The Dragon Heir, by Cinda Williams Chima (Hyperion, 2008)

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The reappearance of a vastly powerful magical artifact helps to kick the war between the various factions of the Weirguilds into high gear, with everything coming to a climax in the sanctuary town of Trinity, Ohio. As the various characters seek to fulfill their agendas and fulfill their destinies, some will make the ultimate sacrifice, and everything will be decided by the mysterious Dragon Heir. This is it for the characters introduced in The Wizard Heir and The Warrior Heir, with magical and non-magical societies colliding in the conclusion of this epic trilogy. Unpredictable and fascinating to the last page, with plenty of magic, action, and character-defining moments, this is definitely a worthy wrap-up to the series.

The dead & the gone, by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Harcourt, 2008)

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When the Moon is dislodged from its orbit by an asteroid, it causes a dramatic climatic change on Earth, resulting in upheaval and chaos. In a slowly-dying New York City, Alex Morales must look after his siblings as they struggle to survive while society collapses around them. He’ll need a heavy dose of cunning, determination, faith and a touch of ruthlessness in order to keep his family alive and intact. Like its companion, Life As We Knew It, this is a stunning, eerie tale of survival in an all-too-believable apocalyptic scenario, sure to make you wonder what you’d do in similar circumstances.

The Crown of Zeus, by Christine Norris (Samhain Publishing, 2008)

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When Megan Montgomery’s family moves to England from New York, she’s convinced she’ll absolutely hate her new home, especially when she discovers they’re to live in a huge, eerie countryside manor once owned by an eccentric archaeologist. To make friends, she invites several girls over for a weekend sleepover, during which they uncover a bizarre mystery involving a hidden library, and are transported into a magical semblance of Ancient Greece. There, they’re thrust into a series of adventures, and sent on an epic quest for a lost artifact. Fast-paced and imaginative, this book has a great premise, one which allows for all sorts of interesting stories in future installments.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4: The Battle of the Labyrinth, by Rick Riordan, (Miramax, 2008)

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Percy Jackson’s introduction to a new school is cut short when evil cheerleaders attack, and that’s just the beginning of a fantastic new adventure that takes him and his fellow teen demigods across the country in a desperate quest to find Daedalus’ workshop in the heart of the legendary Labyrinth. Once again, he’ll risk life and limb to save the world, even as the dreaded Kronos marshals his forces and the gods of Olympus choose sides in the war to come. This is another enjoyable installment in a thrilling series that breathes new life into the Greek myths in a modern setting, and I can hardly wait for the continuation.

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, by Jessica Day George (Bloomsbury, 2008)

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In an attempt to help her family, a woodcutter’s daughter known only as ‘the lass’ agrees to spend a year in a castle of ice with a mysterious, magical white bear. Little does she realize that her attempts to delve into the secrets of the castle and its owner will bring her into a strange confrontation with all manner of magical beings, culminating in a battle of wills with a host of fiendish trolls. This is an enchanting, complex story that draws from several classic fairy tales and imbues them with a strong Nordic feel, managing to make the old and familiar seem fresh and new all over again. Jessica Day George succeeds in bringing authenticity to this historical fairy tale.

Worldweavers #2: Spellspam, by Alma Alexander (Eos, 2008)

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Even as she explores her new magical abilities, Thea, along with her friends, is drawn into a bizarre adventure when spam e-mails trigger bizarre magical effects upon those who read them. Now Thea has to hone her powers in order to deal with the originator of the messages before they wreak even more havoc, a being capable of rewriting reality itself. Spellspam is a clever, imaginative, worthy sequel to Gift of the Unmage, and a great deal of fun in general.

Skinned, by Robin Wasserman (Simon Pulse, 2008)

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Following a near-fatal accident, Lia Kahn is saved only through extreme measures: her brain is copied and downloaded into an artificial body. Now she has to relearn how to function, and adjust to her new existence. However, societal prejudice against the so-called skinners leads to rejection and alienation from all sides, leaving Lia caught between the world she’s always known, which no longer wants her, and the strange new culture of the skinners, which frightens her.  Her attempts to find a place in the world may just lead to tragedy. Captivating, alternately provocative and disturbing, Skinned brings up some interesting questions about what makes us human and unique. With its futuristic setting and complex themes, this is the start of a new trilogy that bears further investigation. Fans of Scott Westerfeld, take notice of this one.

Selkie Girl, by Laurie Brooks, (Alfred A. Knopf, 2008)

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Forever shunned by outsiders for her webbed hands and love of the sea, Elin Jean yearns for acceptance beyond her family, and a life beyond the simple croft she calls home. At last, she discovers her true heritage: half human, half selkie, part of two worlds without belonging to either one. Whether on land as a girl, or in the sea as a seal, she struggles to find her home and her destiny. But which life will she choose when it comes down to a choice between family and love? Haunting, lyrical and beautiful, Selkie Girl is a well-crafted historical fantasy that sets the myth of the selkie against a Scottish backdrop to great effect.

Runemarks, by Joanne Harris (Alfred A. Knopf, 2008)

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Five hundred years after the death of the gods and the rise of the Order, magic is all but forgotten. However, Maddy Smith, born with a rune mark on her palm, under the tutelage of the mysterious One-Eye, discovers her own magical abilities over time. And she’ll need them when she’s drawn into an epic scheme involving Odin, Loki, and the resurgence of the Norse gods. When Order and Chaos come together in a world-shattering, world-defining clash, Maddy Smith is the random factor who’ll determine how it all plays out, once and for all. Runemarks takes the familiar elements of Norse myth, and turns them inside out to create an excellent epic fantasy full of memorable characters and nonstop adventure.

Revealers, by Amanda Marrone (Simon Pulse, 2008)

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By day, Jules and her friends are normal high school students. At night, they act as Revealers, witches who serve to police the supernatural community and destroy rogue vampires, werewolves, and demons. It’s fun, if occasionally hazardous. As each member of the coven turns eighteen, they’re inducted into the inner circle, but Jules, youngest of the lot, begins to suspect there’s something going on, and far more to the coven than she ever expected. But can she stand up to centuries of tradition and the older generation, in order to do what’s right? With an excellent setup and some brilliants twists, Revealers keeps from being dull or predictable. There’s some forbidden romance, some hard moral choices, and plenty of supernatural action to make this a fun read all around.