Divergent by Veronica Roth

Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

Original Language: English
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Country: USA
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
ISBN: 9780062024022
Page Count: 496 


Veronica Roth's debut is a fantastic and thrilling new addition to the genre of YA dystopian novels. Divergent could rival The Hunger Games for my new favourite in the genre. I'll wait for the series to end before I make the decision though.

Roth has created a charming and unique heroine in Beatrice 'Tris' Prior. She is honest, courageous, intrepid and curious. Her insecurities make her real, and easy to relate to while her determination to be strong and overcome her previous identity as an Abnegation, or a 'Stiff' as her new Dauntless faction family call her.

 Tris is different from most new sixteen year old initiates - when she undergoes her test to find out which faction is most suited to her, she finds out she is Divergent. Candor (the honest), Erudite (the knowledgeable) and Amity (the kind) are immediately ruled out, but Tris could belong equally to her family faction Abnegation (the selfless) and Dauntless (the fearless). Her decision to leave Abnegation for Dauntless is enough to keep all eyes on her, but her Divergent identity will make her life very dangerous.

 The romantic interest isn't forced, but develops slowly though the book. Four is daring, and almost emotionless at times. His dedication to the Dauntless initiates, and disgust with the current Dauntless leadership (and their aggressive tactics) make him super attractive. The way he tries to protect Tris and shows such an obvious weakness for her makes him twice as sexy.

 The setting of a dystopian Chicago is a perfect background to Tris' adventure, while the growing dissension between the five factions makes for a fascinating plot. While Divergent acts mostly as a whole lot of background information for the next books, it manages to stand up on its own as a fantastic debut novel.

Divergent will stand out in my mind as one of 2011's best YA reads. The sequel Insurgent is due out in May 2012.

Raiding Bookshelves Rating

Judging by the cover: I quite like the cover - it isn't as gorgeous as some other 2011 YA releases but it suits itself. As an Abnegation Tris was used to being selfless and bland, and as a Dauntless she began to understand how to use what she was given. I like the simplicity of the cover but the fiery symbol shows there is more to it than meets the eye.

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.
Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen;or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It's all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

Original Language: English
Publisher: Bloomsbury Pub Plc USA
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2007
ISBN: 1596912855
Page Count: 208

Austenland is Shannon Hales first excursion into a Regency role playing holiday destination where everyone can (temporarily) find their own Mr Darcy. It's a new and exciting idea, but fails to live up to its real potential.

Jane is a boring protagonist. I can easily understand her obsession with all things Austen (especially Mr Darcy)  but I can't understand how ridiculous it makes her. It's one thing to compare men to Mr Darcy, it's a complete other thing to expect a Darcy clone - wouldn't that be boring? And where does her embarrassment of her Austen obsession come from? I'm proud of my collection and would never resort to hiding anything in a pot plant.

I got sick of her complaining about not being able to find the right man - it's not something that happens overnight...exactly. Her 'confusion' between' Martin and Henry was irritating and irrational. It was obvious her attraction to Henry was a reflection of the antagonistic relationship between Lizzy and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. The relationship between Jane and Martin is unrealistic, I can't stand how he treats her and how she reacts to him.

Speaking of which...the twists at the end (which I won't reveal in case others want to read it) comes from no where and adds nothing to the story. It just succeeds in making the cast, and the story, less likeable. I just can't stand Martin and there is no real character to Henry.

The world Hale creates in Pembrook Park is interesting and somewhat authentic - though Jane comments on a number of historical inaccuracies. The role playing seems like a fun, if not awkward, adventure and the characters are quite an endearing bunch - though Charming is as ridiculous and annoying a character as possible (anyone who says 'what what' more than once a book is an unsatisfactory character).

I am very disappointed by Austenland. I love re-exploring stories in new ways but Austenland had none of the special magic of Jane Austen.

Raiding Bookshelves Rating

Judging by the cover: The manor house is quite pretty and provides a nice contrast between the modern and regency eras. It's nice but not fantastic.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings.

Original Language: English
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Country: USA
Publication Date: March 22, 2011
ISBN: 9781442409057
Page Count: 358

Wither is Lauren DeStefano's debut novel and the first in a YA dystopian trilogy. It was published in March this year and I've been waiting for months to get my hands on it. It was everything as wonderful as I had hoped, and much to short for my tastes.

