Highway To Hell, by Rosemary Clement-Moore, (Delacorte Press, 2009)

Posted on by
Reply

All Maggie Quinn wanted to do was drive to South Padre Island with her best friend Lisa for some spring break action. One dead cow in the road later, the two are stranded in the tiny town of Dulcina, Texas, and dropped in the middle of a mystery. Something’s been killing the local livestock, and all evidence points towards the mythical chupacabra as the culprit. Determined to find out the truth, Maggie and Lisa soon discover that Dulcina’s in a whole mess of trouble. To save the town from destruction and defeat an ancient evil, Maggie will have to trust her instincts, her allies, and her psychic abilities more than ever. The third book in the series, Highway to Hell features the same blend of supernatural mystery, pop culture cleverness, and adventure as its predecessors, adding in a strong dash of Southwest atmosphere and lore for good measure. Once again, a solidly entertaining offering from Clement-Moore.

Fortune’s Folly, by Deva Fagan (Henry Holt and Company, 2009)

Posted on by
Reply

The daughter of a famous shoemaker who fell on hard times when he lost his talent, Fortunata is forced to use every inch of her cleverness to make ends meet. Unfortunately, she and her father are forced to leave home after making a deadly enemy, and they soon fall in with a band of rogues. Masquerading as a fortune teller, Fortunata is forced to weave a grand, and entirely false, prophecy for Prince Leonato of Doma. Now she has to find a way to make it come true, to save her father’s life. Luckily, she’s always been good at improvising. But will she follow her heart or her head when the time comes to make a choice? Featuring a feisty, resourceful heroine, Fortune’s Folly is a charming fairy tale that’s bound to please. The magic is subtle, the characterization rich, and the plot comfortable without being overly familiar. This is an author to watch.

Beka Cooper: Bloodhound, by Tamora Pierce (Random House, 2009)

Posted on by
Reply

She survived her training, but as an official Provost’s Guard – a Dog – Beka Cooper is in for the greatest challenge yet. Someone is flooding the economy with counterfeit coins, an act which might very well destroy the nation of Tortall. Now Beka and her senior partner Goodwin have been sent to root out the problem at its source, in the corruption-riddled Port Caynn. But once Beka’s on a case, she won’t stop, whether the trail takes her into the Court of the Rogue, the homes of the local nobles, or up against the Port Caynn Dogs themselves. To survive this experience, she’ll need all the help she can get from allies, both old and new, and from her own magical gifts. Once again, we’re treated to a thrilling mixture of fantasy, mystery, and police procedural, as told through the voice of a fierce, unyielding, strong female lead. Bring on the next Beka Cooper adventure, and soon!

Vibes, by Amy Kathleen Ryan (Houghton Mifflin, 2008)

Posted on by
Reply


Kristi has a secret almost no one knows: she can hear thoughts. As she uses this ability to get through the day, she struggles with a variety of issues related to her self-image, her absentee father and workaholic mother, her lack of a love life, and the alternative high school she’s forced to attend. Unfortunately, just because she knows what people are thinking doesn’t mean she understands them, or herself, leading to confrontations with a number of people. A quirky book with a decidedly memorable heroine, Vibes is a quick read with a pleasant, if sometimes awkward voice. It feels real, and the characters are believably layered and flawed, making for a fun read.

Well Witched, by Frances Hardinge (HarperCollins, 2008)

Posted on by
Reply

Ryan, Josh and Chelle never thought anything would come of ‘borrowing’ some coins from a wishing well, until the ancient spirit dwelling within the well came to them, granting them inhuman powers and charging the three teens to fulfill the wishes represented by the coins, or else. As each wish they help grant takes a dark twist and people get hurt, the three friends soon find themselves at a crossroads, working at cross purposes. As the secrets of the well are revealed, it Ryan realizes he has to stop the wish-granting, but how do you fight what might be an ancient, insane god? Alternately fascinating and terrifying, cool and spooky, this is a dark look at what happens when an old magic can’t cope with the modern age. Once again, Hardinge delivers a complex, captivating story.

Vamps, by Nancy Collins (HarperTeen, 2008)

Posted on by
Reply

In Manhattan, when night falls, the vampires come out … and go to school. At least that’s the case for teenage blood-drinkers like Lilith Todd, who rules the social scene at the exclusive Bathory Academy with the rest of her clique. However, it’s instant hatred when she runs afoul of Bathory’s newest transfer student, Cally Monture, who supposedly comes from a inferior bloodline. Now the claws are out, literally. But can the two mortal enemies work together when the vampire hunters start coming out of the woodwork, or will stakes become the new fashion accessory? With its rich setting and intriguing storyline, I enjoyed Vamps a lot more than I thought I would. It’s fast-paced and fun, and I’ll be sure to check out future installments in this series.

Unleashed, by Kristopher Reisz (Simon Pulse, 2008)

Posted on by
Reply

Daniel appears to have a perfect life, with a gorgeous girlfriend and Cornell in his near future, but deep within, he’s discontent and looking for something more. Then he starts hanging around Misty and her friends, a wild and rebellious group with a dark secret: they’ve learned how to become wolves, roaming the streets of Birmingham at night. Soon, Daniel’s one of them, casting away all the aspects of his normal life as he embraces a new romance with Misty, and his inner wolf, but will it cost him too much? And can he prevent things from turning into tragedy when the price of power becomes too high? Reisz delivers a powerful, feral tale of magic and choice set in the streets of a dying city. A thoroughly satisfying dark urban fantasy, I couldn’t put Unleashed down once I started it.

Alfred Kropp: The Thirteenth Skull, by Rick Yancey (Bloomsbury, 2008)

Posted on by
Reply

Once again, Alfred Kropp is plucked from his everyday existence when he’s dragged into another battle between good and evil. This time, it looks as though even the people he trusts are trying to kill him, and he’ll have to think outside the box if he wants to stay alive and stop being used as a pawn or a tool. Luckily, Alfred’s good at surprising people and defying the odds. With a little bit of pulp and a whole lot of action, this latest installment of the Alfred Kropp series makes for an exciting read, a supernatural spy thriller with plenty of twists and turns, and an unexpected resolution to a sticky situation.

The Sweet Far Thing, by Libba Bray (Delacorte Press, 2007)

Posted on by
Reply

With all the magical power of the mystical Realms at her fingertips, Gemma Doyle must struggle with the temptations to use it for her own ends, or share it among the numerous factions demanding her cooperation. Meanwhile, she and her friends must decide what to do with their lives, assuming they can challenge the roles society would force upon them. Questions are answered and futures resolved in this epic conclusion to a wonderfully-woven trilogy that injects magic and suspense into a Victorian setting. Libba Bray does a great job of balancing the mundane and the fantastic, and it’s almost a shame to see the story end.

Gods of Manhattan, by Scott Mebus (Dutton, 2008)

Posted on by
Reply

An ordinary boy and his little sister are drawn into a centuries-old struggle when Rory discovers he can see a hidden world, in which the Gods of Manhattan – people and spirits who’ve left their mark on history and society – influence events on a multitude of levels. Indian ghosts, talking roaches, historical figures, immortal teenagers, wizards and assassins all come together as Rory is manipulated into undoing an ancient wrong. Drawing from myth, urban legend, and actual history to create a thought-provoking world just beyond our own, Gods of Manhattan is a fantastic, imaginative start to a new series, and I’ll be looking forward to future installments eagerly.