Tithe: a modern faerie tale by Holly Black

Sixteen-year-old Kaye Fierch has spent the last six years away from her home in New Jersey. She has followed her mother Ellen around from bar to bar as she toured with her latest band trying to make a go of the music scene. When Kaye stops Ellen's boyfriend and bandmate from attacking her mother, Kaye and Ellen leave Philly behind and head back to Jersey. While staying with her grandmother, Kaye is reunited with her childhood best friend Janet and her new acquaintances.

On the way home from a party with Janet's friends, Kaye comes upon an injured man in the woods, Roiben. Kaye soon realizes that Roiben is a fairy knight in the service of the Queen of the Unseelie Court. But this is not her first experience with fairies, although she learns that her childhood fairy friends weren't a figment of her imagination. Kaye's "blond Asian" look is really the first outward sign that she too is a fairy; a changling in fact who has been hidden in the human world by a powerful glamour. Her imaginary friends have always been keeping an eye on her.

Now Kaye's fairy friends have arranged for her to act as the human tithe to the Unseelie Queen. By tricking the Queen and not scarificing a human, the Solitary Fey won't be under the Queen's rule for the next seven years. After a harrowing near death experience, Kaye and Roiben escape. But Kaye soon learns that not all of the Solitary Fey are good like her friends and the mortal world is in danger. Can Kaye and Roiben set things right again?

Holly Black's descriptive writing makes the reader feel as if they are walking through the Unseelie Court right along Kaye. Worth checking out even if you don't like fairies. Visit Holly Black's website.

Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives Graphic Novel Series by Ellen Schreiber

This graphic novel series told in three parts is an offshoot of the Vampire Kisses series by Ellen Schreiber. The main characters are the same residents of Dullesville in the traditional series; Raven, Alexander and Becky but also introduces Alexander's cousin, Claude Sterling, who is a half-vampire. Claude and his gange of halflings have come to town to find a secret stash of centuries old vampire blood-filles vials, hidden by their grandmother to become full vampires. Worse yet, Claude and the gang can hang out during daylight hours. Can Raven and Alexander outsmart Claude and his gang or is all of Dullesville High in danger of becoming creatures of the night?

Wake, Fade and Gone trilogy by Lisa McMann.

"She's has never had a dream before - not that she can remember.
She only has everyone else's.
At least she can sleep during hers."

Janie Hannagan has suffered with the stupid dream curse since she was eight-years-old. If she is around anyone who is having a dream, Janie is able to witness the dream or more frighteningly, nightmares. Now a senior in high school, Janie still has told no one about her unwanted ability, not even her best friend Carrie.

Cabel Strumheller lives down the street from Janie. He has been in trouble since the ninth grade when he flunked down into Janie's class. Always late and looking stoned, Cabe is a loner. At the start of senior year, Cabe has undergone a transformation; his looks have matured abd he has ditched the Goth look. He is still late and on the first day of school, Janie sees him walking and offers him a ride. It turns out to be the longest converstion they have ever had together and the strat of a relationship.

While in study hall, Janie witnesses what is the worse nightmare she has ever come across and it is the repeat of one she saw as she was driving through her neighborhood. Only this time, she is a part of the dream and the dreamer is Caleb Strumheller. And he is asking her for help. But will Cabel be Janie's savior or her downfall?

This was a hard book to put down and is a quick read be sure check out Lisa McMann's website to read Cabel's point of view about the pivotal school trip to Stratford.

Janie finishes her senior year of high school by working undercover for the police by trying to find out which teachers at Fieldcrest High are have inappropriate realtionships with several students.

The thrilling conclusion to Janie's story where she discovers who her father is and makes a major decision about the rest of her life.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

"The guy next to her, he's the vamp," Jenna said through a mounthful of pie. She pointed to a really good-looking guy in his thirties with black curly hair. "Lord Byron."
I snorted. "Oh God, how angsty can you be, naming yourself after a dead poet?"
But Jenna just looked at me. "No, he's the real Lord Byron.