In terms of fitting into the field of YA dystopian novels, Wither definitely makes the cut and sits with the cool kids. The characters are engaging and the plot, though the story stays in the one house, keeps moving. Best of all is the idea that drives the story - in a future where genetic engineering has significantly shortened the human life span.

The characters were interesting. Rhine and Linden were the most developed, obviously, but other characters like Gabriel and Jenna are developed enough to keep the story progressing neatly. Cecily is both annoying and adorable while Rowan will hopefully receive enough development in future books to make him interesting.   Meanwhile, Housemaster Vaughn is a fascinating villain - he seemingly wants the best for his son but there is a second and more sinister motive behind his actions.

The plot moves quickly - at times almost too quickly - and creates a sweeping story that easily engages the reader. The interaction between characters, especially the camaraderie between the Sister Wives, and of course between Rhine and Gabriel. Linden can sometimes be a weak link but mostly DeStephano has created a solid world that beguiles the senses.

Wither's sequel, Fever is due for publication in February next year. I look forward to getting my hands on it.

Raiding Bookshelves

Judging by the cover: This cover is so elegant. I love that the model can look so calm and elegant while she's so ragged and on edge.

Entwined by Heather Dixon

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.
But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

Original Language: English
Publisher: Greenwillow Books/Harper Collins, Inc.
Country: USA
Publication Date: March 29, 2011
ISBN: 0062001035
Page Count: 336

Entwined is Heather Dixon's debut novel and a fantastic reworking of the fairytale favourite The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Her characters are fun, and sweet and the plot is a fascinating way to look at a beloved old tale.

I've always loved fairy tales and any story that gives me a chance to sing a familiar tune in a new place is worth a shot. Twelve Dancing Princesses is one of my all time favourites and I adore the chance to explore it again. Dixon has created an enchanting magical world of sweet young princesses named (alphabetically by age) after flowers.

For the most part the characters are charming and well developed. I would have liked less pip in Lord Teddie and a bit more pip in Lord Bradford. Of course, this is a story aimed primarily at young teenagers who want more story that deep characterisation so it worked out well the way it was. The older Princesses seemed to have quite distinct personality traits that make it easier to differentiate them. Azalea was especially well developed - her relationship with her father (Sir) and her budding romance with Lord Bradford.

Keeper was sufficiently terrifying though a tad predictable. I could have done with a little more mystery but knowing the original story as well as I do makes that difficult.

The plot was interesting, though at times it did feel a little rushed and vague. It seemed to struggle to move on at times, and the transitions from exciting to frightening seemed somewhat disjointed. I did, however, enjoy the development of the romances between the Princesses and their suitors though I found Clover's romance a bit strange and almost creepy.


Ultimately though, Entwined was an engaging reworking of an old classic and I look forward to more stories from Heather Dixon. 

Judging by the cover: I adore this cover! I can't even explain how beautiful and whimsical it is. The silver design around the border and the dress are both amazing. I don't know how but I want to combine them and wear them somewhere.

Lola and the boy next door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the boy next door
Stephanie Perkins

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.
When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Original Language: English
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Country: United States
Publication Date: September 29, 2011
ISBN: 9780525423287
Page Count: 338


I just couldn't stay away! I didn't dive straight into it after Anna and the French Kiss (as much as I desperately wanted to) and I'm glad I took a moment away. I let myself read M.J Putney's latest YA release (review to come) in my breaks at uni yesterday...before starting Lola and the boy next door on the bus home.

I can't say I loved it, not the way I loved Anna and the French Kiss, but it was a great read. Unfortunately, reading it so soon after A&tFK meant I was constantly comparing the two. Which disappointed me a little thanks to the many similarities in the stories. Two people, desperately in love, and meant for each other, kept apart by a relationship with a controlling older partner. Both girls have 'burning lions' (thanks Alecks) and the boys' eyes bug out everytime their girl dresses up.

Basically, lots of hormones, lots of longing and a lot of drama. It doesn't matter though; Perkins makes up for the similarities through a gorgeous new cast (and a return of two very special favourites from A&tFK) who keep the grin on your face. Lola (born Dolores) has two gorgeous and very strict Dad's who are quite anti-boys...understandable once we learn about Lola's birth mother. What can you say about Norah? She's a pain in the ass, but I can't help liking her.

