out, it's real dangerous to have that crown on her head. Like a big, red target. Skinned by Robin Wasserman I read Robin Wasserman's first book about Scooby Doo to my second oldest who loved Scooby Doo at the time. Now they're both growed up. This is another book I wish I had written. Maybe I did write it, only not as well. Maybe I will still write it, if I can figure out how to do it as well. It's about a girl who can only be saved by having her brain downloaded into a robot's body. She's still beautiful, but she's not human anymore. Or is she? The Winter Prince by Elizabeth Wein I like well done Arthur retellings. In this one, Arthur has twins, a son and a daughter. He still has Mordred, but Mordred can't inherit. What does a son who is raised by Morgan Le Fay do to his younger brother, the sickly one who is nonetheless going to inherit the throne, who is always throwing his illegetimacy in his face? In Wein's world, the unthinkable happens. Mordred turns into a hero. The Sunbird by Elizabeth Wein This book took its main character to a place I did not want him to go. But then it got him out again and I began to admire him so much that I think I would read anything about him Elizabeth cares to write. It's about the son of Mordred who lives in Africa in 500 A.D. and becomes a spy for his king at a very young age. Then he becomes a slave, and he pretends to be mute to protect the truth of what he knows that will save the kingdom. But at what cost? I am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells I could not stop reading this book about a boy who is afraid he is a serial killer and gradually discovers that there is a real serial killer killing in his city and only he understands enough about serial killers to figure out how one thinks and how to stop him. Also, I loved how it started in our world and then gradually moved into a kind of comic book world of magic. I loved the intense pov and I loved the twists and turns of the plot. It was the kind of book that I could see no flaw in. Fabulous, riveting, and it isn't really horror in the normal sense of the word. For older teens. Peeps byScott Westerfeld About the black plague and vampires, and a future where we're going to need them both. Uglies Scott Westerfeld About a world where everyone becomes beautiful at age sixteen, through a government-mandated operation. But what else does being "pretty" do to you? And what if you don't want it? Flora's Dare by Ysabeau Wilce The sequel to Flora Segunda is possibly even better (and weirder) than the first. This is probably the most original fantasy I have ever read. At first I felt very confused because none of the language is what I expected and it took a long time to figure out who was who and what the rules of the world were. But they are so quirky and original I loved it. I loved how it feels slangy like real teenagers but nothing like anyone you have ever met. I love how character turn out to be not how you expected, but you never feel cheated as the reader. The Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede I know that this book has been attacked for writing American Indians out of the settlement of the West. I understand the reasoning behind that argument, I think. But I still loved this book. It is such a creative reimagining of the way the West was won. And I really loved the character of the twin who isn't magical and finds herself. I think of this as a sort of companion piece to Lois McMaster Bujold's Sharing Knife series, which are a reimagining of Ohio, but on a different planet. I think the only mistake Wrede makes it not making it clear enough that this isn't our world, and has nothing to do with our world. Then she might have avoided the complaints. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff I fell into this book in a way that rarely happens these days, with my editorial eye. This is in many ways the perfect YA fantasy, where all of the feelings of real life, the alienation, the breathlessness, the hope, all are transformed into a fantasy that makes more sense than reality does. This is about a boy who doesn't belong--literally. Return to home page Copyright Mette Ivie Harrison 2011 all rights reserved. Last revised August 10, 2011.