Sixteen-year-old Sophia Mercer discovered she was a witch at the age of twelve. Raised by her single human mother, Sophie has attended ninteen different schools and counting. Each time. a spell Sophie has tried to perform has gone horribly wrong. When a love spell for the school's punching bag Felicia turns prom into a scene reminiscent of Carrie, Sophie's elusive European father informs her by e-mail that the Council has sentenced her to Hecate Hall until her eighteenth birthday.

Upon her arrival at Hex Hall, Sophie meets for the first time other witches and warlocks, as well as shiftres and fae. After Sophie inadvertently offends a werewolf, Archer Cross, a gorgeous warlock, summons a blocking spell for her. The attraction between the two and Sophie's attempts at disliking him begin. Sophie also meets her roommate, the lone vampire on campus, Jenna, who has an affection for the color pink. Jenna's former roommate, a witch named Holly, was killed the previous year.

While looking around the school, Sophie is approached by three girls; Elodie, Anna and Chastin, who are looking for a fourth dark witch for their coven since Holly's death. While Sophie decides she doesn't want to join and befriends Jenna, the girls don't take rejection very well. Elodie is also Archer's girlfriend and the two girls are at odds, especially since Sophie and Archer are paired up in defense class and must serve detention together. Sophie is also approached by the ghost of her great-grandmother who teaches her how to use her powerful magic to protect herself from L'Occhio di Dio, the eye of God, who are trying to rid the world of witches and warlocks, especially Sophie.

After Anna and Chastin are attacked and leave school, Jenna is blamed and also leaves. Sophie discovers that L'Occhio di Dio has infiltrated the Hex Hall and is startled as to who is a member. Also not everyone is as they seem. This was a great beginning to what the author has says will be at least a three book series. Lots of loose ends and unanswered questions are left dangling at the end.

Visit Rachel Hawkins' website.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

"The experiment will be a bold one and there may well be risks we have not foreseen. But Incarceron will be a system of great complexity and intelligence. There could be no kinder or more compassionate guardian for its inmates." - Chapter 3

Incarceron is prison, but unlike any prison you have ever heard of. It is a living complex of cells, cities and wilderness that is continually shifting. Only the Warden of Incarceron knows where the prison is located. Having been permanently sealed shut for over 160 years, legend has it that only one man has ever escaped. And Finn hopes to be number two.

Seventeen-year-old Finn the Starseer is a prisoner of Incarceron but doesn't remember his childhood. Everyone says he is a "cellborn" but Finn has flashs of a birthday cake and believes he is from Outside of Incarceron. Most of Incarceron's inmates don't believe there is an Outside. It is during an ambush on the Civicry that Finn plays captive to get them to stop. As they are trying to help Finn, a woman notices the mark of an eagle on Finn's wrist and says she has seen that mark before. Finn's interst is peaked and he takes the woman hostage to find out what more she knows. She has seen the same mark on a crystal. Finn takes possession of the crystal when it is offered as part of her ransom. He soon realizes it is a key. Finn, his oathbrother Keiro, Gildas a Sapient and a slave girl escape from their winglord in attempt to locate a door that Gildas has seen before that he thinks the key will unlock.

Claudia Arlexa is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron and the bride in an arranged marriage with the heir to the throne. The Earl of Steen is a young man who thinks he is beyond control but Claudia has been raised to reel him in somewhat even though she is disgusted by him. Caspar, the Earl, became heir to the throne after the death of his half brother Giles, whom Claudia was originally engaged to. With the help of her tutor, Jared, a Sapient, Claudia is determined to learn the mysteries of Incarceron and not marry Caspar. Upon breaking into her father's study, Claudia also discovers a matching crystal key. Soon Claudia and Finn realize that they can communicate with each other through the keys and Finn implores on Claudia to help him escape into the outside world.

This novel was suspenseful and keeps you on edge trying to figure out if Claudia's suspisions are right, if Finn gets out of Incarceron, does Claudia marry Caspar and what is going what the prison itself. Incarceron lives up to a quote from The Times, London on it's cover that states "One of the best fantasy novels written for a long time."

The sequel, Sapphique, is due out December 2010.