Lola's fashion sense is all kinds of awesome - who doesn't wish they could do whatever and not care - and her Marie Antoinette dress makes me ridiculously jealous. So does her admirer...Cricket Graham Bell, great-great something grandson of the 'inventor' of the telephone. He has some strange habits, the mind of a genius and one hell of a crush on Lola.

The story is a bit slow in places - especially with all the 'why me?' drama - but when everything pulls together in the end, it's hard to mind.

Raiding Bookshelves Rating

Judging by the cover: It's cute, and I love all the colours mashed into into the Lola models outfit without trying too hard. The Cricket (seriously...that's a name?) model seems too handsome, he needs to be Topher Grace cute and lanky.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss

Stephanie Perkins

Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris -until she meets Etienne St. Clair: perfect, Parisian (and English and American, which makes for a swoon-worthy accent), and utterly irresistible. The only problem is that he's taken, and Ana might be, too, if anything comes of her almost-relationship back home.
As winter melts into spring, will a year of romantic near-misses end with the French kiss Anna - and readers- have long awaited?

Original Language: English
Publisher: Dutton
Country: USA
Publication Date: December 2010
ISBN: 0525423273
Page Count: 384

It's been a long time since I read a young adult romance. I've spent this semester reading dusty classics about dark heroes, short stories written by Australian immigrants and struggling through my media law text. So picking up Anna and the French Kiss gave me the opportunity to relax with some light, fun and irresistibly sweet reading.

Despite beginning with a whiny rant about being sent to boarding school in Paris (jealous much?), Anna becomes like a best friend. We see her excitement, her fears, her desires and her passion for movies, boys and everything Paris. She has her (repetitive) moments of teenage sullenness and stupidity, but who doesn't? I'd rather see a flawed Anna than a perfect one - it makes her easier to relate to. I love her anti-germ warfare (I can relate) and her determination to fight her feelings for St. Clair.

Speaking of which...he is funny, good looking, sweet and incredibly stupid. I agonised over his ridiculous dedication to Ellie, and his complete ignorance of Meredith, not to mention the way he keeps coming back for more Anna when we all know he shouldn't (but definitely want him to).

Perkins creates a very romantic image of Paris - from the Opera singer outside Anna's room each night, to the point zero star. It doesn't feature as heavily as I would like, but it makes a very romantic backdrop for a heart winning relationship.

Raiding Bookshelves Rating

Judging by the cover: It has everything it needs! The romantic Parisian background (it's most iconic building) and a couple sitting together and leaning forward eagerly, but always keeping that distance between them.

Mercenary's Bride by Terri Brisbin

#47 of 200
Original Language: English
Publisher: Harlequin
Country: U.S
Publication Date: July 2010
ISBN: 978-0-373-29602-6

Noble Warrior, Worthy Wife
Brice Fitzwilliam is finally paid his due: awarded the title and lands of Thaxted, the warrior waits to claim his promised virgin bride!
But Gillian of Thaxted will be no man’s prize! She will not submit to the conquering knight’s powerful physique, dark, piercing eyes or the bold way his arm drapes protectively over her at night....
Brice thought he would pleasure his new wife out of duty—but it’s become a nightly pleasure of his
own! Now he risks exposing a chink in his armor if he succumbs totally to his new bride....
The Knights of Brittany -- Born to conquer…and seduce!

The second book in Terri Brisbin's Knights of Brittany trilogy, Mercenary's Bride follows Bryce Fitzwilliam as he discovers falling in love can be much harder than controlling his new estate. It is an exciting and seductive new addition to the trilogy that will have your toes curling.

The Conquerer's Lady by Terri Brisbin

#46 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: Harlequin
Country: U.S
Publication Date: July 2009
ISBN: 0373295545
Page Count: 288

Strong, ruthless, brave and honorable, Giles Fitzhenry is a born warrior who has never been able to shake off the shame of his illegitimate birth. To save her people and lands, the lady Fayth is forced to marry this powerful Breton knight. She yearns to be rid of her unwelcome husband, although a deep desire stirs each time she looks into his piercing gaze. Now Giles has conquered all, but the ultimate battle will be for his new lady's love—and her utter surrender!

