Leviathan, Scott Westerfeld; Simon Pulse

“In an alternate 1914 Europe, fifteen-year-old Austrian Prince Alek, on the run from the Clanker Powers who are attempting to take over the globe using mechanical machinery, forms an uneasy alliance with Deryn who, disguised as a boy to join the British Air Service, is learning to fly genetically-engineered beasts.”
Robin’s Note: You may have already read or seen Scott Westerfeld’s more noted books (Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras), and this is his new series, already extremely popular (so you’ll likely have to request it rather than find it on the shelf.)  This one has a definite steampunk flair, if that’s a style that appeals, and the combination of a familiar situation (World War I) tweaked to involve air battles and genetic engineering makes for an innovative setting.  Westerfeld is known for packing in the action and never letting it stop, and this series continues that tradition.  This title also has the added charm of gorgeous illustrations throughout the text, a tradition not seen very often in novels any more, but in this case beautifully rendered.

Inda, Sherwood Smith; DAW Books, Inc.

“Indevan-Dal is the second son of the Prince and Princess of Choraed Elgaer, destined to become his elder brother Tanrid’s Shield Arm-his military champion. Like all second sons, he is to be privately trained at home by Tanrid, the brother whose lands he will one day protect. When the King’s Voice comes to summon Inda to the Military Academy, he might well feel foreboding, or even fear-war is imminent-yet youthful Inda feels only excitement. But there are things that Tanrid hadn’t prepared him for, and Inda will soon learn that the greatest threats to his safety will not come from foreign enemies, but from supposed allies within his own country.”
Robin’s Note: If you want a fantasy world that’s very complex and vividly built, Sherwood Smith’s series (officially for adults, but has lots of teen appeal) is a great one to get lost in.  Smith has a strong sense of how complex a world can be (her books are all set in the same world, in fact, but at different times and in different nations, much like Tolkien’s meticulous world and language building.)  This series is four books total, and is now complete: Inda, The Fox, King’s Shield, and Treason’s Shore.  The primary tale concerns Inda and his king, Evred, following their coming of age and featuring intelligent strategy, epic battles, piracy, and each character’s friendships and loves.  The military tale (in this first book) is the one that hooked me—smart, tense, and full of loyalty and betrayal.  One note: these books are long, and she takes her time building up the world—mainly that’s to envelop the reader in a new place and make it familiar—but they do take some time to get going, so have patience.

The Looking Glass Wars, Frank Beddor; Dial

“When she is cast out of Wonderland by her evil aunt Redd, young Alyss Heart finds herself living in Victorian Oxford as Alice Liddell and struggles to keep memories of her kingdom intact until she can return and claim her rightful throne.”
Robin’s Note: If you like richly imagined fantasy, Frank Beddor’s new series featuring a very different Hatter.  Although the series draws inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, Beddor’s version of the players are skewed: Hatter M is a lethal, loyal bodyguard of the lost heir to the throne, Alyss, and his desperate search to find her in our world is plagued by enemies from all side.  There are currently two books in the series, with a third to come.

Beguilement (The Sharing Knife #1), Lois McMaster Bujold; Eos

“Troubled young Fawn Bluefield seeks a life beyond her family’s farm. But en route to the city, she encounters a patrol of Lakewalkers, nomadic soldier–sorcerers from the northern woodlands. Feared necromancers armed with mysterious knives made of human bone, they wage a secret, ongoing war against the scourge of the “malices,” immortal entities that draw the life out of their victims, enslaving human and animal alike.

It is Dag—a Lakewalker patroller weighed down by past sorrows and onerous present responsibilities—who must come to Fawn’s aid when she is taken captive by a malice. They prevail at a devastating cost—unexpectedly binding their fates as they embark upon a remarkable journey into danger and delight, prejudice and partnership . . . and perhaps even love.”

Robin’s Note: Lois McMaster Bujold is renowned for her complex, engaging fantasy series, including the adventuresome Vorkosigan saga, but this series is a new tale for her combining romance and fantasy in equal parts.  She’s a smart, practiced writer, and her deep world-building creates a rich world.  If you want to try a definite romance/fantasy combination, this is one of the many hybrids that were published in testing out the combinations of the fantasy and romance markets, and of all the writers making the attempt, Bujold is the most likely to succeed.

Into The Wild, Sarah Beth Durst; Razorbill

“Having escaped from the Wild and the preordained fairy tale plots it imposes, Rapunzel, along with her daughter Julie Marchen, tries to live a fairly normal life, but when the Wild breaks free and takes over their town, it is Julie who has to prevent everyone from being trapped in the events of a story.”

