Book Reviews YA-UrbanFantasy

I love to read, and these book reviews YA-UrbanFantasy offer a look at some of the most popular teen books of today. You can find these books many places, and along with public libraries, I’m a huge fan of independent book stores, including my favorite (which is right here in Denver), the Tattered Cover. Also check out Barnes&Noble.com   or this list of independent bookstores. These book suggestions can be found online at all or most of these stores, (as well as at Amazon ). I hope these book reviews YA-UrbanFantasy will help with gifts and book suggestions!

If you're wondering what exactly urban fantasy is, I categorize it as books dealing with the Fae, Werewolves (or other were-creatures), Vampires, Zombies, Pixies, or any paranormal-style book set in our world with these additional elements.

Here’s the basic key I will use when reviewing the plots:

Favorite simply means the book is a personal favorite of mine, and I'll read it over and over again. Also, for series, I tend to list my favorite of the bunch -- but the others are also worth reading.

Stay tuned, and check back to book reviews YA-UrbanFantasy often, as I will update regularly!

The pictures of the covers link to the book’s Powell's page. The titles link to The Tattered Cover.

To begin, Book Reviews YA-UrbanFantasy will discuss a few of the Fae worlds out there.

Fragile Eternity , by Melissa Marr (S, I, L, V)

This book focuses mostly on Seth as he seeks a way to remain a part of Aislinn's life, now that she's the Queen of the Summer Court.
DWI: sacrificing for love; choices
RT: As with all her books, Marr lets us explore complex moral choices through her compelling characters -- I love reading her books and thinking about what I'd do in their place. Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange are the first two in the series. The latest, Radiant Shadows, is also complex and real and very good.

Wings , by Aprilynne Pike *

Laurel has always known she was adopted, but when she meets a faerie boy, her life becomes much more complicated very quickly -- especially as she's pulled between her feelings for the faerie and her human boyfriend, who stands by her through it all.
RT: Favorite because of the very original take on a faerie book, because of Laurel's sweet yet feisty nature, and because of the tension present throughout. Spells, the second book in the series, is just as good and furthers the story nicely.

Fairy Tale , by Cyn Balog (mild L)

Morgan is certain she and her boyfriend will be together forever -- until she learns he's actually a faery prince.
DWI: accepting your role in life
RT: I enjoyed this lighter look at urban fantasy -- I like Morgan's dilemma as the story unwinds, and I appreciated her loyalty and how fate worked it all out.




Bones of Faerie , by Janni Lee Simner (I, mild S, V)

Years after the war between Faerie and humans, Liza lives in a world where magic is considered dangerous -- so she travels to Faerie to learn the source of her own magic.
DWI: courage; seeking truth
RT: I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic tales, and I really liked the original take in this one, with the apocalypse coming from a war between the Fae and humans -- and I also liked the realistic picture of ambiguity in blame and consequences.

Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception , by Maggie Stiefvater (S, mild L, V)

When Deirdre meets Luke (while he holds her head as she throws up before a musical performance), she quickly realizes he's not 'normal' -- and it isn't long before she discovers that she isn't 'normal', either, and more than simply their musical gifts tie them together as danger targets Deirdre and those she loves.
DWI: mythology; the role of love and duty
RT: I enjoyed this because of Deirdre's spunk and talents -- and because of Luke and James, her two male friends -- both of whom love her. Stiefvater's sequel Ballad is out now, and is definitely a Favorite!

Zombies and horror makes a comeback, as seen in these Book Reviews YA-UrbanFantasy.

Another Faust, by Daniel and Dina Nayeri (V, I)

Five teens have made a deal with the devil to achieve their deepest desires in this interesting Faustian tale.
DWI: true beauty; goodness versus popularity; needs versus wants
RT: I found this book to be an intriguing look at what five teens might do to achieve greatness -- and the kinds of greatness teens might seek. It's horror (which means it's creepy), but it wasn't overly graphic.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth , by Carrie Ryan (S, L, V, I)

In a post-apocalyptic world, Mary sees her hopes and dreams vanish as her village fights against zombies -- if only she could escape to the sea!
DWI: following your dreams and hopes; determination
RT: I'm not a huge fan of zombies, but this book tackles that topic with a dignity that I appreciated. Mary's desire to find her way through a terrifying situation is compelling and kept me reading to the end. The companion book, The Dead-Tossed Waves, is now out, and I found it even more compelling than the first!

Vampires are definitely in -- Stephanie Meyer started a craze which has allowed for all kinds of takes on these blood-suckers, as you'll see here in Book Reviews YA-UrbanFantasy.

Twilight , by Stephanie Meyer (S, V)

Bella moves to Washington to live with her dad and meets the mysterious and handsome Edward -- who soon becomes everything to her.
DWI: what makes a strong heroine?
RT: This is certainly an intense romance with many elements young teens want -- a clumsy, plain girl who still attracts the best-looking and strongest boy; getting to 'play' house with her dad as she cooks for him; having the freedom of her own vehicle and a parent who doesn't seem to care how often she leaves -- as a parent, I'd definitely discuss some of these issues with my daughter after reading.