The first of Terri Brisbin's Knights of Brittany trilogy The Conqueror's Lady is a remarkable historical adventure full of romance and danger. Set during the Normandy conquest of England in 1066, The Conqueror's Lady and the rest of the trilogy follow the dangers faced by three of William's Knights. Giles Fitzhenry was illegitimately born to a Norman Lord and is given dangerous land to conquer in William's name. In order to give legitimacy to his new title and lands, Giles must wed the young daughter of the last Lord. Unfortunately for Giles the lady Fayth is determined to make him work for his new estate and for her love.

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black

#45 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: St Martin's Griffin
Country: USA
Publication Date: May-2010
ISBN: 978-0312575939
Page Count: 304

It’s all she’s ever wanted to be, but it couldn’t be further from her grasp… Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, again , Dana decides she’s had enough and runs away to find her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the captivating, magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and the only person who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie. Soon, Dana finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone seems to want something from her, from her newfound friends and family to Ethan, the hot Fae guy Dana figures she’ll never have a chance with… until she does. Caught between two worlds, Dana isn’t sure where she’ll ever fit in and who can be trusted, not to mention if her world will ever be normal again…

Jenna Black brings a new magical adventure series to light with Glimmerglass; the story of Dana, one of the rare children of both a human and a fey parent. Dana is a Faerie Walker, a rare type of magic that allows her to cross the boundary between realms and bring magic, or technology, from one to the other. Her magic is very rare and when it is discovered Dana is in more danger than she can imagine, and no one can be trusted.

Blue Fire by Janice Hardy

#44 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: HarperCollins
Country: GBR
Publication Date: 1/11/10
ISBN: 9780007326822
Page Count: 288

Nya has survived her battles with the Luminary and freed the Takers who were enslaved at the Healer′s League. But all is not well in Geveg and war rages on.
Nya, Tali and friends are in hiding, plotting their escape as the Duke posts a ransom for their capture. But plans are thwarted by treachery and kidnap as trackers, rascals and soldiers overwhelm them.
Soon Nya finds herself alone in alien city Baseer. She must break her comrades out of jail, find her sister and unravel the Duke′s fiendish new plot surrounding the mysterious goings-on at the pynvium Foundry.
And to accomplish any of this she must face the almighty new menace ... the Undying.

Teacher turned writer turned blogger, Janice Hardy has hit home once again with her second Healing Wars novel. Blue Fire follows on a few months after the explosive finale of The Shifter when Nya and her friends defeated the Luminary and rescued the Takers, including her baby sister Tal. In this thrilling and fast paced sequel, Nya and her friends must take on bigger and scary enemies than ever before as Geveg prepares for war.

Tithe by Holly Black

#43 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2002
ISBN: 0689849249
Page Count: 320

Welcome to the realm of very scary faeries! Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms -- a struggle that could very well mean her death.

From the author of the popular children's series The Spiderwick Chronicals comes a new adventure aimed at older readers. Tithe is the first of Holly Blacks Modern Faerie Tale series and starts off with a bang. The battle between Seelie and Unseelie enters modern New Jersey, when Kaye discovers long hidden truths about her past. When old friends ask Kaye for help, she opens up the mortal world to the influences of Faerie.

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair by Elizabeth Laird

#42 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Country: UK
Publication Date: April 18 2011
ISBN: 0547341261Page Count: 360

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is due to be released on April 18 2011

In seventeenth-century Scotland, saying the wrong thing can lead to banishment – or worse. Accused of being a witch, sixteen-year-old Maggie Blair is sentenced to be hanged. She escapes, but instead of finding shelter with her principled, patriotic uncle, she brings disaster to his door. Betrayed by one of her own accusers, Maggie must try to save her uncle and his family from the King’s men, even if she has to risk her own life in the process.

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair (also published as The Witching Hour) is the latest novel by popular children's and young adult author Elizabeth Laird. A stunning story of witchcraft, religion and belief, The Betrayal of Maggie Blair will keep you on the edge of your seat, eagerly awaiting poor Maggie's next obstacle.

Queens of All the Earth by Hannah Sternberg

#41 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: Bancroft Press
Country: USA
Publication Date: June 15 2011
ISBN: 9781610880190
Page Count: 160
eARC provided by NetGalley 

Queens of All the Earth is due to be released on June 15!

