Delcroix Academy: The Candidates, by Inara Scott (Hyperion, 2010)

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Michael M. Jones

Dancia Lewis has lived her entire life trying not to be noticed, trying to hide the strange power that lashes out of her whenever someone she cares for is in danger. Thus, she’s surprised when the Delcroix Academy, a place for the truly elite, awards her a scholarship. Once she’s there, she’s drawn into a shadowy world of hidden talents and powers just like hers, a world in which nothing is as it seems. But do they have her best interests at heart? That’s what she’ll have to find out … the hard way. A strong start to a promising new series, it’ll be interesting to see where things lead, now that we have some answers. Quite enjoyable, if not spectacular.

Fallen #2: Torment, by Lauren Kate (Delacorte Press, 2010)

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Michael M. Jones

Continuing the epic love story between fallen angel Daniel and perpetually reincarnated Luce, this installment sees Luce relocated to the mysterious Shoreline School, secretly home to all sorts of angelic crossbreeds, a place where she can safely come into her powers while Daniel and his allies fight those who would hurt or use her. But the more she learns of her past, the less certain she is of her future with Daniel. Despite the heroine’s frequent moments of near-suicidal stupidity, there’s a lot to enjoy in this brooding, dark tale of forbidden love stretching across the centuries.

Low Red Moon, by Ivy Devlin (Bloomsbury, 2010)

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Michael M. Jones

Following the horrific murder of her parents, which she witnessed but cannot remember, Avery Hood leaves her beloved home in the woods to stay with her grandmother. When she meets Ben, whom she soon discovers to be a werewolf, the memories begin to return. But is the guy she’s falling for really a murderer, or is something more sinister afoot? The pressure’s on to find out who killed her parents, and why, before she becomes the next victim. This tension-filled retelling of Red Riding Hood is suspenseful, intriguing, and romantic, looking at the old themes in a whole new light.

Black Hole Sun, by David Macinnis Gill (Greenwillow, 2010)

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Michael M. Jones

On Mars, you grow up fast or not at all. For Durango, the teenage leader of a motley band of mercenaries, that means taking deadly jobs so he can give his imprisoned father a better life in jail. It also means traveling halfway across the planet to defend broke miners from cannibal raiders, while dealing with rich kid wannabes, lecherous explosive experts, and a know-it-all has-been rounding out his team. It means fighting for his life and praying someone has his back, lest someone stick a knife in it. It means living with shame instead of dying with honor. That’s the Mars of this futuristic action-packed adventure, in some ways a pulp throwback full of shamelessly old-fashioned fun, and in some ways a purely modern thrill ride. Gill really knows how to tell a ripping good story.

Escape From Furnace #2: Solitary, by Alexander Gordon Smith (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2010)

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Michael M. Jones

Framed for murder, imprisoned for life in the hellish Furnace Penitentiary, Alex Sawyer must escape if he wants to avoid the horrible fate awaiting him in the bowels of the Earth. But when his plan to break out fails, landing him in solitary confinement, he’s treated to even more horrifying revelations. You don’t die in Furnace; they turn you into a monster … or worse. In this tense, harrowing, claustrophobic sequel to Lockdown, Smith puts the nightmarish screws to his hero. Part psychological thriller, part horror, this’ll have you alternately wanting more, and dreading the next installment.

Leviathan #2: Behemoth, by Scott Westerfeld (Simon Pulse, 2010)

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Michael M. Jones

Westerfeld’s wildly inventive reworking of the First World War heats up as the Germans and English enter into open hostilities, bio-engineered creatures against mechanical marvels. Aboard the English airship Leviathan, Midshipman Deryn Sharp (secretly a girl) and Alek (Austrian Prince in exile) have forged a wary friendship, one that will be tested as they arrive in intrigue-laden Istanbul, where both sides jockey for influence and revolution is in the air. It’s nonstop adventure in the skies and seas, with steampunk war machines, living weapons, derring-do and swashbuckling a’plenty. Keith Thompson’s gorgeous illustrations further bring this amazing world to life, making this a definite don’t-miss.

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, by Lish McBride (Henry Holt and Company, 2010)

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Michael M. Jones

It’s all fun and games for college drop-out and professional fry cook Samhain “Sam” LaCroix, until Seattle’s most powerful necromancer recognizes the power Sam didn’t even know he possessed. Now Sam’s the target of his rival’s dark ambitions, and has to get his act together before he finds out what’s worse than death. Deadly serious, yet playfully tongue-in-cheek, McBride’s debut features an interesting set-up populated by entertaining characters, making for an attention-grabbing story.

Enchanted Ivy, by Sarah Beth Durst (McElderry Books, 2010)

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Michael M. Jones

When Lily visits Princeton with her family for Reunions Weekend, she’s ready for the usual campus tours and alumni parties. What she gets is a surprise, when she’s asked to take the mysterious Legacy Test. Pass, and she’s accepted into Princeton, no strings attached. All she has to do is locate the so-called Ivy Key. Her quest quickly takes a turn for the bizarre, as the secrets of Princeton unfold around her. Talking gargoyles, boys who become tigers, man-eating monsters, an alternate world full of magic, and a family secret that changes everything. The SATs are nothing compared to cranky dragons, and this test‘s a killer. Durst’s passion for her alma mater shines through with every whimsical, exciting page, as she weaves a captivating, magical tale that demands a sequel.

The Blending Time, by Michael Kinch (Flux, 2010)

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Michael M. Jones

In 2054, the world is a dystopia, with all but a few constantly struggling for survival. In a bid for something better than manual labor or hazardous canal-digging, three teens – Jaym, Reya, and D’Shay – opt for the experimental Blending program, and are sent to Africa to help introduce healthy genes into the dying population. What they discover is a dangerous region where they aren’t welcome, where violence, corruption and slavery run rampant, and where they must do whatever it takes to escape to safety. From the somewhat dodgy concept to the abrupt ending, this harsh, unyielding tale is ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful, tackling more than it can handle.

Linger, by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic, 2010)

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Michael M. Jones

With Sam apparently cured of being a werewolf, he and Grace can finally try dating like normal people. Unfortunately, her parents don’t entirely approve of the fresh relationship, some of the townspeople of Mercy Falls are still out to weed out the local wolves, and the new additions to the pack, including a musician named Cole, aren’t coping too well with their transformations. Worst of all, Grace is falling ill, and her only cure may be a death sentence in its own right. Stark imagery and a rich attention to color and shadow, coupled with intense emotional moments make this more than your typical teen werewolf romance.