The Eternal Kiss, ed. by Trisha Telep (S, V, L, I)

This anthology of vampire shorts has everything -- angst, humor, passion.
DWI: loneliness; desire; sacrifice
RT: I liked most of these very much. Not only are there a couple of new authors here to watch for (such as Karen Mahoney), but the more established authors have great stories, as well (Sarah Rees Brennan and Cassandra Clare to name a couple of my favorites). I like the combination of all the different styles.

Marked , by P.C. and Kristin Cast (S, V, L)

Zoey has just been chosen to attempt the change to become a vampire -- in a world where vampires have always existed -- and now she must go to a special school and deal with others who have already made the change (and who might feel a little threatened by her presence).
DWI: leadership; sex and power
RT: I found this an interesting view of a world which is like ours except for the vampires. I like Zoey and her honesty and ability to lead without some of the grandstanding other characters resort to -- and the romantic elements were intriguing, as well. The rest of the series is also good, though the sex and violence escalate a bit.

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side , by Beth Fantaskey (I, S, V, L)

Jessica learns she's actually a vampire princess and has a destiny to fulfill far from her 'normal' life.
DWI: nature versus nurture; choosing love
RT: The first two-thirds of this book are quite humorous; the ending becomes suddenly serious, but it fits the story arc -- and it's a satisfying conclusion.


Sucks to be Me , by Kimberly Pauley (I, mild V)

Mina is forced to decide whether or not to join her parents as a vampire (or lose them forever) -- and she takes a class to help her make the choice.
DWI: honesty and family secrets
RT: Favorite because of the original take on a vampire novel and the humor, which runs throughout and makes Mina very sympathetic and enjoyable. There's also a romantic storyline, which I liked. The second in this series, Still Sucks to be Me, just came out, and it's as fun as the first!

Paranormal stories could be their own sub-genre, but to me, they fit best in Book Reviews YA-UrbanFantasy (and include everything from witches to mind-reading to auras and beyond).

Once a Witch, by Carolyn MacCullough (L,V)

Tamsin has spent the first 17 years of her life trying to escape her family's Talents (of which she appears to have none), only to discover that they need her more than any others to get them out of an age-old mess (which they might have caused). (Comes out in September but can be pre-ordered.)
DWI: believing in yourself; courage
RT: Favorite because of Tamsin's spunky character (and sense of humor), and because of the great relationship between her and Gabriel...not to mention all the trouble they get in and how they try to get out of it! I'm already anticipating the next book.

Give Up the Ghost, by Megan Crewe (mild S, L)

Cass can see and hear ghosts -- something she uses to get back at those who've hurt her in the past -- but when a boy in her class wants her to contact his recently deceased mom, Cass must make some tough choices.
DWI: forgiving old hurts; courage to live
RT: Favorite because I love Cass's realistic struggle to learn to let go and move on -- and care enough about another person to help them, despite the risks.

Shade, by Jeri Smith-Ready (S, L, I)

Aura was born right after the Shift, the change between ability to see ghosts and not -- but it never mattered to her until now, when her boyfriend dies suddenly, and only her connection to his ghost is left.
DWI: grief; loving again
RT: Favorite because of the tense and well-paced plot along with the great mystery and slowly developing relationship between Aura and Zach.

Golden , by Jennifer Lynn Barnes *

When Lissy moves to a new town, she discovers that her high school has two tiers of people -- the Goldens and everyone else -- and Lissy's ability to see auras is not welcomed by those in the upper echelon...or those who are planning serious crimes.
RT: Favorite because it's an enjoyable story with likable characters -- and a nice mystery.


Beautiful Creatures, by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (L, V, mild S)

Ethan's sure nothing exciting will ever happen in his small, SC town, but then he starts dreaming of a beautiful girl -- and when she shows up in real life, everything changes.
DWI: depression; grief; first love
RT: I enjoyed this very much. I love the setting, and Ethan's character is very likable -- not to mention the romance between Ethan and Lena is passionate and filled with tension. I will definitely pick up the next book in this series.

Wake , by Lisa McMann (S, I, L, V)

Janie sees other people's dreams -- including the nightmares -- and learning to deal with this 'gift' while going to high school and living with her single mom (with problems of her own) makes for a challenging life.
DWI: mother-daughter relationships; learning to trust
RT: Favorite because of the great suspense/mystery involved -- plus, the love story between Janie and Cabe is well done. The sequel, Fade is also out now -- it's a dark continuation of Janie's tale. The final book in the trilogy, Gone is a fitting conclusion to the trilogy, as Janie must deal with all the challenges put upon her at the end of the second book.