As her freshman classmates move into dorms at Cornell University, Olivia Somerset suffers a nervous breakdown. When months of coaxing and analyzing fail to rouse Olivia from her stupor, big sister Miranda decides the sisters should fly off to Barcelona for some "vacation therapy."
When a mistake at their Barcelona hostel leaves the Somersets in a large co-ed dorm room, Olivia and Miranda are saved by kindly Mr. Brown and his son Greg, who happily volunteer to surrender their private room. But while Olivia feels an instant connection with brooding Greg Brown, Miranda sides with fellow guest and cocky American travel writer Lenny:
The Browns are just plain weird, and must be avoided at all costs.
In the midst of urbane Peruvian priests-in-training and Scottish soccer fans, from the shops of La Rambla to the waters of the Mediterranean to the soaring heights of Montjuic, Miranda works to protect her still-fragile sister while Olivia struggles to understand her burgeoning adulthood, her feelings for Greg, and the fear that makes the next step in her life so impossible to take.
Inspired by E. M. Forster's classic novel A Room with a View, debut author Hannah Sternberg's Queens of All the Earth is a poetic journey of young love and self-awakening set against the beauty of Catalonia. Teenagers and adults alike will be riveted and moved by this coming-of-age novel about the conflicting hearts and minds of two very different sisters.

Hannah Sternberg's debut novel is a thrilling coming-of-age adventure where control is taken over by the whimsical and imagination moves in leaps and bounds. Queens of All the World is the story of sisters Olivia and Miranda, separated by more than just age. Olivia is unwilling to release the wonder of her childhood while Miranda believes herself beyond it's call.

Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston

#40 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: Harper Teen
Country: USA
Publication Date: 21 December 2011
ISBN: 0061740063
Page Count: 368

"I don't love Sonny Flannery."
That's the lie Kelley Winslow told to protect the boy she loves from a power he doesn't know he possesses. Devastated, Sonny retreats—to a haven for Lost Fae that's hidden deep underneath New York City.
But Kelley's not about to let things end in heartbreak. To get Sonny back, she's got to find out who's after his magick—and how to use her own. She's got to uncover who's recruiting Janus Guards to murderously hunt innocent Faerie. She's got to help rebuild the shattered theater company she called family. And she's got to do it all without getting dangerously distracted by the Fennrys Wolf, whose legendary heart of stone seems to melt whenever he's around Kelley.
The intrigue and romance that began with Wondrous strange andDarklight come to a stormy head in Tempestuous, the breathtaking conclusion to Lesley Livingston's ravishing urban Faerie trilogy.

Lesley Livingston brings weaves together all the strings of her Wondrous Strange trilogy, beginning with Wondrous Strange and Darklight, in her newly published finale Tempestuous. In a thrilling conclusion to her Faerie Realm tale, the love between Sonny and Kelley has been torn apart by a lie. A lie told to protect a loved one, but a lie nonetheless. In a world where it is impossible for the Fey to lie, Sonny is struck down by depression after hearing Kelley say that she does not love him.

Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

#39 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: Flux
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: February 1st 2011
ISBN: 073872582X
Page Count: 288

Freak. That’s what they called seventeen year-old Donna Underwood in high school after a horrific fey attack that killed her father when she was just a child. Her injuries and rehabilitation resulted in magically enhanced strength, thanks to the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. As a child of the alchemists, she is both blessed and cursed with a magical heritage that permeates her life with duty and sacrifice.
Now, after ten years of wishing for a normal life, she finally has to accept her role in the centuries-old war against the darkest outcasts of Faerie: the Dark Elves. Aided by a gorgeous half-fey dropout, Donna must race to save her best friend’s life – even if it means betraying the secret of immortality and confronting the very thing that destroyed her family.

Karen Mahoney's debut novel Iron Witch entwines the popular Faerie realm theme with the mystery of alchemy to create an entrancing first installment. Rumored to be the first book in a new trilogy, Iron Witch tells the story of Donna Underwood, a teenage girl visibly and physically marked by magic and iron.