Robin’s Note: This fast-paced, wild ride spins off of traditional fairy tales by giving them a whole new spin.  Julie, Rapunzel’s courageous daughter, is a great new heroine, unwilling to give up and determined to use her knowledge of the Wild to win back her world.  She’s a reluctant heroine, to begin with, but as she moves forward, she becomes a force to reckon with.  Humor and snappy dialog make the whole adventure fun, and Julie’s “brother”, once Puss-in-Boots, brings in hilarious comic relief.  The sequel, Out of the Wild, is a worthy sequel.  This title is both funny and fast-paced, and the fun of reworking fairy tale characters.

Tam Lin, Pamela Dean; Puffin

“In the ancient Scottish ballad “Tam Lin,” headstrong Janet defies Tam Lin to walk in her own land of Carterhaugh . . . and then must battle the Queen of Faery for possession of her lover’s body and soul. In this version of “Tam Lin,” masterfully crafted by Pamela Dean, Janet is a college student, “Carterhaugh” is Carter Hall at the university where her father teaches, and Tam Lin is a boy named Thomas Lane.”

Robin’s Note: This classic re-telling is as intelligent, witty, and romantic as it was when it was originally published in 1991 as part of the Fairy Tale series.  Janet is dealing with the freedom and academic inspiration of college as much as distinguishing first love from true love.  The elements of the ballad are masterfully woven in throughout, and but the strength of the book is the compelling original story, rather than relying on the plot of its source.  The literary references are frequent, capturing the love of scholarship, but at the same time it’s not necessary to know every connection to enjoy the powerful romance at the heart of the story.  Wordplay and romance are what made me think of this title, as it’s full of both, and is indeed great fun to get lost in.  Pamela Dean’s other novels are quite different, and this one stands out as one of her most engaging.

Crown Duel (Originally Published As The Two Books Crown Duel And Court Duel) (Firebird), Sherwood Smith; Puffin

“To fulfill their father’s dying wish, teenage Countess Meliara and her brother Branaric organize a revolution against a greedy king.”

Robin’s Note: This fantasy tale, originally published as two separate novels Court Duel and Crown Duel, is a wit-driven romance combined with a struggle for control of a kingdom.  Our heroine, opinionated and clever (and a bit naive), is a country royal driven to try to save her own kingdom by confronting the court and ruler in the distant capital city.  The combination of funny dialog, building romance, and an action-packed plot make for a speedy read with great charm and spirit.  This is another teen title, essentially, but one that shares a lot with Austen in terms of the set up of the romance and the highlight of intelligence and clever conversation. 

Sorcery And Cecelia, Or, The Enchanted Chocolate Pot: Being The Correspondence Of Two Young Ladies Of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals In London And The Country, Patricia C. Wrede; Harcourt

“In 1817 in England, two young cousins, Cecilia living in the country and Kate in London, write letters to keep each other informed of their exploits, which take a sinister turn when they find themselves confronted by evil wizards.”

Robin’s Note: This Regency fantasy combines the best of Jane Austen with the charm of magical talents.  As with all of Austen’s novels, the romances are witty and compelling, and the added dash of magical adventure makes the tale all the more engaging for both fantasy and Austen fans.  This volume is followed by two sequels The Grand Tour and The Mislaid Magician.

Alphabet Of Thorn, Patricia A. McKillip; Ace Books

“One of the most spectacular fantasists of our time, Patricia A. McKillip creates fairy tale worlds of wonder and magic. Now, she opens the page on a time and place where an orphan girl is haunted by thorns…a reluctant queen rules between sea and sky… and epics never end…”

Robin’s Note: As with all of Patricia McKillip’s fantasies, this title is full of evocative imagery and lush language.  This time around she zeroes in on the force of love, to both save and destroy.  Learning from your own and your culture’s history and the power of language is all important in this tale.  McKillip is talented as weaving together magic with relatable and endearing characters, from a lonely librarian to a skittish new queen, each coming in to their power.  This particular novel is one of her easier titles to get into, if you are not already a fan, and has a stronger romance element than her other titles.

A Curse Dark As Gold, Elizabeth C. Bunce; Arthur A. Levine Books

“Upon the death of her father, seventeen-year-old Charlotte struggles to keep the family’s woolen mill running in the face of an overwhelming mortgage and what the local villagers believe is a curse, but when a man capable of spinning straw into gold appears on the scene she must decide if his help is worth the price.”

Robin’s Note: Appealing for a strong sense of a historical setting and a clever reworking of the Rumplestiltskin tale, this book includes a steadily building romance, a strong heroine, and a well-built world.  Great for fans of fairy tale retellings as well as historical fantasy.