The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain (Egmont USA, 2010)

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Pastor’s daughter Grace Divine takes a walk on the wild side when old secrets come to light. An old family friend, her former crush Daniel Kalibi, is back after an absence of years, his return sparking a rash of unusual activity and animal attacks in the area. Inevitably, Grace and Daniel fall for one another, even though their relationship drives a wedge between Grace and her brother, Jude. The truth about Daniel may just kill Grace, if she doesn’t have to kill him first. Werewolf lore, ancient myth, and tragic romance are intertwined in this dark, satisfying tale.

Hearts At Stake, by Alyxandra Harvey (Walker & Company, 2010)

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At sixteen, some girls get a party. Solange Drake, however, is going to die, and be reborn as a vampire, like the rest of her family. Unfortunately, she’s the much-desired pawn in a game between vampire factions, and the rule seems to be: if you can’t have her, kill her. Only her seven older brothers, her best friend Lucy, and a vampire hunter as an unexpected(ly sexy) ally can keep her safe when the fighting and assassination attempts begin. The tension is sharp, the action cinematic, the characters memorable, and the whole package delightfully charming. Lucy, the spunky token human, steals every scene she’s in, making her my favorite.

Wish, by Alexandra Bullen (Point, 2010)

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Still mourning the loss of her twin sister Violet, Olivia shrinks into the background even after her family moves to San Francisco. When secretly granted three wishes by a mysterious benefactor, she uses the first to bring back Violet, who appears as a ghost. With Violet’s help, Olivia will learn to live for herself. But what else will she wish for, and will she regret it later? Though at times awkwardly predictable, this sweet fairy tale is also poignant and romantic, reminding us all that there can be life after loss, and that love can be magical.

Undead Much? By Stacey Jay (Razorbill, 2010)

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Megan thought it was hard juggling pom squad practice, her love life, and keeping wandering zombies from terrorizing the unknowing populace. But that was before feral super-zombies started rampaging, the cheerleaders declared war on the pom squad, and a cute undead psychic started hanging around. Now, if she can’t find out who’s raising the angry dead, she’ll take the blame, assuming she survives that long. And what dark secret is her family hiding that could explain it all? Jay continues her series about the feisty zombie Settler with this amusing, sometimes-convoluted adventure that reads like classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Fallen, by Lauren Kate (Delacorte, 2010)

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Banished to the oppressive Sword & Cross boarding school after an unfortunate incident at her last school, Luce struggles to fit in with the misfits, loners, losers and delinquents who make up the student body. For every friend she makes, there’s an enemy, and no one is what they seem. As she falls for the aloof, unapproachable Daniel Grigori, Luce slowly realizes she’s surrounded by deadly secrets, the most dangerous explaining why she and Daniel can never be together. The answers will change her life forever. This dark tale is atmospheric, tense, and alluring, steeped in Gothic imagery and ancient legends.

Firespell, by Chloe Neill (Signet, 2010)

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With her academically-minded parents moving to Germany for the next two years, Lily is sent to the exclusive St. Sophia’s, a Chicago girls’ school. There, she makes friends with Scout, whose nocturnal escapades arouse Lily’s curiosity, and soon Lily’s neck-deep in a secret war between two factions of magic-users, with her own life hanging in the balance. Mysteries abound – such as why she was sent to St. Sophia’s in the first place, and who can truly be trusted. Fast-paced, witty, thoroughly entertaining, this first in a series is a whole lot of fun.

The Iron King, by Julie Kagawa (Harlequin Teen, 2010)

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When her little brother is kidnapped and replaced by a changeling, Meghan Chase enlists the help of her best friend Robbie to travel into Faery to rescue him. Faery is wild and treacherous; even with the allies she acquires along the way, it’ll take all of her resourcefulness to achieve her goals. To complicate matters, a strange new threat endangers not just her, but all of Faery and its myriad inhabitants, and Meghan along possesses the strength to save the day. The secret of that strength, however, will call her entire life into question. Filled with wonder and danger, romance and magic, this entry into a new world adds a new spin to old fairy tales, sure to appeal to fans of Holly Black.

I Kissed A Zombie, And I Liked It, by Adam Selzer (Delacorte, 2010)

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Ever since the undead came out of the coffin and went public, there’s been a certain dangerous cachet to dating the so-called post-humans. Snarky ice queen Alley Rhodes used to mock such people, until she fell head over heels for Doug, a zombie who wants her heart, not her brains. But everyone’s got an opinion about the new relationship; some of the local vampires are downright upset by the thought of interspecies dating. Can Alley and Doug make this work, or is their love dead on arrival? Selzer simultaneously skewers the worst excesses of the Twilight phenomenon and delivers a solidly entertaining romance in its own right. Clever and humorous, this one’s not to be missed.

Magic Under Glass, by Jaclyn Dolamore, (Bloomsbury, 2010)

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Nimira left her homeland to seek her fortunes, but instead found work only as a trouser girl, singing the songs of her youth while men ogled her exotic charms. When an opportunity to better herself by singing accompaniment for a clockwork piano-player arises, she takes it, never looking back. Soon she discovers that the clockwork man is alive, inhabited by the spirit of a fairy prince, and a variety of powerful people want it for their own. As Nimira, falling in love with the fairy, seeks to undo the curse imprisoning him, she’s drawn further into the enigmatic schemes of sorcerers and madmen. Evoking the rich strangeness of the Victorian era and setting it in a world where magic is subtle and pervasive, this marks a brilliant debut for Dolamore. Nimira’s a fascinating, sympathetic character, and her unusual origins make for a breath of fresh air.

New Realms of Fantasy Column / Reviews Archive Update

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In the June 2010 issue of Realms of Fantasy, I cover the following books:

I Kissed A Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Undead Much? by Stacey Jay
Wish by Alexandra Bullen
Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore
Firespell by Chloe Neill

Reviews from the previous issue, now archived on my website:
Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor, illustrated by Jim Di Bartolo
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stahl
The Doom Machine by Mark Teague
The Shifter by Janice Hardy
Lockdown: Escape From Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith
The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger

As always, I’m open to questions, commentary, or review inquiries. Just drop me a line. Enjoy!