Darklight by Lesley Livingston

#38 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: HarperTeen
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: December 22, 2009
ISBN: 0061575402
Page Count: 320

Faerie can't lie . . . or can they?
Much has changed since autumn, when Kelley Winslow learned she was a Faerie princess, fell in love with changeling guard Sonny Flannery, and saved the mortal realm from the ravages of the Wild Hunt. Now Kelley is stuck in New York City, rehearsing Romeo and Juliet and missing Sonny more with every stage kiss, while Sonny has been forced back to the Otherworld and into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the remaining Hunters and Queen Mabh herself.
When a terrifying encounter sends Kelley tumbling into the Otherworld, her reunion with Sonny is joyful but destined to be cut short. An ancient, hidden magick is stirring, and a dangerous new enemy is willing to risk everything to claim that power. Caught in a web of Faerie deception and shifting allegiances, Kelley and Sonny must tread carefully, for each next step could topple a kingdom . . . or tear them apart.
With breathtakingly high stakes, the talented Lesley Livingston delivers soaring romance and vividly magical characters in darklight, the second novel in the trilogy that began with wondrous strange.

Darklight is the thrilling second novel in Lesley Livingston's delightful Wondrous Strange trilogy. Continuing the adventures of Kelley and Sonny after defeating the Wild Host on Samhain, a whole new set of troubles await the two. Seperated by duty, both Kelley and Sonny feel their difference adding up and aren't sure if their love will survive it.

Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingstone

#37 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: December 22, 2009
ISBN: 0394815009
Page Count: 327 

Since the dawn of time, the Faerie have taken. . . . For seventeen-year-old actress Kelley Winslow, faeries are just something from childhood stories. Then she meets Sonny Flannery, whose steel-gray eyes mask an equally steely determination to protect her. Sonny guards the Samhain Gate, which connects the mortal realm with the Faerie's enchanted, dangerous Otherworld. Usually kept shut by order of icy King Auberon, the Gate stands open but once a year. This year, as the time approaches when the Samhain Gate will swing wide and nightmarish Fae will fight their way into an unsuspecting human world, something different is happening . . . something wondrous and strange. And Kelley's eyes are opening not just to the Faerie that surround her but to the heritage that awaits her. Now Kelley must navigate deadly Faerie treachery—and her growing feelings for Sonny—in this dazzling page-turner filled with luminous romance. Wondrous Strange is a richly layered tale of love between faerie and mortal, betrayal between kings and queens, and magic . . . between author and reader.

Wondrous Strange is the debut novel of Lesley Livingson and he first novel in a popular new trilogy. Kelley Winslow is an aspiring actress in New York City with an obsessive room-mate and lands the role of Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream at her local theatre. Just as everything seems to be going perfectly for Kelley she meets Sonny Flannery and learns that the world of Faerie exists alongside her own.

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

#36 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: 2009
ISBN: 0312380968
Page Count: 368

All her world’s a stage.
Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.
She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents.
She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.
That is, until now.

Enter Stage Right

NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE’S sidekicks.

ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie’s weakness. The symbol of impending doom.

BERTIE. Our heroine.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Lisa Mantchev's debut novel, Eyes Like Stars, is the witty, clever and full of delightful beginning to her new Theatre Illuminata trilogy. It is a fun and interesting new take on the world of theatre and Shakespeare with a vivacious heroine. 

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K Jemisin

#35 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: Orbit
Country: U.S.A.
Publication Date: 2010
ISBN: 0316043915
Page Count: 427

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with a pair of cousins she never knew she had. As she fights for her life, she draws ever closer to the secrets of her mother's death and her family's bloody history. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Yeine will learn how perilous it can be when love and hate - and gods and mortals - are bound inseparably together.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is N.K Jemisin's first full-length novel. tHTKs is  the tale of Yeine and her destiny to release the mortal Gods trapped in Sky.  For Yeine, returning to Sky to face her Grandfather, it is an opportunity to learn who her Mother truly was and to avenge her sudden death.

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

#34 of 200

Original Language: English
Publisher: Egmont USA
Country: USA
Publication Date: 28.12.2010
ISBN: 9781606840580
Page Count: 416

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process. When Grace receives a haunting phone call from Jude, she knows what she must do. She must become a Hound of Heaven.
Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot—a newcomer to town who promises her that he can help her be a hero. But as the two grow closer, the wolf grows in Grace, and her relationship with Daniel is put in danger—in more ways than one.
Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her—not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

The Divine family return in The Lost Saint six months after the life changing events of Dark Divine. Grace and Daniel are pushing themselves to adjust to their new selves while Grace's family are still suffering from Jude's continued absence. The Lost Saint throws more than one new complications into the romance of Grace and Daniel as another distraction in a new adventure.