Check out Catherine Fisher's website.

Twilight : The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 by Stephenie Meyer and Kim Young, Illustrator

Stephenie Meyer has teamed up with a graphic artist to bring the story of Twilight into pictures. Meyer herself has said that the visual deception of Edward and Bella is more how she imaged them than the actors in the wildly popular movie franchise. The graphic version closely follows the original novel to a "T" except for one minor/major flaw I caught where the wrong object is in the frame. Drawings are mainly black and white but with subtle hints of color. Unfortunately volume 1 only covers the novel through the the end of the  meadow scene. No word yet as to when volume 2 will be published.

Fallen by Lauren Kate

"There is something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori."

 

The dark shadows have tormeted Luce Price her entire life. Years of psychiatric therapy and medications have not chased the shadows away. The shadows were present when her boyfriend Trevor died tragically in a fire that Luce was blamed for. Now a judge has sent her to the Sword and Cross reform school near her home in Savannah, Georgia. Here the residents are constantly monitored by security cameras, cell phones are prohibited and the Internet is strictly regulated.

Upon meeting the incredibly gorgeous Daniel Grigori, Luce feels an immediate attraction to him and a sense that she has met him before. In a case of unrequited love, Luce keeps trying to get to know everything she can about Daniel as he continues to push her away. Fellow student Cam begins to show an interest in her and the ultimate batlle between good and evil breaks out. The question is who is Daniel Grigori, how does Luce know him, and are they star-crossed lovers?

This is the first book in a planned trilogy that mostly sets up the characters and their interconnecting relationships. Very few of both Luce's and the reader's questions are answered in the end. Book two entitled Torment will be published September 14, 2010.

Visit the Fallen website.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver is a love story between a human girl and a wolf/human boy that is told in alternating viewpoints between the two. I love the fact that the book's typeface is the same pale blue color that's on the cover.

As a child, Grace was attacked by a pack of wolves as she was swinging in her backyard. Except for one, the wolf with the yellow eyes who portected her. Every winter, Grace would watch the wolves in the woods behind her house. She was always on the lookout for her special wolf with the yellow eyes.

Sam is Grace's yellow-eyed wolf during the cold months and a teenage boy during the warm ones. Sam is a werewolf and has been in ove with Grace since the day of her attack. He watches her from the woods as she looks out the windows and admires her from afar during his time in human form. He is always hoping they would meet and Grace would recognize him.

When Jack Culpepper is attacked and seemingly killed by the wolf pack, the townspeople of decide to take matters into their own hands and hunt down the wolves. Grace is distraught and takes off to save the wolves. When she comes home, she finds an injured Sam in human form at her back door, Grace realizes the true secret of the wolves of Mercy Falls.

Readers will be caught up in this climatic love story as Sam and Grace race to find a way to stay together before the cold changes Sam back into wolf form forever.

Check out Maggie Stiefvater's web site.

The following "trailer was created by Maggie with hundreds of paper cut-outs and multiple photographic frames per second. Music composed & performed by Maggie Stiefvater & Kate Hummel."

Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber

"I want to be ... a vampire!" I shouted, to the shock and amazement of Mrs. Peevish and my classmates. For a moment I thought she started to laugh; maybe she really did. The children sitting next to me inched away.
I spent most of my childhood watching others inch away.

This was goth girl Raven Madison's pronouncement when asked by her kindergarten teacher. Raven was none too happy when former hippie parents had her brother Billy and sent her to kindergarten. Gone when the times of watching Dark Shadows on the black and white TV and staying up past midnight and on with kindergarten. Soon Trevor Mitchell becomes her nemesis when he bites her on the playground and she doesn't transform into a vampire bat.

Raven refers to her town as Dullsville with the wrong side of the tracks being farmland where her only friend Becky lives and Raven on the right side near the country club. The only exciting place in town for Raven was The Mansion on Benson Hill that had been deserted since it's former owner had died. To Raven, it was her Barbie Dream House.On her sixteenth birthday, Raven discovers that The Mansion has some new occupants and becomes determined to meet the mysterious person who looks out the attic window.