Powers, by Deborah Lynn Jacobs (V, mild L)

Gwen struggles with her chubbiness, and when hot boy Adrian moves to town and seems to shower her with attention, she fears it has more to do with her psychic gift than her character.
DWI: self-esteem; dangers of ambition
RT: I thought this was an interesting look at how self-confidence (or lack thereof) can drive ambition -- and I definitely enjoyed the paranormal aspects to the story.


Evermore , by Alyson Noel (I, L, S, V)

Ever survives the tragic loss of her family, only to begin hearing thoughts from everyone around her -- except those of an unusual boy, Damen, who tries to prove Ever's uniqueness.
DWI: loss and gifts
RT: This is an interesting look at mortality and its opposites -- I look forward to the sequels (Blue Moon and Shadowland), which are out now.

Prophecy of the Sisters, by Michelle Zink (I, implied V)

Lia discovers that she and her sister are on opposite sides of an age-old prophecy -- and that she must do her part to win, or darkness could overtake them all.
DWI: choices versus destiny; courage
RT: Interesting idea of twins forced to fight against one another -- I'll be curious to see what the next book in this series brings.


Summer of Fear , by Lois Duncan (I)

When Rachel's cousin Julia comes to live with Rachel's family, only Rachel seems to notice that something isn't right with Julia...until Julia notices Rachel's attention and strikes back.
DWI: family bonds and trust
RT: Favorite because Rachel follows her instincts and finds a way to prove to her family that she's right -- and to solve their problems.

Were-folk definitely find their way into Book Reviews YA-UrbanFantasy.

Raised by Wolves, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (V)

Bryn has lived most of her life with a werewolf pack, even though she is not a were -- but when she discovers a recently-turned werewolf boy, she decides it's time to assert herself.
DWI: courage; 'sheroes'
RT: Favorite because of Bryn's willingness to right wrongs and do whatever it takes -- and because of her sweet relationship with Chase, Lake, and Devon.

Moonlight , by Rachel Hawthorne (S, mild V)

Kayla takes a job as a sherpa in the same forest where her parents were mistaken for wolves and shot twelve years before by drunken hunters -- and as Kayla continues to deal with her past and missing memories, she finds herself strangely drawn to Lucas, the leader of the sherpas...and more.
DWI: destiny versus choice
RT: I thought this was interesting, and certainly the romance between Lucas and Kayla had some intense moments.

Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater (L, S, mild V, I)

Grace believes she was saved from a wolf attack by one of the wolves -- years later, she meets that wolf in his human form and discovers the troubled changes he's experiencing.
DWI: letting go; falling in love
RT: Favorite because of Sam -- he's sympathetic and filled with longing and conflict; and the love story between Grace and Sam is lovely.

The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain (L, V, mild S)

Grace can't believe it when Daniel returns to town, and she once again finds herself falling for him, despite the mystery surrounding his disappearance and the hatred her brother holds for his former best friend.
DWI: loyalty; the power of love
RT: Favorite because of the romance and the tense mystery -- and because Grace and Daniel are both thoughtful, giving people.


Some books do it all -- or at least, do it differently. In this section of Book Reviews YA-UrbanFantasy, I'm including pixies, combinations of many, and other unique takes on this genre.

City of Glass , by Cassandra Clare (S, I, L, V)

Clary finds herself in the middle of a war between the werewolves, vampires, and fae as she tries to save her mother's life and keep an angel from destroying them all. This is book three of the trilogy.
DWI: dealing with consequences to our choices
RT: Favorite because of the relationships between the characters and because of the very compelling story-line! I thought this was a great conclusion to the trilogy (the first two of which are City of Bones and City of Ashes).

Hex Hall, by Rachel Hawkins (mild S, L, V)

Sophie is sent to a juvie hall for witches and other paranormal folk when she uses her powers in public -- but she quickly learns that life is much more dangerous for her in this 'protected' school than it ever was out in the real world.
DWI: friendship; peer pressure; finding goodness within
RT: Favorite because of the great mystery/suspense, the many different kind of kids at the school, and especially because of Sophie's loyalty to her friend and romantic chemistry between her and Archer.

Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick (V, I, S)

Nora is pursued by the new boy in school (a couple of them, in fact), and when she finally thinks she might give in, she learns of his disturbing past...and why he's interested in her, in the first place.
DWI: how love changes things
RT: Favorite because this is a beautiful love story mixed with a compelling mystery.


Need , by Carrie Jones (V, S) pixies

After her step-father's death, Zara is sent to live with her grandmother and finds herself in the middle of a war between the local pixies and other unique creatures.
DWI: finding good in everyone; fighting evil
RT: Favorite because Zara is such a great character, and her fight against the pixies is more complex than we first realize. The second in this series, Captivate, just came out, and it's even better than the first!

Betrayals, by Lili St. Crow (L, V, mild S, I)