After listening to all the town's gossip about the Sterling's being vampires, Raven goes trick or treating at The Mansion determined to meet her dream goth guy. The butler runs out of candy when Raven approaches the door, Raven sneaks in determined to see what's going on and comes face to face with Alexander Sterling. Is he or is he not her dream guy?

"Here's to new blood."- Jagger Maxwell

The continuation of Raven and Alexander's love story. But what happens when Alexander disappears and a new vampire comes on the scene?

"I'm looking for someone to quench my thirst- for all eternity."- Luna Maxwell

Continues the "boy meets girl, girl falls for boy, boy turns out to be a vampire" story. And a new vampire comes onto the scene.

 "I know what you're thinking ... "- Valentine Maxwell

I have to love a book with a chapter titled "Library from Hell". Raven and Alexander go to the prom and another vampire with strange powers comes to Dullesville.

 "Membership to our club comes at a very high price."- Phoenix Slater

Probably the best book so far out of the series. Raven finds herself in over her head when she heads back to the Coffin Club.

"Welcome to the family."- Mrs. Sterling

Raven finally gets to meet Alexander's parents and they are Raven's dream come thrue. But what happens when they decide to sell the Mansion on Benson Hill?


Visit Ellen Schreiber's website.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

"His eyes. Katsa had never seen such eyes. One was silver, and the other gold. They glowed in his sun-darkened face, uneven, and stange. She was surprised that they hadn't shone in the darkness of tier first meeting. They didn't seem human...
Then he raised his eyebrows a hair, and his mouth shifted into the hint of a smirk. He nodded at her, just barely, and it released her from her spell.
Cocky, she thought. Cocky and arrogant, this one, and that was all there was to make of him. Whatever game he was playing, if he expectred her to join him he would be disappointed."

 Those three paragraphs on the dust jacket flap drew me into this book. Katsa lives in the land of the seven kingdoms where some people are born with an extreme skill, called a Grace. Some graces are harmless and have little influence, but others are more powerful, feared and even exploited. Katsa is a Graceling, easily identifed by her two different colored eyes. An orphan, Katsa lives with her uncle, King Randa of the Middluns. At the age of eight, Katsa'a grace made itself known in a horrific way when a cousin touches her in an undesirable way and she strikes back, killing him. Katsa has the grace of killing and is the king's thug and enforcer. But it is not a role she desires and is working secretly throughout the seven kingdoms doing good through the Council.


Katsa and the Council rescue the kidnapped Prince Tealiff, father of the Lienid king. Katsa's life takes an unexpected turn when Prince Po enters her life. Everything she knows about herself is turned upside down in this tale of romance and adventure. Fire is a companion to this book.

Read Kristin Cashore's blog.

This book trailer is a bit chessy, so don't hold it against what is a fantastic book.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

"Do you oil your war machines or do you feed them?"

Leviathan is the story of two very different characters at the outbreak of World War I. Prince Aleksander is the young son of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his commoner wife, Sophie. Alek lives a life of privilege until his parents are assassinate and must run for his life. Deryn Sharp is a young girl who had disguised herself as a boy in order to enlist in the British Air Service. She and her older brother have been raised by their mother since the death of their father.

It is also the story of two warring sides, the "Darwinists", whose war machines are creatures from nature whose DNA has been manipulated to create new technology and the "Clankers", whose war machines are complex machines inspired by biology. Prince Alek is making his escape from Austria by piloting a stormwalker from Sarajevo to neutral Switzerland with his fencing tutor, master of mechaniks and a loyal crew if men. They are being chased by the Germans. Deryn, now known as Dylan, is rescused by the Leviathan, a whale airship, after her huxley is spooked by an incoming storm. They are on a secret mission to take a scientist and her cargo to Constantinople.

Our characters meet when the Leviathan is attacked by German clanker airplanes and is damaged. The ship goes down on a glacier near the castle ruins where Alek and his men are now hiding. Alek risks his life and discovery by trying to help the enemy get off the glacier an on their way.

Their story will be continued in October 2010 with Behemoth.

Check out Scott Westerfeld's blog.